Lexus NX engines
Content
Lexus NX is a compact urban Japanese crossover belonging to the premium class. The machine is designed for young, active buyers. Under the hood of a car, you can find a wide variety of power plants. The engines used are capable of providing decent dynamics and acceptable cross-country ability to the car.
Brief description of Lexus NX
The Lexus NX concept car was first shown in September 2013. The presentation took place at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The second version of the prototype appeared in November 2013. In Tokyo, the turbocharged concept was presented to the public. The production model debuted at the Beijing Motor Show in April 2014 and went on sale by the end of the year.
The basis of the Toyota RAV4 was used as a platform for the Lexus NX. In 2016, the company added several additional paint shades. The appearance of the Lexus NX is made in a corporate style with an emphasis on sharp edges. The machine has a spindle-shaped false radiator grille. To emphasize the sporty look of the Lexus NX is equipped with large air intakes.
A lot of innovative technologies were used to equip the Lexus NX interior. The developers used exclusively expensive materials and provided good sound insulation. Lexus NX equipment includes:
- Cruise control;
- leather upholstery;
- advanced navigator;
- keyless access;
- premium audio system;
- electric steering wheel;
- voice control system.
Overview of engines on the Lexus NX
The Lexus NX has petrol, hybrid and turbocharged engines. A turbine engine is not at all typical for the Lexus car brand. This is the first non-aspirated in the entire line of cars of the company. You can get acquainted with the installed motors on the Lexus NX below.
3ZR-FAE
8AR-FTS
8AR-FTS
2AR-FXE
Popular motors
The most popular was the turbocharged version of the Lexus NX with the 8AR-FTS engine. This is a modern motor that is able to work both on the Otto and Atkinson cycles. The engine is equipped with a combined D-4ST gasoline direct injection system. The cylinder head incorporates a liquid-cooled exhaust manifold and a twin-scroll turbine.
The classic aspirated 3ZR-FAE is also popular. The motor is equipped with a system for smoothly changing the valve lift called Valvematic. Present in the design and variable valve timing system Dual VVT-i. The power unit can boast of the efficiency obtained while maintaining high power.
Among people who care about the environment, the 2AR-FXE engine is popular. It is used on the hybrid version of the Lexus NX. The power unit operates on the Atkinson cycle. The engine is a derated version of the base ICE 2AR. To reduce the burden on the environment, the design provides for a collapsible oil filter, so during maintenance it is only necessary to change the inner cartridge.
Which engine is better to choose Lexus NX
For lovers of novelty, it is recommended to pay attention to the turbocharged Lexus NX with the 8AR-FTS engine. The motor is designed for dynamic driving. It has an indescribable sound of work. The presence of the turbine made it possible to take the maximum from each cubic centimeter of the working chamber.
For connoisseurs of atmospheric Lexus engines with honest horsepower, the 3ZR-FAE option is most suitable. The power unit has already been tested by time and proved its reliability. Many car owners consider the 3ZR-FAE to be the best in the entire line. It has a modern design and does not present unexpected breakdowns.
The hybrid version of the Lexus NX with 2AR-FXE engine is recommended for those people who care about the state of the environment, but they are not ready to give up speed and sports driving. A nice bonus of the car is the low consumption of gasoline. Each time you brake, the batteries are recharged. The internal combustion engine and electric motor provide acceptable acceleration and sufficient speed.
Choice of oil
At the factory, Lexus NX engines are filled with branded Lexus Genuine 0W20 oil. It is recommended to use it on new power units. As the engine wears out in the turbocharged 8AR-FTS and hybrid 2AR-FXE, it is allowed to fill in SAE 5w20 grease. The 3ZR-FAE motor is less sensitive to oil, so there is more choice for it:
- 0w20;
- 0w30;
- 5w40.
The bulletins of the Lexus NX maintenance regulations of domestic dealers have an extended list of oils. It is designed for colder climates. It is officially allowed to fill in engines with oils:
- Lexus/Toyota API SL SAE 5W-40;
- Lexus/Toyota API SL SAE 0W-30;
- Lexus/Toyota API SM/SL SAE 0W-20.
When choosing a third-party brand oil, it is important to consider its viscosity. It must correspond to the ambient temperature of the vehicle operation. Too liquid grease will flow through the seals and gaskets, and thick grease will interfere with the rotation of the crankshaft. You can get acquainted with the official recommendations for choosing the viscosity of the oil in the diagrams below. At the same time, a turbocharged engine allows a smaller variation in the viscosity of the lubricant.
You can check the correct choice of lubricant by a simple experiment. Its sequence is shown below.
- Unscrew the oil dipstick.
- Drop some lubricant onto a clean sheet of paper.
- Wait a little time.
- Compare the result with the image below. With the right choice of oil, the lubricant will show good condition.
Reliability of engines and their weaknesses
The 8AR-FTS engine has been in production since 2014. During this time, he managed to prove his reliability. Of the “childish problems”, he only has a problem with the turbine bypass valve. Otherwise, the power unit can only occasionally present a malfunction:
- pump leak;
- coking of the power system;
- the appearance of a knock on a cold engine.
The 3ZR-FAE power unit is a very reliable engine. Most often, the Valvematic system delivers problems. Her control unit gives errors. There are other problems on 3ZR-FAE motors, for example:
- increased maslozher;
- water pump leak;
- pulling the timing chain;
- coking of the intake manifold;
- instability of crankshaft speed;
- extraneous noise at idle and under load.
The 2AR-FXE power unit is highly reliable. Its design features compact pistons with a vestigial skirt. The piston ring lip is anti-wear coated and the groove is anodized. As a result, wear under thermal and mechanical stress is reduced.
The 2AR-FXE engine appeared not so long ago, so it has not yet shown its weaknesses. However, there is one common problem. It is connected to the VVT-i clutches. They often leak. During the operation of the couplings, especially when cold, a crack often appears.
Maintainability of power units
The 8AR-FTS power unit is not repairable. It is sensitive to the quality of fuel and, in case of failure, must be replaced with a contract one. Only minor superficial problems can be eliminated. There can be no talk of its overhaul.
The best maintainability among Lexus NX engines is shown by 3ZR-FAE. It will not be possible to capitalize it officially, since there are no repair kits. The engine has many problems associated with failures and errors of the Valvematic controller. Their elimination occurs at the program level and rarely causes difficulties.
The maintainability of 2AR-FXE power plants is practically zero. Officially, the motor is called disposable. Its cylinder block is made of aluminum and thin-walled liners, therefore it is not subject to capitalization. Engine repair kits are not available. Only third-party services are engaged in the restoration of 2AR-FXE, but in this case it is not possible to guarantee the reliability and safety of the repaired motor.
Tuning engines Lexus NX
There is practically no chance to increase the power of the 8AR-FTS turbocharged engine. The manufacturer squeezed the maximum out of the motor. There is practically no margin of safety left. Chip tuning can only bring results on test benches, not on the road. Deep modernization with the replacement of pistons, crankshaft and other elements does not justify itself from a financial point of view, since it is more profitable to purchase another engine.
The 3ZR-FAE refinement makes sense. First of all, it is recommended to change the Valvematic controller to a less problematic one. Chip tuning can add up to 30 hp. The power unit is “strangled” from the factory by environmental standards, so flashing the ECU can improve its performance.
Some car owners put turbines on the 3ZR-FAE. Ready-made solutions and turbo kits are not always optimally suited for the Lexus NX. The 3ZR-FAE motor is structurally quite complex, so an integrated approach to tuning is needed. A plugged-in turbine without preliminary calculations can increase gas mileage and reduce the life of the power plant, rather than increase its power.
The 2AR-FXE power plant is characterized by increased complexity and is not prone to modernization. Still, a hybrid is not bought for the purpose of tuning and increasing power. At the same time, fine-tuning when flashing the ECU is able to move the speed characteristics. However, the result of any upgrades is extremely difficult to predict, since the power unit does not yet have good ready-made tuning solutions.
Swap engines
Swap engines with Lexus NX is not very common. Motors have low maintainability and not too long a resource. The 8AR-FTS and 2AR-FXE engines feature sophisticated electronics. This introduces a number of problems in their swap.
Engine swap on the Lexus NX is also not very common. The car is new and its motor rarely brings problems. Swap is usually resorted to only for the purpose of tuning. Contract motors 1JZ-GTE and 2JZ-GTE are optimally suited for this. The Lexus NX has enough engine compartment for them, and the margin of safety is conducive to tuning.
Purchase of a contract engine
Lexus NX contract engines are not very common, but still found on sale. Motors have an approximate cost of about 75-145 thousand rubles. The price is influenced by the year of manufacture of the car and the mileage of the power unit. Most of the encountered internal combustion engines have a good residual resource.
When buying a Lexus NX contract engine, it is important to consider that all engines have low maintainability. Therefore, it is recommended to pay special attention to preliminary diagnostics. You should not take a "killed" power unit at an attractive price. There is practically no chance of its restoration, since the engines are disposable and are not subject to capital.
