Procrastinating Extinction - 2022+ Subaru WRX Baffled Oil Catch Can R&D, Part 2 - Design Update

Procrastinating Extinction - 2022+ Subaru WRX Baffled Oil Catch Can R&D, Part 2 - Design Update

Posted: June 27, 2022
Categories: Subaru WRX Baffled Oil Catch Can, 2022+

Let's face it; nobody's perfect. From the OEMs and the engineers to the one turning our product development into engaging behind-the-scenes blog content (yours truly), no one can claim the superlative of "No longer Needs Improvement." Yet, as unattainable as the concept of perfection is, it's our human nature to chase it still. No matter our trade or walks of life, we're always striving to improve and enhance every aspect of our lives one step at a time.

Since we, the human race, are intrinsically less than perfect, the same could be said about the things we make and create. The constant cycle of innovation is just another journey toward the ever-elusive destination of perfection. While we may never reach that destination, each iteration is still a step above the last. It's an improvement on the creation and for those making the revisions. Case and point, the 2022+ Subaru WRX. The VB may be the latest and greatest of the highly-regarded road-going rally car, but some aspects still need revision. For example, if the WRX were perfect the first time around, we wouldn't be still working on means to protect the intake components against themselves after five generations of innovation. Yet, here we are, eager to prolong the FA24DIT's lifespan.

In our last post, we covered why Subaru's latest spiced-up boxer engine even needs protection and our preliminary designs to integrate a catch can with the PCV system to preserve the WRX's long-standing legacy. In our quest for self-improvement, however, we decided to take a second look at our kit's design.

Our first prototype had its pros and cons. Drawing inspiration from our previous generation kit, we found an accessible mounting location with minimal disassembly required for installation and servicing. This location also allowed our engineer to simplify the line design, but given these lines' size, fitment with stock and future projects came into view. So, Anthony returned to the drawing board and relocated our catch can to the passenger-side strut tower. 

With the help of our Far Design ScanArm, Anthony created a virtual workspace that streamlined the redesign. 
The scanner generates a digital 1:1 scale replica of the WRX's engine bay, making it so our engineers are creating their initial designs with pixels rather than tedious prototyping. This tool means that our prototype phase is more of a fitment check than a full design phase. Combined with our water jet, we can manifest a working sturdy bracket in just a few hours.
We'd also like to note that one of our first prototypes turned out to be a work of industrial art.

At first, this location caused more fitment apprehension. In addition, since we only have the manual option at our disposal, for the time being, we were concerned with conflicts with CVT cooling components. However, after further research, our engineer devised a fresh new bracket design that strategically places the catch can in the void between the strut tower and charge pipe. This location may add complexity to our hose design but vastly reduces the amount of material needed. This placement also relieves any fears of rubbing the lines against intake components while improving the ease of installation and servicing.

The WRX may not be perfect, but with the addition of our updated catch can kit, we can aid in the perfection of its survival skills. With this new bracket design wrapping up, our engineering team just needs to put some finishing touches on the rest of the kit. So, stay tuned for the finished production kit and testing results coming soon! In the meantime, what would make the 2022+ WRX perfect in your eyes? Let us know in the comments below!

Thanks for Reading!

-Nick