An F-150 Supercharger Kit Is The Best Upgrade You Can Simply Bolt On
Ford F-150 trucks are one of the most popular trucks you can find on the market, and they have such a long history. There are new models you can find, but even older ones will run well. If you are interested in making your F-150 truck even better, the simplest option is to install an f150 supercharger kit.
This will immediately upgrade the engine and help the truck run even better. More importantly, it will add over 50% horsepower, making it run like a charm. Here, we will go through some of the things you need to know about these Ford trucks, superchargers, and different models that are available on the market.
What Cars Can Use a 2015 F150 Supercharger
If you are interested in getting an f150 supercharger kit for a F-150 from 2015, there are a few things you need to know. First, 2015 saw the beginning of the thirteenth generation of Ford’s F-series, and there were a few models available. And in essence, any car from this series can use a supercharger. But, the most important question is what type of engine is in your vehicle.
Each year brought a couple of changes, and so did the thirteenth generation that ran from 2015 to 2020. During this time, the F-150 series used six different engines:
- 3.3-liter Cyclone V6
- 3.5-liter Cyclone V6
- 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6
- 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6
- 5.0-liter Coyote V8
- 3.0-liter Powerstroke V6
This means that you will need to know exactly which model of the engine is in your truck before you can go searching for a blower. It is worth mentioning that even if your car has the same engine as other models, there is a high chance that you won’t be able to use one blower on both vehicles.
Ford F150 Supercharger
Saying that you need a Ford F150 supercharger kit won’t be enough. You will need to know the specific type of engine since almost every year saw a new version of the car. Even if there were only slight changes to the model, there is a possibility that you will need a separate blower. Usually, the design will remain the same for a couple of years, but it would be good if you knew the size and year of the engine.
Furthermore, you will need to decide which type of blower you want in your car. While every model will improve the performance of your vehicle, there are a few differences based on the type of supercharger you pick. Three of the most common types are:
- Centrifugal superchargers
- Positive displacement pumps
- Turbo
There is a high chance you’ll be able to find all of these models for an F-150 truck, but it mostly depends on the year of the vehicle.
History of F-150 and F-series Trucks
The story of Ford’s F-series started in 1948 when the company released the first model. The original series of F trucks offered nine different models:
- F-1
- F-2
- F-3
- F-4
- F-5
- F-6
- F-7
- F-8
- F-9
Over the years, the design and naming changed, and the first model named the F-150 appeared in 1975. To this day, there have been fourteen generations of F-series trucks, and the current one started in 2021. As you can probably guess, each new generation brought changes to engines, design, body, and other parts of trucks.
Even though the F-150 models joined the series in 1975, the trucks quickly became the most popular model by Ford. And this is why many people love the idea of supercharging the engine to improve performance even further. Besides the standard series, there have been numerous limited edition runs, and one of the most popular editions is the Harley Davidson model.
What Is A 2013 F-150 5.0 Supercharger?
If we take a look at an earlier F-150 model, we can see a couple of major differences. Firstly, the 2013 F-150 truck is a part of the twelfth generation of F-series trucks. These models have several engine options like the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 with twin-turbo, which offers 365 horsepower. But the truck was also available with a 5.0-liter engine, which was one of the most popular options.
This engine is, in fact, the iconic Coyote model also used on the Ford Mustang. However, you won’t be able to use the same blower you would use on a Mustang because there are a few differences. The Coyote offers 360 horsepower, which might seem lower compared to the EcoBoost. But keep in mind that the Coyote isn’t supercharged or turbocharged. What that means is that you can boost the output power by adding a blower.
Differences Between 2020 F-150 Supercharger and Previous Models
The 2020 model of the F-150 truck was the last model of the thirteenth generation. This version was available in several trim levels and configurations, as well as different engine options. It is worth mentioning that you can also find a 2020 truck with a 5.0-liter V8 Coyote, and it’s quite good. In fact, it is one of the most popular versions you can find today. What is interesting is that even if the car has a 5.0L V8, that doesn’t mean that you can use the same blower as the previous version we mentioned, in 2015.
Ford offered a couple of different trim level options for F-150 trucks in this generation.
- XL
- XLT
- Lariat
- Platinum
- King Ranch
- Raptor
Usually, the 2020 version of superchargers is usable by trucks made between 2018 and 2020. Even though the generation started in 2015, you can’t use the same blower for all trucks. Fortunately, the 2020 blower will work on any trim level and configuration, and the only thing that matters is that you find the one suitable for the size of the engine. Adding a blower will easily transform the truck, and you can expect your truck to have over 600 horsepower once the installation is over.
Ford 5.0 Supercharger
Ford started offering 5.0-liter engines with the fifth generation of F-series. At the time, people could buy a truck with a 5.0-liter Windsor V8 engine. However, the F-150 hadn’t yet been introduced. Almost every generation since has offered some type of 5.0 L engine. From sixth to ninth, the engine was Windsor. The tenth and eleventh generations had no option to get an engine of this size. And twelfth introduced the famous Coyote, which is available to this day.
As we mentioned before, there have been several changes to the engine itself, which means that you can’t use the same blower on a car made in 2020 and in 2009, for example. As for the F150 supercharger kit, there are plenty of different options you can find on the market. Almost every major brand will offer some kind of blower for F-150 trucks, and it’s up to you to find the model you will enjoy.
Which Generation Can Use a 2016 F-150 5.0 Supercharger?
The thirteenth generation of F-series started in 2015, and models were available until 2020. But there is one important thing we should mention. Since we are talking about 5.0-liter engines, we should say that these trucks had a Coyote V8. However, there was an update in 2018, and Ford made a revision to this engine. This change affected both the Mustang and F-150.
As a result, you won’t be able to use the same blower on all thirteenth-gen trucks.
Pre-Revision models | Post-Revision models |
---|---|
F-150 | F-150 |
From 2015 to 2017 | From 2018 to 2020 |
385 horsepower and 387 lb-ft of torque | 395 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque |
So, the answer to the original question is that any truck made between 2015 and 2017 can use a 2016 f150 supercharger kit. But if you own a newer model with a revised Coyote engine, you will need to find a different blower. The revision is also the beginning of the third generation of Coyote engines, which is the same one in production today.
Options When Looking For a F-150 5.0 Supercharger Kit
The popularity of the engine and the vehicle will dictate your options when looking for a supercharger system. Fortunately, the F-150 truck is one of the most popular trucks in the country, which means that there are plenty of different options when looking for a blower. In addition, we are talking about the Coyote engine, which is one of the best engines today.
There are many brands of superchargers you can find, and the majority of them offer blowers for F-150 trucks. This includes Whipple, Roush, ProCharger, Edelbrock, and many others. The majority of these brands focus on positive displacement pumps, and the main question is whether you want a blower with a Roots-type of twin-screw design.
How to Install a 2019 F-150 Supercharger
Installing an f150 supercharger kit requires previous experience. That means that if you have none, you might find the entire process challenging. However, this is not the end of the world. You can always take your car to the local service and pay for the professional installation. There are pros and cons to both methods, and it is completely up to you to decide which one is better.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
It will save you money | Will require you to pay for the installation |
Custom installation | Eliminates the possibility of mistake |
The process can be fun | Faster delivery |
You will get all the parts in the kit | Doesn’t require tools or experience |
For those that find the installation process complex or challenging, the best possible option is to go for professional service. Naturally, you will need to account for additional costs, and you should contact the service to get the exact price.
What Will You Get From a Ford F-150 Supercharged Truck?
The short answer to this question is better performance. Regardless of the blower you pick, you will get an instant increase in horsepower and torque that will allow you to feel as if you bought a brand-new truck. Since we are talking about a few hundred horsepower more, the change will be more than noticeable.
With positive displacement pumps such as Lysholm or Roots-type blowers, you will get an instant boost in performance, and they work great even on low RPM. As for the exact numbers, it mostly depends on the type of engine in your truck and the blower you buy. And Coyote engines are quite powerful from the start. This means that you can get over 150 additional horsepower once you install a blower. Naturally, you can go for even more expensive superchargers that can add even more power.
Different Models for a 2018 F150 Supercharger
The 2018 F-150 is a part of the thirteenth generation, and models with the Coyote use the third-gen versions. It is the first year after the revision, and it offers 395 horsepower. Once you install a blower, you can expect over 255 additional horsepower. The choices here are identical to other versions of Ford trucks, and you will be able to choose between Roots-type, twin-screw, and centrifugal.
Generally speaking, superchargers will get the truck to around 650 horsepower after the installation.
Ford 2018 F-150 5.0 Supercharger Maintenance
When it comes to maintenance, there aren’t many things you will need to do to ensure that the blower works as intended. Generally speaking, the only thing required is to regularly change the oil in the supercharger. With superchargers, the oil will act as both lubricant and coolant, which means that it is essential for the proper work.
Change the oil at least as often as you change it in the engine. But, you should always check what the manufacturer has to say about it. The company that designed the blower will usually tell you the type and brand of oil that would be ideal, so always follow the recommendations to avoid any problems with performance.
Why You Need an F-150 5.0 Supercharger
Installing an f150 supercharger kit is the most efficient way to improve performance, and no other upgrade will come even close to it. Since you can get well over 200 horsepower, it is the best option if you are looking to boost the engine. And also, supercharged vehicles are so much fun. You will notice the difference as soon as you start the engine, and it will change the way you feel about your car.
Assuming that you already enjoy driving your F-150, a blower will improve it in every single way. Supercharging is one of the most popular upgrades, and since the truck is so good, why not make it even better?
6 comments
Who do I go to in San Antonio Texas to get a bigger supercharger on my 2014 F150 with the 3.5 L eco-boost engine. I need this truck to out run my sons new 2022 Ram Rebel!?
Hi Rod thanks for your question.
Since your vehicle already has a turbocharger, the simplest solution is to turn up the boost a little. I wouldn’t recommend doing this yourself without knowing how much boost you already have, what type of fuel you currently run everyday, as well as how much more fuel, the fuel system can deliver. More boost really means adding more air to the fuel being used. By adding more air without the correct fuel mixture, this can lead to detonation (pinging) or worse, engine failure.
I would find a good engine tuner or a company with the best experience with turbochargers. Here’s a great article about custom tuning the current engine to give you a better idea of the full potential of your existing setup. https://www.stage3motorsports.com/2014-f150-3-5l-ecoboost-information-specs.html
Unless you really want a supercharger, I’d simply choose the type of supercharger you really like and look for a dealer or installer to chat with them about the potential purchase. Good luck with everything. I’m keen to hear how you get on.
It’s my understanding that Ford dealers should do the install to preserve the system’s warranty.
Does Ford have their own or do they recommend one over the other?
Hi Kel,
thanks for your question. I agree with what you’ve said in regards to preserving the warranty.
As far as I can tell, Ford doesn’t offer a supercharger of their own. Not one that’s made by Ford anyway. The Mustang GT 500s used Roush superchargers, as the company had a hand in designing the engine combo.
The new Ford Raptor R is due to be released in the Fall of 2022. So far I haven’t been able to find out the specs or make of the supercharger, except that a Whipple supercharger kit will be made available from Ford performance parts for the F150s 5.0 v8. You can read more about this option here https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a38198967/ford-f-150-supercharger-kit/
A good friend of mine had a Roush stage two supercharger installed on his stock 5.0 2019 Mustang a few months ago. Along with the recommended headers, the engine made 750hp on the dyno, on pump gas. There’s certainly plenty of potential there, no doubt about it. It’s the same engine that’s available in the F150.
I’m sure over the coming weeks, we’ll know more about the Raptor R’s supercharger, be it an aftermarket unit or one developed by Ford. Stay tuned 🙂
Can you supercharge a 2020 F150 3.3L V6 Naturally Aspirated
Hi Kyle,
Yes you can. You can supercharger just about any engine you like. It all comes down to dollars. I would contact Roush as they are the main supplier ad manufacturers of superchargers for Ford. Or you could try Whipple or Pro Charger.
Let us know what you decide.
All the best
Dave