How to Identify Your Car’s Engine Type and Transmission Using a VIN
How to Identify Your Car’s Engine Type and Transmission Using a VIN
Anne Reyes 2025-03-09T08:49:16+00:00
Ever wondered about your car’s engine size or transmission type? Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) holds the answers. This unique code tells you key details about your car, like engine displacement, fuel type, horsepower, and transmission. Knowing this information helps when ordering parts, checking performance, or buying a used car. This guide will show you how to lookup vehicle specs by VIN to get these details quickly and easily.
Understanding the VIN: Your Car’s DNA
The VIN is a 17-character alphanumeric code assigned to every vehicle manufactured after 1981. It acts as a unique identifier, much like a fingerprint, and contains crucial information about the car’s make, model, year, country of origin, and more.
Each VIN follows a standardized format set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), allowing you to decode specific details about your car. While some information, like the manufacturer and model year, can be identified manually, a vehicle specs by VIN lookup tool simplifies the process, especially when determining engine and transmission specs.
Where to Find Your VIN
Before you can lookup vehicle specs by VIN, you need to locate the VIN. Here are the most common places to find it:
- Dashboard: Check the driver’s side, near the windshield, visible from outside the car.
- Driver’s Side Door Jamb: Open the driver’s door and look for a sticker or metal plate on the frame.
- Engine Bay: Some manufacturers stamp the VIN near the engine or radiator support.
- Vehicle Registration or Title: If you can’t find the VIN on your car, it will be listed on official documents like the title, insurance policy, or registration certificate.
Once you have the VIN, you’re ready to look up your vehicle’s engine and transmission details.
How to Find Engine Specs Using VIN
A vehicle’s engine type is one of the most important specifications for performance, maintenance, and repairs. By decoding the VIN, you can determine:
1. Engine Displacement (Size)
Engine size is measured in liters (L) or cubic centimeters (cc). It tells you how much air and fuel the engine can use.
- The 8th digit of your VIN represents the engine code.
- A VIN lookup tool will match this code with the manufacturer’s database.
For example, if your 8th VIN digit is “G”, and you own a Ford Mustang, a lookup may show a 5.0L V8 engine.
| VIN 8th Digit | Engine Size | Fuel Type | Horsepower (HP) |
| G | 5.0L | Gasoline | 450 HP |
| H | 3.5L | Hybrid | 310 HP |
| J | 2.0L | Diesel | 180 HP |
| K | 1.8L | Gasoline | 140 HP |
(Values are examples; actual results depend on manufacturer specs.)
2. Fuel Type
The VIN also tells you whether your car uses gasoline, diesel, electricity, or a hybrid system.
- The 8th VIN digit helps determine fuel type.
- A VIN lookup tool confirms this information.
For example, a Tesla Model 3’s VIN lookup would say “electric,” while a Ford F-150 could be gasoline or diesel, depending on the model.
3. Horsepower Output
Horsepower measures how powerful an engine is.
- The VIN does not list horsepower directly.
- A VIN lookup tool will match the engine code to the manufacturer’s specs.
For example, a Chevrolet Camaro SS with engine code “W” may have a 6.2L V8 with 455 HP.
How to Find Your Transmission Type Using a VIN
The transmission is responsible for transferring power from the engine to the wheels, affecting performance and fuel efficiency. A VIN lookup can help you determine:
1. Transmission Type (Automatic vs. Manual)
- Some cars include transmission info in the 6th digit of the VIN.
- A VIN lookup tool will confirm whether your car has manual, automatic, CVT, or dual-clutch transmission.
For example, if you own a Honda Civic, a VIN lookup might show CVT, meaning your car has a Continuously Variable Transmission.
2. Number of Gears
- Modern cars have 5-speed, 6-speed, or even 10-speed transmissions.
- The VIN helps determine the number of gears in your car.
For example, if you drive a Ford F-150 with VIN engine code “L”, a lookup might reveal a 10-speed automatic transmission.
3. Drivetrain (FWD, RWD, AWD, 4WD)
- A VIN lookup can also tell you if your car has Front-Wheel Drive (FWD), Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD), All-Wheel Drive (AWD), or Four-Wheel Drive (4WD).
- This helps when buying tires, axles, or other drivetrain parts.
For example, a Subaru Outback’s VIN lookup might say “AWD,” while a Dodge Challenger’s may show “RWD”.
How to Look Up Vehicle Specs by VIN
Using a VIN lookup tool is the easiest way to retrieve your car’s engine and transmission details. Here’s how:
Step 1: Visit a VIN Lookup Website
Use a trusted VIN decoder like:
- Manufacturer websites (Ford, Toyota, Honda, etc.)
- Third-party sites like NHTSA, Carfax, and VinCheck.info
- DMV or insurance databases
Step 2: Enter the VIN
- Type the 17-character VIN into the search box.
- Double-check for any typos to ensure accurate results.
Step 3: Retrieve Your Vehicle’s Specs
- The system will show engine size, fuel type, horsepower, and transmission type.
- Some sites also provide recall history and accident reports.
(Sample VIN lookup results)
Why a VIN Lookup is Essential
A VIN lookup helps in many situations:
✅ Buying a used car – Check if the engine and transmission match the listing.
✅ Ordering parts – Ensure compatibility with your vehicle’s exact engine and transmission.
✅ Insurance and registration – Some states require VIN details for title verification.
✅ Car maintenance – Know what oil, transmission fluid, or spark plugs to use.
✅ Performance tuning – Find your car’s horsepower and gearing before making modifications.
Final Thoughts
Your car’s VIN is a powerful tool. It helps you find your engine displacement, fuel type, horsepower, and transmission details. Instead of guessing, lookup vehicle specs by VIN to get accurate results in seconds.
Next time you need engine or transmission details, decode your VIN and get the facts instantly!
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How to Find Out What Kind of Engine You Have? Learn Now
Do you know what kind of engine is in your car? If not, don’t worry – it’s not as hard as you think to find out. Here, we’ll show you how to find out what kind of engine you have.
We’ll also explain what each type of engine means for your car’s performance and fuel economy. So, whether you’re a car enthusiast or just trying to save money on gas, read on to learn more about engines!
How To Find Out What Engine Does My Car Have
Let’s go through the step-by-step process of identifying what type of engine does my car have.
Step 1: Find the VIN number
The first thing you need to do is look for the VIN number. On the driver’s side of the windshield, the vehicle identification number will be engraved in the lower corner.
The VIN can also be found by looking at the door frame, while some cars will have their registration information stamped underhood on a metal plate.
Step 2: Copy the VIN number
Ensure that your copy is exactly as it is on the vehicle. Check again for any error. Because if you get even a single digit wrong, you can’t determine the engine type.
Step 3: Use Decodethis Website
Go to google, and type www.decodethis.com. You’ll be asked to enter your entire VIN on the upper portio of the page. Insert the VIN number here, and then press “Decode.” Next, it will ask you to select the trim type for your car. After you’ve selected the trim, it’ll load a new page.
When you scroll down a bit, you’ll find all the engine relate info you need including your engine type.
How To Identify Engine Type By Engine Number
There are a few different ways that you can identify an engine by its number. One way is to look up the number in a database. Another way is to decode the number yourself.
The numbers usually have meaning and can tell you the make, model, and year of the engine.
You can also find out where the engine was made and what it was originally made for. If you know how to read engine numbers, you can usually identify an engine pretty easily. However, if you’re not sure how to read them, you can always ask a mechanic or look it up online.
How Does Engine Number Work
Every car has an engine number. This is a sequence of numbers and letters that is specific to your car’s engine. The engine number can tell you a lot about your car, including its make, model, and year. It can also be used to track down a specific part if you need to replace it. So how does the engine number work?
The engine number is usually stamped onto the engine itself, usually on the block or cylinder head.
Sometimes, the engine number will also be listed in the owner’s manual. If you can’t find it there, you can try looking under the hood or underneath the car.
Once you’ve located the engine number, you can use it to look up information about your car’s engine. This can be helpful if you’re trying to troubleshoot a problem or find replacement parts.
How Long is VIN code?
Most VIN codes are 17 characters long, but they can be as short as 11 characters if they are made before 1981.
The code is divided into several sections: the World Manufacturer Identifier, the vehicle descriptor section, the check digit, and the model year code.
The WMI is the first section of the code and consists of the vehicle’s country of origin, manufacturer, and type.
The next section, the vehicle descriptor section, provides information about the car’s body style, engine type, and transmission.
The check digit is used to verify the accuracy of the VIN code, and the model year code indicates when the car was manufactured.
Finally, the VIN code is completed with a unique serial number that identifies a specific vehicle. Together, these 17 characters provide a wealth of information about a car’s history and can be used to track its ownership or perform a background check.
How Can You Tell Engine Size By Block?
One way to tell engine size by block is to measure the bore. This is the diameter of the cylinder in the engine block. To measure the bore, you will need a micrometer. Once you have the measurement, you can use a chart to determine the engine size.
Another way to tell engine size is by measuring the stroke. The stroke is the distance that the piston travels up and down in the cylinder. To measure the stroke, you will need a ruler or tape measure. Once you have the measurement, you can use a chart to determine the engine size.
Finally, you can also tell engine size by counting the number of cylinders in the engine block. Keep in mind that some engines have more than one cylinder bank, so be sure to count all of the cylinders. By using one or more of these methods, you should be able to accurately determine engine size by block.
Conclusion
So, how do you find out what type of engine your car has? The answer is that there is no one definitive way to do it.
However, by following the steps we’ve outlined in this article, you should be able to get a pretty good idea of what type of engine your car has.
How to Identify Your Car’s Engine Type and Transmission Using a VIN
