Page 2 - Focus ST

We have been hard at work developing our 2013 Ford Focus ST intake system. When the stock intake system was removed, there was room to get creative for improving airflow. Right off the bat, you can see how Ford designed its intake to grab as much cold air as possible by using the two tubes that both conjoin at the front grille and connect into different points on the box. We know it will be important to retain this feature and include it in our airbox design for the Focus ST intake.

Fabricating the Prototype

With the removal of the stock Focus ST intake leaving a good amount of space, we wanted to design an airbox that uses that space effectively. After the space was carefully and thoroughly surveyed, we got to work fabricating and welding together a working prototype!

The 2013 Ford Focus ST has a lot going for it. This 2.0L front-wheel drive, turbocharged, four- cylinder engine pumps out around 250 hp in its stock form, which is impressive for a two-year-old car you can find for under $20,000. Ford now has two weapons in its modern sport-hatch arsenal, and the company is staying competitive. Most car enthusiasts elect to remove the stock intake system first so they can  free up some contained power potential. The story here is no different with our development of an upgraded Ford Focus ST intake.

The Stock System

Our garage was graced with the presence of a nice 2013 Performance Blue Focus ST. Per the usual routine, we began taking apart the stock intake system to familiarize ourselves with and understand Ford's design. One unique element of this Focus ST intake is how air is drawn into the box. As you can see below, the air duct is split into two and the airflow gets routed to both the top and bottom of the system.

Our engineering team often tackles complex problems to provide ideal solutions for customers. This is true for all our product lines, across a broad range of vehicle makes and models. We are not strangers to Ford's lineup of EcoBoost models, and our team is quite familiar with the issues that exist for each. In general, we've found that the stock liquid cooling systems are not handling the abuse from heavy-footed ST (Fiesta, Focus) and Mustang owners. Each model shows deficiencies in coolant heat transfer, rising oil temperatures, and power-crippling heat-soak.

In our effort to solve each problem, we've started a ton of awesome projects, performed unique testing, and we've had a blast working with the EcoBoost community. Now, we turn our attention to the Focus ST radiator. This component has become the elephant in the room, if the room were the paddock at the track. All around the world, Focus owners are hitting the track expecting a fun day of battles against physics, rev-match downshifts,

Interested in picking up our Focus ST oil cooler kit? Check out our product page for more details.

Mishimoto Ford Focus ST Oil Cooler Kit

With a solid cooler mounting location in place, it was time to hit the road and collect some much needed data. In the past, we've had great results with our oil cooler kits in terms of temperature reduction, so we have no reason to believe this kit would perform any differently.

Testing Setup and Conditions

Before jumping in the car, we needed to set up our data collection equipment. We use AEM software and sensors to record temperature data for our oil cooler kits. We also use inline pressure sensors to ensure that we are retaining factory-like pressures.

Recording the stock system was easily done with our NPT sandwich plate adapter, as shown below.

Interested in picking up this awesome catch can system? Check out our product page for more details.

Mishimoto Ford Focus ST Baffled Oil Catch Can Kit

After making mockups for our initial setup and evaluating short-term testing data, our team came to a few conclusions. First, we would be incorporating our catch can into the PCV line only. Our brief accumulation test showed that we had substantial fluid accumulation with the PCV line, while the CCV can ended up dry. Second, our mounting location was really subtle and created a factory-like fitment with no visible lines. Last, the ST produces quite a lot of contaminants even in a short period of time, so a catch can is going to be a great upgrade in terms of preventive maintenance.

Bracket Fabrication

Next on our to-do list was final bracket fabrication. Something more stout and aesthetically pleasing were our targets. We would also

Interested in picking up our Focus ST oil cooler kit? Check out our product page for more details.

Mishimoto Ford Focus ST Oil Cooler Kit

Continuing with our progress last time, we were set on constructing a prototype bracket so that we could fully install our system and collect some on-road data.

Cooler Bracket Fabrication

When we left you our team had selected an appropriate cooler location and had started making a bracket template for the heat exchanger. Once we had a general idea of the size, bends, and hole location, we started making a bracket from plate steel.

Interested in picking up this awesome catch can system? Check out our product page for more details.

Mishimoto Ford Focus ST Baffled Oil Catch Can Kit

Ford Focus ST test vehicle

As you may be aware, our engineering team has been wrenching away on this Focus ST to develop a slew of awesome products for the community. Our oil cooler development is underway, and alongside this project we began to experiment with a direct-fit oil catch can system. Now, you may be wondering exactly how necessary such a product is.

Discussions around the community have covered the impact of oil within the intake system and its effect on valve buildup. In short, the lack

Interested in picking up our Focus ST oil cooler kit? Check out our product page for more details.

Mishimoto Ford Focus ST Oil Cooler Kit

After knocking out some projects for Japanese turbocharged vehicles and European sports cars, we finally freed up some garage space and engineering time to begin much needed development on one of the hottest hatchbacks on the market.

As general gearheads, we have been keeping a close eye on the Focus in terms of aftermarket product support as well as how the enthusiast world accepted this new vehicle. We found numerous gaps in product support for cooling, yet a very active and enthusiastic community of Focus addicts.

We have a ton of awesome plans for the ST, the first of which is a direct-fit oil cooler solution. Throughout the past few years we have had numerous requests for this component. It seems that extensive