Subaru FA20D

The Subaru FA20D / Toyota 4U-GSE is a 2.0 L (1,998 cc, 121.9 cu·in) horizontally-opposed (“flat-four” or “boxer”) four-stroke natural aspirated gasoline engine from the Subaru FA-family. This engine is identified by a Toyota engine family code as the 4U-GSE, which is installed in the Toyota 86 and the Scion FR-S. The FA20D was manufactured at Subaru’s engine plant in Ota, Gunma, Japan.

The Subaru FA20D / Toyota 4U-GSE engine features an aluminum cylinder block and aluminum cylinder heads with dual overhead camshafts (DOHC) and four valves per cylinder (16 in total). Compression ratio rating is 12.5:1. The engine has an 86.0 mm (3.39 in) of the cylinder bore and 86.0 mm (3.39 in) of the piston stroke. This engine is equipped with “Dual Active Valve Control System” (D-AVCS) or Toyota’s “Dual Variable Valve Timing-intelligent” (Dual VVT-i), “Electronic Throttle Control System-intelligent” (ETCS-i), “Direct Injection 4-stroke Gasoline Engine Superior Version Sequential Multiport Fuel Injection” (D-4S SFI), Toyota’s “Direct Ignition System” (DIS).

The engine produced 200 PS (147 kW; 197 HP) at 7,000 rpm or 208 PS (153 kW; 205 HP) at 7,000 rpm of maximum horsepower and 205 N·m (20.9 kg·m, 151 ft·lb) at 6,400 rpm or 212 N·m (21.6 kg·m, 156 ft·lb) at 6,400 rpm of peak torque.

The breakdown of the engine code is as follows:

For Subaru FA20D

• FA – Engine family
• 20 – Displacement in deciliters
• D – Multi Point Fuel Injection

For Toyota 4U-GSE

• 4 – 4 generation engine
• U – Engine family
• G – Performance wide-angle DOHC
• S – Gasoline direct injection system (D-4)
• E – Multi Point Fuel Injection

General information

Cylinder block

The Subaru FA20D / Toyota 4U-GSE engine had an aluminum alloy cylinder block with 86.0 mm (3.39 in) bores and an 86.0 mm (3.39 in) stroke, compression ratio rating is 12.5:1. The engine is equipped with steel connecting rods, aluminum alloy pistons with two compression and single oil control ring.

Cylinder block sub-assembly tightening procedure and torque specs:

• Step 1: 35 Nm, 3.57 kg·m; 26 ft·lb)
• Step 2: Loosen 180°
• Step 3: 35 Nm, 3.57 kg·m; 26 ft·lb)
• Step 4: Loosen 180°
• Step 5: 17 Nm, 1.73 kg·m; 13 ft·lb)
• Step 6: Turn 60°

After securing bearing cap bolts, make sure crankshaft turns smoothly by hand.

Connecting rod bearing bolts

• Step 1: 10 Nm, 1.02 kg·m; 7 ft·lb)
• Step 2: 25 Nm, 2.55 kg·m; 18 ft·lb)
• Step 3: Turn 92.5°

Cylinder head

The cylinder head is made of aluminum alloy which gives it good cooling efficiency. The engine has dual overhead camshafts, that are driven by a timing chain and four valves per cylinder (16 valves in total). The FA20 engine has variable intake and exhaust valve timing, known as Subaru’s “Dual Active Valve Control System” (D-AVCS) or Toyota’s “Dual Variable Valve Timing-intelligent” (Dual VVT-i). The hydraulic lash adjuster – located at the fulcrum of the roller rocker arm – consisted primarily of a plunger, plunger spring, check ball and check ball spring.

Head tightening procedure and torque specs:

• Step 1: 20 Nm, 2.04 kg·m; 15 ft·lb)
• Step 2: 100 Nm, 10.2 kg·m; 74 ft·lb)
• Step 3: Loosen 360°
• Step 4: 20 Nm, 2.04 kg·m; 15 ft·lb)
• Step 5: 42 Nm, 4.3 kg·m; 31 ft·lb)
• Step 6: Turn 100°
• Step 7: Turn 100° (2 central bolts), turn 50° (except 2 central bolts)

Maintenance data

Vehicle applications

Author: Sergei Wers
About: Co-founder and CEO of a multi-brand auto repair shop (engine repair, chassis repair, body repair and painting) for over 15 years. I have been developing internet sites with technical specifications for more than seven years.