Start with the engine, not the car
Every maker in our range marks the engine itself. Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai and Kia owner's manuals all state that the engine number is stamped on the engine or engine block, and each shows the exact spot with a drawing because the location changes from one engine to another. On these brands the engine model — 1NZ, 2TR, QR25, G4KD and so on — is normally part of that marking.
Isuzu's engine identification guide for its industrial diesels, which lists the 4JA1 and 4JB1, says the engine model is cast on the side of the block and/or shown on an identification label on the valve cover, with the engine number stamped on the block. On a used engine the stamping is often under oil, dust or paint: clean the pad gently, and photograph it with light from the side so the characters throw a shadow.
What the vehicle tells you
The vehicle helps confirm the engine, but only as a second source. Toyota model codes — the code printed on the manufacturer's plate, such as GRJ, TGN or NZE — are built by combining letters from the engine code with the platform code, so they point to the engine family. In vehicles built for the United States, US rules require characters 4 to 8 of the VIN to encode the vehicle's attributes, including the engine type, and the emission control label in the engine compartment must show the engine displacement.
Vehicles built for other markets do not always follow the same rules, and a car may have had its engine changed before, so treat plates, VIN and labels as a check on the engine stamping rather than a substitute for it. The glossary explains the trade terms.
The pairs buyers confuse most
Toyota 1NZ-FE and 2NZ-FE: the 1.5 and 1.3 of the same family, same 75 mm bore and different stroke, nearly identical from outside — see 1NZ vs 2NZ. Hyundai-Kia G4NA and G4KD: both 2.0-litre, fitted to the Tucson, Sportage and Sonata in different years, but from different families (Nu and Theta II) — see G4NA vs G4KD.
Isuzu 4JA1 and 4JB1: same 93 mm bore, 2.5 against 2.8 litres from a longer stroke — see 4JA1 vs 4JB1. Nissan QR20DE and QR25DE: same 89 mm bore, 2.0 against 2.5 litres, and the X-Trail, Serena, Primera and Teana each had versions with one or the other. Only the QR25DE is among our published models — see Nissan QR25 and VQ35.
Why photos matter, and what ours show
A photo of the stamping settles in seconds what a description cannot, which is why experienced importers ask their customers for it before ordering and check it again when the goods arrive. Ask for the stamping, the vehicle identification plate and the model year together.
At ENGICOR you choose models, not individual units, and each engine in your container is photographed from every side; the photos in your order file — Engine 1, Engine 2 and so on — show the engine code or identification plate where it is visible. Our check is the same for every engine: cleaning, handling, a manual crankshaft rotation with a tool to confirm the mechanism turns, and photos from every side, delivered to you as an order file — Engine 1, Engine 2 and so on. It is not a compression, leak-down, bench or running test, so it does not prove how an engine will run once installed. You don't need to travel to buy, but you or your representative are welcome to visit for a Guangzhou Inspection Day and review your prepared lot in person, with a USD 1,000 visit deposit credited to your order. All engines are Grade A, sold by the full container: 90 or 130 engines, or 45 + 45 and 65 + 65 with gearboxes — see grading and the quote page.
Price a container yourself
Build the mix you want in the online quoter — 90 engines in a 20-ft or 130 in a 40-ft, or 45 + 45 / 65 + 65 with gearboxes — and the FOB total reaches your inbox the same minute, at our published per-unit prices, every engine Grade A. Prefer to ask? Tell us the destination country and the models you need and we reply within one business day, usually within hours.
Frequently asked
Where is the engine model stamped on a Toyota, Nissan or Hyundai engine?
The engine number is stamped on the engine block, and the engine model is normally part of that marking; the exact spot varies by engine, and the owner's manual shows it with a drawing.
Can I identify the engine from the VIN?
Only partly: in vehicles built for the United States, characters 4 to 8 of the VIN encode the engine type, and Toyota model codes contain letters from the engine code, but the stamping on the engine itself is the reliable source.
Do ENGICOR's photos show the engine code?
Yes, where it is visible: each engine in your order file is photographed from every side, and the photos show the engine code or identification plate when it can be seen on that engine.