Found a new engine in A desrt and not sure if it is worth swapping in? Some engines are fast, some are strong, and some need a radiator you may never find.
This page lists all 13 engines with their top speed, horsepower and fuel. It also shows which radiator each one needs and how often you will find that radiator. Everything was checked on September 26, 2026.
Quick answer. The V8 Engine is the best normal engine: the most power (317 hp) and the highest top speed (169 km/h, or 212 with Gearbox Pro). It needs a High radiator. For an easy start, the motorcycle’s Engine-H is almost as fast and needs no radiator at all.
All 13 A desrt engines
“Found” is how often the engine shows up as loot inside buildings. Top speeds are on Standard Tyres.
| Engine |
Power |
Fuel |
Top speed |
With Gearbox Pro |
Radiator needed |
Found |
| Jet Engine |
Very high |
Gas or diesel |
No limit |
No limit |
None |
4% |
| V8 Engine |
317 hp |
Diesel |
169 km/h |
212 km/h |
High |
2% |
| Engine-D |
272 hp |
Diesel |
144 km/h |
182 km/h |
Very High |
6% |
| Engine-U |
272 hp |
Gas |
144 km/h |
181 km/h |
High |
2% |
| Electric Engine |
265 hp |
Batteries |
112 km/h |
141 km/h |
None |
1% |
| Engine-L |
238 hp |
Gas |
125 km/h |
158 km/h |
High |
2% |
| Engine-E |
204 hp |
Gas |
144 km/h |
181 km/h |
High |
4% |
| Injection Engine |
119 hp |
Gas |
125 km/h |
158 km/h |
Medium |
6% |
| Van Engine |
95 hp |
Gas |
125 km/h |
158 km/h |
Medium |
5% |
| VAZ Engine |
89 hp |
Gas |
125 km/h |
158 km/h |
Low |
6% |
| Engine-H |
48 hp |
Gas |
158 km/h |
211 km/h |
None |
6% |
| SMZ Engine |
40 hp |
Gas |
84 km/h |
106 km/h |
Low |
4% |
| Engine-M |
24 hp |
Gas mixed with a little oil |
80 km/h |
80 km/h (locked) |
None |
6% |
The Jet Engine has no top speed limit, so it is in a class of its own. The Electric Engine runs on batteries, so it needs no fuel, oil or radiator.
Top speed comes from gears, not power
Horsepower does not decide how fast an engine can go. Each engine has its own gearing, and that sets the top speed. More power mostly helps you speed up faster and climb hills.
The proof: the VAZ Engine, Van Engine, Injection Engine and Engine-L all top out at 125 km/h. Yet they range from 89 hp to 238 hp. And Engine-H, the motorcycle engine with only 48 hp, reaches 211 km/h with Gearbox Pro. That is just 1 km/h slower than the V8.
To use 5th gear you need Gearbox Pro, and that is only a 1% find. Vehicles spawn with the regular 4-speed gearbox, which is a 5% find on its own.
Which radiator each engine needs
Most gas and diesel engines need a radiator full of water or coolant. The moped, motorcycle and Jet engines don’t. Stronger engines need stronger cooling. A weaker radiator still works, but it burns through water much faster.
| Radiator |
Holds |
Cooling |
Found |
Runs on a full tank* |
| VAZ/SMZ Radiator |
4 L |
15 (Low) |
15% |
6 min |
| Single-Fan Radiator |
5 L |
25 (Medium) |
23% |
16 min |
| Van Radiator |
4 L |
25 (Medium) |
10% |
13 min |
| Buggy Radiator |
5 L |
45 (High) |
4% |
49 min |
| BAZ Radiator |
7 L |
50 (Very High) |
2% |
84 min |
*Measured on the VAZ Engine at full speed. Stronger engines use water faster.
| Cooling needed |
Engines |
Most common radiator that works |
Found |
| Low |
SMZ Engine, VAZ Engine |
Single-Fan Radiator |
23% |
| Medium |
Van Engine, Injection Engine |
Single-Fan Radiator |
23% |
| High |
Engine-E, Engine-L, Engine-U, V8 Engine |
Buggy Radiator |
4% |
| Very High |
Engine-D |
BAZ Radiator |
2% |
Here is the catch. Engine-D, from the BAZ truck, is a common find at 6%. But it needs Very High cooling, and only the BAZ Radiator has that. The BAZ Radiator is the rarest radiator in the game, found just 2% of the time.
The good news: the Single-Fan Radiator is the most common one (23%) and it is strong enough for every Low and Medium engine. It also lasts longer than the Van Radiator.
Which engine should you use?
- Just starting: the VAZ or Injection Engine with a Single-Fan Radiator. Both engines and that radiator are common.
- Want speed without the hassle: Engine-H. It is common, needs no radiator, and hits 158 km/h on the stock gearbox.
- Want the best: the V8 Engine with a Buggy or BAZ Radiator and Gearbox Pro. All three are rare, so hold on to them when you find them.
- Going electric: take the radiator out. The Electric Engine does not need one, but it still drains a fitted radiator in under a minute.
Questions players ask
What is the best engine in A desrt? The V8 Engine. It has the most power (317 hp) and the highest top speed of any normal engine.
What is the best radiator in A desrt? The BAZ Radiator. It holds the most water and has the most cooling, but it is the rarest.
What radiator does the VAZ Engine need? Low cooling, so any radiator works. The Single-Fan Radiator is the most common good choice.
Does more horsepower mean more speed? No. Top speed comes from the engine’s gearing. Power helps you speed up faster.