One of the first modifications we make to our trucks is the addition of a cold-air intake—but what kind of power do we really stand to gain from this $300 investment? Because 10 to 30hp increases are impossible to feel in an 8,000-pound truck, we decided to see what the local chassis dyno at Randall’s Performance had to say about the horsepower and torque improvements air intakes provide. Specifically, we tested a completely stock 2012 Ford F-350 Super Duty dualie and then added an AFE Momentum HD intake and re-dyno’d the truck.
The AFE system was chosen because nearly half of all the tuner-, exhaust-, and intake-equipped trucks we come across here at Diesel Power have an AFE intake of some sort under the hood. The Ford test mule was chosen because consumers have been buying 6.7L Power Strokes like hot cakes since they debuted for the 2011 model year. So, taking two of the best-selling products currently on the truck market and combining them was a no-brainer. Follow along for an ultra-easy install and real-world dyno results.
| 2012 Ford F 350 Super Duty AFE Momentum HD Intake Install 10
AFE is, perhaps, the most recognized air intake manufacturer in the diesel industry. We tested the AFE Momentum HD intake for 2011 to 2014 Ford Super Duty 6.7L Power Strokes (PN 50-73005) this month. It retails for $312.30 through our friends at XDP. To get a stock baseline, the guys at Randall’s Performance strapped the F-350 to their industry-standard SuperFlow dyno and made a few runs. The result was 324 hp and 644 lb-ft at the wheels.
| 2012 Ford F 350 Super Duty AFE Momentum HD Intake Install 01
Removing the factory intake is pretty straightforward. After pulling the two 8mm screws that secure the OE intake tube and filter box, loosening the band clamps, and removing the mass airflow (MAF) sensor using the included T-20 Torx bit, it was ready to come out.
| 2012 Ford F 350 Super Duty AFE Momentum HD Intake Install 02
Certain components from the factory intake are retained when installing the AFE Momentum HD intake, including this rubber mounting grommet. It fits on the rear, bottom side of AFE’s one-piece filter housing.
| 2012 Ford F 350 Super Duty AFE Momentum HD Intake Install 03
Also retained is this factory rubber inlet gasket. It fits perfectly over the inlet hole in the AFE filter housing.
| 2012 Ford F 350 Super Duty AFE Momentum HD Intake Install 04
The Momentum HD intake is designed around this massive, 10-layer, Pro 10R air filter capable of flowing 1,000 cfm. The filter itself is wrapped in metal to allow for utmost strength and to prevent filter collapse in high-horsepower applications.
| 2012 Ford F 350 Super Duty AFE Momentum HD Intake Install 05
Along with the MAF sensor, the factory filter minder also gets relocated to the Momentum HD intake tube.
| 2012 Ford F 350 Super Duty AFE Momentum HD Intake Install 06
Per AFE’s instructions (which are supplied with each system), the air filter housing was installed first. Trying to install the housing and intake tube as a single assembly makes things much more difficult. At this time, both supplied T-bolt clamps were installed on the outlet of the air filter housing, but the clamp responsible for securing the intake tube was left loose.
| 2012 Ford F 350 Super Duty AFE Momentum HD Intake Install 07
Moving onto the intake tube, the supplied silicone coupling gets installed on the small end (turbo side) of the tube, followed by the included T-bolt clamps. However, the clamps remain loose until the tube is installed under the hood.
| 2012 Ford F 350 Super Duty AFE Momentum HD Intake Install 08
When installing the Momentum HD intake tube, the turbo inlet side gets secured first. Then the intake tube gets tightened to the air filter housing outlet via the T-bolt clamp that was left loose earlier.
| 2012 Ford F 350 Super Duty AFE Momentum HD Intake Install 09
Once the T-bolt clamps are tight, the MAF sensor can be plugged in (yellow arrow) and the A/C line snapped into place on the intake tube (red arrow). The only drawback we see with this system is that you basically have to disassemble it to remove the Pro 10R filter for cleaning. There is no opening in the top of the airbox.
| 2012 Ford F 350 Super Duty AFE Momentum HD Intake Install Dyno
In this overlaid dyno graph you can see horsepower and torque gains exist across the board when compared to stock. AFE claims a 19hp and 60-lb-ft gain at 1,650 rpm. And, looking at the beginning of each of our runs, significant gains do exist between 1,750 rpm and 2,000 rpm. When it was all said and done, we saw peak gains of 9 hp and 17 lb-ft of torque—and because we dyno’d on the same day and in the same conditions, we stand behind these numbers 100 percent. Even though these increases are marginal, AFE’s Momentum HD intake maintains added power throughout the entire rpm range.
*SuperFlow load-cell dyno
*SuperFlow correction factor
*Runs made in Fourth gear, from 35 to 68 mph
*35 percent load applied
