Solution for Silicone in the Oil Pickup by Killer B Motorsport - Beta Testers Needed
 

The FA24 engines have a well-documented history of silicone collection in the oil pickup. Many have pulled the oil pan to inspect and remove this material to assure oil flow is free flowing and unrestricted. Here are a few examples...

https://killerbmotorsports.sharepoin...Duumw?e=Di3brT

https://killerbmotorsports.sharepoin...cVNyQ?e=D2dexS

https://killerbmotorsports.sharepoin...7afQA?e=c8v5sX

The goal of this product is to prevent large pieces of silicone from blocking the oil pickup's internal filter screen. The Killer B Motorsport Oil Pickup Pre-Filter is designed to prevent mass accumulation of silicone in the direct path of oil flow.

- Massive Screen Area to Prevent Restricted Flow.
- Textured Outer Surface to Reduce Silicone Cling at Oil Changes
- Easy Install with Positive Locking Tabs

https://killerbmotorsports.sharepoin...b-VTA?e=KpxjMA

Bench testing completed and we are a few weeks into alpha testing on our shop mule at this point. Testing has been uneventful, regardless of the abuse we've thrown at it. This pic was not 'testing' but give a good visual of flow through the mesh...

https://killerbmotorsports.sharepoin...Y9Wmg?e=gPa5QJ

With a solution-based product, we provide testing opportunities for enthusiasts as well as shops. If this is something you have interest in, please shoot us a PM.

In exchange for a free prototype product to test, we are looking for individuals that are capable of installing a product like this (dropping the reinstalling the oil pan), drive their car a lot, and/or regularly spend time on track, and can do a follow-up inspection at the next OCI.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-TS1AG9NuE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-TS1AG9NuE

Excuse my ignorance; if your dropping the oil pan to remove the rtv from the factory glob job then properly apply the right amount then of what use is this product? (not trying to be a ****)

No Worries! The amount of surface areas that require sealant are significant. The amount of sealant used and the manner in which it was applied is excessive. This resulted in globs of sealant dangling from the interior surfaces of the engine; Upper Oil Pan, Timing Cover, and both Valve Covers, that could let go and enter the flow of engine oil today, tomorrow, next year, etc...

It would make sense to drop the pan, remove any debris that made its way into the pickup screen, and remove any other debris that you can find. However, these globs of sealant are often tucked into places that are hard to inspect. For instance, they can be all around the inside of the timing cover, most of which you can't see well from underneath.

With this product you can install it today and worry less about those chunks of silicone that were waiting for their chance to clog your OEM screen.

It's actually a decent question. I like this concept as it also aids in future protection against the reapplication of sealant when you put the pan back on. Given human nature, you know someone has the potential to introduce this excessive sealant problem AGAIN.

Does this fit the FA20?

No, FA20 is metal with no ledges to clip in. Killer bee sells a much better FA20 oil pickup since it can be just replaced with the oil pan off. Lots of threads on vacuum pressure improvements with it

Or the other 90% of sealant you can't get to in the rest of the engine, if you only remove the oil pan.



It does not, but we do make an FA20 BRZ oil pickup that has a higher flow rate and larger screen area too :)

Beat me to it! ;)

the debate is 'how does one know they're applying the specifically-needed amount of sealant?'

too little, it doesn't seal. too much, it oozes everywhere.

the better question is, do you think you're better at the job than a factory programmed robot-- if they mucked it up, what are a humans chances of doing better?

While I like your train of thought, don't forget robots are programmed by humans. They only do what we tell them to do.

You don't.

There are some areas you could inspect post assembly, like the pan seal by sticking a borescope into the drain plug. Everything else like Upper Oil Pan, Timing Cover, and Valve Covers, you cannot inspect.

And that is the point of this product we've developed and are testing. If the silicone sheds, it won't matter. It will never become an oil flow restriction. You'd have to take the worst-case example and multiply it by 10 before it even made any kind of impact on flow.

We have 3 more units available to anyone else interested in beta testing some free parts :)

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Maybe a moot point, but with your filter screen installed, would there be any benefit to deleting the OEM screen?

The fa24 pickup looks much different than the one in the fa20. Is this done to improve vacuum pressure?

That's assuming it's done by a robot. Given the inconsistency of some sealing issues (cam plate comes to mind), I always assumed the sealant application was done by hand.

Both could be true though. Just because a robot does one bit doesn't mean the rest isn't done by humans.

Still, I don't understand how hard it would be to develop a pre-formed seal a la BMW. With all the issues these engines have (even though they're not as bad as we sometimes make 'em sound), one would think Subaru would have saved money in the long run.