Boosting Up Ford F-150 EcoBoost Power with AIRAID’s MXP Cold Air Intake
- Jun 23, 2016
The 2015 Ford F-150 hit the market by storm in 2014. An array of EcoBoost V-6 and 5.0L V-8 engine choices, plus use of advanced lightweight materials such as aluminum body panels, mean the latest generation F-150 produces more power for hauling and towing while tipping the scales lower than any previous generation F-150. While there’s always talk about the 5.0L Coyote engine, Ford’s advanced EcoBoost engines have gathered their fair share of attention, boasting V-8 power with V-6 fuel economy. In truth, the EcoBoost is a great choice for any F-150 that is used for daily commuting and occasionally being put to work towing campers or toys to the desert or woods. It delivers great mileage when unloaded, yet has the grunt to haul impressive payloads when needed. But those EcoBoost twin-turbos tend to be noisy, and Ford placed an emphasis on priority on keeping those turbos quiet rather than keeping them adequately fed with air. As a result, the factory intake system introduces significant restrictions that can hurt power. Fortunately for EcoBoost owners, AIRAID has picked up where the factory left off with an MXP Cold air intake system for 2015 and 2016 Ford F-150s with 2.7L and 3.5L V-6 engines that make big power gains right out of box. Best of all, the upgrade is a simple bolt-on installation and is legal for use in all 50 states, including California and other states adopting California emissions standards.
The AIRAID MXP cold air intake system starts with a new bifurcated intake tube that connects the air box to the turbos. This new intake tube was designed using advance software to optimize airflow to the turbos and keep them fed with an adequate supply of air without introducing turbulence or restrictions to the intake paths. The new intake tube includes provisions for any sensors and fittings that are present with the factory system, so there are no major modifications needed. Simply remove the factory tube and replace it with the AIRAID piece to improve airflow. With the restrictions in the factory tube design addressed, AIRAID engineers moved on to the air box itself. The twin turbos on the 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost engines are fed with a giant one-piece roto-molded intake box assembly that replaces the factory unit. The shape of the air box is designed to promote airflow all the way around the premium filter inside and also includes a cold air scoop that mounts to the top of the core support. This forward-facing inlet scoop draws in cool outside air and is sized to make use of all the available space so that plenty of air is able to reach the filter. The sealed box design features an aluminum lid to help keep the filter isolated from hot engine compartment air, while servicing the filter is easy by removing the four stainless steel retaining screws. The aluminum lid is even insulated to further prevent underhood heat transfer. Like the intake tube, no modifications are required to mount the new air box assembly, and installation requires only simple hand tools.
Inside the roto-molded intake box for the 2015 and 2016 EcoBoost-powered F-150s is the heart of the system: the premium AIRAID filter. Forced induction systems like twin turbos require enormous amounts of air in order to make power, and keeping up with them requires a filter that is properly sized to maintain effective filtration without introducing restrictions. The 720-243 and 721-243 AIRAID filter was specially developed for EcoBoost F-150 applications to do just that: the enormous filter makes use of all available space inside the intake box and features much more surface area for filter media. That increased surface area is the key to keeping the turbos fed on 2.7L and 3.5L applications. The filter features heavy-duty polyurethane casings that won’t crack or warp over time, and the filter itself is available with a variety of media. The 300-338 EcoBoost F-150 intake includes a SynthaFlow oiled filter in red, which has four layers of cotton gauze plus an additional synthetic layer to provide additional filtration. The 401-338 EcoBoost intake features a SynthaMax dry filter in red, which requires no oil when servicing. Both filter types filter the same and flow within 5% of one another, and both are washable and reusable. With the EcoBoost F-150 intakes, which filter is preferable is really a matter of personal preference; the oiled filters will traditionally do a little longer between cleanings, while the SynthaMax dry filters are easier to maintain since it’s not necessary to re-apply oil to the filter after cleaning. Both filters are a great choice for 2015 and 2016 F-150s.
The best news of all is that all of the advanced technology AIRAID applied to the EcoBoost F-150 intakes new huge real-world gains! A 2015 Ford F-150 with the 3.5L EcoBoost made increases of 33 horsepower and 35 lb-ft of torque, while a 2015 F-150 with the 2.7L EcoBoost made increases of 24 horsepower and 25 lb-ft of torque. Those gains were measured on our in-house Mustang chassis dyno, and were not all at peak power. Indeed, consistent improvements can be seen across the rpm range and while maintaining excellent air/fuel ratios. View the dyno sheets for yourself to see the significant power improvements a simple AIRAID intake upgrade can make with no other modifications needed. Like most AIRAID systems, the MXP intake for the 2015 and 2016 F-150 improves performance right out of the box with no tuning required. The 400-338 and 401-338 AIRAID MXP cold air intakes fit the following applications, and note that they are legal for use in all 50 states with CARB EO number D-609-17: 2016 FORD F150 3.5L V6 F/I - Turbo For more information on AIRAID cold air intake systems for all generations of the Ford F-150, visit the Ford F-150 air intakes page. For more information about the different types of AIRAID cold air intake systems available, visit the air intake systems page. To find your nearest AIRAID dealer, simply use the dealer search tool. |
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