Toyota GR86 engine failure in Australia follows US blow-ups

A modified Toyota GR86 has suffered a firey engine failure at a Queensland race track, with the sports coupe leaving a trail of smoke and flames. Investigations in the US reveal there could be a catastrophic flaw in the Subaru-built engine.

A Queensland-based speed shop has reported what is believed to be the first Toyota GR86 engine failure on a race track in Australia – following a number of similar incidents in the US.

A car modification firm based in Brisbane’s north, uploaded a post to social media platform Facebook showing its GR86 sports coupe had suffered an engine failure while taking part in a closed-course event at Queensland Raceway.

In a video uploaded to YouTube and the company’s website, the Toyota GR86 is seen driving down one of the circuit’s straights when the engine develops a loud rattle, followed by a cloud of white smoke and fire from the engine bay.

The speed shop later discovered a hole in the engine block – typically caused by low oil levels or low oil pressure – though it has not yet been able to determine how the failure occurred.

However, independent investigations following similar faults in the US have pointed towards a flaw in the Subaru-built and developed 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine – which is shared with the second-generation BRZ.

As reported by US publication Road & Track, Californian software engineer Brian Armstrong recently conducted a test of a modified 2022 Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ on a closed course, with the aim of discovering any weaknesses in the 2.4-litre engine.

Mr Armstrong’s findings – available in greater detail on YouTube (below) – pointed to “severe oil-pressure drops” in both cars while going around right-hand turns and through changes in elevation, particularly those which subject the engine to long periods under high load.

The software engineer noted the engine would normally develop between 50psi and 60psi of oil pressure at high-RPM, though it would drop into the 20psi range through certain right-hand corners and going over large crests.

As a “baseline”, Mr Anderson also investigated the oil pressure of a 2017 Subaru BRZ – powered by a similarly designed 2.0-litre engine – but found no significant changes.

“We believe these pressure drops are significant enough to cause bearing damage, even if not an immediate failure,” Mr Armstrong said in his YouTube video.

Mr Anderson also said the drops in oil pressure are not related to the ‘RTV’ engine sealant used by Subaru, which has been attributed to at least one engine Toyota GR86 failure in the US.

“We also believe these pressure drops are independent from the RTV problems that have been well documented, where engine sealant can potentially block the oil pickup.

“We’ve been able to reproduce this across multiple cars, including one with the RTV cleaned. We do believe that the RTV is still cause for concern, but it’s a separate problem.”

A photo of MCA Suspension’s Toyota GR86 engine after it failed at Queensland Raceway
Image credit: MCA Suspension (Facebook)

In its Facebook post, MCA Suspension said it was conducting a test of its race-track focused suspension at the time of the failure, while the car was also running on road legal but extremely grippy Yokohama semi-slick tyres – allowing it to achieve higher cornering speeds.

The Brisbane firm said it had previously removed the engine’s sump to remove any excess engine sealant.

MCA’s Toyota GR86 was also fuelled by E85 – a blend of unleaded petrol and 85 per cent ethanol, capable of allowing engines to produce more power with the trade-off of increasing pressures inside the engine block.

The Australian engine failure follows two high-profile engine failures in Toyota GR86s in the US – both of which had been driven in closed-course events.

In July 2022, Toyota US denied GR86 owner Blake Alvardo’s warranty claim for an engine failure when it discovered a photo of the car “drifting” and performing skids at a closed-course event.

Having completed a tear-down of the Toyota GR86’s 2.4-litre petrol engine, Mr Alvardo discovered the oil pick up in the sump had been blocked, causing the engine to seize.

Mr Alvardo found the silicone which Toyota uses as an engine sealant had leaked into the oil, causing the blockage and engine failure.

Following media coverage by multiple US automotive publications – such as Jalopnik, Road & Track and The Drive – Toyota reversed its decision and offered to repair the GR86’s engine under warranty.

Last month, another GR86 owner in the US uploaded a video to YouTube of their sports coupe’s engine failing on track.

The GR86 was later towed to a Toyota dealer in a nearby town which discovered a hole in the top of the engine.

Toyota initially denied the warranty claim – saying the GR86’s owner had been racing the car on track prior to the engine failure – but backtracked on its decision and processed the engine replacement as a warranty claim, following widespread backlash online after reports by US publication The Drive.

In Australia, Toyota has said it will not offer blanket warranty coverage on its high-performance models – such as the GR86, GR Yaris, GR Corolla and GR Supra – though claims raised following any track use will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

In its Facebook post, MCA Suspension said the GR86 will be taken to local Toyota specialist workshop ‘The86Shop’ for assessment, though the car’s modifications could present a hurdle should the firm submit a warranty claim for the sports coupe’s engine.

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