Mopar Engine Codes (version 1.4)

Engine type is coded in Chrysler VINs beginning in 1966. Prior to 1966, the VIN only distinguished a 6 cylinder model from an 8 cylinder model.

Chrysler used two VIN systems. The first, used from 1966-1980, has 13 digits, and the engine code is the 5th digit. The second has 17 digits and the engine code is the 8th digit. As usual, there's an exception. Chrysler's TC by Maserati has the engine VIN digit in the fifth position.

(Jeep used the AMC system until a few years after Chrysler acquired it. Jeep then switched to the Chrysler conventions. See below.)

Knowing the year of the car is often necessary to determine which engine code to use. The year is coded in the 6th (13-digit system) or the 10th digit. (In both cases, the year code is 8 characters from the end of the VIN, or 2 characters before the six-digit sequential build number.) >From 1966 to 1979, the last number of the calendar year was used, and 6 through 9 were repeated (0 *was* used for 1970). Beginning in 1980, the year was coded alphabetically, beginning with 'A' and skipping 'I,' 'O,' and 'Q.' (H=1987, J=1988, N=1992, P=1993, R=1994, etc.)

This list does not include Dodge truck engine codes, which, except for the minivans, are mostly different than those for cars. In fact, the truck VINs use a different system, and may even omit the engine code. (The Jeep list includes all codes from 1981, regardless of usage.)

Code	Engine	Years Used
A	170-1	1966-69
	1.7-2	1978-82 (VW)
	1.6-2	1983-86 (Peugeot)
	2.2 T2	1987-89 (including '89 TC, 5th VIN digit)
	2.2 T3	1991-93

B	225-1	1966-69
	198-1	1970-74
	2.2-2	1981-82
	1.7-2	1983

C	Special Order 6 cyl	1966-69
	225-1	1970-80
	2.2-2	1983-87
	2.2 T4	1990

D	273	1966 (2 or 4 bbl)
	273-2	1967-69
	225-2	1977-80
	2.6-2	1981-82
	2.2 EFI	1985-94

E	318-2	1966
	273-4	1967
	Special order 6 cyl	1970-80
	225-1	1981-82
	2.2 T1	1984-88
	488 V10	1992-

F	361	1966 (2 or 4 bbl)
	318-2	1967-69
	225-1 HD	1981-82
	2.2-2 HP	1984-86
	3.5	1993-

G	383	1966 (2 or 4 bbl)
	383-2	1967-69
	318-2	1970-80
	225-2	1981-82
	2.6-2	1983

H	426 Hemi	1966
	383-4 HP	1967-69
	340-4	1970-73
	318-4	1978-80
	225-1	1983

J	440	1966
	426 Hemi	1967-69
	340-6	1970-71
	360-4	1974-79
	225-1 HD	1983
	2.5 T1	1989-91

K	Special Order V8	1966
	440-4	1967-69
	360-2	1971-80
	318-2	1981-82
	225-2	1983
	2.5 EFI 1986-95

L	440-4 HP	1967-69
	383-2	1970-71
	360-4 HP	1974-78
	318-2 HD	1981-82

M	Special Order V8	1967
	440-6	1969
	400-2	1972-76
	318-4	1981-82

N	383-4	1970-71
	400-4	1974-78
	318-4 HD	1981-82

P	340-4	1968-69
	400-4	1972-73
	400-4 HP	1974-78
	318-2	1983-89
R	426 Hemi	1970-71
	318-4	1983-87
	2.2 T	1989-90 TC only--5th digit (DOHC Maserati head)
	2.0	1990- DSM Eclipse/Talon only
	3.3	1990- non-LH

S	318-4 Police	1983-89
	3.0	1990-91 TC code ONLY--5th digit (same Mitsu 3.0)

T	440-4	1970-77
	1.8	1990- DSM Eclipse ONLY
	3.3	1993- LH

U	440-4 HP	1970-77
	2.0 T	1990- DSM Eclipse/Talon ONLY
	3.0	1990-
V	440-6	1970-72
X	2.2 LPG	1987

Z	Special Order V8	1970-78
	318 LPG	1987

3	3.0	1989-
4	318-4 HD	1984-89
7	318 LPG	1987
8	2.2-2 HD	1984-86

Jeep

Engine code in VIN:

4th digit 1981-1988
8th digit 1989-

Codes from 1981-present: Unless marked as diesel or EFI, all listed engines used 2 barrel carburetors.

CODE B	Engine and Source	Years Used and Notes
B	2.5 Pontiac2.1 diesel	1981
	2.1 diesel	1985-87

C	258 AMC	1981-88

E	2.5 EFI AMC	1989-90 unleaded gas

F	145 diesel	1981-83

G	2.5 EFI AMC	1989-90 leaded gas

H	304 AMC	1981-83
	2.5 EFI AMC	1986-88

L	232 AMC	1981-83
	4.0 EFI AMC	1989-90 unleaded gas

M	4.0 EFI AMC	1987-88

	258 AMC	1989-90 low compression

N	360 AMC	1981-88

P	2.5 EFI AMC	1991-

S	4.0 EFI AMC	1991-

T	258 AMC	1989-90

Chrysler historian Gary Bridger	Surprisingly small 2019 Ram 1500 recall	Dakota to be dropped in favor of ChangAn?	More Mopar Car and Truck News