When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
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+)
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.
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.
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:
UK/Europe VINs and engine/trans #s:
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)
Last edited by twohoos; 10-17-2023 at 12:20 PM.
Reason: Corrected US serial # chart
11-19-2018, 06:49 AM
F20C Engine Number & Year Correlation
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.
