Ford has always been on the side of innovation when it comes to their engines and the fact that they beat Ferrari to win at Le Mans says a lot. This has transcended through their Zetec, then Duratec and now EcoBoost engines.
Especially with Ford's most popular vehicle nowadays, the F-150, the lineup is all EcoBoost engines. It starts off with a 2.7-litre V6, then you have a 3.3-litre V6 and a 3.5-litre V6. You also get a 5.0-litre V8 which is the best for towing as it produces 400 lb-ft of torque and 395 HP. You can't go wrong with an F-150, especially an EcoBoost one but what you can do is make it even better with a new exhaust system.
Types of Exhaust Systems
Cat-Back
Being the most popular exhaust upgrade, a cat-back exhaust is one of the most fairly priced solutions as well as the most balanced one. That's mainly because a cat-back 2018 F150 EcoBoost exhaust replaces all the components from the catalytic converter to the tips. This way you get ample improvement in performance with the ability to change the exhaust note.
Header-Back
A header-back system is more popular among people who want to replace the complete stock exhaust in their F-150. With it, you also have the option to install a custom exhaust system which means you can pick exactly which component you want down to every nut and bolt. But it's also because of this that a header-back exhaust delivers greater performance improvements and costs quite a bit.
Axle-Back
The complete opposite of a header-back system is an axle-back 2018 Ford F150 EcoBoost exhaust which replaces only a handful of components. This is because you replace everything from the rear axle to the tailpipes. The main reasons to install an axle-back exhaust are its affordability and ability to change the exhaust note.
Turbo-Back
With a turbo-back exhaust, you are not only replacing the whole exhaust but also the turbocharger if your F-150 comes with such an EcoBoost engine. This makes a turbo-back system the most expensive option as well as the most capable in terms of increasing performance and efficiency. Remember though that adding a turbo means you need to tune the ECU of your F-150 in order for the new turbocharger to work properly.
What Matters in an Exhaust System
Diameter
One of the more important factors of 2018 F150 EcoBoost exhaust systems is the diameter of their piping. The larger diameter exhaust the more engine fumes can pass through without making it feel like it's too much for the system. Just make sure not to go overboard with it as it can create low backpressure levels.
Material
A proper aftermarket exhaust for your F-150 is one that is made either of stainless steel, titanium or Inconel.
Inconel exhausts are quite rare since the blend of materials used to make them are primarily used in the aerospace industry and by the military.
Titanium exhausts are your best option that is readily available as these are extremely strong and light systems that are able to withstand high temperatures.
Stainless steel exhausts are stronger than titanium systems while being highly resistant to corrosion and more affordable too.
Thickness
The thicker the exhaust you go for the better it is at surviving harsh impacts but also at reducing annoying frequencies that cause exhaust drone.
Bends
The number of bends on your new 2018 Ford F150 EcoBoost exhaust affects how freely engine fumes pass by but so do the type of bends the system has. If you go for crush-bent exhausts for 2018 F-150 EcoBoost you get bends with wrinkles on them which restricts the flow of exhaust gasses. Mandrel bends are better in this regard as they are smooth and have the same diameter throughout.
Downpipe
To introduce an even backpressure and a seamless transition of exhaust piping you should go for an “X” downpipe. This configuration blends the piping evenly and evens out pressure without any restrictions.
Benefits of an Aftermarket Exhaust System
Solutions
As you already know there are plenty of solutions to choose from when it comes to the type of exhausts for 2018 F-150 EcoBoost. But with aftermarket exhausts you also get to choose from plenty of different components that you can combine together to get a truly unique system, meaning you have plenty more options than you think.
Availability
All of the above systems and the variety of components are widely available across the country at every online and physical car part shop. You can get whatever you need to improve your truck's stock exhaust system from a single part to a whole new system and more.
Affordability
Probably the biggest reason why you should go for an aftermarket exhaust is the level of affordability they offer over OEM systems. You can get the same exact system for much less or a much better one for the same price tag or slightly over the one offered by Ford itself.
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