How to Find Out Car Engine Type
There are a few different ways to find out the engine type of your car. The most common method is to look at the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN is a 17-character code that is unique to each car. It can be found on the driver’s side door jamb, on the dashboard, or on the vehicle registration card.
Once you have the VIN, you can use it to decode the engine type. The VIN is divided into several sections, and the section that contains the engine type is the “Vehicle Descriptor Section.” This section is usually the fifth section of the VIN.
The Vehicle Descriptor Section is a 6-character code that contains the following information:
- The first character indicates the country of origin.
- The second character indicates the manufacturer.
- The third character indicates the type of vehicle.
- The fourth character indicates the model year.
- The fifth character indicates the assembly plant.
- The sixth character is a check digit.
The engine type is indicated by the third character of the Vehicle Descriptor Section. The following table lists the engine types and their corresponding third character:
| Engine Type | Third Character |
|---|---|
| Gasoline | A |
| Diesel | D |
| Electric | E |
| Hybrid | F |
| Other | X |
For example, if the third character of the Vehicle Descriptor Section is “A”, the car has a gasoline engine.
Another way to find out the engine type of your car is to look at the engine itself. The engine type is usually stamped on the engine block or on a metal tag attached to the engine.
If you are still unable to find the engine type of your car, you can contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer will be able to provide you with the engine type information.
Other Ways to Identify Engine Type
In addition to the methods described above, there are a few other ways to identify the engine type of your car:
- Look at the displacement. The displacement of an engine is the volume of air and fuel that the engine can move in one cycle. The displacement is usually measured in cubic centimeters (cc) or liters (L). The displacement of an engine can be used to estimate the engine type. For example, a car with a displacement of 2.0L is likely to have a 4-cylinder engine. A car with a displacement of 3.5L is likely to have a V6 engine.
- Look at the number of cylinders. The number of cylinders in an engine is the number of combustion chambers in the engine. The number of cylinders can be used to identify the engine type. For example, a car with a 4-cylinder engine will have four combustion chambers. A car with a V6 engine will have six combustion chambers.
- Look at the valvetrain. The valvetrain is the system that controls the flow of air and fuel into and out of the engine. The valvetrain can be used to identify the engine type. For example, a car with a pushrod valvetrain will have a camshaft that is located in the engine block. A car with an overhead camshaft (OHC) valvetrain will have a camshaft that is located in the cylinder head.
By using the methods described above, you can identify the engine type of your car. This information can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as diagnosing problems with your car or determining the best type of oil to use.
