If you are wondering what type of engine your car has, you can find all the vehicle information you need to know by referencing the VIN. The VIN can be found in your owner’s manual or under the hood of the vehicle.
What Type Of Engine Does My Car Have?
The easiest way to determine what type of car engine you have is by checking the VIN. The VIN can be seen either in the owner’s manual or under your hood. It can also be found on the front of the driver’s side dashboard, typically.
Out of the 17 characters in the VIN, the 8th character contains information regarding your car’s engine. Decode this to determine what kind of engine your car has. If you are aware of the specific model, trim level of the car, and year of production, you can identify the engine by using such information in an online search.
Types Of Car Engines
Car engines are ultimately divided according to how cylinders are arranged within the engine. Here are some quick details:
- Straight engines’ cylinders are aligned in one straight row, which is parallel to the car.
- The most common type is the inline engine. This features cylinders arranged in a row in the engine bay, which is similar to the straight type.
- Flat engines will feature placed cylinders horizontally in two lines facing outward. It features a low center of gravity, which enables more comfortable handling in sports cars.
- V engines’ cylinders are arranged at an angle from one another, which forms a V shape when seen from the front. This arrangement is preferred for premium vehicles and sports cars.
What Can You Learn From The VIN?
Your VIN’s 17 characters will contain information including the country of manufacture, manufacturer, car type, body style, brand, engine type and size, model, year, and assembly plant.
There are some online resources that can decode the VIN for you. All you need to do is enter the VIN’s 17 characters to receive a report on the information included above.
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