F20C Engine Number & Year Correlation
 

Hi Folks,
Just checking: Is there any way to know the fabrication year by just checking the engine number in the block? Asking because JDM engines doesn't have a VIN and want to purchase one with proper banjo bolts installed. (mid-2002+)

Thanks!
BattleRaT

Usually it's the third digit in the serial #,i.e. if engine number is: F20Cx-10y0000
x = (blank) JDM
x = 1 US/CAN
x = 2 UK/Europe
y = last digit of model year (except for US/CAN 2003, when y = 4)

The second serial digit (btw 1 and y) was also used for certain regions, e.g. 2nd digit "1" = Canada, "2" = South Africa (I think), and the 4th digit (after the y) was sometimes used for a trim level.

WHOA!!!! Thanks man!!!

ouch, rule doesn't work for this JDM engine at least:

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...f9a90f9341.jpg

But it's weird, other "F20C Engines" (JDM) are in facy using the normal F20Cx-10y0000 coding
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...51277c167f.jpg

Interesting. What more do you know about the engine in the top photo?
Edit: n/m found it. :) Anyway as I said, for non-JDM motors the 2nd digit was region-specific, 3rd digit was usually year; but I don't have much data about the JDM motors. That "2" could indicate almost anything; e.g. maybe Honda used that digit for replacement (crate) motors. Would be interested to see what you find.

Will do!! and THANKS again for your tips man!

Just to throw some extra info out there, from what I can tell New Zealand-new models have F20C1-12ynnnn engines, so US/Canada-spec engines and "2" for region - I suspect the region may be the same for NZ and Australia.

^Thanks, that's consistent with the data I have, which indicates F20C1-12y0001~ engine numbers for AUS, NZ, and the "rest of Asia" (i.e. non-Japan). That series was apparently also used in South Africa for '00-'03 (and maybe MidEast? if there were any sales there at all), but from '04 onwards SA got UK/Euro-spec motors, numbered F20C2-10y0001~.

Interestingly, transmission numbers apparently didn't distinguish between regions, or even between AP1 and AP2, which have different gear ratios! Instead, all transmissions worldwide were numbered SCYM-x000001~, where
x = 1 ('00-'01)
x = 2 ('02-'03)
x = 3 ('04-'05)
x = 4 ('06-'07)
x = 5 ('08)
x = 6 ('09)

U.S. VINs and engine/trans #s:
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...48f8af7281.jpg
UK/Europe VINs and engine/trans #s:
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...01b9a88078.jpg

Note: The region codes are
KE = UK/Ireland (RHD, mi)
KG = Western Europe (LHD/RHD, km)
KN = South Africa (and maybe MidEast??) (RHD, km)

Other Honda region codes for your own reference :) (some of these might not be exactly right)
KA = USA (LHD, mi)
KC = Canada (LHD, km)
KQ = AUS/NZ (RHD, km)
KH = China/Taiwan/Korea (LHD/RHD, km)
KU = Malaysia/Hong Kong (RHD, km)

in one image:
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...c6fe7446f4.png