New engines are fun, but the downside to being one of the first to own one is the lag in aftermarket product availability (that, and the premium price tag to be the first guy in town with the new model).
However, Advanced Flow Engineering (aFe) had its Stage 2 intake system on the market just as the 2011 Ford 6.7L Power Stroke diesels were hitting dealerships.
aFe claims its Stage 2 intake outflows the stock intake by 67 percent. The kit replaces the stock intake box and air inlet. The top of the aFe intake cage seals against the underside of the hood and draws air through a forward-facing vent and an open bottom design.
One of our install shops, Powerlabs Diesel, picked up a new 2011 Ford 6.7L early this summer. We immediately got a Stage 2 intake system from aFe (p/n 54-11872) and put it to the test. Here's what we think:
- Sound. The stock intake is fitted with sound baffles and noise restrictors. In stock form, the 6.7L is as quiet as the old Triton V10. That may be a good selling point for Ford in certain market segments, but we feel that if we're paying that much more for a turbo diesel, we want to hear the thing every now and then. The aFe Stage 2 intake opens up the airways and makes the whine of the single-sequential turbo slightly audible.
- Throttle response. The new 6.7L Power Stroke is a very responsive engine. The aFe Stage 2 intake makes it noticeably more responsive. We didn't see much of a gain on the dyno, which was expected, but we were pleasantly surprised with how well the intake affected the way the truck drives.
- Fit. Every intake fits differently. Few fit as well as the stock intake. The aFe 6.7L Power Stroke Stage 2 intake fits like is was designed by Ford (maybe that's how they had their intake to market so quickly ...).
- Design. We like how aFe uses the hood to seal off the topside of the filter box. It allows for quick and easy filter element removal. Everything from the washable filter to the injectionmolded inlet tube is quality stuff.
Source:
Advanced Flow Engineering
www.afepower.com