How to determine engine size by horsepower

Engine displacement characteristics

• minicars (no more than 1.1 liters);
• small cars (from 1.2 to 1.7 liters);
• medium volume (from 1.8 to 3.5 liters);
• large-capacity (from 3.6 or more liters).

This division is quite arbitrary and concerns mainly engines running on gasoline. With diesel engines the situation is slightly different. The displacement indicator of power plants is one of the most important parts of a car. The more fuel mixture is placed in the combustion chamber, the more gasoline the car consumes. But along with fuel consumption, the power of the car also increases, because more fuel will produce a greater amount of released energy.

The disadvantages of large-capacity cars, in addition to fuel consumption, include their higher cost. So, it is logical to assume that much more materials will be required for its manufacture, and the requirements for the quality of manufactured parts will, accordingly, be much higher.

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How to find out the engine size of a car

In the era of development of the automotive industry, a huge number of new automobile products appear that have advanced technologies in the field of design of motor units. New types of engines are being developed, such as hybrids, and new classes of cars are emerging, for example, electric cars. Due to the great variety of engines available on the market, it is difficult for the buyer to decide on the choice of a future car that will serve as a means of transportation at a certain stage of his life. Today we’ll talk about how to find out the engine size.

Types of engines

How to decide on a motor unit? Let's first understand its classification. So, the heart of a car is divided into several types: internal combustion engines and electric motors. However, due to the problem of charging electric cars, the most popular are cars with internal combustion engines. They are divided into gasoline and diesel. Their difference is that engines running on gasoline require an electric spark, which is important for igniting the fuel. The fuel mixture in diesel units can ignite on its own. Each type of engine has its own advantages and disadvantages. Cars with a diesel engine have more torque, they are more economical, by about 20 percent, and accordingly, such cars have a longer range.

Diesels are more reliable due to the fact that they operate without electronic devices, and even in the event of a breakdown, repairing such engines will cost much less than gasoline ones.

As for the disadvantages of engines running on diesel fuel, first of all, this is their weight, which negatively affects the maneuverability of the car; in winter the car will have to warm up for a long time. In vehicles with a gasoline engine, which is jokingly called a “lighter,” the maximum power is slightly higher than diesel engines and, accordingly, the maximum speed is also higher.

But they have a smaller appetite and are less reliable. There are cars with an electric unit.

However, they are much more expensive than usual and the problem of charging the engine is still relevant, not to mention the maintenance of such vehicles. Discounts on new cars! Advantageous loan from 9.9% Installment plan 0%

Powertrain differences

So, you have decided on the type of engine, now you need to select its size. Now there are a lot of units on the market: from the weakest and most economical to the most powerful and gluttonous. Let's talk about their advantages and disadvantages. For engines with large displacement, the tax has been increased, the cost of maintenance and, accordingly, fuel consumption are significantly higher.

A powerful car will serve you for a long time, and if used correctly, it will also be a reliable assistant, because the engine does not suffer from overload and can be fully operated with the air conditioning and other electronic systems turned on.

For low mileage, it makes sense to buy a car with a small engine to avoid high power taxes. It is very important to choose the right parameters and decide on the intended type of operation of the car. Let's compare different volumes of units:

Determining engine size

Now let’s talk about how to find out the displacement of a car unit. There are several ways. You can look at the volume in the car’s technical passport, but this method is not entirely suitable when buying a used car. Perhaps the engine configuration was changed or modernized. The actual value can only be found on the cylinder block. You can also determine the engine displacement by the VIN code. You should look for it under the rear seat, under the windshield, or at the bottom of the driver's door arch. This code consists of seventeen characters.

What is engine displacement

The main characteristic of a power unit (diesel, gasoline) installed on a car or truck is its displacement. The parameter must be indicated when selling a car; important characteristics of the vehicle depend on its value:

• power;
• acceleration speed;
• volume and weight of transported cargo.

Reference!

In documentation, descriptions, and instructions, the engine displacement value is indicated in cubic centimeters or liters.

A mixture of gasoline and air enters the cylinder cavity, during combustion it moves the piston, it moves up and down from the bottom to the top point. The extreme positions are designated by the abbreviations BDC, TDC - top and bottom, respectively.

Parameters that determine the working volume:

• Piston stroke (H) is the distance between the extreme upper and lower positions.
• Combustion chamber volume (Vks). This is the space above the piston when it is at its extreme TDC position.
• The total volume of the cylinder (Vpol) is the space under the piston when it is in the extreme BDC position.

Working volume of one cylinder (Vlab) = Vpol – Vks. To determine the total displacement of the power unit, you need to multiply Vwork of one cylinder by the number of cylinders.

Classification of cars by engine size:

Engine displacement: what is this value and what does it affect?

The engine is the most important component of any vehicle, and most people associate its displacement with the power of the power unit. In general, this approach can be considered consistent with the truth.

But behind the numbers 1.1, 2.0, 3.5 we see only a parameter that determines the class of the car: minicar, compact car, golf class or large car. Not everyone understands what engine volume is at the physical level.

Cylinder volume: what formula to use

To solve this problem, a convenient tool can be useful - an online calculator. If you are interested in the question of how to find out the working volume of a cylinder in your own passenger car , you will need some of its characteristics, namely height and radius divided by diameter.

You can independently calculate the volume of a cylinder using the formula:

V=πr2h

• The symbol V denotes volume,
• R - radius,
• h - height,
• π is the number Pi.

If the diameter is known, then the formula will help calculate the volume of the cylinder:

V=(πD2/4)h

Instead of the radius, the diameter value is indicated. Having the necessary characteristics, computing operations will not seem like a complicated process.

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Engine Model Number

You can also obtain information about the engine model by the number, which is indicated directly on the unit - under the hood, closer to the windshield. Only older American-made models do not have it there, but even on modern cars it is not always easy to find and read it - dust, dirt, soot and corrosion take their toll.

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The engine number is 14 characters:

• The first 5 characters are descriptive information about the base model, modifications of a particular car and climate class.
• 6th symbol – Latin letter A (diaphragm clutch) or P (recirculation valve).
• The last 8 characters are index information (month and year of manufacture, individual serial number).

To determine the engine model, the first three digits of its number, which characterize the indices of the base model and configuration, are of informational value.

By the engine number you can determine its model. But only if you navigate the information and know how to then use it. If the features of car markings are unclear to you, a more suitable way to get the information you are looking for would be an online search specifically by VIN code.

There are two sources of this information: data from the manufacturer and data from organizations carrying out state registration of vehicles (STSI) or some globally significant operations with vehicles (technical inspection, insurance, and so on).

You can obtain data from the manufacturer from the original spare parts catalog for this vehicle. By entering the VIN there, you will receive complete information about the inside of this car, including the required engine size (some catalogs will tell you the engine model instead of the engine size, but knowing the model, it’s easy to google the exact engine size of this model). You can get into the original directory in the following ways:

• try to find a publicly accessible online version of the catalog on the Internet that will decipher your VIN;
• go to dealers or specialists who repair your car and just ask, sometimes they will even answer for free, especially if you are a good and regular customer;
• on the specialized forum dedicated to your car, sofa specialists hang out there around the clock, but they have access to original catalogs and know how to use them, who will gladly amuse their feelings by answering your question.

If the above methods do not suit you and you need an answer here and now without any delays, you can use online services that provide. These handsome VIN guys will tell you not only the size of your engine, but also a bunch of other useful information, for example, mileage history, accident history, the presence of encumbrances, information from the title and something else that will be very useful to you, especially if you are not the first master. Yes, this report will not be completely free, but the information (and most importantly, the speed of its provision) is absolutely worth the money.

Calculation methods and formulas

The volume is easy to calculate if the values ​​of the piston radius (R) and piston stroke (H) are known. The values ​​must be substituted into the formula (3.14 × R² × H). The result obtained is equal to the working volume of one cylinder; to find out the displacement of the engine, you need to multiply it by the number of cylinders.

Formula for calculation: Veng = ((3.14 × R² × H) × number of cylinders)/1000. Divide by 1000 to convert mm³ to cm³.

On a note!

There are calculators on the Internet for calculating engine volume: just fill out the fields and click the “Calculate” button. You can measure the diameters of the cylinders with a micrometer and a bore gauge.

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Calculator for calculating the working volume of an internal combustion engine

The working volume of the cylinder is the volume located between the extreme positions of the piston movement.

The formula for calculating a cylinder has been known since school curriculum - the volume is equal to the product of the area of ​​the base and the height. And in order to calculate the engine volume of a car or motorcycle, you also need to use these multipliers. The working volume of any engine cylinder is calculated as follows:

h - piston stroke length mm in the cylinder from TDC to BDC (Top and Bottom Dead Center)

r — piston radius mm

n - 3.14 is not a nominal number.

What does displacement affect?

Engine size determines the characteristics of the model (maximum speed, torque, acceleration dynamics) and affects the cost of the car. The more powerful the engine, the more complex the other mechanisms (brake system, cooling system, transmission), the more expensive the scheduled maintenance, the higher the fuel and engine oil consumption.

On a note!

Budget small cars consume little fuel: an internal combustion engine with a volume of 1.2-1.7 liters provides sufficient dynamics for the city.

The larger the displacement, the higher the maintenance costs:

• technical inspection;
• insurance;
• registration, deregistration;
• tax;
• customs clearance.

The high price of a car with a large engine is compensated by the comfort of operation, especially in the cold season. The engine warms up faster, is less demanding on the quality of gasoline, and requires major overhauls with higher mileage.

When choosing a new or used car, you always evaluate the engine size. Small cars are not suitable for lovers of long trips: a 1.2-1.7 liter engine does not have enough power at a speed of 100 km/h. For long trips and moving within the city, cars with a displacement of 1.8-3 liters are suitable: they can transport cargo, the engine has enough power when accelerating and driving at high speed. You can find out the working volume from the PTS or using a formula through accurate measurements.

How to Determine VW Engine Size

Volkswagen engines, for 40 years, have had air-cooled, horizontally opposed four-cylinder powerplants. From 1938 to 1980, the VW Beetle carried this engine style; while it may look like a newcomer, some key features show an evolution in size and horsepower. Other models shared the Beetle for their respective year, such as the Type 2 (transporter/bus) and Type 3 (station wagon). All were rear-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive vehicles.

Step 1

Find out what year the Volkswagen model is. Although this is not always certain, since these engines are known for being easy to replace, if the engine came with the vehicle, then the year of the vehicle will determine the size of the engine. Only a certain size was produced in a certain year. For example, in 1978, a 2000 cc engine was manufactured. See for Beetle and Transporter. For most VWs, the year can be found on the door jamb sticker, if applicable.

Step 2

Examine the engine code located on the rear top of the engine. In most cases, this code determines the size of the engine and when it was manufactured. Often the first few letters or numbers give the year of manufacture.

Step 3

Visually inspect the engine. Throughout the Beetle's life, the engine was constantly enlarged and became more powerful. In the 1960s it was powered by an anemic 1200 cc engine, which was decidedly smaller and had no fans or heaters. In 1966, only the 1300 cc engine was available. CM, which resembled the 1200. Several additions were made in 1967, including a much larger 1500 cc engine. CM, which visually took up much more space in the engine compartment than older models. It also had a larger generator and larger belt pulleys. With the introduction of the 1976 model, the 2000 cc engine. CM has become the standard. This is the most recognizable engine, featuring a large flat design and grill inserts in front of the main belt pulley.

Volkswagen engines after 1982 differ significantly from their air-cooled predecessors. While the Beetle arrived on the American market in 1980, the Transporter, now called the Vanagon, continued to use a 2000 cc air-cooled engine. See pre-1983. After this year, VW made the final switch to water-cooled engines, and engine sizes for most of the production line became model specific.

Source

Classification of cars based on engine size

Since there is no vehicle that would meet the needs of all motorists, manufacturers create engines with different characteristics. Everyone, based on their preferences, selects a certain modification.

Based on engine displacement, all cars are divided into four classes:

• Minicars are cars with an engine whose volume does not exceed 1.1 liters. For example, such vehicles include CITROEN C1 and FIAT 500C.

• Subcompact cars are cars whose internal combustion engine capacity varies from 1.2 to 1.7 liters. Such machines are popular among those who value minimal consumption with average performance. Representatives of this class are DAIHATSU COPEN 2002-2012 and CITROEN BERLINGO VAN.

• Medium displacement - the power unit in such cars has a volume of 1.8 to 3.5 liters. This class includes models such as the BUICK REGAL TOURX and LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER EVOQUE.

• Large cars - in such cars the internal combustion engine volume will be more than 3.5 liters. Representatives of this class include: ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH VOLANTE 2013, CHEVROLET CAMARO 2021 and BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT CONVERTABLE.

This classification applies to gasoline units. Often in the description of characteristics you can find slightly different markings:

• B - compact cars with a displacement of 1.0 - 1.6. Most often these are budget options, such as SKODA FABIA.

• C – this category includes models that combine an average price, good performance, practicality and a presentable appearance. The engines in them will be from 1.4 to 2.0 liters. A representative of this class is the SKODA OCTAVIA 4.

• D – most often these cars are used by business people and families. In cars, the engine will be 1.6-2.5 liters. The list of models in this class is no shorter than in the previous segment. One such car is the VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT.

• E – business class vehicles. The internal combustion engine in such models is most often 2.0 liters. and more. An example of such cars is the AUDI A6 2021.

In addition to displacement, this classification takes into account such parameters as the target segment (budget model, mid-price or premium), body dimensions, and comfort system equipment. Sometimes manufacturers equip middle and upper class cars with small engines, so it cannot be said that the presented markings have strict boundaries.

When a car model is between segments (for example, according to technical characteristics it is class C, and comfort systems allow the car to be classified as class E), “+” is added to the letter.

In addition to the mentioned classification, there are other markings:

• J – SUVs and crossovers;
• M – minivans and minibuses;
• S – sports car models.

The engines of such cars can have different volumes.

How to Determine Vehicle Engine Size

by Contributing Writer Updated June 12, 2021

The size of the engine running on the vehicles may also be specified. Decrypting your vehicle is a simple process that usually requires a phone call to your local dealership. There are also several vehicle decoder sites on the Internet. However, the most reliable way to determine engine size is a quick call to a professional vehicle dealership.

How to determine engine size by VIN

Locate the 17-digit VIN on your vehicle. The most common areas for the VIN are on the dashboard near the base of the windshield, inside the glove compartment, or on the inside door frame.

Write down the 17-digit code.

Call your local dealership for your vehicle's make and ask to speak with a representative who can help you decipher the VIN.

Read your VIN to the dealer and ask him to decipher the engine size for your vehicle.

How to Determine Engine Size for a 1977 Ford F-150

engine size Locate the "Vehicle Certification Plate" on the driver's door pillar. Open the driver's door and look where the door latch, it is directly above the latch where the door closes. On the cabin, not on the door.

Write the number in the upper right corner of the label. It is 11 characters long and will look something like this: "F25HLDC0000".

Notice the fourth character, which will be a letter. It stands for as follows: “B” -300 cubic inches inline-six; "G" -302 cubic inch V-8; "H" -351 cc. Inch V-8; "M" - 390 cubic inch V-8; "S" -400 cubic inch V-8; "J" is a 460 cubic inch V-8. In the example above "F25HLDC0000" the "H" is the engine code indicating a 351 cubic inch V-8.

How to Determine Ford Ranger Engine Size

Open the hood and locate the emissions sticker on the top radiator support. The engine family is indicated in small print in a box in the lower right corner of the sticker. It is not labeled as such, but can be identified by the use of a standard engine format - "2.3L", "4.0L", etc.

Locate the 17-digit VIN under the windshield on the driver's side of the dash. Write down the VIN and use a VIN decoder website, such as the one in the Resources section of this article, to determine your specific engine size. Alternatively, you can write down the 8th digit of the VIN, which is the engine code, and decode that digit based on your year and model.

Look in your owner's manual or refer to the online manual for your year and model and look in the "Engine Compartment Component Identification" section. By comparing the pictures in the manual to the location of the components in the engine bay, you can identify the engine in your Ranger.

What characteristics are affected by displacement?

The main parameter on which the power of the car will depend is the engine size. For example, if a modification of 1.5 liters and 120 hp is installed under the hood, then an analogue with an increased volume of up to two liters will naturally be more powerful.

However, displacement should not be considered the only factor affecting power. The characteristics of the engine can change significantly if there is a turbine, changed dimensions of the crank mechanism and a variable valve timing system.

What else does engine size affect?

• Dynamics. The combination of modern gas distribution technologies and a large volume of cylinders allows you to increase the peak speed of the car and reduce acceleration time. These parameters can also change significantly if the manufacturer installs special connecting rods and crankshaft into the engine.
• Cost of the car. Models with a powerful engine will require a more reliable gearbox, improved braking system, suspension, and tires. This is necessary because the driver will try to use the full potential of the vehicle, which means the car will drive fast. The production and maintenance of such vehicles will be more expensive.
• Fuel consumption. Cars with 1.5-liter power units in city mode consume an average of 6-7 liters per 100 km, and medium-displacement cars consume about 9-14 liters per 100 km. The “gluttony” of large-capacity models starts at 15 liters. However, these parameters are relative. So, for dynamic driving in a small car, the driver will often have to “turn” the engine at high speeds, which will certainly lead to excessive fuel consumption. And if the car is equipped with air conditioning, then the small car will be no less voracious than an analogue in a higher class.

The relationship between consumption and volume of an internal combustion engine is described in more detail in the video:

How are fuel consumption and engine size related?

How to check engine size

by Steve Gregory

Shane Stillings/Demand Media

The size of a car's engine is an important factor in its overall evaluation. For example, insurance companies use engine size to help determine the cost of car insurance premiums, while banks use it as a factor in determining the cost of a car loan. If you want to know your car's engine size, there are several ways to get the information.

Step 1

Open the hood of your car and let it in. Make sure it is turned off and cold before proceeding. Inspect the engine compartment for an etched or raised mark indicating engine size. Some cars have an EPA sticker under the hood that lists average gas consumption as well as engine size.

Pros and cons of internal combustion engines with large and small volumes

Each type of engine has its own advantages and certain disadvantages, which can significantly affect the choice of a new car.

Advantages of small-displacement internal combustion engines:

• cheaper cost and maintenance of other parts, for example, gearboxes and chassis;
• economical fuel consumption;
• The turbocharged version combines high performance with minimal loads and a small displacement.

Disadvantages of small displacement engines:

• weak power, which is why the car has a small carrying capacity;
• insufficient dynamics;
• low engine life due to frequent driving at high speeds;
• The turbocharged version is very expensive to maintain.

Advantages of displacement engines:

• power is higher than that of economical analogues;
• increased service life (the engine operates at maximum speed less often, so it will last longer);
• excellent dynamics (to overtake less often you need to switch to a lower speed);
• warm up faster in winter;
• atmospheric modifications are not picky about fuel quality.

Disadvantages of volumetric power units:

• maintenance is more expensive than in the case of an economical analogue (you need to fill in more oil and coolant, install a better gearbox, suspension and brakes);
• high taxes upon re-registration (purchase on the secondary market) and customs clearance;
• increased fuel consumption.

As you can see, engine size is closely related to additional waste, both in the case of small cars and more “gluttonous” analogues. In view of this, when selecting a car modification based on displacement, every motorist must proceed from the conditions in which the car will be operated.

For what parameters to select a car - see this video:

How to choose a car, which engine is better?

Home » Articles » What does engine volume mean?

How to Find Out an Engine Model by Its Number ~ VIVAUTO.RU

a model without the help of others

and engine according to its marking

by newsmaker · January 10, 2013

Very often, when repairing, or replacing one or another component, or a car unit, quite often there is a need to find a model

unit. Using this data, you can select the necessary spare parts or order a new engine for your car.

And so, I bring to your attention an annotation on determining the type and brand of engine

1. Identification of the power unit should begin with the number, which is usually located on the left side. For this purpose, there is a special platform on the cylinder block. Typically, labeling consists of two parts - descriptive and indicative. The descriptive part consists of 6 characters, and the index part consists of eight. The first character is a Latin letter or number, it indicates the year of manufacture of the engine

. For example, nine means 2009, and the letter A, in turn, means 2010, and so on B – 2011...

2. The first three digits of the descriptive part are the index of the base model, the fourth is the modification index. If there is no modification index, it is customary to set it to zero.

3. The fifth number is climate control. The last number is usually either the diaphragm clutch, which can be (A), or the recirculation valve (P). On domestic brand cars

VAZ, for example, the manufacturer stamps the number, as well as the engine model, on the rear end of the cylinder block.

Subscribe! Engine model

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How to determine the type of engine where the engine number is stamped

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4. On GAZ cars (Gorky Automobile Plant), a slightly different placement of this engine number is typical. On LAWNs, the markings should be found in the lower left part of the cylinder block.

Toyota uses the first digit to indicate the serial number in the series, and only the second digit indicates the engine series. Let’s say that an engine marked 3S-FE and 4S-FE, despite their structural similarity, differs only in different displacements.

5. If the marking contains the letter G, this means that the unit is gasoline and has electronic injection and is most likely equipped with a charger or turbine. The letter F means cylinders with four valves, two camshafts and a separate drive. The letter T indicates the presence of turbines, and the Z indicates a supercharger. Here is an example of such marking 4A-GZE. The presence of the letter E can mean that the car is equipped with electronic injection, and S - that the engine is equipped with a direct injection system, and finally X - demonstrates the relationship of the engine to hybrids.

6. Nissan engines have more informative markings. The first and second letters are the series, the next two are the engine size. In order to find out what the engine volume is in cubic cm, you need to multiply this figure by 100. 4-valve engines

will be marked on the cylinder with the letter D. V - variable valve timing, E - electronic multi-point injection. The letter S - in carburetor units, one letter T - one turbine, respectively, two - TT.

7. When marking its engines, Mitsubishi first of all indicates information about the number of cylinders. The type of engine is indicated by the letters A and G (ICE), the letter D means diesel. The designation of diesel engine models can sometimes be supplemented by the letter M, which is evidence of the presence of an electronically controlled injection pump (high pressure fuel pump). The remaining two numbers are the series, the letter T indicates the presence of a turbine.

Well, that seems to be all! I think now you won't be confused about the engine

and you can easily determine what is what.

The principle of operation of the internal combustion engine

Operating principle of an internal combustion engine:

• The combustion chamber of the power unit is filled with a fuel mixture (gasoline with air). The chamber is designed so that it has a movable element (piston).
• Then, using a special device called a “spark plug,” the fuel mixture ignites.
• The energy released as a result of the “explosion” pushes the piston down, which in turn transmits the movement to the crankshaft, which, through various gearboxes, begins to spin the wheels.

This is the simplest description of the operation of the engine; in fact, there are a huge number of nuances, but it also allows us to answer the question of how to find out the volume of a gasoline engine.

Now it is clear that the volume of any engine is the total value of all combustion chambers of the engine. What does this indicator affect? First of all, on the power of the car. Although modern cars are increasingly using turbocharging, which allows inventors to increase power while leaving the volume of the combustion chamber unchanged.

How does the motor work?

The operating process of a car engine is based on the conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy. It is obtained due to the combustion of fuel in the cylinders. Mechanical energy is the driving force that provokes the movement of the vehicle itself. As for cylinders, there are several of them in a car engine. All of them are compactly placed inside a special metal block. Additionally, pistons are installed in this block. This whole structure determines the volume of the car’s engine.

Calculation of internal combustion engine volume with a calculator

To calculate the volume of the engine you are interested in, you need to enter 3 numbers in the appropriate fields - the result will appear automatically. All three values ​​can be found in the car’s passport data or technical data. characteristics of a particular part, or a caliper will help determine what piston volume.

Thus, if, for example, you find that the volume is 1598 cm³, then in liters it will be designated as 1.6 liters, and if the number is 2429 cm³, then 2.4 liters.

Long-stroke and short-stroke piston

Also note that with the same number of cylinders and engine displacement, the cylinder diameters, piston strokes and power of such engines may also be different. An engine with short-stroke pistons is very power hungry and has low efficiency, but achieves great power at high speeds. And long-stroke ones are located where traction and efficiency are needed.

Therefore, the question “how to find out engine size by horsepower” can be given a firm answer - no way. After all, although horsepower has a connection with engine volume, it will not be possible to calculate it from them, since the formula for their relationship also includes many different indicators. So the cubic centimeters of an engine can be determined solely by the piston parameters.

How to find out engine size by VIN code? Decoding the VIN code

You can also find out the engine size by the VIN code. You can see it at the bottom of the driver's door arch, naturally, after opening it first. It is also indicated under the rear seat, under the windshield and in the upper left part of the instrument panel (in this case, the code must be looked at from outside the car).

The last method listed is the most reliable. Since the VIN code is indicated on all cars that were produced starting from about 1980. It consists of seventeen characters, among which the Latin letters I, O and Q are not used due to their similarity with the numbers 1 and 0.

1. The first three characters indicate the car manufacturer's index. (The first is the geographic area code, the second is the country code in that geographic area, and the third is the manufacturer's symbol).
2. The fourth to eighth digits inform about the main technical parameters of the car: model, engine type and size, body type, and so on.
3. The ninth character is the check digit. It is needed so that the authenticity of the VIN code can be determined. With its help, you can find out whether the car is listed as stolen.
4. The twelfth to seventeenth characters are the car body number.

FAQ

• How is engine displacement measured?

  Engine displacement is measured in cubic centimeters

  (cm3), but in documentation it is often written in liters (l.). 1000 cubic centimeters equals 1 liter. The most accurate unit for measuring volume is cubic centimeters, since when the volume of a car engine is indicated in liters, it is rounded to a whole number after the decimal point. For example, the volume is 2.4 liters. equal to 2429 cm3.

• What is the formula for engine cylinder displacement?

  The working volume of the engine cylinder is equal to the product of Pi (3.1415) by the square of the radius of the base and the height of the piston stroke in it. The formula itself for the volume of an internal combustion engine cylinder in cubic meters. centimeters looks like this: Vwork = π⋅r²⋅h/1000

• How to measure car engine displacement?

  Engine volume is the sum of the working volumes of all its cylinders; accordingly, you must first find out what the volume of one cylinder is, and then multiply by their number. The volume of a cylinder is calculated by multiplying the height by the square of the radius and the number “Pi”. But in order to measure exactly the working volume of a cylinder in an engine, you need to take the length of the piston stroke from BDC to TDC as the height, and the radius can also be measured with a ruler, having first found out the diameter of the cylinder. This measurement method is only possible when the head is removed or the parameters are known.

Calculating engine cylinder volume: tips, explanations, formulas

As you know, the volume of a car engine is the sum of the volumes of all its cylinders. However, the formula for calculating the volume of a cylinder is published in various versions, which is sometimes confusing, especially for inexperienced drivers. And yet, regardless of the option used, the calculation principle in all cases remains the same. How much hot air mixture can an engine cylinder pass at one time? It’s immediately worth noting that the more, the higher the torque will be, as well as the engine power. What does “at one time” mean? A four-stroke engine completes a full cycle in 2 revolutions of the crankshaft, that is, intake, compression, power stroke and exhaust occur. So 2 revolutions or 4 measures are counted at one time.

Calculation of cylinder volume

This value is measured in cubic meters or centimeters or in liters. 1000 cm3 equals 1 liter. When specifying engine volume in liters, you must round to one decimal place. For example, if the engine capacity is 1486 cm3, then when converted to liters it should be designated as 1.5 liters; if the volume is 2526 cm3, then it should be written as 2.5 liters. The cylinder displacement of car power units is different.

The concept of cylinder displacement

The cylinder displacement is the volume between the extreme positions of the piston movement. It is filled with a combustible warm-air mixture during its intake when the piston moves from the upper extreme position to the lower one. Approaching the top dead position, the piston leaves a free volume - the combustion chamber, or compression. To calculate the full volume of the cylinder, you need to sum up the volume of the chambers and the working volume. The compression level is a value that is defined as the quotient of the total division in one cylinder and the volume of the combustion chamber. This parameter determines the degree of compression of the combustible mixture in the cylinder. The engine power depends on it, because the higher the compression level, the stronger the burning mixture presses on the piston. Increasing the compression level is beneficial, since in this case the portion of fuel can do more useful work. However, if the compression level is increased excessively, the mixture may spontaneously ignite or burn too quickly and the fuel may detonate. As a result of rapid combustion of the working mixture, the power unit operates unstably.

Detonation can be identified by a sharp knocking sound, a decrease in engine power and thick black smoke from the exhaust pipe. Automotive designers are constantly looking for ways to eliminate fuel detonation when increasing the compression ratio. The compression level determines the need to use a specific type of fuel.

An increase in engine power is affected by an increase in the number of crankshaft revolutions per minute. But even here there are obstacles. This is a lack of time for the combustible mixture to enter the cylinder, the difficulty of removing exhaust gases, as well as excessive acceleration of the operation of parts and mechanisms, leading to their rapid wear. To overcome these obstacles, designers increase the number of crankshaft revolutions. For multi-cylinder power units, the cylinder volume is calculated, after which these volumes are summed up to obtain the engine displacement. An increase in engine power is a consequence of an increase in its displacement. And this parameter is determined by the class of the vehicle.

Variable displacement

Providing variable cylinder displacement is an urgent task. To achieve this effect, technology is used to automatically stop some of the cylinders when the engine is not fully loaded. This system is already used in some models of pickup trucks and SUVs, with fuel savings averaging about 20%. There are also special engines that use mechanical transformation of the piston stroke. However, they are still at the development stage. It is worth noting that internal combustion engines with variable cylinder displacement are used as laboratory equipment, allowing the octane number of gasoline to be determined “by motor method.”

Online calculator

The volume of a cylinder can be calculated using:

• base radius and height, with the height equal to the piston stroke;
• base area and height.

But there are also more complex calculators with an expanded range of functions. They allow you to calculate not only engine volume, but also the compression ratio. For calculations, the values ​​of the following parameters are required:

• connecting rod length;
• piston stroke;
• piston under-return;
• cylinder diameter;
• piston chamber volume;
• thickness and diameter of the gasket;
• chamber volume in the cylinder head;
• number of cylinders.

Before calculating the volume of a cylinder or the entire engine, or calculating the compression level, you should clarify and record all of the above parameters. Beginners may have difficulty with this, so they will have to be persistent.