With the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GT86 turning 10 years old recently, the average mileage of a used model is now close to 100,000 miles. With this age inevitably comes issues with many owners reporting bottom end knocks, spun bearings and even complete engine failures.
So is the FA20 engine prone to failure? What is the cause of these issues? And what can you do to avoid expensive repairs bills down the line? Continue reading to find out more...
Oil Leaks
The Problem
One of the more obvious and generally easier to fix common issues with the FA20 engine is oil leaks. Primarily these occur either on the camshaft blanking plate, or the large cam chain cover plate on the front of the engine. The blanking plate is a simple fix that only requires the plate to be removed, cleaned and new liquid gasket applied. The cam chain cover plate however spans the entire front of the engine and is an engine-out size job to fix. So make sure to look out for obvious damp oil patches on around the engine andany signs of burnt oil on the top of the exhaust manifold.
The Solution
Make sure to check the engine regularly but don't confuse over-spill from the oil filler area with a leak. If it looks like a leak is starting to appear then it's better to get it into a garage for inspection sooner rather than later and risk low oil levels.
Bottom End Knock
The Problem
The BRZ/GT86 engine (4U-GSE) likes to be revved, with the peak power output of 197BHP arriving at 7000rpm (only 400rpm before the limiter). So if not maintained correctly, years of abuse take their toll on the 2.0 litre boxer engine and can cause the dreaded bottom end knock. Often this knock is due to either spun connecting rod bearings or spun crankshaft bearings as a result of oil starvation or excess oil temperatures. This is often caused due to either blocked oil passages or a lack of oil lubrication during hard cornering. Some have also reported blocked oil passages following the valve spring recall, potentially due to excess RTV sealant being used during reassembly.
The Solution
As with any high performance engine, it is important to make sure oil and filter services are conducted every year / 10,000 miles, or even more regularly if possible. If you are planning to drive on track or fast B-roads, then it is highly recommended that a baffled sump is fitted, along with an oil cooler to keep those oil temperatures low. All these modifications can be supplied and fitted by Radix Customs. 9 out of 10 engines that we rebuild have spun one or more con rod bearings and often require a new crankshaft too. So we replace all bearings with uprated parts and refit together with a brand new, genuine Toyota crankshaft. Find out more here...