Volkswagen Engine Identification

To get the correct engine parts for your VW, you must first identify your engine. This page contains original Volkswagen Engine Serial number information to help you identify your air-cooled VW's engine.

Type 1 Engine Information: Click here to view our selection of VW Engine Parts

(Beetle, Super Beetle, Karmann Ghia)

Code
Year
Engine/Notes
1-
Pre-Jan., 1956
25hp/36hp
1- prefix indicates Type 1 and is not part of the sequential engine number.
2, 3, 4
1955-65
1200cc 30bhp DIN, 36HP SAE ("A" series engine)
5, 6, 7, 8, 9
1961-65
1200cc 34bhp DIN, 40HP SAE ("VW D" added below serial after 9247364)
D0, D1
1966-1985
1200cc 34bhp DIN, 40HP SAE For Mexican made 1200s after 1977.
E0
1966-1970
1300cc 37bhp DIN. Non-USA M240 low compression.
F0, F1, F2
1966-1970
1300cc 40bhp DIN, 50HP SAE (only 1966 in USA, 66-70 elsewhere)
H0, H1
1967-1970
1500cc 44bhp DIN, 53HP SAE (only 1967 in USA, 67-70 elsewhere)
H5
1968-1969
1500cc 44bhp DIN, 53HP SAE M157 USA/Canada.
B6
1970
1600cc Dual relief, single port, 47bhp DIN, 57HP SAE M157 USA/Canada.
L0
1967-1970
1500cc 40bhp DIN. Non-USA M240 low compression.
(NOTE: all the following 1971-up engines are dual relief and dual port)
AB
1971-1973
1300cc 44bhp DIN, Non-USA.
AC
1971-72
1300cc 40bhp DIN, Non-USA M240 low octane.
AE
1971
1600cc 50bhp DIN, 60HP SAE-gross. USA-only
AE
1972-1973
1600cc 48bhp DIN, 48HP SAE-net. USA-only (compression ratio reduced)
AF
1971-1982
1600cc 46bhp DIN, Non-USA M240 low octane.
AH
1973-1974
1600cc 48bhp DIN, 46HP SAE-net. USA-only
AK
1973
1600cc 48bhp DIN, 46HP SAE-net. USA-only
AJ
1975-1979
1600cc 50bhp DIN, 48HP SAE-net. Fuel Injected.
AR
1974-1975
1300cc 44bhp DIN. Non-USA.
AS
1974-1979
1600cc 50bhp DIN. Non-USA.
ACD
1992-2004
1600cc 46bhp DIN. Mexico. Fuel Injected.


Type 2 Engine Information:Click here to view our selection of VW Engine Parts

(Early Bus, Early Transporter, Crew Cab, Single Cab)

Code
Year
Engine/Notes
20-
Pre-Jan., 1956
25hp/36hp
20- prefix indicates Type 2 and is not part of the sequential engine number.
2, 3, 4
1955-1960
1200cc, 36hp (includes "Bastard 40hp")
5, 6, 7, 8, 9
1961-1965
1200cc, 40hp
O
1963-1965
1500cc - no cam bearings
H0
1966-1967
1500cc
L0
1967
1500cc M240 low compression
B0
1968-1970
1600cc non-USA
B5
1968-1969
1600cc single relief USA only
B5
1970
1600cc dual relief USA only
C0
1968-1970
1600cc 44bhp. Non-USA. M240 low octane.
AD
1971-1973
1600cc 50bhp DIN. Non-USA.
AE
1971
1600cc 50bhp DIN, 60HP SAE-gross. USA-only
AS
1974-1979
1600cc 50bhp DIN. Non-USA
CB
1972/1973
1700cc - dual carb., manual transmission
CD
1973
1700cc - dual carb., automatic transmission
AW
1973/1974
1800cc - dual carb.
AW
1975
1800cc - fuel-injected
AP
1974/1975
1800cc - European only
ED
1975
1800cc
GD
1976/1977
2000cc
CJ
1976-1979
2000cc - European only
GE
1978/1979
2000cc
CU
1980-1983
2000cc - Vanagon style
CV
1980-1983
2000cc - Vanagon style


Type 3 Engine Information: Click here to view our selection of VW Engine Parts

(Squareback, Fastback, Notchback)

Code
Year
Engine/Notes
O
1961-1965
1500cc
K0
1966-1972
1500cc - 54hp
M0
1966-1972
1500cc - M240 low compression 52hp
P0
1966/1967
1600cc - M240 low compression 50hp
T0
1966-1973
1600cc
U0
1968-1973
1600cc - fuel injected for USA
U0
1970
1600cc - dual-relief case
U5
1971-1973
1600cc - 7.7:1 compression - US/Canada M239 California fuel-injection
X
1972
1600cc - 7.3:1 compression - California


Type 4 Engine Information: Click here to view our selection of VW Engine Parts

(Late Bus)

Code
Year
Engine/Notes
V
1969
1700cc - 68hp
Z
1969/1970
1700cc - 7.8:1 compression - 68hp, dual carb., automatic transmission
W
1971
1700cc - 8.2:1 compression - 80hp
EA
1972-1974
1700cc
EB
1973
1700cc - California only, fuel injection
EC
1974
1800cc
AN
1974
1800cc - 8.6:1 compression
AT
1974
1800cc - European only, dual carb.


Engines from VW of Brazil

GAS-Gasoline / Alcohol-ALC

Code
Engine
BA
1600-BRASILIA (1976)
BB
1600 Beetle
BD
1600 BEETLE GAS
BG
1600 GAS AND KOMBI KOMBI EXP
BJ
1300 BEETLE GAS
BK
1300 LAC BEETLE BRASILIA
BM
1300 LAC GOL
BN
BRAZIL GAS 1600
BV
1600 GAS VARIANT
BX
1600 LAC KOMBI KOMBI EXP
BY
1300 GOL GAS
BZ
1600 GAS VAN
UF
1600 BEETLE GAS
UG
1600 GAS VAN
UJ
1600 LAC BEETLE
UK
1600 LAC VAN
Motors above 90
UFA
1600 BEETLE GAS
UJA
1600 LAC BEETLE
UGA
1600 GAS VAN CARAT


Replacement cases

These cases were VW engine cases that were sold from VW but never issued in an actual production vehicle. All are dual-relief cases with 100mm oil passages. Information from a 5/73 USA service bulletin issued 5/73: Engines with the re-manufactured symbol, a letter, a number and ending with X, indicates a VW Exchange engine. Before Oct., 1968 the X was not stamped onto the block.

From April of 1972 Shortblocks were sold with the VW remanufacture symbol followed by a letter. No numbers were used, you were to stamp in the old engine number.

Code
Engine
F1
1300/1600
F2
1300/1600
DO
40hp if last digit is "X"
D1
40hp part
AD
1600
AK
1967-1974 1500/1600
AM
1600
AS
Sometimes seen listed as Super Beetle case for 1973-onward


Exchange engines

These engines are normally marked with a VW recycle symbol and an X at the end.

Information from a 5/73 USA service bulletin issued 5/73: Engines with the re-manufactured symbol, a letter, a number and ending with X, indicates a VW Exchange engine. Before Oct., 1968 the X was not stamped onto the block.

From April of 1972 Shortblocks were sold with the VW remanufacture symbol followed by a letter. No numbers were used, you were to stamp in the old engine number.