By simply referencing your vehicle identification number (VIN), you’ll be able to know what type of engine your car has. You can find this number either under the hood of your car or in the owner’s manual.
What Type Of Engine Does My Car Have?
The quickest way to figure out what type of engine your car uses is by referencing your VIN. The VIN can be found under the car’s hood or in the owner’s manual. Additionally, you can usually find the VIN on the front of the driver’s side dashboard.
Out of the 17 characters listed in the VIN, it’s the 8th character that holds the information regarding the car’s specific engine. You can decode this to figure out which type of engine your car has. If you know the model, trim level of the car, plus the year of production, you’ll be able to identify the engine by using said information in an online search.
Car Engine Types
Car engines will be divided based on how cylinders are arranged within the engine. Here is a quick car engine guide:
- Straight Engine Cylinders: These are aligned in one straight row, parallel to the car.
- Inline Engine: This is the most common engine type, featuring cylinders arranged in a row in the engine bay. It is quite similar to the straight engine.
- Flat Engine: These engine feature placed cylinders horizontally in two lines that face outward. They feature a low center of gravity, enabling more comfortable handling, especially in sports cars.
- V Engine: The cylinders are arranged at an angle from one another, forming a V-shape when viewed from the front. This arrangement is preferred for both sports cars and premium vehicles.
What To Learn From Your VIN
The 17 characters found in the VIN contain such information as the country of manufacture, the manufacturer, car type, brand, style, engine type, year, model, and the assembly plant.
There are several online resources available to help you decode the VIN. All you need to do is enter the 17 VIN characters to receive a report on the all information referenced above.
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The team at Heath’s Auto Service in Prescott, AZ would be happy to help with all of your automotive service needs!
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