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Holden HSV Xu6 Engine Number
Use this guide to locate the engine number on your Holden HSV Xu6 and line up the right engine-related parts enquiry.
The HSV XU6 was Holden Special Vehicles' supercharged V6 model, produced from around 1998 to 2001 on the VT and VX Commodore platform. It was unusual within the HSV range for using a force-fed six-cylinder rather than the marque's familiar V8, making it a distinctive entry in the line-up.
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
The defining feature of the XU6 is its supercharged 3.8-litre Ecotec V6 – a six-cylinder rather than a V8 – which distinguishes it from most other HSV models of the era. This is the supercharged version of the 3800 Series V6, commonly identified by the engine code L67, and the engine's stamped identification number should be checked against the vehicle documentation to confirm the correct unit; if you are unsure of the exact code on a given car, verify it physically rather than assuming. Because it is supercharged, a number of components are specific to this driveline – notably the supercharger assembly, its drive pulleys and belt arrangement, intake plumbing and related ancillaries – which do not interchange with the naturally aspirated V6. When sourcing engine parts, be sure you are matching the supercharged V6 specification rather than a standard Commodore six.
This page also draws on later year-by-year data for Holden XU6 to cover modern variants.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the engine number on a Holden HSV Xu6?
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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