Oil-pans, one of the many questions going through my head...

[LifeIsOnTheWire]

I have alot of questions going through my head about this 818. I'm basically deciding how I would engineer a mid-engine WRX powered car, and what possible concerns would arise.

Something that came to my mind yesterday was Oil-pans, and oil starvation. My thinking is that the WRX (not the STI) oilpan is good enough for the WRX in most respects, but alot of owners have switched to an STI Oil-pan (and oil pickup) for track use. (increased G-forces increase the chance that the oil will be pushed to the side, and the pickup will be picking up air). The STI pan keeps the mass of the oil closer to the pickup.

With the 818 being significantly lighter, and likely going to see track use (possibly racing compound tires) the G-forces are going to be higher than any WRX would hope to see.

What does everyone else think? Do you think that an STI (or aftermarket) oilpan+oilpickup is going to be a necessary mod for people wanting to track their 818? Another obvious choice would be a dry-sump kit.

[readymix]

It's a pretty cheap upgrade to be honest. If you are buiilding a car for track day use, you should already be considering things of this sort. For road use, the stock unit should be no issue, regardless of what powertrain you choose from. But in the interest of motor safety, if you are building this car for track use, you should definitely do the STi pan/pickup tube.
Another thing to consider while you are building an 818 (and while you've got the motor out of the car), assuming you are starting with a WRX plant, is upgrading the oil pump to the larger ID pump. The newer STi models come with it I believe, and a higher volume unit was also found on EJ22 turbo Legacy models in the early 90's. Might as well replace it while the motor is out, along with the water pump and timing belt.

[LifeIsOnTheWire]

Another thing to consider while you are building an 818 (and while you've got the motor out of the car), assuming you are starting with a WRX plant, is upgrading the oil pump to the larger ID pump. The newer STi models come with it I believe

you're right, i think the larger Oil pump was on the '08+ STi. i'll do some research to confirm.

[PhyrraM]

The early Legacy turbo ONLY had a higher relief spring setting. The actual volume of the pump was the same as all the other early pumps. The reason was it had oil squirters for the pistons. Larger volume pumps started appearing on cars that had variable valve timing, because they use oil for that function.

A better and more accurate way to describe oil pans is 2.0 and 2.5 turbo. IIRC, All 2.5 turbos had the same pan. '05-'09 Legacy turbos, Turbo Foresters and Bajas, '06-'07 WRXs and STIs.

While starvation has come up on some 2.0 WRXs, one more reason folks were swapping to 2.5/STI oil pans is that they can accommodate equal length headers. But reconcile that with there have been reports of broken/cracked 2.5/STI pick-up tubes, while 2.0WRXs don't seem to have these problems.

[Cooluser23]

Is there a dry sump kit available for Subarus? How about if FFR works together with the folks over at Accusump to make a kit?

[readymix]

Is there a dry sump kit available for Subarus? How about if FFR works together with the folks over at Accusump to make a kit?

Yes, there are dry sump systems available.