2ar-fe and 2ar-fxe engine advice

[Steve Q]

Hello all, 

Just joined the club as I'm seeking advice on the 2ar-fe and 2ar-fxe engines. 

I've come here from the club's sister site audiownersclub.com and know Trevor personally. 

So here goes, I have a 2002 Audi A6 c5 2.5tdi which my family have owned from new and has covered 344k miles on the original engine. The car is sentimental and gas been on numerous road trips to Germany, France, Belgium, nc500 and lands end to John o groats to name a few. 

However, the engine has finally gone bang, and it's proving difficult to source either a new replacement engine or get a garage willing to do a rebuild. The latter is proving particularly difficult as one specialist is struggling to source some of internal parts. 

due to this complication and the fact the car will need a new turbo too, I'm considering an engine swap for a 2ar-fe or 2ar-fxe engine. 

I'm considering this as the engine should fit in the engine bay and it'll give me the required reliability I require to continue the future road trips I'm planning. 

So I'm wondering what are these engines like? 

can the 2ar-fxe be fitted to a car without the hybrid system or are they integrated together? 

I know I'll have more bhp and less torque but I can live with less torque for the added reliability. 

also what's the autobox like on the hybrid? 

I'd have liked to fit a 6 speed manual as I think it might fit easier into the A6 rather than the auto,  but I'm mindful the mk4 rav4 never had this option in the UK with this engine I believe. 

will a 6 speed manual from another Toyota fit? 

I'll look forward to your responses and I apolapologise for the long thread. 

[Cyker]

I don't know much about the specifics, but most -FXE engines are really designed to work with the hybrid system and will likely be horrible to drive without them as they have really poor torque, esp. at low RPM, compared to the normal Otto-cycle versions.

Some of them can switch between Otto and Atkinson/Miller-cycle, but I don't think that one is one of those.

[Steve Q]

18 minutes ago, Cyker said:

I don't know much about the specifics, but most -FXE engines are really designed to work with the hybrid system and will likely be horrible to drive without them as they have really poor torque, esp. at low RPM, compared to the normal Otto-cycle versions.

Some of them can switch between Otto and Atkinson/Miller-cycle, but I don't think that one is one of those.

Thank you for your input. Sounds like I'd be looking for the fe then as there's no way I could incorporate the hybrid system. 

[Steve Q]

On doing further research looks like fe might make more sense due to this: 

[Steve Q]

Just an update on my research, coming back to the 2ar-fxe Toyota 2.5 na from the rav4. Spoke to a guru about these engines and he said not to worry about the auxiliaries as I can just fit a alternator and water pump from a normal 2ar-fe engine. So that's still an option. The guru said I'd have to mount my current A6 gearbox to it as the Toyota gearbox is transverse. 

[_dct_]

On 4/24/2023 at 6:59 AM, Steve Q said:

On doing further research looks like fe might make more sense due to this: 

The above is only applicable to Camry's 2AR-FXE. On the RAV4 hybrid the water pump is still mechanical and is driven by a normal aux belt. Another the difference between FXE and FE is the VVTi setup. Hybrid can delay closing the exhaust valves much later due to the extra power from the electric motors so all the cam profiles are different. In the UK there has never been any model with 2AR-FE engine so it will be incredibly rare if can be found at all.

 

[Steve Q]

1 hour ago, _dct_ said:

The above is only applicable to Camry's 2AR-FXE. On the RAV4 hybrid the water pump is still mechanical and is driven by a normal aux belt. Another the difference between FXE and FE is the VVTi setup. Hybrid can delay closing the exhaust valves much later due to the extra power from the electric motors so all the cam profiles are different. In the UK there has never been any model with 2AR-FE engine so it will be incredibly rare if can be found at all.

 

Thank you so much for your input. Yea I'd noticed that the engine didn't seem available. Do you think the fxe could run without the hybrid system or would it cause an issue with acceleration? 

Sounds like I'd need to get it remap to map out the hybrid system if that's possible? 

[_dct_]

Honestly I don't know as I've never had any real experience with automotive surgery. I'd think it's possible since VVTi is just using a computer to control valve timing so in theory you should be able to program it however you want. That said I fear it could be a lot of work to adapt Toyota wiring/connectors etc to VAG and then you will need custom ECU/software to control your engine too. On a US-based MR2 forum there's a guy transplanting this engine to an MR2 as we speak so I'd follow that thread and ask any question there.