True Heart - 2021+ Ford Bronco 2.3L Baffled Oil Catch Can Kit R&D, Part 2 - Testing Results

True Heart - 2021+ Ford Bronco 2.3L Baffled Oil Catch Can Kit R&D, Part 2 - Testing Results

The 2.3L EcoBoost is a mainstay in Ford's engine arsenal, which really shouldn't come as much of a surprise either. The heavy-hitting four-cylinder made a huge splash in the hottest of hatchbacks in 2016 that through every other segment of Ford's lineup. So it's no wonder that this powerplant found a new home under the hood of the resurrected off-roader, offering the best of both worlds in terms of performance and efficiency, but the Bronco only reaps these rewards as long as the intake tract stays clean. Luckily, we already have a solution for that.

When we last left off, our prototype catch can kit was installed on our Bronco as it headed out the door for our preliminary testing. It takes some time to accrue the proper mileage for our test, so, in the meantime, our engineer, Dave, put the finishing touches on our kit's design, starting with the bracket.

Admittedly, there wasn't too much to update from our prototype bracket other than the can's mounting orientation. Our original design featured a more universal option for the can's mounting direction. Still, since this is a direct fit application, Dave made sure only to utilize the mounting holes that applied to the Bronco, so the ports are always facing in the right direction.

Our lines received the most renovation from our prototype kit. Initially, we planned for a pair of pre-molded, chemical-resistant lines to neatly channel the crankcase pressure through the system. However, through our revisions, we found that our straight J30R7 lines were the perfect fit for the 2.3L Bronco and helped us speed up our production schedule.

As previously mentioned, these final touches were performed while our Bronco took to the streets for our preliminary road testing. To review, this initial test is performed for two reasons. First, we want to ensure that the addition of our catch can system won't throw off any of the sensitive perimeters involved with this vehicle's PCV system. Simply put, we didn't cause any check engine lights after installing our kit on the vehicle.

With no CEL's on the dash, our test continued through 1050 miles for our benchmark blow-by collection. This content collection serves as a guide for the service interval for the kit after installation, though blow-by quantities will vary on driving style, environment, and temperature. For reference, our test was conducted with primarily highway commuting, at minimal elevation, and mild winter temperatures varying from low-30s to mid-60s.

From the look and odor of our initial collection, we found that our 15ml of blow-by was an almost even split between oil and unburnt fuel. No matter the full makeup of this initial collection, it's bound to cause carbon build-up on intake components over time, which can ultimately detract from this EcoBoost's primary advantages. With our kit installed, however, this blow-by never even has the chance to find a new home on valves and other components. So make sure that you grab your kit today:

Baffled Oil Catch Can, fits Ford Bronco 2.3L, 2021+

Thanks for Reading!

-Nick