8AR-FTS Toyota/Lexus 2.0L Turbo Engine – Problems and Specs

This engine is mostly known for its Lexus appearances in 2015-2022. The 2-liter turbocharged engine was quite a revolution when it appeared with wonderful power, a lot of torque, and a potentially long life. But now, after 7 years, we know about some problems and we are going to take the crown off its head.

Today, we'll briefly tell you about the 8AR-FTS engine from Lexus vehicles and also some Toyota cars, about its problems, and the main advantages you will experience. Also, we'll consider its longevity and some ways to make it live longer.

Key features and my opinion about the engine

• Production years:2014-now
• Average lifespan of 8AR-FTS:130,000-150,000 miles
• Fuel supply type:combined injection D4-ST (direct + port)
• Power range:231-245 hp
• Fuel efficiency:good
• Engine block material:aluminum
• Engine reliability score:medium
• The most common problems: noisy work, turbocharger problems, weak water pump, complicated and expensive fuel injection.

Key specs and features of the 2.0 Turbo engine in Lexus

In the US and Europe, this engine is commonly known for its appearance in Lexus NX, IS, and also GS. In Japan and some other countries, this unit was also installed in Toyota Crown and Harrier. This is a perfect engine for small SUVs that have become really popular within the last decade.

Here are some key points you should know about the 8AR-FTS:

• the engine is made exclusively in Japan, in one of Toyota's factories;
• it has the combined injection (although many websites refer to it as direct which is not true);
• Twin Scroll turbocharger looks pretty decent and offers a lot of power from just 2 liters of displacement;
• VVT-iW system seems a little complicated but it causes basically no problems here;
• the engine offers 231 to 245 horsepower and up to 258 lb-ft of torque;
• it's a chain engine and here some first problems appear;
• the average gas mileage is estimated at 35 mpg for the Lexus NX which is just great.

Though, speaking about the gas mileage, we should immediately think about reviews. People say that you will likely get about 25 mpg on average because it's quite hard to drive your Lexus carefully and achieve good gas mileage. You will always want to press that gas pedal harder.

What common problems should you remember?

Even though 8AR-FTS is thought to be a good engine, we know about some problems that will certainly make you think twice before you pay money for this engine. And it's not only about gas mileage or expensive maintenance which is clear for all buyers.

We have gathered some of the common issues you should expect with this engine:

• Very poor longevity. On average, these engines will survive up to 140,000 miles which is a shame for a Toyota engine. This is not even close to those 300K miles old Toyotas easily achieve.
• Strange noises when warming up. Once you start the cold 2.0L turbo engine in your Lexus, it starts making noises. This is bad because it shows flaws in the oiling system. Once the engine is warm, strange noises disappear.
• Turbochargers in 2015-2016 weren't good enough. A lot of them were replaced under warranty. But with any years after that, this problem shouldn't be the issue.
• The water pump is not reliable. We know about cases when the water pump leaked with just 20K miles on it. When it leaks, you will most likely need to replace the whole timing chain kit which is hell expensive.
• The engine has 3 thermostats. This means once one of them fails, the other two may also die and leave you with a very unpleasant bill from a Lexus dealer.
• The engine block is not possible to restore. If you overheat this engine, it will most likely be dead forever. The replacement unit will cost you a fortune. So, keep an eye on the cooling system.
• Timing chain issues. Owners have already reported timing chain jumping. Once it jumps, you will most likely need the new engine because repairing the old one will be too expensive.

Problems are very common with older engines and aren't likely to bother owners of the 8AR-FTS engines made after 2017. But still, the construction of the engine has some flaws that lead to its poor durability and some very expensive-to-solve problems.

How to prolong the life of your Lexus/Toyota 2-liter turbo engine?

You will need to remember some simple rules that will obviously prolong the life of your engine:

• watch the coolant level and always stop your vehicle once the engine temperature is higher than normal;
• pay attention to chain noises - once you hear some rattling, immediately replace the chain and prolong the life of your engine;
• don't experiment with oil and filters - OEM parts and liquids are the best decision even though it's not the cheapest option;
• check the turbocharger regularly - when you give your vehicle for maintenance, have the turbocharger diagnosed for any failures.

You can see that you can do a lot to save this engine from any problems and from a short lifespan. It means that good maintenance and careful driving will obviously do a lot of good things to your engine. But don't rely on it as the most durable engine you've ever seen. This is not the unit that will shock you with its 500K-mile life.

Unfortunately, even now when the engines are relatively new, a lot of Lexus NX 200t owners should replace them. And they are lucky if the problem appeared when the engine was still under warranty.

How much is it to repair or replace this engine?

The 8AR-FTS engine is pretty hard to repair after bad mishaps like overheating. In most cases, if the head and/or the block are damaged, you will need to think about a replacement. But sometimes, gasket issues or valve seal problems can still be repaired.

In this case, the price for a repair will highly depend on which part is malfunctioning. Sometimes, this may be just a simple problem with a simple solution. Though, any visit to your Lexus dealer is going to hit hard on your pocket.

If we are talking about replacement, this engine is not one of the cheapest units Toyota has ever made. You basically have two options:

• Buy the used engine on eBay or from a scrapyard. This will cost you anywhere between $3,500 and $5,000 depending on the quality and condition of the unit. But this is very risky and you may just lose all your money.
• Buy a new engine from a Lexus dealer. Unfortunately, we couldn't find out how much a dealer will want to get for such an engine. But what we know for sure, you will need to wait at least a month or even longer because there are no replacement engines in America. They will need to have it delivered.

Whatever the price is, you will still need to pay about $1000 to $2000 for replacement unless you can do this by yourself (and you can't, it's a pretty hard process).

So, when drivers understand their Lexus or Toyota cars equipped with the 8AR-FTS experience bad engine damage, they prefer to use their insurance and get the new vehicle. If your insurance doesn't allow you to claim for the new car, it's still easier to sell the vehicle as a salvage car via an auction and buy another vehicle using one of the available leasing programs.

What is the high mileage for the 8AR-FTS?

Given the engine has a really poor overall longevity, we wouldn't consider any Lexus with the 8AR-FTS with over 100,000 miles on it as a good purchase. Even if you find a vehicle that was well maintained but still has 150K miles on it, your chances are high that you will drive it 10-15 thousand miles only until you find the first problem.

So, only low-mileage used Lexus cars may be a good choice.

If you buy a new Lexus or Toyota equipped with this 2-liter turbo engine, you may forget about any problems up until it hits 100K miles. After that, more attention is needed.