The Upgrades for Ford Raptor Cold Air Intake. Some may object to Ford’s decision to use the EcoBoost engine in the Raptor. The 3.5L dual turbo V6 engine, on the other hand, gives excellent performance. It also makes it simple to modify the Raptor for enormous power boosts. A cool air intake is one of the greatest Raptor 3.5 EcoBoost upgrades. This article covers Ford Raptor intake improvements, including price, benefits, power gains, and more.
Design of Raptor Intake Upgrades
Before delving into the benefits, affordability, and best Ford Raptor intakes, it’s critical to consider intake designs. If you’re familiar with intake mods, you’re probably aware that there are several alternatives. There are several terms as well. A few examples include cold air intakes, ram intakes, performance intakes, and intake systems.
But what’s the difference between all of these? Is one intake upgrade superior to another? What does all of this have to do with Raptor 3.5 EcoBoost intake upgrades?
Cold Air Intake (CAI) for Ford Raptor
The term “cold air intake” is probably the most well-known. As the name implies, a real cold air intake reroutes the filter and/or intake pipes to pull in cooler air. The theory is that colder air is denser, which leads to increased power.
Most intake systems, however, are not real cold air intakes. The identical filter and piping locations are frequently used in aftermarket systems. Instead, CAI has evolved into a more general term for any performance intake.
When it comes to cool air intakes on turbo engines like the Raptor 3.5 EcoBoost, there’s additional thing to consider. The temperature of the air at the intake filter is unimportant. Intercoolers are used in turbo engines to cool the charge air. The temperature of the air at the filter has little to no effect on the effectiveness of the intercooler to cool the air.
Intakes for Ford 3.5 EcoBoost Ram
Short ram intakes are another name for ram intakes. The concept of a ram intake modification is straightforward: “ram” more air into the engine. A short ram intake is intended to take advantage of the dynamic airflow caused by a vehicle’s motion. As air speed increases across the intake filter, more air is pushed into the engine.
Many Raptor 3.5 EcoBoost intakes are short ram systems. It’s a well-known and widely accepted phrase. True ram intakes differ from most aftermarket intake improvements. However, that may be a separate article.
Finally, cold air intakes and ram intakes aren’t crucial on the 3.5 EcoBoost F-150 Raptor. They are frequently not faithful to the original and are instead nomenclatures to denote an aftermarket intake.
Raptor Open vs Closed Intake Modifications
With the standard CAI and short ram phrases out of the way, let’s get to the crucial stuff. We tend to think of turbo engine intakes in terms of open vs closed intakes. This is quite straightforward. An open intake exposes the filter to the engine compartment (or wherever the filter is installed). An air-box is used to protect the filter in closed intakes.
Hot air intakes are another name for open intakes. When stopped or at very low speeds, leaving the filter exposed to the engine bay allows hotter air into the intake. However, once you get up to speed, the air in the engine compartment is swiftly refreshed by the radiator and inbound air through the grille.
So, even with an open intake, the air isn’t that much hotter. The variation is minimal enough to have no influence on the intercooler’s ability to cool the air to a specific temperature.
Open intakes are preferable designs for forced induction engines, according to testing. When the airbox is removed, the airflow through the filters is maximized. It also eliminates turbo and induction noises on the Ford Raptor. On the 3.5 EcoBoost Raptor, closed intakes still provide good benefits and power improvements. An open intake design, on the other hand, will most likely deliver the best airflow, acoustics, and power improvements.
Advantages of Ford Raptor Intake
Finally! It’s time to get to the more exciting parts of this piece. Let’s start with some of the top Ford Raptor performance intake perks and then go on to some of the best enhancements available. The following are the advantages of Raptor 3.5 EcoBoost intake upgrades:
- Gains of 5 to 15 watts
- comparable torque
- improved throttle responsiveness
- Sounds of induction/turbo
- a cleaner engine compartment
Exact Ford Raptor HP improvements with an intake are dependent on a variety of factors. Intakes enhance power primarily via improving airflow. The stock intake on a standard Raptor 3.5L V6 is quite efficient. As a result, advances in intake power are likely to be limited to non-existent.
Increasing power and boost demands more airflow, which can quickly overwhelm the basic intake. This is where the majority of the horsepower gains are found. A Raptor intake should add 5-10whp with a tune and basic bolt-ons. Begin with larger modifications such as turbo improvements and an intake system, which can add 15+hp.
You’ll probably notice greater throttle response as well as increased turbo spool and induction sounds. Again, with an open intake, sounds will be more noticeable. Raptor intake changes can also result in a cleaner, more accessible engine bay.
Best Raptor 3.5 Intakes
There are currently numerous intake upgrades for the F-150 Raptor, and more are set to appear as the platform matures. We don’t have enough time to list all of the nice options. Instead, we’ll take a look at some of our best Raptor 3.5 EcoBoost intakes on the market in the following sections. We feel that these intake enhancements provide the best value for money in terms of pricing, performance, and quality. That being stated, let’s get right into some of the best Ford Raptor intake mods.
1) 3.5 EcoBoost CVF Dual Cone Intake Raptor
When it comes to Ford Raptor modifications, CV Fab is a newer brand. However, many EcoBoost mods over CVF are difficult to recommend. They provide an amazing value in terms of price, performance, and quality. The CVF Raptor 3.5 EcoBoost two cone intake system is the same.
The CVF dual cone intake, as the name implies, has dual cone filters for optimal airflow and performance. It outflows the factory intake by a whopping 65%! It’s an open intake design, however it comes with a heat shield and an optional cover if the higher intake temperatures bother you.
Finally, the CVF Ford Raptor intake is an excellent pick from start to finish. It costs $350, which is an excellent value for a dual cone intake system. When you combine that with outstanding quality and enough of airflow, it’s difficult to go wrong with this selection.
Price: $349.99
2) COBB Cold Air Intakes for Ford Raptor
COBB is a well-known brand in the automotive industry. They’re well-known for their high-quality tracks and numerous aftermarket improvements. The COBB Raptor cold air intake is a popular 3.5L V6 twin turbo engine improvement. This is a closed intake system with two inlets and a single filter that is 165% larger than the OEM.
COBB, like the CVF intake, employs mandrel bent tubing and high-quality 304 stainless steel clamps and brackets. The COBB intake system is unquestionably of high quality. You will, however, pay a premium for the brand name and image. It costs $425, which is still a very reasonable price for a high-quality intake that performs well.
Price: $425
3) Dual Cone Intake System aFe Power
aFe is another well-known brand when it comes to aftermarket improvements, particularly intake systems. The Ford Raptor aFe dual cone intake is nearly identical to the CVF option. It has real dual cone filters and a heat shield around the filters. The CVF design also shares the 3′′ aluminum intake piping.
The aFe power is essentially the same as the CVF twin cone intakes. The primary difference is that the aFe system costs around $500. We believe it demonstrates how reasonably priced CVF’s Raptor intake modification is. In any case, this is still a fantastic option for anyone looking for a dual cone intake.
Price: $502
Related : The Top 4 Dodge 3.7L V6 PowerTech Engine Issues
Summary of Ford Raptor Intakes
The Ford Raptor with its 3.5 EcoBoost twin turbo engine is an excellent basis for unlimited power mods. A simple intake system is one of the greatest Raptor modifications. Raptor intakes can provide 5-15whp improvements depending on additional modifications to the 3.5L V6 engine. They also have great acoustics, improved throttle responsiveness, and a clean engine bay.
Given the engine’s mod-friendliness, there are numerous intake improvements available. We believe the CVF Raptor twin cone intake provides the best overall value in terms of price, quality, and performance. aFe also has an excellent twin cone setup, although it is somewhat more expensive. COBB, on the other hand, is a well-known brand that produces excellent products. Whatever you decide, a Ford Raptor intake improvement will undoubtedly help push the 3.5 twin turbo engine to the next level.
