Air Intakes for the Ford Mustang EcoBoost: Types, Benefits and Buying Tips

The Ford Mustang popularized the whole muscle car scene with its big V8 engines, rear-wheel drive, and compact, aero styling. The formula was copied by numerous rivals, but only the Mustang sold over 10 million units and had a continued production stint of sixty years. Today, buyers can choose to go old-school with the aspirated V8 engines or the boosted power from the proven and turbocharged 4-pot Ecoboost cars. With considerably lower prices, 300+bhp, and spectacular handling, this is the sports car buyers want when balancing performance, running costs and value. 

While the V8 variants do have the upper hand in overall power, inexpensive mods to the turbocharged engine like an air intake Mustang Ecoboost, or a matching performance exhaust still leave you with enough cash for another new Mustang for double the fun. Aftermarket air intakes are proven performance upgrades in injected engines that are easy to install and deliver on their promise of a more powerful car. They do this by increasing the volume of air that reaches the engine with wider piping, better filters and parts that scoop colder, oxygen-rich air for more effective combustion. Simple, yet effective, they substantially boost power and torque from every combustion cycle. 

How Air Intakes Work 

The primary goal of aftermarket air intakes is to push more air into the engine than the factory intake. The air is also colder, and oxygen-rich, passes through wider and heat-shielded intake tubes to the intake manifold, and is filtered through bigger cone filters that remove more contaminants and debris. The intake tubes are located nearer the wheel wells, or closer to the hood vents to prevent heat soaking from hot engine parts, especially the turbo and manifold. To keep the air cool, some intakes also include separate airboxes. This means several types of air intakes for your Mustang. 

Common Types 

The design and placement differences mean there are two main types of air intake for Mustang Ecoboost. 

Cold Air Intakes

Cold air intakes have reusable, high-flow air filters that sit farther away from the engine bay. This is usually near the grilles or bumpers. To justify their name, they also use less restrictive tubes made of heat-resistant plastics or lightweight aluminum and heat shields to prevent heat soak and keep incoming air denser, cooler and oxygen-rich. This design helps the Ecoboost engine with considerably more torque and power at mid to high engine revs. Choose from more affordable open cold air intakes, or more effective but also more expensive closed cold air intake systems with filters enclosed in airboxes for even more performance benefits. 

Short Ram Intakes

These remove restrictive stock parts like resonators and filter boxes used to reduce engine noise, meaning air travels a short distance before reaching the throttle body. While more air can be pushed at higher speeds and optimal angles, it still comes from the engine bay, meaning it will be warmer than that provided by a dedicated cold air intake. There are power gains and fewer parts, meaning lower purchase and labor costs, but short ram systems can’t match the outright performance of a cold air system. 

Why Consider an Aftermarket Intake for Your Mustang? 

Both the Ford V8 and Ecoboost engines are some of the most modified out there. With that said, airflow and air intakes are the first considerations before making major changes to the engine, or even toying with upgraded brake or suspension systems for even better handling. Engines produce more power with more air, with the electronics (or carbs in older Mustangs) adjusting how much fuel is sprayed for efficient combustion. Choose an air intake Mustang Ecoboost if you also want: 

• Increased power, better throttle response and faster acceleration – estimates are that well-designed performance intakes can add up to 20 horsepower to the 315 already produced by the 2.3-litre Ecoboost in stock form. There are bigger gains with cold air intake systems, but both this and a short ram design improve how the Mustang reacts when on the gas. And how fast it accelerates from a standstill or in a rolling start. 
• Lower fuel use – the Ecoboost is 30 per cent less thirsty than a V8 Mustang, but that number rises with the improved airflow and engine efficiency provided by a well-thought-out and quality intake. You’ll be saving on fuel costs while having a faster car. 
• Sweeter engine rumble – one of the shortfalls of the turbocharged 4-cylinder is that it doesn’t come close to the bigger 5-liter V8s for engine sound. Air intakes push higher air volumes and at higher speeds, and this creates the deep, burbling sound all gearheads crave. 
• Improved filtering and engine longevity – inverted cotton cone filters are miles ahead in terms of removing contaminants, debris and water from the combustion chamber than stock paper filters. They’re also reusable and easy to clean. With fewer contaminants, there’s less wear and tear to MAF and MAP sensors measuring how much air is entering the engine. Moreover, cleaner air also reduces damage to the engine internals, meaning lower maintenance costs. 
• Reduced turbo lag – cooler air helps with turbo spooling. The engine also reaches the revs faster for the turbo to kick in. Basically, a good air intake reduces turbo lag, further improving throttle response and top speeds. 
• Quick and easy installation  – if you know your way around basic tools, then removing the stock intake and installing a performance system is done within an hour. Most systems require no modifications or relocation of other engine parts. With the hood up, the whole system also looks much better than the stock engine. 

Final Considerations 

Choose air intakes from established aftermarket brands, made from quality materials, and in lengths, widths and designs that fit the Mustang’s engine bay without any significant modifications. For high-performance intakes, consult mechanics whether the car needs an ECU re-tune to balance air and fuel ratios, and pair with performance exhaust systems to get the best results.