6.0 Powerstroke Intake Elbow Upgrade Guide
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The 6.0 Powerstroke responds very well to performance upgrades, once some basic bulletproofing has been done. While it isn’t going to be the biggest upgrade from a performance perspective, upgrading the restrictive factory intake elbow is a great upgrade to reduce restriction, improve airflow, and lower EGTs.
We manufacture our own 6.0 Powerstroke intake elbow in-house, under our Boosted Performance brand. In this article we’re going to discuss the performance benefits we’ve seen firsthand with an upgraded intake elbow/horn.
6.0 Powerstroke Intake Elbow Benefits
- Small power & torque gains
- Improved airflow
- Lower EGT’s
- Faster turbo spool
- Addition of NPT ports
Upgrading the intake horn can offer small gains of roughly 2-7 horsepower and torque. This mainly comes from the improved airflow & a more efficient design that eliminates the restrictions of the factory intake horn. In turn, this helps lower exhaust gas temperatures and allows the turbocharger to spool faster.
Another important benefit of upgrading the intake elbow is the addition of NPT ports. These ports allow easy installation of sensors, gauges, methanol injection, and much more. It’s important to note – you can tap the factory intake horn for these same purposes. However, intake elbow upgrades with existing ports make life much simpler.
Lastly, we didn’t mention this above since they aren’t true benefits, an intake horn is a relatively inexpensive and easy to install modification, only running around $99. Even though benefits may be minor it can still be a worthwhile upgrade due to its simplicity and the EGT drops it provides as well.
The Issue with the Factory Elbow
The factory intake horn on the 6.0 Powerstroke has an abrupt 90° angle (as shown above). It also tapers down to a diameter of just under 2.5″ – compared to the 3″ piping before and after the intake horn. In essence, the sharp angle and smaller diameter create two bottlenecks within the factory elbow.
An upgraded intake elbow provides the above benefits by eliminating the restrictions in the stock unit. Rather than a sharp 90° angle, an intake elbow upgrade should have a smooth, gentle angle and maintain a 3″ diameter. This allows for maximum airflow and can help improve performance and reduce EGTs.
Our Boosted Performance Intake Elbow Uprade
Our Boosted Performance intake elbow is a simple, inexpensive upgrade for the 6.0 Powerstroke. It maintains a 3″ internal diameter with a smooth bend for the best airflow increase. This intake horn is made from aluminum with CNC mandrel bends and a TIG welded billet flange. It features a wrinkle black finish for clean looks and minimal heat transfer.
At $99 it offers a great value. However, this upgrade does not feature any NPT ports so that’s the one potential downside if you’re looking for convenient NPT ports. Otherwise, if you’re looking for a inexpensive intake elbow for the improved airflow then the Boosted Performance option is a great pick.
Price: $99 & free shipping with Prime 2-day
Buy Here: Boosted Performance 6.0 PowerStroke Intake Horn Upgrade
FAQ
Yes, we believe 6.0L PowerStroke intake elbows are worth the upgrade considering the inexpensive $100 cost. That’s especially true with heavy mods where every little bit helps. However, power gains can be minimal, especially on lightly modified trucks, so it ultimately depends on your goals and budget.
Aftermarket intake elbows are designed to maximize airflow, improve turbo spool, and lower EGT’s. This is accomplished by eliminating restrictions in the factory design, such as the smaller 2.5″ diameter and sharp 90° angle of the 6.0 PowerStroke intake horn.
Power gains from an intake horn range from about 2-7 horsepower. Most likely won’t see or feel any massive horsepower difference from a 6.0 PowerStroke intake elbow upgrade. The main bottleneck is the intake manifold and heads. However, heavily modified 6.0L diesels may see small gains from an intake horn.
