Hallo,
I have a 2017 Lexus NX 200t with 52,000 miles on it. Since this having 4 cylinder turbocharged engine, should I be worried about this braking down? I like this ride and don't really want to swap it for a Lexus RX, because it is bigger in size and more expensive too, but watching the videos I have learned that turbos are not that great. Should I try swapping it out at one point or can I expect it to last for a long time?
Thank you!
The Lexus turbocharged 4 cylinder (8AR-FKS) engine is an odd beast.
It has a twin scroll turbocharger, high pressure direct gasoline injection, it can operate both as an Atkinson cycle engine and as a conventional engine. They manage to get 235 horsepower and 350 NM out of such a tiny engine and still achieve what seems to be reasonable economy - that’s quite impressive.
with all of that in mind, it is still a new, rare, and complex design - it’s been out for only about 5~6 years so probably no one knows yet for sure how it’ll hold up overtime.
So far the big issues that people are talking about on this engine are weak water pumps and weird sounds at idle but nothing that seems like a major concern to me…
Although Toyota and Lexus products are generally well built; I wouldn’t risk putting too many miles on this new and complex design. I’ve seen people claiming they’re good only up to about 125k miles but I personally doubt those claims…
Lexus seems to be big on turbo charged engines - their new 2022 NX 2.4L is also a 4 cylinder turbocharged engine.
Toyota in general seems to be beginning to make high compression ratio engines, even their tiny budget Yaris has a compression ratio of 1:14 - and for what I’ve been seeing Toyota usually does deliver reasonable reliability even when it’s the first years of a new technology.
Thank you for a detailed response. It is true that the gas mileage is pretty good with this thing. Takes just a little more than my little Civic did, however does require premium gas which makes it more costly still.
They are well made cars and if you don't stress the engine by pushing it too hard, they can last really long time. Just make sure you change the oil and filter every 5k miles using full synthetic oil.
Thank you for the response. I am hoping it will last for a while, since I do like car.
My thinking is this; why use a turbocharger when you should have put a larger engine in the car in the first place? Just another complicated add on that seems to have a relatively short life span.
Not sure, but now I wish Lexus would have a smaller SUV without a turbocharged engine.
Amen.
I mean I agree,
but some turbo engines are great. Recently I’m seeing a trend towards turbocharged engines with low compression ratios.
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The naturally aspirated Suzuki K10C makes about 65 horsepower and as a ratio of 1:12, the turbocharged variant makes about 110 horsepower and has a ratio of 1:10.
The Ford Focus 1.0T engine also has a low compression ratio but delivers the same power as the 1.6L and has good reliability…
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I’m not sure how it exactly works but those engines are tiny, efficient, reliable and fun.