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Holden Malibu Engine Number
Use this guide to locate the engine number on your Holden Malibu and line up the right engine-related parts enquiry.
The Holden Malibu (V300 series, 2013-2016) was a mid-size, front-wheel-drive four-door sedan – a rebadged version of the eighth-generation Chevrolet Malibu built on GM's Epsilon II platform. It was imported rather than locally built, sourced from GM Korea, and slotted into Holden's mid-size range following the Epica and the earlier Vectra.
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 V300 Malibu was offered with a 2.4-litre petrol four from GM's Ecotec family and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four; the two are not interchangeable and are ordered as distinct engines. These units are identified by GM engine codes and a stamped block serial number, not by a Holden engine prefix, so the surest identification comes from the code and serial on the engine itself rather than a badge or assumption. When enquiring, quote the capacity and fuel type – 2.4-litre petrol or 2.0-litre turbo-diesel – together with the stamped number and any code visible on the block or ID plate. If you cannot read the engine code with confidence, record the stamped serial exactly and let a specialist confirm the variant, rather than guessing between the two.
This page also draws on later year-by-year data for Holden Malibu to cover modern variants.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the engine number on a Holden Malibu?
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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