VW Engine Codes
Alphanumeric Volkswagen Engine Codes were stamped on VW Engine cases at time of car manufacture to convey information about the size and specs of the engine. Because VW offered multiple engine sizes and made changes to their engines independently of model changes, they used Engine Codes instead of relying on VIN numbers for this purpose. There is some engine information that can be derived from VW VIN Numbers for pre-1968 vehicles.
From the first 1 or 2 digits of a Volkswagen Engine Code you can derive the approximate year and engine size. The remainder of a VW Engine Code is essentially a serial number.
Chart Information Crowdsourced at TheSamba.com
Type 1 | ||
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, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | 55-65 | 1200cc, 36hp/40hp |
D0 | 1966/67 | 1200cc |
F0 | 1966/67 | 1300cc |
H0 | 1967 | 1500cc |
F1 | 1967 | 40hp |
E0 | 1967 | M240 low compression 37hp |
L0 | 1967 | M240 low compression 40hp |
H5 | 1968/69 | 1500cc |
B6 | 1970 | 1600cc – dual relief, single port |
AB | 1971/73 | 1300cc – dual port |
AE | 1971/72 | 1600cc – dual relief, dual port |
AH | 1973/74 | 1600cc – 8mm head studs with case savers |
AJ | 1975-1979 | 1600cc – fuel injected |
Type 2 | ||
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, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | 55-65 | 1200cc, 36hp/40hp |
O | 1963/64 | 1500cc – no cam bearings |
H | 1965 | 1500cc |
HO | 1966/67 | 1500cc |
L0 | 1967 | M240 low compression |
B5 | 1968/69 | 1600cc – single relief |
B5 | 1970 | 1600cc – dual relief |
AE | 1971 | 1600cc |
CB | 1972/73 | 1700cc – dual carb., manual transmission |
CD | 1973 | 1700cc – dual carb., automatic transmission |
AW | 1973/74 | 1800cc – dual carb. |
AW | 1975 | 1800cc – fuel-injected |
AP | 1974/75 | 1800cc – European only |
ED | 1975 | 1800cc |
GD | 1976/77 | 2000cc |
CJ | 1976-1979 | 2000cc – European only |
GE | 1978/79 | 2000cc |
CU | 1980-1983 | 2000cc – Vanagon style |
CV | 1980-1983 | 2000cc – Vanagon style |
Type 3 | ||
Code | Year | Engine/Notes |
O | 1961-65 | 1500cc |
K0 | 1966-1972 | 1500cc – 54hp |
M0 | 1966-1972 | 1500cc – M240 low compression 52hp |
P0 | 1966/67 | 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 | ||
Code | Year | Engine/Notes |
V | 1969 | 1700cc – 68hp |
Z | 1969/70 | 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. |
Porsche 914 | ||
Code | Year | Engine/Notes |
W | 1970/71 | 1700cc – 8.2:1 compression – 80hp |
EA | 1972-1973 | 1700cc |
EB | 1973 | 1700cc – 7.3: compression, California only, fuel injection |
EC | 1974 | 1800cc – California only, 7.6:1 compression |
AN | 1800cc – 8.6:1 compression | |
GA | 1973/74 | 2000cc – 7.6:1 comporession |
GB | 1973-1976 | 2000cc – 8.0:1 compresssion |
GC | 1975/76 | 2000cc – 7.6:1 compresssion |
V0 | 1700cc – European-only 1800cc – European-only 2000cc – European-only |