Are you interested in adding a little more get-up-and-go to your 2018 or newer Ford F-150 3.5 Ecoboost pickup? If so, installing the best cold air intake is the way to achieve it. The stock intake works fine, but it can be upgraded for better performance and sound.
An aftermarket cold air intake is an inexpensive modification that will give your truck a power boost without costing you an arm and a leg. It can also create a louder, deeper, and more satisfying engine roar.
Best Cold Air Intake Options for 2018 F150 3.5 Ecoboost:
| Roush 422089 | K&N 63-2599 | Spectre Performance 9034 | Injen PF9015WB | Airaid 400-338 | aFe Power 51-32972-B | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  | |
| OEM Part Number | 422089 | 63-2599 | 9034 | PF9015WB | 54-32972-B | 51-32972-B |
| MPG increase | 1-2 MPG | No data | 2-3 MPG | No data | No data | No data |
| Horsepower increase | 14 HP | upt to 26 HP | No data | 11 HP | 24 HP | No data |
| Airflow increase | 25% | 50% | No data | No data | No data | 68% |
| Filter Type | dry filter, washable | Oversized Washable | oiled, synthetic | Super NanoWeb dry filter | Oiled, washable | 3-Layer Filter, NON OILED |
| Price | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon |
There are many changes that truck owners can do to boost engine performance. You can add a turbo, modify the exhaust system, or maybe install a turbocharger. But those add-ons can cost you serious money and they require a lot of time and effort. Changing the cold air intake can be done for a few hundred dollars, is quick and easy to install, and will give you great bang for your buck.
The job of an air intake system is to pull in additional outside air into your engine, providing more oxygen to be used during combustion. As you move the intake away from the engine compartment, it is able to process cooler air that contains higher levels of oxygen (as air heats up it expands and contains less oxygen) and deliver that cooler, oxygen-richer air into the combustion chamber. An engine is basically just a combination of gas, air, and spark. By increasing the ratio of any of the three, you can get a power boost. If you own F150 with 5.0 engine check cold air filters buying guide here
Important Features for Cold Air Intakes
Horsepower – this feature is the one most people are looking for when they replace their stock intake for aftermarket cold air system. Cold air intakes deliver less restricted air at a greater rate, improving engine performance. On average your truck’s horsepower rating will increase about 5 to 20 horsepower. (Learn how to keep your cold air intake cool here)
Best Intake for Horsepower: K&N Cold Air Intake 63-2599
Sound – who doesn’t love an increased roar when hitting the gas pedal? For the majority of people who purchase cool air intake systems, increased engine noise is one of the goals they hope to achieve. Because the intake tubes are larger and shorter, they tend to emit a throatier roar. Be aware that some manufacturers attempt to limit the amount of noise by placing a muffler in the tubing. If you’re after the roar, avoid purchasing air intakes such as these.
Sound is totally subjective, and you might prefer a deeper tone over a raspier tone, for instance. With that being said, our pick is the deep, aggressive tone.
Best Intake for Sound: Spectre Performance SPE-9034
Thermal Barrier Protection – the whole point of adding a cool air intake to your F-150 is to pull dense, oxygen-rich air into the combustion chamber. The cooler the air the denser (oxygen rich) it will be. That’s why these intake kits move the point of intake away from the engine bay, where high heat is generated. The air will thus be cooler (denser) if it is collected closer to the truck’s grill or fender well. To provide better performance the intake needs to be protected from excess heat. It should be constructed from composite materials like carbon fiber, or special heat-resistant plastics that will act as a thermal barrier and keep the air entering the intake cooler than the rest of the air under the hood.
Best Intake for Thermal Barrier Protection: K&N Cold Air Intake 63-2599
Best Cold Air Intake for 2018 F150 3.5 Ecoboost – Reviews of The Top Options
Roush 422089
This intake delivers an aggressive sound with an above-average performance increase. Installation should take less than one hour; everything you need is in the kit. It won’t void the manufacturer’s warranty and the intake doesn’t require additional PCM (powertrain control module) calibration.
The Roush has a washable, re-useable filter that doesn’t need oiling. If looks were one of the important features, this Roush intake would be a hands-down winner; it looks absolutely great under the hood. For even more sound, run it without the top cover.
Even though the manufacturer states that this intake improves airflow 25 percent compared to Ford’s stock intake, the users state there is very little improvement in fuel economy. It adds, on average, only 1 or 2 miles per gallon.
Pros
- 25 % less intake resistance
- Washable, re-useable, non-oiled filter
- Aggressive engine sounds
- Hassle-free to install
Cons
- Non-CARB certified – doesn’t meet California emissions standards
- On the expensive side for the amount of power added
- No dyno test results provided by Roush
K&N 63-2599
The K&N Cold Air Intake 63-2599 has been dyno-tested to have up to 50 percent better airflow than Ford’s stock air intake system. This creates an up to 26 horsepower increase. You also get a much better throttle response. It will not void the manufacturer’s warranty.
The intake piping is made of crosslink nylon, which improves the piping’s resistance to high temperatures, aging, and stress cracking. This heat resistant material remains cooler than metal tubes, delivering cooler air to the combustion chamber. Cold air contains less humidity, more oxygen, and improves fuel efficiency.
The K&N has an oversized, washable filter that the manufacturer claims will last 100,000 miles “under normal driving conditions” so that means less filter maintenance. As far as bragging rights are concerned, the K&N 63-2599 is “The Official Air Filter of NASCAR”.
Pros
- Dyno tested, 50% increase in airflow
- Increased engine “growl”
- Increased gas mileage and torque
- Washable oiled cotton filter
Cons
- Requires more time to install, 90 minutes maximum
- Non-CARB certified – doesn’t meet California emissions standards
- May cause “check engine” light issues
Spectre Performance SPE-9034
The Spectre 9034 is the low-cost entry point for people that want to increase engine noise and add to their truck’s fuel mileage. The intake contains more metal components (aluminum tubing and a 2-piece heat shield) than its competitors. The fact that there is so much metal will affect the temperature of the air drawn in through it, such that it might be higher than some of the competitors. The heat shielding is powder-coated, however, which will help somewhat.
The intake includes a washable, red, synthetic material air filter that mounts on the left side of the engine compartment. Because the heat shield is two-piece, it is a little more difficult to assemble and to get the holes to line up properly. It will increase mileage 2-3 miles per gallon.
Pros
- Cost – least expensive of intakes reviewed
- Increased engine sound
- Increased gas mileage on average 2-3 MPG
Cons
- Metal tubing and heat shield
- Poor fit and finish
- Requires battery disconnect so that computer can recalibrate
- Non-CARB certified – doesn’t meet California emissions standards
Injen PF9015WB
This cold air intake is made of aluminum tubing that can be purchased in several different finishes for a custom look. It also features a custom heat shield to help ensure you draw in colder air than your stock intake setup.
It can provide gains of up to 11 HP, as well as 24 ft-lbs of torque. It has dual, blue, cone-shaped dry filters and comes with everything you need to install it in your engine bay. As a nice bonus, the dual cone setup looks aggressive, giving your truck a unique appearance under the hood.
Unfortunately, this cold air intake is not CARB certified. However, you do get a limited lifetime warranty so you can have confidence in your purchase.
Pros
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Good horsepower and torque gains
- Custom heat shield
Cons
- Fairly expensive
- Non-CARB certified – doesn’t meet California emissions standards
Airaid 400-338
The Airaid 400-338 is a one-piece intake system with a cone-shaped filter. The design was made with the help of computer modeling to create a cold air intake that will function optimally for cooler air and more power.
In fact, the Airaid intake can give you an increase of up to 24 HP. Because it was designed and modelled with precision, no recalibration is necessary after install.
The main drawback of this cold air intake is that it is relatively expensive and non-CARB compliant. But with purchase you get a decent sound and performance upgrade that does not require any tuning afterwards.
Pros
- High horsepower gains
- Advanced design for optimal performance
- Single piece constructions
Cons
- Non-CARB certified – doesn’t meet California emissions standards
- Somewhat costly
aFe Power 51-32972-B
It takes about one hour to install the aFe Power 51-32972-B and can be accomplished without any specialized tools or knowledge.
Tubing is very streamlined and claimed airflow improvement is said to be 68% over OEM. The filter is 3-layered, non-oiled, and washable. Being non-oiled means the filter requires less maintenance and is slightly better at catching contaminants.
Pros
- Very easy installation
- Non-oiled filter
- Airflow increase rated at 68%
- No reprogramming required
Cons
- Vehicle specific – may not fit some models
- Non-CARB certified – doesn’t meet California emissions standards
Additional Cold Air Intake Tips:
- Look for direct fit systems.
- Spend your money on a good brand name.
- Avoid metal whenever possible. Plastic doesn’t absorb heat as readily and will keep the intake air cooled overall.
- Dyno testing results matter.
- Use high-quality filters. An air intake is only as good as the filter in it.
Our Conclusion
Consumers preferred and raved about the K&N system and we agree. K&N’s intake delivered on two of the features we think are most important: increased horsepower and thermal protection. Racing enthusiasts will also be impressed by K&N’s affiliation with NASCAR.
Although the Spectre Performance SPE-9034 provided more “roar”, the sound amplification of the K&N was sufficiently satisfying and comes at a lower cost. It also comes with a substantial manufacturer’s warranty and its easy installation can be accomplished in under one hour. K&N also includes information on dyno testing for their system (>>> Check current price on Amazon).