AMS Performance 2021+ Raptor & F-150 3.5L Ecoboost Turbo Inlet Tubes

The AMS Performance 2021+ Ford F-150 and Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost Turbo Inlet Tubes are engineered to unlock airflow your truck has been leaving on the table by eliminating the restrictive factory inlet bottleneck between the intake system and the turbochargers.

With up to 158 percent larger cross sectional area than the OEM tubes and organically shaped flow paths that maintain smooth airflow through direction changes, these inlet tubes dramatically reduce pressure drop at the compressor covers and deliver up to 2.6 PSI less inlet restriction at equivalent power levels. The improved airflow allows the turbochargers to operate more efficiently with lower shaft speeds, reduced charge air and exhaust gas temperatures, and less overall turbo stress, while also creating additional headroom for higher power levels once tuned.

Designed to integrate seamlessly with the factory intake system and most aftermarket intakes, the AMS Turbo Inlet Tubes retain all OEM fittings and connections while maintaining an OEM look and feel, delivering a clean installation and a measurable performance upgrade for any 3.5L EcoBoost F-150 or Raptor.

• UP TO 2.6 PSI LESS TURBO INLET RESTRICTION AT EQUIVALENT POWER LEVELS

• MASSIVE AIRFLOW IMPROVEMENT OVER THE COMPETITION DURING TESTING

• UP TO 158 PERCENT LARGER CROSS SECTION VS OEM, DRAMATICALLY REDUCING TURBO INLET RESTRICTION

• ORGANICALLY SHAPED TO PROVIDE SMOOTH FLOW DURING DIRECTION CHANGES

• WIRE REINFORCED COUPLERS WITH NOTCH ALIGNMENT FOR A PERFECT INSTALL

• COMPATIBLE WITH OEM AND MOST AFTERMARKET INTAKES AND RETAINS ALL OEM FITTINGS AND CONNECTIONS

• INCREASED TURBOCHARGER HEADROOM FOR HIGHER POWER LEVELS ONCE TUNED

• 42.4% LESS PRESSURE DROP AT TURBO COMPRESSOR COVERS VS STOCK

• REDUCES WORKLOAD AND STRESS ON TURBOCHARGERS, EXTENDING LIFESPAN

• LOWER CHARGE AIR AND EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURES BY REDUCING TURBOCHARGER SHAFT SPEEDS

• OEM LOOK AND FEEL WITH HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS

ENGINEERED TO WIN

When evaluating the factory turbo inlet tubes on the 2021+ Ford F-150 and Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost platform, our SnailWorks® Engineering Team identified a significant airflow bottleneck ahead of the turbocharger compressor inlets. The OEM tubes prioritize packaging and manufacturing considerations, limiting the cross sectional area feeding the turbochargers. This restriction increases pressure drop before the compressor covers and forces the turbos to work harder to achieve the same boost levels.

To address this limitation, our engineers redesigned the inlet geometry with significantly larger internal diameters and optimized transitions that maintain smooth airflow through directional changes. The factory bottleneck diameter of roughly 40 mm has been increased to over 65 mm, resulting in up to a 158% increase in cross sectional area over the OEM inlet tubes and dramatically improving airflow capacity to the turbochargers.

Extensive CAD development and real-world testing were used to refine the design and minimize pressure drop throughout the inlet path. The tubes maintain a large diameter as far down to the turbo inlet as possible before smoothly guiding airflow into the compressor cover, promoting even airflow distribution into the turbocharger.

Compatibility and ease of installation were also key priorities. The AMS Turbo Inlet Tubes retain all OEM fittings and connections while integrating with the factory intake system and most aftermarket intake options. Our engineers also developed notched silicone couplers that align with the inlet tubes, allowing the components to be perfectly oriented correctly during installation and making clocking the tubes in the tight engine bay significantly easier. The end result is a high performance inlet system that improves airflow while maintaining OEM-level fit, function, and appearance in the engine bay.

DATA DRIVEN DESIGN

At AMS, product development is driven by real-world data. Our development vehicles are equipped with a MoTeC dash data logger and a 19-sensor array that monitors critical engine and turbocharger parameters in real time. This instrumentation allows our engineers to capture detailed data during dyno testing and on-road validation, ensuring every design decision is based on measurable performance improvements.

During development of the AMS Turbo Inlet Tubes, our team monitored key system parameters including compressor outlet temperature, charge air temperature, turbine inlet pressure, drive pressure ratio, and exhaust gas temperature across both turbocharger banks to understand how inlet restriction affects the entire turbo system.

Testing on a 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost equipped with an AMS Intake, AMS Intercooler, and 93 octane calibration showed clear improvements across these channels when the AMS inlet tubes were installed. With reduced restriction ahead of the compressor, the turbochargers operated at lower pressure ratios and reduced shaft speeds while producing the same manifold pressure, resulting in lower compressor outlet temperatures and reduced thermal load on the intercooler system.

Lower compressor workload also reduced turbine demand, producing lower turbine inlet pressure and a more favorable drive pressure ratio. This allows exhaust gases to exit the cylinders more efficiently and helps reduce exhaust gas temperatures during equivalent power runs.

One of the most important indicators of intake system restriction is pressure drop ahead of the turbocharger compressor. Ideally, pressure at the compressor inlet should remain as close to atmospheric as possible. At approximately 470 wheel horsepower, the AMS Turbo Inlet Tubes reduced turbo inlet pressure drop by up to 2.6 PSI compared to the OEM inlet tubes, with no calibration changes between runs. The AMS F150 Turbo Inlet Tubes also delivered nearly identical airflow results across both banks, demonstrating how well-matched the system is as a paired set. Balanced airflow between turbochargers promotes more consistent engine performance and more predictable ECU calibration.

Reducing restriction at the compressor inlet lowers the pressure ratio required to produce the same boost level. This allows the turbochargers to operate in a more efficient region of the compressor map, which reduces shaft speed and compressor outlet temperature. Lower turbo workload also reduces turbine inlet pressure and exhaust backpressure, helping improve engine efficiency and durability while increasing available airflow headroom for higher power levels.

TEST BENCH RESULTS THAT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

To quantify airflow gains with absolute precision, our AMS SnailWorks® Engineering Team ran the OEM intake tubes, a leading competitor’s offering, and the AMS F150 Turbo Inlet Tubes through our state-of-the-art MAF-based flowbench. Using MoTeC instrumentation to capture real-time pressure and airflow data, each inlet tube was tested under identical, repeatable conditions simulating the airflow demands of a ~500 WHP 3.5L EcoBoost engine.

The results were unmistakable. The factory intake tubes struggled, showing –2.05 psi of depression on the right intake tract, a clear sign of significant restriction. The competitor system performed marginally better but still exhibited notable pressure drop. In contrast, the AMS Turbo Inlet Tubes demonstrated a dramatic improvement with only –1.18 psi of depression at the same airflow level, representing up to a 42.4% reduction in restriction versus OEM. At any given pressure drop, the AMS system consistently flowed more air than both stock and competitor offerings, making it the least restrictive inlet tube solution in the test group.

The data speaks for itself: if you’re seeking maximum airflow and horsepower potential, the AMS Performance 2021+ Ford Raptor and F-150 3.5L EcoBoost Turbo Inlet Tubes stand alone at the top.

 

PRODUCT NOTES

• Works with the OEM and most aftermarket intake boxes.
• Not compatible with PowerBoost 3.5L engines.