Keep It Pumping.
Oil control is a crucial challenge in all types of boxer engines, largely due to their unique horizontal design and the resulting high crankcase pressure. This setup can lead to significant oil management issues, particularly when cornering at high speeds. In the case of Subaru engines, the specific design can allow oil to escape from the sump oil pan and migrate across to the cylinder head castings. Once this occurs, oil can be expelled through the engine breathers and subsequently enter the intake pipe, where it ignites during the combustion cycle.
The implications of this issue are serious; if you neglect to regularly top off your oil, the engine can ultimately exhaust its entire oil supply, resulting in catastrophic engine failure—this has been widely noted as one of the primary causes of engine breakdowns on the track for Subaru vehicles.
The Fuji Racing Oil Control Kit is specifically engineered to combat oil slosh in the sump, effectively keeping the oil where it should be: in the sump. The centerpiece of this kit is a baffle plate, strategically designed to allow engine oil to drain back into the sump while creating a barrier that prevents the oil from exiting during aggressive cornering maneuvers. This design is essential for maintaining proper lubrication under high-performance conditions.
Additionally, the kit includes a windage tray that optimizes oil draining from the crankcase area, directing the oil back into the center of the sump for immediate reuse. This not only improves the oil supply to critical engine components but also enhances overall engine stability. To further improve performance, the kit comes with a dampened oil pick-up pipe that has been extended by 25mm. This revised design allows the pick-up pipe to sit just above the bottom of the sump, reducing the risk of oil starvation during high-speed cornering.
To facilitate installation, the kit includes a comprehensive fitting kit that contains ThreeBond sealant, new sump bolts, O-rings, and an OEM Subaru Black oil filter, ensuring that you have everything necessary for a secure and efficient setup.
The effectiveness of the Fuji Racing baffle plate has been demonstrated in real-world track conditions. In a particular test, a vehicle without a baffle plate experienced high oil consumption, using 0.8 liters of oil over a day of track use due to excessive oil blowing out of the cylinder head breathers. Conversely, a vehicle equipped with the same sump setup but fitted with the Fuji baffle plate consumed less than 0.1 liters of oil throughout the entire day, illustrating the substantial improvement in oil management.
This comprehensive Oil Control Kit is compatible with all Subaru EJ engines. However, if you’re fitting it to a vehicle manufactured before 2005, it’s important to acquire the corresponding dipstick with part number 11140AA150, as the dipstick tubes are uniform across the models. This attention to detail ensures that you achieve optimal performance and reliability from your Subaru engine.