Gotta Keep Em' Separated- Catch Can R&D, Part 2: Prototype Installation

Gotta Keep Em' Separated- Catch Can R&D, Part 2: Prototype Installation

It's the year of the horse"power, that is, wherein the land of the aftermarket, power modifications are king. They are the body builders of the modifications stomping around yelling about protein, bro. We all want to beef up our cars and hear them roar in the face of their stock counterparts. Understandably, it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of dyno charts and power numbers while overlooking the little guy in the background. This little guy, probably talking about something nerdy, is our good friend the catch can. He doesn't scream horsepower, but instead whispers about carbon buildup on valves. And for this post at least, we are going to hear him out.

If you missed our last post, we discussed the importance of using a catch can on our brand-new Focus RS. If you want to read more about the horrors of blow-by check out  our complete write up on Blow-By 101. In this post we are going to give the catch can a chance to put its money where its baffle is.

The first step was to construct our test unit. We began with our compact baffled oil catch can. Based on the similarities, we adapted the bracket and hoses from our Focus ST catch can kit. The fit was similar and needed a small amount of tweaking to be a direct fit to our Focus RS.

Removing the intake manifold for the Focus RS catch can
Removing the intake manifold for the Focus RS catch can

We needed to remove the intake manifold to install our hoses and fittings. Both fittings are located under the intake manifold, which is a hard spot to access, but after the catch can is installed,  it has the added benefit of maintaining a stealthy, OEM look even after the catch can is installed.

Focus RS parts disassembled
Focus RS parts disassembled

In the photo above you can see the location of both fittings that we will use to route the blow-by mixture to our catch can, before sending the air back to the intake manifold. Our catch can will sit underneath the car, utilizing the bracket from our Focus ST kit. This bracket mounts to an open ear on the transmission, which is the same mounting point as the ST. Although this means the RS will need to be raised to empty the catch can, we have a plan to make draining a breeze.

Focus RS catch can installed
Focus RS catch can installed

After having a look at the kit installed on the RS, we saw some room for improvement. Second to functionality, convenience and ease of maintenance are primary goals of this project. We began working on a direct-fit drain kit, utilizing one of the air ducts in the undertray. This would allow the can to be emptied by simply reaching under your RS and turning a petcock. Check out our prototype version installed on the RS below.

Focus RS catch can kit installed
Focus RS catch can kit installed

Focus RS catch can kit installed
Focus RS catch can kit installed

Focus RS catch can kit installed
Focus RS catch can kit installed

Focus RS catch can kit installed
Focus RS catch can kit installed

By reaching through the small cutout shown in the photo above, you will be able to turn the petcock easily and drain the contents of the catch can. Style and functionality? This catch can is beginning to grow on us after all. Perhaps this nerd should be spared the swirly we had lined up.

Coming up!

We are wrapping up the results of our Focus RS catch can testing, and will be posting the results next week. In the meantime, we are kicking off our pre-sale a tad early. We couldn't wait to get a catch can on our Focus RS and you shouldn't have to either! Check out our discounted pre-sale and let us know what you think.

Thanks for reading!

-Sara