There's no doubt that the Ford F-150 EcoBoost is one of the hottest new trucks on the market. The all-new 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost puts out an impressive 365 hp with 420 lb-ft of torque, and outdoes the competition with 16-city/22-highway mpg.
| 2012 Ford F 150 Ecoboost Before Installation
One of the easiest and fastest ways to increase horsepower and fuel economy
in almost any engine is to replace the stock intake box with an aftermarket cold-air intake. Stock intake systems regulate the temperature of air entering the car's engine, providing warm air when the engine is cold, and vice versa. Cold air is heavier than warm air and contains more oxygen per cubic foot for more power and torque throughout the engine's rpm range.
We were invited to the Accessory House in Montclair, California, to watch the installation of a Bully Dog Rapid Flow Cold Air Intake system ($340) on a 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost. The fully enclosed intake system is designed to increase airflow and block engine heat. According to the company, after the install, the vehicle was dyno-tested with gains of up to 33.1 extra hp at 5170 rpm and 35.6 extra lb-ft of torque at 3790 rpm.
| Parts
If you choose to add this item yourself, the installation should take about 20 minutes.
PRE-INSTALL
Bully Dog suggests you preassemble the intake for an easier, faster install.
| 2012 Ford F 150 Ecoboost Preassemble Intake
1: Attach the Bully Dog lid to the airbox inlet side of the Bully Dog Mass Air Flow intake tube and make sure the tabs snap into place.
2: The ISO 5011 certified eight-layer oil filter is then attached to the inlet tube inside the contoured lid and tightened with a band clamp.
| 2012 Ford F 150 Ecoboost ISO 5011 Oil Filter
3: Slide the 100mm silicon coupler onto the larger turbo inlet opening of the MAF intake tube and secure it to the tube with a 4.5-inch worm-drive clamp. Lightly secure a second 4.5-inch worm-drive clamp around the open side of the silicon coupler. (This will be tightened later when installed.) Repeat the process for attaching the smaller 80mm silicon coupler to the smaller turbo inlet opening. Then attach the 9.5mm silicone tube to the nipple on the MAF intake tube and secure it with a #6 worm-drive clamp.
| 2012 Ford F 150 Ecoboost Worm Drive Clamp
| 2012 Ford F 150 Ecoboost Bully Dog Intake
STOCK INTAKE REMOVAL
4: Inside the engine, locate the Mass Air Flow sensor on the stock tube, and disconnect the sensor by pulling the red tab outward to release its locking mechanism. Unplug it once freed. Locate the vacuum line and disconnect it from the inline nipple by cutting the zip-tie from the fitting.
| 2012 Ford F 150 Ecoboost Mass Air Flow Sensor
5: With a flat-head screwdriver, loosen the band clamps that hold the split ends of the tube in place. Unsnap the three clips that hold the top of the stock filters box to the lower half.
| 2012 Ford F 150 Ecoboost Loosen Band Clamps
6: Lift the stock intake out of the engine and place nearby. Remove the stock intake filter from the lower intake box.
| 2012 Ford F 150 Ecoboost Pull Out Intake
MAF SWAP
7: (A, B, C): Remove the MAF sensor from the stock tube using the provided T20 Tamper Proof Torx Bit to unscrew it from its perch. Gently pull the sensor out of the stock tube and insert it into the Bully Dog tube. Use the two provided stainless black oxide screws to attach it in place on the new tube.
| 7 2012 Ford F 150 Ecoboost Proof Torx Bit
Ready For Install
8: Line up the intake's box tabs to the slots on the lower stock intake box as a guide for fitment.
| 2012 Ford F 150 Ecoboost Lower Intake Box
9: Lower the intake the rest of the way and line up the coupler openings to the engine's turbo inlet tubes. Work the couplers on to the tubes and tighten the worm-drive clamps for both ends.
| 2012 Ford F 150 Ecoboost Work Couplers Tighten Worm Drive Clamp
10: Snap the stock box latches onto the Bully Dog lid.
| 2012 Ford F 150 Ecoboost Stock Box Latch
11: Feed the breather tube under the inlet pipe and loosely place a #6 worm-drive clamp on the end of the tube. Attach it to the gray inline nipple and tighten.
| 2012 Ford F 150 Ecoboost Breather Tube
12: Plug in the MAF sensor.
| 2012 Ford F 150 Ecoboost MAF Sensor
