Intercooler for Ford F-150 (2017-2020) 3.5L

High-Efficiency Front-Mount Intercooler for 2017-2020 Ford F-150 (P552)

What it Does: The front-mount intercooler replaces the restrictive factory charge air cooler on the 2017-2020 Ford F-150 to reduce intake charge air temperatures, eliminate heat soak, and lower back pressure under boost.

The Stock Ford F-150 Intercooler Heat Soak Limitations

The factory charge air cooler on the P552 F-150 relies on a shallow 9.6-liter core with 1,200 cm² of frontal surface area, quickly becoming saturated during sustained boost, high ambient heat, or heavy towing. Once heat-soaked, the factory unit fails to reject thermal energy efficiently, driving up intake air temperatures (IATs) and forcing the powertrain control module to pull ignition timing to prevent pre-detonation. Furthermore, crimped OEM plastic end tanks are susceptible to seam fatigue and boost leaks over repeated heat cycles.

The Engineering Solution

Engineered for sustained thermal rejection, this replacement competition core features a stepped 500 x 388 x 135 mm bar-and-plate layout, delivering a 62% increase in frontal face area (1,940 cm²) and a 108% surge in charge volume (19.9 L). Heavy-duty cast aluminum end tanks are fully TIG-welded to the core, eliminating the structural failure points of plastic crimp-on tanks. CAD-modeled internal tank geometry optimizes airflow distribution across all cooling channels, cutting back pressure by 50% to maintain turbocharger spool efficiency and deliver dense, cooled air directly to the 3.5L EcoBoost manifold.

What's Included

• 1 x Stepped Competition Front-Mount Intercooler

Technical Specifications

Compatibility

• 2017-2020 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost V6

Frequently Asked Questions & Fitment Warnings

Does this fit the P552 F-150?

Yes, this is a direct fit for the 2017-2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine. Does not fit 2.7L EcoBoost, 3.3L naturally aspirated V6, or 5.0L Coyote V8 engine configurations.

Are aftermarket ECU tunes required for installation?

No, this intercooler operates efficiently on the factory calibration, though custom tuning allows full utilization of the increased core volume and cooler charge air.

The Ford Severe-Duty Towing Standard

Built to withstand extreme thermal demands under continuous gross combined vehicle weight limits, this all-aluminum bar-and-plate core ensures your P552 truck maintains steady torque and consistent cooling performance across high-load towing and hot-weather operation.