How2 - Read engine codes

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All cavalier engine codes can be broken down into various parts which denote emissions, size, compression, fueling and extras.

E.g. the 2 litre 16v redtop engine as found in the Cavalier GSi has the engine code C20XE, this breaks down as;

• C - European emission standards 1,
  20 - Capacity 2.0 litres,
  X - Compression 10 to 11.5:1,
  E - Fueling is Multi-point Injection.

The extended lists, which include engines codes not originally released in the cavalier range, are;
Emissions -

• Z - meets European emission standards 4,
  Y - meets European emission standards 3,
  X - meets European emission standards 2,
  C - meets European emission standards 1,
  blank - engine was made prior to European emission standards.

Capacity -
Simply put these numbers simply refer to the approximate cc . To extend, the number can be divided by 10 to give the engine size in litres eg a 1998cc engine is referred to as a 2 litre or a 20 in the engine code and a 2498cc or 2.5 litre is 25.

Compression -

• G - 8 to 8.5:1,
  L - 8.5 to 9:1,
  N - 9 to 9.5:1,
  S - 9.5 to 10:1,
  X - 10 to 10.5:1,
  Y - 10.5:1 and higher.

Fueling -

• D - diesel,
  E - multi-point injection,
  V - carburettor,
  Z - single-point injection.

Extras -

• B - IBC,
  C - corporation ignition system,
  F - vehicles for authorities,
  H - high output/supercharging,
  I - Irmscher,
  J - throttled output,
  K - komplex,
  L - lowoutput/supercharging,
  P - power adapted,
  R - increased output,
  T - turbo,
  U - Uruguay,
  V - volume production,
  W - Venezuela,
  2 - family II engine