The engine code in a Jeep Wrangler VIN is the 8th character. On a JL Wrangler (2018 and newer) G means the 3.6L Pentastar V6, N the 2.0L turbo four, M the 3.0L EcoDiesel, 6 the 2.0L 4xe plug-in hybrid and J the 6.4L "392" V8. So a 2022 Wrangler whose VIN starts 1C4HJXEG6NW has the 3.6L V6: the G is the engine, the 6 after it is only a check digit, N is the 2022 model year and W is the Toledo plant. We confirmed every code below by running VINs through NHTSA's own decoder.
Where to find the VIN on a Wrangler
The owner's manual for the 2022 Wrangler lists two places on the vehicle:
- Windshield, driver's side: the VIN plate sits on the left front corner of the A-pillar and can be read from outside through the glass.
- Driver's door or pillar: the certification label there also carries the VIN, together with the build month and year and the GVWR. The barcode at the bottom of that label is the VIN.
How to read a Jeep Wrangler VIN, position by position
A VIN has 17 characters. Here is the 2022 example from the top of this page, as NHTSA's vPIC decoder reads it:
| Position | Example | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | 1C4 | World manufacturer code: FCA US LLC, multipurpose vehicle (Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Ram) |
| 4–7 | HJXE | Vehicle line, trim and body; vPIC reads this one as a Wrangler Unlimited Sahara, four doors |
| 8 | G | Engine |
| 9 | 6 | Check digit, calculated from the other 16 characters |
| 10 | N | Model year (N = 2022) |
| 11 | W | Assembly plant (W = Toledo North Assembly, Toledo, Ohio) |
| 12–17 | — | Serial number |
The 4th character is not fixed: newer Wranglers decode just as well with other letters there (a 2026 example began 1C4RJX), so don't use it to judge the engine.
Jeep Wrangler JL engine codes (8th VIN digit)
We fed Wrangler VINs for every model year from 2018 to 2026 into NHTSA's vPIC API, changing only the 8th character, and recorded what came back. These are the codes that decode to Wrangler engines:
| 8th character | Engine | Fuel | Horsepower (vPIC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | 3.6L V6 (Pentastar) | Gasoline | 285 hp |
| N | 2.0L turbo four-cylinder | Gasoline | 270 hp |
| M | 3.0L V6 EcoDiesel | Diesel | 260 hp |
| 6 | 2.0L four-cylinder, 4xe plug-in hybrid | Gasoline + electric (PHEV) | 375 hp |
| J | 6.4L V8 (392) | Gasoline | 470 hp |
A few things to know when you use the table:
- The code list is shared across FCA. vPIC also returns engines for codes like T (5.7L V8) on a Wrangler pattern, because the 8th-position table belongs to the whole company. Those engines are not part of the Wrangler lineup, so stick to the five codes above.
- The 4xe and 392 have their own body codes too. Our 4xe examples decoded with 1C4JJXP… as "Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4XE", and the 392 with 1C4JJXSJ… as "Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 392". The 6 or the J in 8th place is still what names the engine.
- No separate eTorque code. vPIC returned only one 3.6L code (G) and one 2.0L turbo code (N) for 2018–2021 JL patterns, so the VIN alone won't tell you whether a mild-hybrid eTorque system is fitted.
Check a Wrangler VIN yourself
NHTSA's free decoder at vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov takes a full 17-character VIN and returns the engine, displacement, cylinder count, fuel type, plant and model year. It also accepts a partial VIN: enter the first 11 characters with an asterisk in place of the check digit (for example 1C4HJXEG*NW). If you type the full VIN and the decoder warns that the check digit does not calculate, one of the characters was most likely mistyped.
Specs for your Wrangler's engine
Once you know the engine code, the right fluids and parts follow. Our 2022 Jeep Wrangler specs split everything by engine, including the 3.6L V6, the 2.0L turbo and the 3.0L EcoDiesel. The 3.6L and 2.0L each take 5.0 quarts of oil with the filter; the EcoDiesel takes 9.0. Other years are on the Jeep Wrangler hub, and the 2027 Wrangler prices by trim cover what is on sale now.