Until recently no one had heard of 6.7 Powerstroke. Its predecessor, the uber-famous 7.3 Powerstroke, was the one dominating the headlines. The simple design of that engine combined with a conservative power rating made it extremely hard to dislike. But the situation has now changed.

Although a sizable minority still prefers power-hungry engines, most people now want something that is friendly on the pocket, requires little maintenance, and boosts better fuel economy. The 6.7 Powerstroke offers all that to come across as a worthy successor of one of the most popular Ford engines.

That isn’t to say that there aren’t areas where this engine couldn’t have done a bit better. You can get a marked increase in its horsepower, MPG and torque by installing a high-end aftermarket air filter. One that would keep dirt particles at bay and gives a clear passage to the engine to clean air.

Best Air Filters for 6.7 Powerstroke

Motorcraft FA-1902 Air Filter

The Motorcraft FA-1902 air filter is ranked very highly among 6.7 Powerstroke owners. It prevents engine wear by screening out dirt particles, abrasives and bits of metal before they could get into the oil. It also has a pressure relief valve that prevents contaminated oil from recirculating into the engine.

Next comes the steel case of this model. Motorcraft has ironed it to make sure it would fit seamlessly in your engine. The fluted design of the case helps in easy removal, whereas its painted upper surface and edges help resist rust and corrosion.

Equally noteworthy is this unit’s filtration media. It boasts a large surface area for air to flow seamlessly into the engine without experiencing any impediments. The bonding on the end plates, meanwhile, keeps the spacing between paper pleats consistent. 

Most inexpensive air filters that you see on the market are susceptible to collapsing under pressure. This one won’t thanks to its perforated steel center tube. The entire structure is holed in by seals on both sides that prevent oil from draining out of the filter when the engine is shut down.

Pros

• Large media area
• Won’t collapse under pressure
• Fluted case end makes removal easier

Cons

• Some users have raised concerns about large delivery time

K&N 33-5010 Engine Air Filter

The majority of oiled air filters last up to 10,000 miles. Some try to sweeten the deal by offering another 5,000 miles on top. None can rival this K&N Engine air filter that is warrantied for 1 million miles or 10 years. It will outlast the life of your vehicle.

K&N has upped the ante even more by equipping this air filter with a sophisticated filtration mechanism. It performs the difficult job of increasing the airflow by 50%, while also trapping more particular matter than most air filters on the market. Little wonder, then, that this model is selling like hotcakes.

Its ease of installation was another feature of this model that impressed us. K&N delivers it to your doorstep pre-oiled, so you just have to take out your existing air filter and drop this one into the factory air box. That is why we call it one of the easiest upgrades for your vehicle.

That this filter is washable and reusable isn’t the most impressive thing about its maintenance. It is instead the fact that it would go the first 50,000 miles without needing any cleaning. That is at least a year of usage without any sort of filter cleaning.

Pros

• 10-year/million-mile warranty
• Provides 50% more airflow than disposable paper filters
• Won’t require any cleaning for the first 50,000 miles

Cons

• Won’t come cheap

K&N E-0644 Engine Air Filter

Here is another extremely popular air filter from K&N. Its manufacturer has provided this model with between four to six layers of pleated and oiled cotton gauze. The resulting filtration media does a masterful job of separating dirt and dust particles from the incoming air.

K&N claims that it is capable of increasing the airflow by as much as 50%. The extra air would then be exploited by your 6.7L Powerstroke to enhance its combustion efficiency, acceleration, uphill performance and torque. It would also give your car’s mileage a shot in the arm.

Yet another strong point of this filter is its washability. The fact that it came pre-oiled means you won’t have to change the oil for the first 50,000 miles. And even when the time comes when the filter shows signs of dropping efficiency, you can simply rinse the impurities away with soapy water.

On top of everything else, this filter would save you up to $250 over the ten years of its life. It would do that by going strong for the next decade. And you don’t have to worry about it breaking any time before that as K&N has warrantied it for 10 years.

Pros

• Provides up to 50% more airflow
• Easy to install and remove
• Washable and reusable

Cons

• MPG increase won’t be that much

aFe Power Magnum FORCE 54-11872-1 5-layer Filter

Unlike most cold air intakes that you see on the market, the aFe Power intake system comes in a one-piece design. It allows you to utilize the existing stock mounting locations and install the system without carrying out any extensive modifications.

This system’s filtration media consists of 5 layers of oiled and washable cotton gauze filter. It is capable of stopping dirt and dust particles and preventing them from causing any rust and corrosion. At the same time, the surface area of the media allows air to go through unimpeded.

Next comes the system’s heat shield, whose 18-gauge powder-coated construction allows it to keep outside heat from entering the filter. This makes sure that the temperature of the air that the long pipes of this system would draw from outside the hood remains down.

To further sweeten the deal, this system uses a CAD designed, roto-molded intake tube. Together with the 3-angle adaptor, the intake tube speeds up the air flow and helps the engine achieve improved throttle response and performance.

Pros

• Utilizes stock mounting locations
• Speeds up the airflow
• Produces additional horsepower

Cons

• Pricey

S&B Filters 75-5104

People who favor OEM filters over cold air intakes mostly do so for two reasons. They are unwilling to spend above a certain amount and are looking for something that they could install on their own. What if these people could get a cold air intake offering both these features? Heads would turn.

The S&B Filters 75-5014 does precisely that. It is designed explicitly for 6.7L Powerstroke and would, therefore, require no modifications for installation. The asking price of this unit, when compared with other cold air intakes, also helps it come across as a relatively affordable option.

Premium silicone parts help this intake system last longer, whereas its bend-free design improves airflow to the engine by up to 36.98%. It also increases the efficiency rating of this model to 99.26%. These are highly impressive figures for a cold air intake system that doesn’t cost a ton.

The 8-ply cotton gauze that acts as this unit’s filtration media isn’t ordinary. S&B uses robotics to fill it with the correct amount of oil before shipping. It is also washable and has the ability to last a long time with proper care.

Pros

• Keeps ‘check engine’ light off
• Premium silicone construction
• ISO 5011 tested

Cons

• None

Airaid 403-278 AIRAID MXP Series Cold Air Dam Intake System

Here is another cold air intake system that ensures the seamless flow of air to the engine. The Airaid 403-278 has an extra-long pipe that sucks cold air from outside the hood. Its tube is made of high-density polyethylene to resist corrosion and maximizes airflow via its computer-modeled design.

Inside the tube is fresh air ducting that allows the injection of fresh air from outside. Also there are provisions for factory mass air sensor and the filter minder gauge. Both these features help this cold air intake system deliver superior acceleration and horsepower gains.

Airaid gives you two choices when it comes to this system’s filter media. You could either pick up the oiled SYNTHAFLOW air filter, or you can go for the non-oiled SYNTHAMAX air filter. Both these filters are designed to come handy in different conditions. Here’s how.

The former filter is recommended for those of you whose daily driving routine takes them through dusty, dry conditions. The SYNTHAMAX air filter, meanwhile, should be the preferred choice of street drivers. As its filtration capacity is smaller than that of the SYNTHAFLOW filter. 

Pros

• Washable and reusable filter
• Comes with a lifetime warranty
• Delivers increased fuel efficiency

Cons

• None

Sinister Diesel Cold Air Intake for 2017+ Ford Powerstroke 6.7L

Multiple features of this cold air intake make it hard to ignore. Start with its high-quality construction. The CNC mandrel-bent aluminum tubing helps resists corrosion and also gives a perfect fit. Its powder coating prevents pointed dust particles from rubbing against the inner walls and cause rust.

Next comes its pre-oiled washable cotton media. The viscous fluid separates dirt particles from incoming air by trapping them on its surface. Its large surface area allows the media to boast a bigger filtration capacity, which means that it can hold on to more dirt particles than a dry filter media.

Sinister has made sure that everything required for this system’s installation is included in its package. Also, there are detailed step-by-step instructions to help you take advantage of this model’s drop-in installation. That is to say that you won’t have to buy anything extra to mount this system.

Best of all, the entire system has a signature blue look that gives it an exquisite appearance. It won’t get lost amid other components under the hood. The shiny appearance of this system would help it stand out among the crowd.  

Pros

• Drop-in installation
• CNC mandrel-bent aluminum tubing
• Polished and powder coated

Cons

• Not for sale in California

Cleenaire EAF1902 Premium High Capacity Engine Air Filter

The first thing buyers look at when checking a product they’re interested in buying is its price. Then their attention turns to the brand name in the hope of seeing something they recognize. The Cleenaire engine air filter does excellently on the first count as it’s the most inexpensive unit on this review.

It performs poorly on the second count. Cleenaire is a brand name that can’t compete with the likes of SB Filters, EcoGard or K&N when it comes to popularity. That means that those of you who are brand conscious might end up ignoring this model. But you shouldn’t. Here’s why.

This air filter boasts a high-quality filter media which has more paper pleats than most OEM filters. Their exceeded number allows the pleats to prevent particulate matter from entering the engine. It also gives them more surface area, thereby giving their filtration capacity a shot in the arm.

Another essential element of this filter’s working is its ability to combine high filtration with even higher airflow. This allows it to have a visibly positive impact on your vehicle’s MPG. Cleenaire also provides a 100% satisfaction guarantee on this product.

Pros

• Low asking price
• High filtration capacity
• Trouble-free installation

Cons

• None

ECOGARD XA10580 Premium Engine Air Filter

Most engine air filters aren’t exactly easy to install. They require sophisticated tools that aren’t usually a part of a car owner’s toolkit, thereby forcing you to buy those tools separately. The EcoGard XA10580 is different. You can mount this tool underneath the hood with your hands.

This is a dry air filter that isn’t washable or reusable. It lasts up to 12,000 miles in clean conditions before needing replacement. The shelf-life of this model could be lower for those of you whose daily driving routine takes them through dusty conditions.

One way this model justifies its abovementioned shortcoming is its meager price. You won’t have to spend an extravagant amount of money to enjoy its offerings. That isn’t to say that it costs ridiculously low. But what it does mean is that this unit’s asking price won’t blow a hole in your pocket.

Pros

• Factory fit for easy installation
• Lasts up to 12,000 miles
• Competitively priced

Cons

• Not washable or reusable

Best Air Filter for 6.7 Powerstroke – Buying Guide

Here’s how you can get the best air filter for 6.7 Powerstroke:

Style of filter

You have two options when choosing an air filter.

OEM Filter

These filters are a direct replacement to your stock filter. Its size, dimensions and specifications will exactly be the same as that of the filter that is already installed underneath your vehicle’s hood. You won’t have to make any modifications to install them.

Such filters have a fairly straightforward operating mechanism. Once you’ve attached them to your engine’s inlet, they will count on the engine’s fan to draw in dirty air. The filtration media of these engines (paper pleats or cotton gauze) will then remove dirt particles from the incoming air.

This simple-looking approach has downsides too. OEM filters might not have a measurably positive impact on your vehicle’s mileage, MPG and power. Nor will they see to it that the engine’s acceleration and uphill performance get a shot in the arm.

Cold Air Intake

Cold air intakes eliminate the need for the installation of a box next to the air filter. In its place, they use large diameter tubes that have fewer bends and are smoother and wider than the stock filter. Removal of the air box and its replacement with smoother tubes help the engine get uninterrupted air flow.

When the engine starts getting in more air during the combustion cycle, it starts to burn fuel more efficiently. This results in its horsepower receiving a shot in the arm. That is precisely the reason why people who love to travel on challenging roads prefer cold air intakes.

Yet another benefit that these units provide is improved acceleration. Your car will reach its desired speed more rapidly when the engine is receiving a large volume of cold air. An improvement in your car’s MPG and its engine’s roar will also be on offer.

Type of filter

Once again you have two options.

Dry Filter

All of us are aware of what dry filters look like. Almost all the vehicles that roll away from the factory floor come with one. They either use a foam element or paper to keep dirt particles away. Hence the reason why their price and filtration properties are hard to beat.

These filters meet the minimum OEM standards and trap a specific amount of contaminants. They also require less maintenance and have a shelf-life that can be extended by using compressed air to blow the trapped dirt particles off. You can count on them to remain effective for 10,000 to 15,000 miles.

On the flip side, these units have a restrictive design that isn’t conducive to air flow, even when they aren’t choke-full of dirt. Add a layer of dust particles on top and you can imagine how hard it would be for them to conduct air.

Oiled Filter

These filters trap dust particles on their surface through a phenomenon known as adsorption. The absence of any paper pleats makes them more conducive to airflow, as there aren’t any layers impeding the flow of air to the engine. Oiled filters are long-lasting as well.

Even the cheapest oiled filters last as long as the most high-end dry ones (up to 15,000 miles). Those that have a slightly elevated price tag can last for double that period. K&N produces oiled filters that remain effective for up to 1million miles.

The ease with which you can clean them is equally impressive.  They don’t require you to use a blower to rid them of dirt particles. Simply washing these filters with soapy water would be enough to help them recover their lost effectiveness.

Fitment

How are you going to install the filter?

• Universal Fitment: Filters offering this feature don’t require you to make any modifications. Their OEM design lets you install them under the hood with minimum fuss. Most of them can be put in place with basic hand tools and in less than an hour.
• Custom Fitment: Filters offering custom fitment help deliver notable improvements to your engine’s mileage, torque, and horsepower. They are able to stop the finer grit that usually hoodwinks universal air filters.

Conclusion

Most drivers don’t realize the importance of an air filter for their engine’s performance. They only treat the filter as something that separates dust particles from the air entering the engine. The logic of investing in a model that improves airflow to the engine is lost on them.

This thinking won’t do any harm if you’re satisfied with your vehicle’s existing MPG and its engine’s existing acceleration and uphill performance. All of us are on the same page that states that we shouldn’t attempt to fix something that isn’t broken.

 Your presence here, however, indicates that everything is not as you want with your engine. That there are some areas on which you want your engine to improve. Hence the reason why you’d do well with the air filters in this review, as they would take your engine’s performance to the next level.