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Holden Commodore Engine Number
Use this guide to locate the engine number on your Holden Commodore and line up the right engine-related parts enquiry.
The Commodore was Holden's volume large car and effective flagship from 1978 (VB) until the locally built line ended with the VF in October 2017, after which the nameplate continued briefly as the imported ZB. It was built at Elizabeth, South Australia, which gives it the largest installed base — and the broadest parts demand — of any Holden, across sedan, wagon and ute body styles.
Where to find your Holden engine number
The stamped engine number is on a machined pad on the block. Its location depends on the engine family:
- Inline six-cylinder: on a pad on the right-hand side of the block, above the engine-mount boss.
- V8 (253 / 308, 4.2 / 5.0 litre): on a pad on the left-hand side of the block, above the engine mounting.
- V6 (Buick-derived, Ecotec, Alloytec): on the front left-hand face of the block, below the ignition coil.
- Later V6 and LS V8 models: the build / engine plate sits on the radiator support panel (VT-VZ era) or the passenger-side strut tower (VE / VF era).
You may need to wipe the pad clean to read the stamped number, and on air-conditioned cars the compressor can sit in front of it. Older Holden engines use a capacity-plus-tune prefix (for example 186S or a Q-series V8 code), while modern engines (Ecotec, Alloytec and the LS V8 family) use a GM engine code plus a separate stamped serial.
For the most accurate part match, send us both the engine code or prefix and the full stamped number, along with whether the car is automatic or manual.
On this model
Commodore engines span Holden's own L6 and V8 (early cars), the Nissan RB30 six (VL only), the Buick-derived and Ecotec 3.8 V6, the Alloytec 3.6 V6, and the Gen III/IV LS V8 family (LS1, L76, L77, L98, LS2, LS3). Older engines use a capacity-plus-tune prefix; the V6 and LS engines use a GM engine code plus a stamped serial, so send us both the engine code and the stamped number for an accurate match.
⤢ Tap to enlargeThis page also draws on later year-by-year data for Holden Commodore, Holden HDT Commodore to cover modern variants.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the engine number on a Holden Commodore?
It is stamped on a machined pad on the engine block. Inline sixes are on the right side above the engine mount, the 253/308 V8s on the left side above the mount, and the V6 engines on the front left face below the ignition coil. You may need to wipe the pad clean to read it.
What is the difference between an engine prefix and an engine code?
Older Holden engines use a capacity-plus-tune prefix stamped on the block, while modern engines (Ecotec, Alloytec and the LS V8 family) use a GM engine code plus a separate stamped serial.
Do you match engine numbers to parts?
Yes. Send us the engine code or prefix and the full stamped number, plus whether the car is automatic or manual, and we will match the right engine-related part.
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