FA20 Engine in Phoenix, Arizona
The engine that represents Subaru's generational shift from the EJ family, with direct injection, a timing chain and a different block design that makes it incompatible with its predecessor.
- Family
- FA20 (FA-series)
- Displacement
- 2.0 L
- Configuration
- Flat-four (boxer), 4-cylinder
- Valvetrain
- DOHC, 16 valves, AVCS
- Produced
- 2012 onward
Bore and stroke are omitted for this family: the code covers variants with different figures, and a single pair of numbers would be wrong for some of them.
The FA20 is a 1,998 cc flat-four that Subaru introduced for 2012, and it represents a generational shift from the EJ family. It uses direct injection, a timing chain rather than a belt, and Subaru's Active Valve Control System on both intake and exhaust camshafts. The result is a more efficient, more modern engine than the EJ20 it supplements.
The FA20 is also the engine Subaru and Toyota co-developed for the BRZ and the Scion FR-S (later Toyota 86). That partnership gave the FA20 a unique profile: a naturally aspirated boxer with Toyota's D-4S dual fuel injection in the BRZ/FR-S, and a turbocharged version as the FA20DIT in the WRX from 2015.
In the Phoenix market the FA20 turns up in two distinct buyer profiles. BRZ and FR-S owners need it as a direct replacement for a sports car they intend to keep. WRX owners need the turbocharged FA20DIT, which is a different specification and should not be confused with the naturally aspirated version.
FA20 versus EJ20: different engines, not a revision
Despite sharing a displacement and a boxer layout, the FA20 and EJ20 are different engines in block design, head design, fuel injection and engine management. The FA20 uses direct injection and a timing chain; the EJ20 uses port injection and a timing belt. They are not interchangeable.
An FA20 will not drop into a car that came with an EJ20 without significant conversion work. That is a swap, not a replacement.
Naturally aspirated and turbocharged are different specs
The naturally aspirated FA20 in the BRZ and FR-S uses Toyota's D-4S dual fuel injection system. The turbocharged FA20DIT in the WRX uses a different fuel system, different pistons and different engine management. Confirm which variant you need.
The FA20DIT's turbocharger and supporting hardware add complexity that the naturally aspirated version does not have.
Vehicles built with a FA20
Subaru BRZ, Scion FR-S (later Toyota 86), Subaru WRX and Subaru Levorg. The naturally aspirated and turbocharged variants serve different vehicles and different buyers.
| Vehicle | Years | Trim / body | Engine code | Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru BRZ | 2013–2020 | : | FA20 | Both |
| Scion FR-S | 2013–2016 | : | FA20 | USDM |
| Subaru WRX | 2015–2021 | : | FA20DIT | USDM |
| Subaru Levorg | 2014–2020 | : | FA20DIT | JDM |
FA20 variants
Two principal variants. The naturally aspirated FA20 with D-4S dual injection for the BRZ/FR-S, and the turbocharged FA20DIT for the WRX.
- FA20Both
- Naturally aspirated with D-4S dual injection. BRZ and Scion FR-S / Toyota 86.
- FA20DITBoth
- Turbocharged with direct injection. WRX from 2015.
Identifying a FA20
- The FA20 and EJ20 share a displacement and a boxer layout but are different engines in block design, head design and fuel injection. The FA20 uses direct injection; the EJ20 does not.
- The FA20DIT carries a turbocharger and associated plumbing that distinguishes it from the naturally aspirated FA20 at a glance.
- The engine code is stamped on the block. The FA20 family is timing-chain driven, unlike the EJ family which uses a timing belt.
A seller describing an engine as a particular variant is making a checkable claim. Asking for a photograph of the stamp on the actual unit is not a sign of distrust; it is the normal way this gets confirmed. The engine code guide shows where each family is stamped if you want to read the one in your own car first.
What varies between FA20 units
These are the differences that decide whether two engines with the same family code are substitutes in a particular car.
- The FA20 and EJ20 are NOT interchangeable. Different block design, different fuel injection system, different engine management and different accessory layout.
- The naturally aspirated FA20 (BRZ/FR-S) and the turbocharged FA20DIT (WRX) are different specifications. Confirm which one you need.
- The FA20 uses direct injection, which adds high-pressure fuel system complexity compared to the port-injected EJ family.
Nothing on this page confirms that a specific FA20 will work in your vehicle. That takes the year, model and trim at one end and a specific unit at the other, and it happens before a price is given rather than after. What goes into that check is set out here.
Ask about a FA20 for your vehicle
The code is pre-filled. Add the year, model and trim, and the variant question gets settled on our side before anything is confirmed.
Common questions
Is the FA20 the same as the EJ20?
No. Despite sharing a 2.0-litre boxer layout, the FA20 and EJ20 are different engines. The FA20 uses direct injection, a timing chain and a different block and head design. They are not interchangeable, and an FA20 will not drop into a car that came with an EJ20 without significant work.
Can I put an FA20 in a car that had an EJ20?
That is a swap, not a replacement. The FA20 uses different engine management, different fuel injection and different mounting. It is not a like-for-like substitution, and it should be planned as a project with ECU, harness and fuel system work included.
Related pages
- EJ20 EngineThe 2.0 Subaru boxer from the JDM WRX and STI.
- EJ25 EngineSubaru’s 2.5 boxer, head gaskets included.
- FB25 EngineSubaru's 2.5 boxer that replaced the EJ25 in naturally aspirated applications.
- Subaru ImprezaWRX and STI use different turbocharged engines.
- Subaru EnginesSubaru boxer engines, head gaskets, and what replacement involves.
- What Comes With a JDM EngineWhat is usually attached, what almost never is, and what to confirm in writing.
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