Buying parts for your car is impossible if you do not have some details. The engine number and VIN are examples of these details. Given that there is no set rule for placing these numbers, they can be difficult to locate. Where can you find the engine tag?
The engine ID tag is a sticker found on the engine. It could also be etched into the engine. Different car brands have their specific designs and locations for this tag.
This article will explore whether the engine number is the same as a serial number. It also describes the locations of the engine tag and VIN of a car. In conclusion, there are directions on how to find your engine number online.
Is the Engine Number the Same as a Serial Number?
Originally, engine numbers were created as serial numbers and they remain so. The manufacturers imprint the numbers on the engine block, a part of the engine that cannot be removed easily.
On the engine tag, there are nine characters. A three-digit engine code comes first, and a six-digit number follows. You can also check your owner’s manual for the engine number if you cannot locate it on the engine.
As mentioned earlier, it is a vital number to have handy for routine maintenance of your car and in case you need to replace an engine part. Paired with a VIN, it helps manufacturers track cars for fixing an issue or recall cars.
Where Can the Engine ID Tag Be Found?
The engine ID tag contains the specifications of your engine (in the code number), the model, make, and year of manufacture. Some cars like FORD also include the assembly plant of the engine.
On the engine, you can see it under the bolts of the engine, on its left or right side. Do not mix up the engine tag with the EPA tag.
Where Do You Find the Vin on an Engine?
A car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is also the chassis number of the car. Like a fingerprint, each car has a unique VIN. It is a code that details the manufacturing information, body style, and drive train of your car.
The VIN comprises 17 characters (letters and numbers), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration required it on every car from 1981. As the chassis number, it is on the chassis of the car. Other locations are:
- The lower-left corner of the car’s dashboard. It is on a plate and you can see it from the windshield (easy for police checks.)
- Your registration certificate.
- The hood of your car.
- Your insurance policy documents.
- The doorpost of the driver’s side. Look for it close to where the door latch is, near the seatbelt return.
- In front of the engine block. You easily see it once you pop your hood.
- Inside the doorjamb on the driver’s side. It is situated where the side mirror would be if you shut the door.
- Underneath the spare tire and also on the well of the rear wheel.
- On the car frame, close to the can that holds washer fluid for the windshield.
How to Decode the Vin
Finding your car’s VIN is useless if you cannot decode or interpret it. You interpret it using this guide:
- The first character tells the country your car was manufactured in. A VIN that begins with 1, 4, and 5 indicates US-made cars.
- The second and third characters show details of the manufacturer.
- The eighth number from the left shows the type of engine installed, its capacity, and the car’s fuel type.
- The ninth number indicates the security code put by the manufacturer.
- The tenth number from the left specifies the model year of the car (not the year it was built).
- The manufacturing plant of your car’s model is the eleventh digit and the 6 numbers left is the serial number of the car.
This is a general pattern that manufacturers usually use. Different car manufacturers also have unique code manuals you can use to decode the VIN.
The Importance of the Vin
There are many reasons the VIN is important, especially if you want to buy a second-hand car. Outlined below are the reasons:
- In track information about your car’s accident and insurance claim history
- Your car’s registration information is tied to it.
- It verifies the identity of the car and rules out suspicious activities surrounding the car.
There are many databases of VINS that enable a search and comparison. Some of these databases have limited free uses and others are paid platforms.
How Do I Find My Engine Number Online?
If you have been unsuccessful with physically locating your engine number, you can resort to online resources to find it. The internet is a vast place and it may be difficult to sift through all the information to get what you want. Here are a few ways to go about it:
- Check on car forums.
Other users are always a wealth of information. You might find someone with the same car model as yours who can provide some information about your engine number.
- Have your mechanic or auto shop do it for you.
Sometimes, they have the access and means to retrieve information on details like an engine number.
- Reach out to the car manufacturer.
You can try to chat them up online, call, or email. They are capable of provident the help you need.
- Try to search on free sites that check VIN
There are some government and non-government sites that enable you to look up the Vin number. Examples include the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), CARFAX, AutoDNA,
Etc.
Although the VIN doesn’t hold the engine number, it is possible to use it along with your registration number to find the engine number online.
It is handy to have the numbers necessary for a change of car parts or routine maintenance. You can record them in a book if it helps you keep better track of them. A digital copy of your lists that can be retrieved easily is also ideal.
