Where is the car engine number located?
2 Answers
The engine number is generally found on the outer surface of the engine block, or on the vehicle's nameplate, the nameplate inside the engine compartment. You can also check the engine number on the car purchase invoice; the factory certificate includes the engine number; for commercial vehicles, the operation permit can be used to query the engine number; the vehicle purchase tax payment certificate contains the engine number; the public security authority's registration records have the engine number; the vehicle insurance card lists the engine number; it can also be found below the windshield directly in front of the driver's seat. The simplest and most direct method is to check the vehicle's administrative green book or the vehicle registration certificate. The engine number is like a person's ID number, representing each individual vehicle. It stores very important information about the vehicle. The engine model is an identification code assigned by the engine manufacturer in accordance with relevant regulations, industry or enterprise practices, and the engine's attributes, for a batch of identical products. It indicates information such as the manufacturer, specifications, performance, features, technology, purpose, and production batch of the engine, including details like fuel type, number of cylinders, displacement, and static braking power. Engines installed in passenger cars or multi-purpose passenger vehicles are marked with the professional manufacturer's name, model, and production number as required. It's important to note that the engine number is not the same as the engine model. The engine model refers to the specifications and size of the engine within the manufacturer's product line, and multiple engines can share the same model. The engine number, however, refers to the production number of the engine, with each engine having a unique number that cannot be duplicated. Composition of the car engine number: Front section: Includes the product series code, generation symbol, and regional or enterprise code, which the manufacturer can choose as needed, but must be approved and recorded by the industry standard's regulatory body. Middle section: Consists of symbols for the number of cylinders, cylinder arrangement, stroke, and cylinder diameter. Rear section: Comprises symbols for structural features and usage characteristics. Tail section: Distinguishing symbols. When differentiation is needed within the same series due to improvements or other reasons, the manufacturer selects appropriate symbols to indicate this, with the rear and tail sections possibly separated by a hyphen.
I previously encountered a situation where I couldn't find the engine number, but eventually a mechanic helped me solve it. The engine number is usually engraved on the engine block itself, but its location varies significantly depending on the vehicle model. For ordinary cars, you can find it by opening the hood and looking along the front of the car at the side of the cylinder block. However, some cars require removing the intake manifold cover to see it. German cars often have the number stamped on the rear side of the engine near the cabin, while Japanese cars mostly have it on the front side of the engine. If you're looking for it yourself, remember to do it when the engine is cold. Use a flashlight to search for the metal nameplate, and if it's covered with grime, clean it with carburetor cleaner. This number is particularly important—it's used for vehicle transfers and annual inspections, so it's best to take a photo and save it on your phone for backup. If you really can't find it, don't force it—a professional repair shop can handle it in about twenty minutes.
