3.8 liters is 231.9 cubic inches (3,800 cc) by straight math. Makers round, so the engines sold as 3.8 L measure from 229.2 to 234.8 cubic inches.
The most common: 231.4 ci (Buick 231); 230.0 ci (Pontiac 230 (Chevy Straight-6 (194/230/250/292))); 231.9 ci (American Motors 232); 232.0 ci (Ford 232 (Essex)); 229.2 ci (Chevrolet 229); 230.6 ci (Dodge 230).
| Engine | Codes | Years | Bore × stroke | Cubic inches | cc | Cylinders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buick 233 | — | 1936 | 3.094" × 3.875" | 233.0 | 3,819 | 8 |
| Dodge 230 | T137 | 1946–2011 | 3.780" × 3.425" | 230.6 | 3,778 | 6 |
| Nash 235 | — | 1949–1951 | 3.375" × 4.375" | 234.8 | 3,848 | 6 |
| Hudson 232 | — | 1950–1954 | 3.563" × 3.875" | 231.8 | 3,798 | 6 |
| Studebaker 233 | — | 1951–1953 | 3.375" × 3.250" | 232.6 | 3,812 | 8 |
| Jaguar 231 | XK 3.8 | 1961–1964 | 3.425" × 4.173" | 230.7 | 3,780 | 6 |
| Pontiac 230 (Chevy Straight-6 (194/230/250/292)) | — | 1963–1970 | 3.875" × 3.250" | 230.0 | 3,769 | 6 |
| American Motors 232 | — | 1965–1979 | 3.750" × 3.500" | 231.9 | 3,801 | 6 |
| Jeep 232 (AMC I6) | — | 1965–1978 | 3.752" × 3.500" | 232.2 | 3,805 | 6 |
| Studebaker 230 | — | 1966 | 3.875" × 3.250" | 230.0 | 3,769 | 6 |
| International 232 | — | 1969–1971 | 3.752" × 3.500" | 232.2 | 3,805 | 6 |
| Buick 231 | LD5, L67, L36, LC8 | 1975–2008 | 3.799" × 3.402" | 231.4 | 3,791 | 6 |
| Chevrolet 229 | LC3 | 1980–1984 | 3.736" × 3.484" | 229.2 | 3,755 | 6 |
| Mercedes-Benz 234 | — | 1981–1985 | 3.465" × 3.106" | 234.3 | 3,839 | 8 |
| Ford 232 (Essex) | 3-code, 3.8L, 3.8L V6, 3.8L V-6 | 1982–1997 | 3.811" × 3.390" | 232.0 | 3,802 | 6 |
| Ford 232 | 3.8 OHV V6, Essex 3.8 | 1994–2004 | 3.800" × 3.400" | 231.4 | 3,791 | 6 |
| Mitsubishi 233 (Cyclone) | 6G75, 6G75 SOHC, 6G75 MIVEC | 2003–2012 | 3.740" × 3.543" | 233.6 | 3,828 | 6 |
| Porsche 233 (M97) | M97, M97/01 | 2005–2008 | 3.898" × 3.260" | 233.4 | 3,824 | 6 |
| Nissan 232 (VR38) | VR38DETT, VQ38DD | 2009–2026 | 3.760" × 3.480" | 231.8 | 3,799 | 6 |
| Porsche 232 (MA1) | 9A1, MA1.24, MA1/01 | 2009–2019 | 4.016" × 3.051" | 231.9 | 3,800 | 6 |
| Hyundai 232 (Lambda) | G6DA | 2010–2016 | 3.780" × 3.425" | 230.6 | 3,778 | 6 |
| Porsche 232 (Mezger) | M97/77, Mezger 3.8 | 2010–2011 | 4.043" × 3.008" | 231.7 | 3,797 | 6 |
Cubic inches and cc are worked out from each engine's bore and stroke. Years are the model years of the factory cars on this site that list the engine.
Start with the engine code: on 1981-and-later cars and trucks it is a character of the VIN (the 8th on most American makes), and most blocks carry a code stamp. Each engine's page lists its codes and the cars it came in. See the VIN engine code lists by make.
231.9 cubic inches by straight conversion (1 liter = 61.024 cubic inches). Real 3.8 L engines measure 229.2 to 234.8 cubic inches; the table above lists each one.
3,800 cc by definition. The engines sold as 3.8 L range from 3,755 to 3,848 cc.
Makers name engines by rounded sizes. The real size comes from bore × bore × stroke × 0.7854 × cylinders, so two engines sold as the same size are often a few cubic inches apart.