How to Use a VIN Number to Identify Engine Types

Since 1981, vehicle manufactures have included a vehicle identification number (VIN) for every car, truck or motorcycle made. The first three characters identify the country, make and model of the car and use universal codes. The manufacturers use the next five characters at their discretion to make codes to identify important features, including the engine. But manufacturers can use any character in any position to identify any engine, and can change the coding every year. Since the tenth character identifies the year, the VINs remain unique. Use a free online decoder to find the engine in your vehicle.

Instructions

1

Visit Decodethis and copy the VIN into the space marked "Enter VIN Here."

2

Click on "Decode!" and when the next screen appears, scroll down to the tabs. The engine size and type is under "General."

3

Visit Angelfire and click on the logo emblem for the manufacturer of your vehicle. The next screen shows that specific manufacturer's arrangement of code characters for different features, which character represents the engine and the various engine types.

4

Pay to have your VIN decoded at VINquery. Enter the VIN into the space marked "Enter a VIN" and click on "Go." The next screen gives the year, make and model of the vehicle with options to buy a more detailed report for from 50 cents to $1.90.