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Any interest in AFE intake for Ecoboost?

24K views 78 replies 41 participants last post by  Chillis 
#1 · (Edited)
Any interest in AFE intake for Ecoboost?(interest in fixing water in your filter)

Hi all,

I have been in discussion with AFE's design/sales guys about getting an intake made for our vans. Specifically for the 3.5 Ecoboost because that is what I have. The goal is to get a filter housing design that fixes the water in the air filter issue, as well as possibly opening up the breathing of the engine a little bit. I care less about the performance gains, and more about a permanent fix to our problem.

With that said they have indicated that they are interested in looking into making the intake. They need someone close by them to bring their van in so that they can take some measurements and test fit it against some parts that they already have made for other applications.

They are located in Corona California. Anyone close to there that would be interested in stopping by their shop to help get this into production?

HH
 
#5 ·
My checkbook is open and I have a pen in my hand.

I am very surprised that someone has not cashed in on this opportunity. The more Ford sells of an obviously improperly design air filter, the more a correct product could be sold.

Ford is very stupid not to correct the problem. It will cost them with warranty repairs.

If a properly designed air filter is not available, I will design one for my use but would prefer to just buy one.

Can you provide contact information so we can flood AFE with emails stating our desire to purchase a proper air cleaner?
 
#8 · (Edited)
These guys could go to a local Ford dealer and get a loaner or just rent one from Enterprise for a day or two to look at the air box.

Hemborg Ford is right down the road from them. Fritts Ford is a larger Ford dealer in Riverside, CA. There is a Enterprise location at 852 W 5th St. Corona, CA 92882

Hemborg has a 2016 cargo van on their used lot.
Fritts Ford has 2 2016 cargo vans.
 
#9 ·
AFE had a large display at the 2016 SEMA Show and they had a lot of air boxes for offroad vehicles like trucks and especially the Jeeps. They have a GREAT product line so it should not be hard for them to come up with a design for the Ford Transit.

I think if they get enough response from the Transit forum, you may see one available by early Fall or even as a new product for the 2017 SEMA Show NEW Products booth!
 
#10 ·
hammerhome; if you're in contact with AFE, you might let them know that only the top shell of the airbox needs to redesigned. That would save them time and money and allow a larger number of sales because of a lower pricepoint and easier installation. Or maybe that's not their goal, maybe they want to design an entirely new "technical looking" airbox so people think they are getting a performance upgrade and will pay more.

A redesigned upper lid only needs to have an edge that extends over the outside of the lower box (instead of IN to it!) and down an inch or so to prevent water from entering the lower box via gravity and lack of drainage. Unfortunately, the intake side of the box is the lower part, so a larger air intake would require a new lower section, too. I'm not sure that increased air intake capability would have any effect on modern engines with sensors and computer controlled parameters; which would compensate to make levels "normal" despite increased access to air.
 
#12 ·
I have a 2016 Transit 350XLT MR Wagon with 3.5L Ecoboost (11k Miles) they can use.
I'm only a couple miles away from them here in Corona, CA.

If you want to send me the contact info and/or give them a heads up, I can stop in there and see what they can do.

Note: I had been putting off looking at the filter on mine as we actually had some rain here this winter (Riverside, CA).
Van was serviced at 5k and 10k (Dec '16) but apparently their Mulit-point inspection did not include checking the air filter.....as mine is damp and some white fuzzies growing on
top of the filter.....mine leaked at the front of the airbox....and the dampness is basically the first 4-5" of the front of the filter.
 

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#13 ·
Borch,

This is exactly what Im looking for. Thank you for stepping up. All, Its not just an air box. It needs to be the ecoboost. They are going to look at doing a complete intake, so just an airbox top is not what they will be doing. There is a much greater market for the complete cold air intake.

Borch I will PM you for your info and then connect you with AFE.

Thank you,

HH
 
#14 ·
Since the airboxes are identical, whatever they come up with will fit in everything. I hope they don't decide to make an ecoboost only "performance" system. Kind of stupid to have "performance" in a full size van; but then again I don't try to compensate for perceived emotional, mental or physical shortcomings via my vehicle, so what do I know?
 
#15 ·
If you look into what AFE builds, research their webside. Its not an airbox, its an intake. All three motors are different in this regard. I will talk to them about the other engines. They usually make intakes that have the added bonus of making extra power. While this is not what drives me to want an intake, its not a bad side effect. Sorry you find it stupid to have performance in a full size van, but thats kinda what an ecoboost is, and the reason so many of us bought it. We didn't want to be stuck with an anemic v6. Ill continue to look into this and look for a solution to all our problems.

HH
 
#16 ·
HH,
You'll need to pm me contact info for yourself as I cannot reply to pm's until I have 15 posts.

Borch


I guess I could make 11 quick random replies to be able to pm!


If the airbox (and velocity stack built into the cover) are truly identical between all 3 engines, that's just another cost savings measure by Ford, at the expense of potential performance, drive-ability, and fuel economy.
 
#22 ·
OMG! I am so offended that you allude to a Freudian term associated with women in reference to me! Mere WOMEN! Where's my ladder so I can get into my monster truck and prove my masculinity by driving it to the store to buy manly things like meat and meat by-products? I'll show you, I'll show you ALL! :crying:

we have fun here.

But seriously, a universal Transit engine airbox would be a MUCH more profitable product than something made just for the ecoboost. If AFE is clever, and likes money, they could make both. I don't know if they are just a billet and clamp manufacturer, or if they can design and make/order injection molded parts as well.
 
#34 ·
I built a T.U.R.D. for my air filter, plus a "Mini-T.U.R.D." for the electronic module on the driver's side. I used white containers, and labeled them clearly. Hope it gave the service guys a giggle when we had the oil changed - but something like that *should* make Ford cringe. It's pretty bad when an old lady has to retrofit her brand new van to protect it.
 
#24 ·
well, it creates JOBS by designing stuff like this. Think of all the jobs in the aftermarket industry making and selling function replacement airboxes! Maybe Ford just wants to create jobs...
 
#26 ·
Or perhaps some relative of the purchasing agent owns the company that makes the airboxes. Or they messed up and made a solid contract for X amount of units or years and can't get out of it. Once the lawsuits start coming about premature engine or system failures in they'll change their tune pretty fast. Or not. Look at GM.
 
#27 ·
just a thought: the air filter is the airbox seal! perhaps the air filter manufacturer made the seal too thin, or used a lower grade of rubber, or some other manufacturing defect? (a few of us have no water in the airbox)
is it possible to cross reference the air filter to a different manufacturer and the try the said manufactures air filter? (like 'surely bill' already said: parts contracts are often locked in for a certain amount of time)
 
#28 ·
Do you guys have the drains in the wiper tray like I have on my 2016? Those things get plugged with just a small leaf and if they do the water slosh's over the edge and onto the airbox. They did add a diverter above the airbox on the wiper tray and in my case it seems to work.

In my opinion the airbox is the result of the problem but not the problem. I think if we can find a way to keep the drains clear then the problem with the airbox will go away. Nonetheless, it is a stupid design and Ford should own up to it and fix it.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
 
#29 · (Edited)
Air Filter cross reference
Wix:WA10316
Fram:CA11946
K&N:33-5024
Ford:CK4Z9601A (or FA1916?)

I have yet to receive my Transit 250... though I have spent many a night looking for every alternative consumable there is ;-)

For example:

Oil Filter
Amsoil:EAO17
Wix:57502
Donaldson: P577066
Baldwin:B7449
Ford:AA5Z6714A

Cabin Filter
Baldwin: PA30000? (I copied from another post, not my actual research...)
Fram:CF11743?

I'm still looking for an alternative to the transmission filter.
Isn't this 6R80 in some pickups? I can not find a listing anywhere. It can't only be in the Transit.
Ford:CK4Z7A098A (or FT-195?)

aFe makes a kick-a$$ transmission pan, #46-70170
Check it out. I am getting this for sure! Maybe they know an alternative supplier for the filter.
If the rear diff is anything like the Lightning 9.75", then aFe also makes a pan for that, #46-70152 (Other manufacturers also make a diff pan for the 9.75", too. Worth a look to compare) The 12-bolt holes sure do look the same.
 
#33 ·
Looks like the windshield trough could be a one piece item... anyone have a 3d printer? Or should I just make one out of Brazilian Cherry and use it as a template?

Then again, I wouldn't want to take jobs... great, luxurious, high paying jobs from Americans. I'll just sit on my ass an do nothing instead.

But seriously, I know that our vans aren't considered enthusiast vehicles by the aftermarket, like big pick ups, Jeeps, or muscle cars are. But it's really short sighted of the aftermarket to not include us. It's not all about performance, but a lot of the time, performance is a nice byproduct of engineering the parts properly in the first place.

It's kind of ridiculous that there is a huge aftermarket for my 09 G8 GT, and that car was only produced for two years in 08 and 09, yet there's squat for my Transit.
 
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