4 Best Cold Air Intake For Ford Explorer Ecoboost

The Ford Explorer is a nice car with a smooth engine, and with the Ecoboost engine, you can imagine how well it functions already. However, one thing that can help boost, improve, and maintain its performance is the cold air intake.

Cold air intakes ensure that your Ford Explorer’s engine gets fresh cold air that makes it perform better. Also, cold air intakes enhance the engine’s function and add more power to it.

In many cases, cold air Intakes have helped many car owners fall in love with their car even better due to their benefits. So, you could also use some for your car.

Since not all cold air intakes fit or are suitable for all cars, I have researched and collated some that I know would be of good use for your car type. In this article, I’ll review the best cold air intake for Ford Explorer Ecoboost.

I will review their features and how they help improve a car’s performance, their pros, and their cons. Also, the cold air intakes I will review in this article are my top picks for Ford Explorer Ecoboost specifically.

So, let’s get into it.

What is the best cold air intake for Ford Explorer Ecoboost?

I recommend the K&N Cold Air Intake as the best for Ford Explorer Ecoboost. This is because it tends to supersede all other cold air intakes.

Why Is K&N The Best Cold Air Intake For Ford Explorer Ecoboost?

The K&N wins as the best firstly because it fits specific Ford Explorer Ecoboost vehicles available. Also, this cold air intake helps to improve the vehicles’ performances in terms of the air intake, hp gains, throttle sound, acceleration, uphill performance, and more.

Best Cold Air Intake For Ford Explorer Ecoboost Comparison

Recommended Cold Air Intakes for Ford Explorer Ecoboost

I have picked four cold air intakes for this review that will make your car perform better and improve your overall driving experience. But, more importantly, they fit perfectly for your car type.

You can pick any cold air intakes from the following four best cold air intakes for Ford Explorer Ecoboost:

1.   K&N Cold Air Intake Kit: Turbo Ecoboost 3.5L V6, 69-3531TS – (Best Overall)

K&N cold air intakes kit are one of the best cold air intakes for Ford Explorer Ecoboost and can greatly improve a car’s performance. This air filter increases airflow into a car’s engine at about 50%, boosting power and acceleration.

Also, it is one of the best cold air intakes for Ford Explorer Ecoboost to invest a couple of dollars in if you’re big on horsepower gains. So, K&N improves the combustion rate and ensures that your car performs better on different terrains.

Features and Benefits

● Increases horsepower

K&N cold air intake kits are well known for increasing cars’ horsepower gains. For example, K&N cold air intakes add at least 10 to 15 hp gains to car performance.

Also, it is one of the best cold air intakes to invest a couple of dollars in if you’re big on horsepower gains when it comes to cars. So, K&N improves the combustion rate and ensures that your car performs better on different terrains.

● Oversized washable high-flow air filter

K&N cold air intake kits have oversized high-flow air filters. Their makers ensure that air filters are large enough to allow a large volume of air into the car’s engine and still fit correctly in the car.

They are usually large and conical in shape, with factory holes and mounting points that hold more dirt than a standard K&N O/E replacement filter. Also, these filters can hold dirt for a long time and are washable.

You may not need to wash the filter till after it has served about 100,000 miles because it can hold that much dirt. And you can wash them, dry them and replace them in the car for a longer period.

● Easy installation

K&N cold air intake kits are some of the easiest cold air intakes to install. Installation doesn’t require a lot of time or effort to do.

You can finish installing the air intake kit within 90 minutes or less. Also, they only require basic hand tools like pliers, screwdrivers, and a ratchet set for installation.

● Improves engine sound

K&N cold air intakes help improve a car’s engine sound by adding a nice growl, which quietens when the car is at speed. Also, it eliminates soundproofing components and stock baffles from a car and increases throttle sound.

●  Protects your engine

K&N cold air intake kits have a unique design that ensures your engine’s safety. They have a filtration system of thousands of microscopic cotton fibers. These cotton fibers have oil in them, and they protect your cars from contaminating elements.

● Passed ISO 5011 testing

K&N manufacturers ensure that they test their cold air intakes at ISO 5011 testing labs. This is to ensure that their air filters pass the standard filtration system for cold air intakes.

● 10-year/Million-mile warranty

K&N cold air intake kits are some of the long-lasting cold air intakes you can ever use. In addition, they promise a 10-year/million-mile warranty before you would need to replace them.

However, you would need to clean them at intervals, for example, at 100,000 miles intervals, to last that long.

2.   aFe Power Magnum FORCE 54-12622 Air Intake System – (Best Performance)

This cold air intake brand is also one of the best cold air intakes for Ford Explorer Ecoboost. This air filter product ensures better car performance with its pre-oiled, washable and reusable filters, which increase torque and horsepower.

Also, it has a 3-angle adaptor that helps increase airflow into the engine via the air filter. So, it replaced the stock airbox and air filter in the car with an additional intake tube. Another good thing about this cold air intake is that it is easy to install, and you can finish installing in no time.

Features and Benefits

● Easy installation

aFe cold air intakes are quite easy to install, even for a first-timer. Installation can take about 30 minutes or a slight increase or decrease, depending on your expertise.

● Better fuel economy

It also helps improve fuel economy since it sucks in cold air and releases it into the combustion chamber. Otherwise, hot airflow in the engine makes the car use more fuel.

● Increases horsepower and torque

Due to its increase in maximum airflow, the cold air intake filter improves a car’s horsepower and torque.

●  Better airflow

This cold air intake increases airflow into a car than the factory intake at an increase of about 35%. This allows your car to perform better.

3.   K&N Cold Air Intake Kit: 77-2587 KS – (Best Budget)

As one of the best cold air intakes for Ford Explorer Ecoboost, this product removes any form of airflow obstruction into your car’s engine. The air filter filters the air and stops dirt or other contaminating elements from getting into your engine.

In return, its large filters ensure that the engine gets the maximum airflow it needs to perform better.

Features And Benefits

● Horsepower gains

Manufacturers precisely engineered it to improve cars’ horsepower and torque better than the OEM intake system. Also, it removes airflow obstruction that may hinder horsepower in cars.

● Easy installation

This cold air intake type is just like other K&N cold air intake filters that are easy to install. You can install this product in no time and have your car running immediately.

It doesn’t matter whether it is your first time installing cold air intakes or not. As long as you follow the producer guide and with the help of basic hand tools, you can finish installing in 90 minutes or less.

● Maximum engine protection

It has layered oil cotton that protects a car’s engine from contamination. Also, it is effective in capturing any form of dirt or hindrance that can impede a car’s performance.

● Big washable filters

This cold air intake has large enough filters that allow maximum airflow and capture dirt or contaminating elements for as long as 100,000 miles.

Also, their filters are washable, so you can keep using them after cleaning them for the first 100,000 miles and use them for an additional 900,000 miles more. More importantly, the size doesn’t impede its fitness, as it still fits in the Ford Explorer Ecoboost car perfectly.

4.   Ares Motorsports BLACK HEAT SHIELD COLD AIR INTAKE – (Best Value)

Ares Motorsports cold air intake is also one of the best cold air intakes for Ford Explorer Ecoboost. It is a better replacement for your car’s stock airbox intake system.

The product has everything you need to install the cold air intake in your car. But, more so, it helps improve overall car performance.

Features and Benefits

● Top-quality hardware

This product uses top-quality hardware to ensure better car’s engine performance. Its hardware features include stainless steel button head bolts and T-306 aluminum pipe that ensures engines get cooler air.

● Increases horsepower and torque

Ares cold air intake adds between 5 to 10 HP gains and about 6 to 8% torque increase in cars.

● Increases fuel mileage

Another beneficial feature of Ares cold air intake is that it improves fuel economy at noticeable mpg increases.

● High filtration system

It has a high filtration system and allows airflow into the car engine at a 95% increase compared to your car’s stock airbox engine.

● Easy fit and installation

You can easily install Ares cold air intake within 30 to 45 minutes, especially with professional help.

How To Choose The Best Cold Air Intake for Ford Explorer

Buying the right cold air intake for your car is the most crucial part of getting an air filter system that works perfectly. You don’t just go into an online or offline store without knowing what you’re looking for.

And when it comes to cold air intakes, you need to look out for major features that make the product qualify as perfect. They are:

1. Filter

When buying cold air intakes, you should go for filters that can last a long period and are washable and reusable. Also, you should go for one that you won’t have to replace so soon after working for a few miles.

2. Material

Another thing to consider is the material. You should go for cold air intakes with heat-resistant materials that won’t melt, wear or become less effective due to heat exposure.

3. Fitment

You should also ensure that the cold air intake you go for fits your car model and year, so you don’t end up buying one that doesn’t fit.

4. Type of air intake

You should also consider if the air intake system is short ram or true cold. For example, short ram air intake allows smooth filter access and easy cleaning of the filter.

On the other hand, the true cold filter allows large airflow volume in cars, which makes it a favorite for car owners who want high performance.

What Are The Indicators of Bad or Faulty Cold Air Intakes

Bad or faulty cold air intakes can affect your car if you don’t rectify them. So, you always need to watch out for them and avoid engine damage.

How do you know the cold air intake has gone bad?

1. Decreased performance

When you notice a decrease in your car’s performance, you should check the cold air intake. If you have a clogged filter, it may decrease fuel mileage.

2. It affects engine lights

When you notice that the engine light sensor of the cold air intake comes on, it points to a faulty cold air intake.

3. Increased soaring idle

You may experience a high idle when your cold air intake is faulty. This may be a result of vacuum leaks.

Frequently Asking Questions

Does cold air intake work on Ecoboost?

Yes, cold air intake can work on Ecoboost. In addition, they help improve the Ecoboost engine performance.

How many miles will an Ecoboost engine last?

An Ecoboost engine can last about 250,000 miles and more if you maintain the engine at regular intervals.

Are the Ecoboost engines reliable?

Yes, Ecoboost engines are reliable and can travel for miles without breaking down.

Does 3.5 Ecoboost require premium fuel?

Yes, they do. More so, Ford producers recommend that you use premium fuel for Ecoboost engines.

Conclusion

Getting the best cold air intake for Ford Explorer Ecoboost should not be difficult if you have the right guide. You need ones that would make your car perform better than your stock airbox.

In this review article, I have reviewed my four top picks for your Ford Explorer Ecoboost. In my review, I also stated their features, pros, and cons, which will guide you in selecting the one you want. Also, I mentioned general things to look out for when buying your cold air intake and signs that your cold air intakes are bad.

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