Crawford Baja AOS Air Oil Separator Installation on the Subaru Crosstrek

How to install the Crawford Baja Edition AOS Air Oil Separator on 2018+ Subaru Crosstrek. In this video, I'll be unboxing and installing it on our 2019 Crosstrek Limited. Similar process applies to all of them though.

[@WEEKENDWNDR3RS]

Nice!! Might have to add this on the list of wants for my crosstrek build!

[@PatrickKasilag]

You should!

[@francisbadavi9290]

Patrick, my mistake. Had to log into the Crawford site first. Apparently, they are out of stock for my car (2021 Limited edition). They also have a very nice PDF file on how to install the power blocks. It is quiet long and its installation is well beyond my mechanical talent. According to the PDF instruction you need a minimum of three hours to install the power blocks, cheers.

[@chrisryan8863]

Hi Patrick. I have a 2021 Forester with a similar engine set up and this video helped me a lot in understanding how to access the PCV hose and connection points for an oil catch can I am going to install. I am wondering why you chose an oil separator versus and oil catch can? Also, do you know if there would be an warranty issues if installing this system? Our Forester has a lengthy warranty and I don't want to run into nonsense with the dealer if I have to take it there for warranty work.

[@individdualx]

Hello there, thanks for the walkthrough! I have a doubt: if this is an air/oil separator, where does the separated (collected) oil go? I see that it has an input pipe for dirty air (air + oil), and and an output for clean air (air only). So the oil remains somewhere. I was looking at another AOS from IAG and they have another extra pipe for returning the collected oil into the engine by "gravity" as they say in their video.

[@raatorhtorcha7306]

Buenas noches desde Mexico, tiene tutorial para cambiar el filtro de combustible de la bomba que va en el tanque para subaru CROSSTRECK o XV (Mexico).?? Agradecería si tienes algo al respecto. SALUDOS Felicidades por tu canal.

[@vermontvermont9292]

Good time to clean your throttle body, and install a new pcv valve. Depending on mileage obviously.

[@oOs4MzOo]

What year is your crosstrek? They have a different mounting location for this aos on the crawford website

[@gregnauman922]

Did the AOS fix the smoke on start issue? I hear it doesn’t and no luck finding a fix from a few people on forums.

[@PatrickKasilag]

So the AOS did not fully get rid of the cold start smoking issue, though it is gone now. I realized a lot of the smoking our Crosstrek had was always from sitting overnight with the front of the car pointed down on a decline (steep driveway.) This was causing a bit of oil to pool up somewhere either in the intake manifold or the cylinder heads, which caused some smoking at the initial start next day. As soon as we moved to our new place (with a completely flat driveway), our Crosstrek completely stopped smoking all of the sudden.

[@mbeacom21]

lots of newer cars put out white smoke/vapor at start up. It's a symptom of modern emission systems allowing water vapor to condense inside the exhaust system. It should go away in the first 60 seconds.

[@JustinKingDesigns]

@PatrickKasilag excellent tutorial...better than Crawford's! Their "official" instructions mention disconnecting the battery before doing this install. Wasn't sure why that was needed....did you have any issues installing this without disconnecting the battery? Thanks man!

[@PatrickKasilag]

Thanks! If there were to be sensors needing to be disconnected (maf, TPS, crank position, knock, etc), then I would have disconnected the battery. But I really didn’t see the point in this scenario, no issues

[@JustinKingDesigns]

@@PatrickKasilag good to hear! Thanks for the reply and insights. I also appreciated you showing how you bent that connector that is positioned right in the way of the AOS mounting location....nothing on that included in Crawford's videos either and likely would have had me thinking they shipped me the wrong AOS . Cheers and thanks again!

[@francisbadavi9290]

Patrick, did you get a chance to install the Crawford power block on the Subaru?

[@santinisoriano6628]

I just got mine and it turns out the supplied hoses are 5/8 diameter. The oem pcv hose diameter is smaller. Any ideas? Btw, is this CARB compliant?

[@cilvrwing]

What size of hose are those? Inside and outside diamater

[@francisbadavi9290]

Patrick, is this product available for a 2021 CrossTrek limited edition with 2.5 liter engine and CVT transmission. Unless I'm completely blind, Crawford website says it isn't available for my car. Thanks.

[@oOs4MzOo]

Update on this after 2years?

[@topherming6565]

The Crosstrek manual doesn't mention a separator!

[@PatrickKasilag]

there’s gonna be a lot of parts being installed on this channel that will not be on the Crosstrek manual lol

[@topherming6565]

@@PatrickKasilag That's good. It's fun and I learn something. I bought my 2021 Crosstrek in December. I'm liking it a lot.

[@jameshuffield1755]

Nice work! What made you go with this rather then an oil catch can? I think you went the right way just wondering.

[@PatrickKasilag]

thank you. I just wanted to keep it maintenance-free. with it looping back to the manifold rather than a vented canister, no need to drain periodically.

[@chrisb75]

I and another owner have a smoke on start happening too. I'm at 78k miles now. He's installed the Baja unit and so far seems to have alleviated it. Mine does it when the car is parked leaning toward the passenger side. How's the smoke been since you installed? Very nice install video

[@PatrickKasilag]

I’m actually still dealing with an intermittent smoking issue at start up, but only whenever I have the car parked facing down on a hill. I’m still hunting down the source really.. Swapping the PCV valve next and continuing diagnosis. I’d hate to find out valve seals on a 57k mile car though so let’s hope it’s not that..

[@chrisb75]

I'm 100% with you. I'm nearing the end of my extended warranty and have a long list of records with SOA and me wanting to have them dig in further. Haven't been able to have a dealer duplicate it. Paid for a compression and leak down test and yielded nothing conclusive.

[@cbb976]

@@PatrickKasilag Any update here? I am still dealing with it too but only when the car is slightly downhill and tilted towards the passenger side. I have the new Baja AOS too but have yet to install it. Also considering upping my oil to 5/30 at the next change too.

[@msport21]

@@PatrickKasilag Have you pinpointed the source of the intermittent smoking?

[@MMichaelSingh]

Any luck with the power blocks? Install video coming soon?

[@PatrickKasilag]

not yet! Been away from home, but yes video will be coming soon. Though I kinda wanted to dyno the car for baseline numbers BEFORE installing the power blocks to see if it actually gains as much power as Crawford claims them to.

[@fattypat3ck]

Nice! Do you know if Perrin or IAG makes AOS for 2.5L Crosstreks?

[@PatrickKasilag]

I wish! Otherwise I would have gotten the IAG one. I think they mainly make them only for EJ25/FA20DIT platforms

[@fattypat3ck]

@@PatrickKasilag I hear ya. Please post update after few thousand kms? 🙏

[@nickforeman7058]

Will this work for a 2015 Outback 2.5

[@PatrickKasilag]

They have Outback specific ones

[@mitchellhuth]

Do you see any difference? I didnt notice any oil in the PCV valve hose youu removed when installing. Was it oily??