How to Ford F150 2.7 EcoBoost Intake Upgrade. A cold air intake is one of the first mods we recommend for the 2.7 EcoBoost, and for nearly all automobiles. Because the 2.7 EcoBoost has a turbocharged engine, the advantages of an improved intake are even larger than those of a naturally aspirated engine. Cool air intake improves airflow, which increases turbo efficiency and thus power. Furthermore, for the power gains they provide, intake systems are quite affordable. In this post, we will discuss the benefits of improved intakes as well as list the finest F150 2.7 EcoBoost intake options.
While this advice is oriented at the F150, it is applicable to all Fords equipped with the 2.7L EcoBoost engine.
Advantages of 2.7L F150 Upgraded Intake
The intake system on the 2.7 F150 is perfectly adequate for stock engines with stock boost. Nevertheless, as you continue to tweak the engine and add horsepower, the stock intake system becomes restrictive. Running higher boost settings necessitates more air flow than the OEM intake can offer.
As a result, changing the intake system is incredibly useful since it allows the turbo to breathe and perform more efficiently.
- Gains of 5-10 watts
- 5-10wtq increases
- faster turbo spool
- enhanced turbo efficiency
- increased airflow by 50% or more
- Improvements in petrol mileage
Yet again, the most benefit of an intake comes from upgraded F150s. With a factory 2.7 EcoBoost, you should anticipate to get between 2 and 5 horsepower. But, when combined with a tune, such as the JB4, you may expect improvements of up to 10whp from the cold air intake alone.
Designs for 2.7 EcoBoost F150 Cold Air Intakes
While we have referred to enhanced intakes as ‘cold air intakes,’ this is not always correct. Cold air intake reroutes the placement of the air filter, which is often located inside the lower part of the front bumper. The advantage of this is that it sucks in air from a location farther away from the engine, lowering the temperature of the air it draws in. These intakes are most popular on normally aspirated engines without intercoolers.
With turbocharged automobiles, intake air temperatures are less important. Once the air is pulled in, it is directed to the turbocharger, where it is heated. It is then cooled in the intercooler before entering the combustion chamber. As a result, the temperature of the air when it enters the intake is unimportant because it has no effect on the intercooler’s ability to cool the air.
Having said that, the term cold air intake is interchangeable with performance intake or enhanced intake. The benefit we seek is improved airflow, not reduced air intake temperatures. But, one design characteristic that does impact is the difference between open and closed intakes.
Improvements for F150 Intakes, Open vs. Closed
Open and closed intakes are the two main types of enhanced intakes. The air filter in an open intake system is totally open and exposed to the engine bay. Closed intake designs will surround the air filter in a box. The key distinction is whether or not the filter is exposed to engine bay air.
Because they are not confined by an enclosed box, open air systems will deliver more airflow. Closed systems will flow somewhat less air but offer slightly lower air intake temperatures since the filter is sheltered from hot engine bay air.
Having saying that, we favor open intake systems since they provide more airflow. As previously stated, intake air temperatures are unimportant, hence we want increased airflow over lower IATs.
While we like open intakes, unless you’re looking for serious power, it really doesn’t matter. Closed intakes are still vastly superior to the standard system, providing enough airflow for fully tuned and customized F150s. When pushing the power limitations of the 2.7 EcoBoost or upgrading your turbochargers, the benefits of higher airflow from open air systems really come into play.
Best Intakes for the Ford F-150 2.7 EcoBoost
We’ll go through some of our favorite cold air intake choices for the 2.7L F150 EcoBoost in this section. Our recommendations take into account price, quality, and performance. Having saying that, this is not an exhaustive list. There are numerous ingestion methods available.
As long as the intake system employs a high-quality air filter, the performance gains will be consistent from system to system. Deciding to improve your intake system is far more significant than selecting an intake brand. Stick to name brands and avoid eBay trash, and you’ll be good.
The last and most critical consideration is fitting. Certain 2.7 EcoBoost intakes will fit all 2015+ vehicles, while others will fit 2015-2017 models and 2018+ models only. Just be sure to double-check fitment before placing your order.
1) F-150 CVF Cold Air Intake Kit with Dual Filters
CV Fabrication (CVF) provides some outstanding bolt-on performance improvements for Ford EcoBoost engines. The F-150 2.7 EcoBoost dual-filter cold air intake system is one of their offerings. This intake kit, as the name implies, employs two filters and outflows the stock intake by 65%. The open, dual filter design ensures exceptional power and performance benefits. There will also be a lot more turbo and induction noises.
The intake also contains a 16-gauge heat shield, as seen above. The filters are 3.5′′ CVF dry filters with an 8-layer construction. Overall, this is a fantastic intake from start to finish. We’re used to seeing a lot of dual filter setups on twin turbo engines in the BMW industry. They’re an excellent choice for everything from mildly modified engines to severe 700+whp versions. The point is, regardless of your specific aims, the CVF dual filter intake system has a lot of promise.
We love CVF products and have a wonderful working relationship with them. As a result, we were able to obtain a 5% discount code (TUNINGPRO) for our readers. This is by far our favorite intake system for the F-150 2.7 EcoBoost, with a total price of $285.
Price: $299.99
2) F150 Cold Air Intake by Livernois Motorsports
Another amazing option for the 2.7L F-150 EcoBoost is the Livernois Motorsports cold air intake. It’s one of the more expensive options, but Livernois makes some excellent items right here in the United States. The intake on the Livernois is also a closed airbox design, so don’t expect as much flow or induction/turbo noise as other alternatives. Nonetheless, the intake tube has been completely rebuilt to help promote improved airflow.
Finally, the Livernois 2.7 EcoBoost intake provides excellent performance at a somewhat higher cost. If you’re seeking for things made in the United States, this is a wonderful alternative. Yet, if you’re searching for a low-cost choice that also delivers exceptional performance and quality, it’s difficult to recommend anything other than CVF.
Price: $499.99
3) JLT 2.7 EcoBoost Intake in Open Air
The intake system on JLT is an open air system. It does, however, have a heat shield that wraps around the air filter to prevent hot air from being sucked in. It employs massive 5′′ piping and a large 57′′ filter to provide a significant increase in airflow over the stock system.
The open system will produce a better intake sound and flow than the majority of other intake systems on the market. The JLT intake has one disadvantage: it is not CARB certified, making it theoretically illegal in California. Overall, at a little more than $300, this is one of the best systems on the market, especially considering the price.
While the website states it only fits 2018-2019 F150s, it actually covers all years from 2015 to 2020.
Price: $329
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4) Intake K&N F150 2.7L EcoBoost
K&N is a market leader in air filters and high-performance intake systems. The K&N system is a solid budget-friendly alternative on the market, costing less than $300. They have two versions: one that is roto-molded and one that is CARB authorized for F150 owners in California. The K&N system is likewise a direct bolt-on installation that requires no specific tuning.
K&N’s F150 intake is likewise an open air system that claims to boost airflow by 50% over the factory system. While claims of 20hp improvements from this intake have been made, you should expect closer to 10whp. Again, this intake claims to fit just 2015-2019 vehicles, yet it fits all 2015+ cars.
Price: $289 for CARB compliance or $329 for non-CARB compliant.
Summary of the 2.7 EcoBoost F150 Intake Upgrade
Raising horsepower or increasing turbocharger boost levels necessitates higher airflow. When adjusted and tweaked, the stock intake system on the 2.7L F150 becomes restrictive, making changing the intake a must for those trying to improve power.
An improved intake not only adds up to 10whp and 10wtq, but it also increases turbo spool and efficiency, produces a great sound, and marginally improves gas mileage. We prefer open air systems like JLT over closed air systems like Roush because open systems give more airflow. Closed air systems, on the other hand, perform quite well with standard tunes and minor adjustments.
Generally, one of the better upgrades you can do is upgrade the intake on your 2.7L F150. We like the CVF Intake because of its pricing, design, quality, and performance. But, the Roush system, as well as a number of other closed systems like Banks Power and S&B, are excellent choices for individuals seeking a quieter closed box input.
