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Holden Insignia Engine Number
Use this guide to locate the engine number on your Holden Insignia and line up the right engine-related parts enquiry.
The Holden Insignia was a rebadged Opel Insignia sold new in Australia between roughly 2015 and 2017, offered here almost exclusively as the high-performance Insignia VXR, a five-door liftback powered by a 2.8-litre turbocharged V6 driving all four wheels. Being European-built by Opel, it was a low-volume imported flagship and is distinct from the later Commodore ZB (2018-2020), which was the next-generation Opel Insignia B rebadged as a Commodore rather than sold under the Insignia name.
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 Australian Insignia VXR used a 2.8-litre turbocharged V6 from GM's High Feature ("HFV6") family, commonly known by the GM engine designation LP9 and, in Opel/Vauxhall service records, typically carrying the engine code A28NET (verify the exact code against the block, as related 2.8T variants exist). It is a single-turbo, all-wheel-drive application, so identification relies on an Opel/GM engine code rather than a Holden alphabetical prefix. The engine's stamped block serial number is the definitive identifier and should be read directly from the casting or pad rather than inferred from the model. When ordering, quote the 2.8 turbo V6 designation, the Opel-style engine code as stamped, and the block serial number, and confirm any uncertain characters against the physical stamping rather than relying on a generic listing.
This page also draws on later year-by-year data for Holden Insignia to cover modern variants.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the engine number on a Holden Insignia?
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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