What type of engine do I have?

[Alanovich]

I've never been sure of my engine's specific type, be it B220E, B200K or whatever.

I looked at the Engine number on my V5 last night and it starts B200 sure enough, but there are no letters in it whatsoever. It reads B200000510346 or something like that. No letters, just numbers.

The car's a 2.0 injection 360 GLE saloon, D reg (mk3) So can I just assume that it's a B200E engine as it is fuel injection, or is there anywhere else I will find the correct engine type?

[alf]

Hi, look under the oil filter- left side i think , on the block there is a spot where it`s embossed the engine type.

[Alanovich]

Ah ha! Knew it had to be somewhere. Thanks.

[Ride_on]

B200E etc is still not a full description of the Engine, you have to add another letter. If you look at the 1988 owners manual with the specification for the engines you can see several types of B200E, eg B200EE / EA (EA has 2 way cat + fuel vapour recirc). Older B200E will be different again, I think EO was the best one with high compression in 86, before they went all super-low octance.

The first 'E' basically means LE-Jetronic injection (I think). Also note this only applies to 300s, the engine numbering is different in 200/700/900s, so a B200E is something different there (although similar).

If you have lost the engine label you need to identify it using the specs in the manual, but most parts are pretty common across all B200s.

[SteveP]

Will definitely be a B200E

[foggyjames]

As Tony says, there is a second letter which defines the emissions control stuff (etc), but you barely need to worry about that. The important detail is that it's a B200E. The only place it's marked on the engine (the block casting just says "B200") is on the label on the cambelt cover.

cheers

James

[pettaw]

It'll definitely be a B200E. The important thing is will it be a high compression or a low compression. "D" reg is not enough information, because C/D reg is when it changed over. You'll need the model year which can be found on the chassis number. The number goes something like XLB344xxxHx123456. Where the H is on my made up number, there'll be a letter. Either G or H. G means 1986 and high compression - more power and torque and slightly better fuel consumption, but you need to use Super Unleaded 98 Octane. And H means 1987 and you can use standard 95 Octane.

[Alanovich]

Ah. My handbook says 98 Octane should be used. So I have always used 99, as it seems that most "Super" unleadeds are 97 Octane, excpet SHell V Power and Tesco Momentum99.

I'll have a shufty at the chassis number when I get home later.

Thanks.

[SteveP]

As a hunch I reckon it'll be an 86 - they only made that special edition for a limited period, and yours is the 'newest' of them, the rest I've encountered have all been C reg