Bought a 6.7L Ford Power Stroke? Here Are 3 Must-Have Upgrades

Enhancing the performance and reliability of your 6.7L Ford Power Stroke diesel engine is a priority for many truck enthusiasts. Among the myriad of aftermarket options available, three upgrades stand out: fuel filter conversion kits, cold side charge piping, and a cast intake manifold upgrade. These modifications not only address common issues associated with factory components but also significantly boost your engine’s efficiency, longevity, serviceability, and performance.

Fuel Filter Conversion Kit

The factory fuel filter system in the Ford 6.7L Power Stroke engines utilizes an upper OEM-style plastic fuel filter, and a lower cartridge style filter, both of which can be costly to replace and prone to cracking or leaking. H&S Motorsports offers a simple solution, that can take just minutes to install.

The upper kit replaces the fragile factory plastic injector return fitting with a robust anodized aluminum fitting, eliminating concerns over breakage and ensuring long-term reliability. It also converts to a high-flow Baldwin BF7967 fuel filter, offering a more affordable and readily available replacement filter, which reduces ongoing maintenance costs while providing superior fuel filtration. This conversion kit helps in protecting the engine from contaminants and enhances the durability of the fuel system with a practical and economical approach to maintenance.

The lower kit H&S developed offers a simple to install solution that eliminates the expensive cartridge style filter that can be time consuming and messy to replace. The custom machined lower filter base installs in place of the factory filter cartridge and makes a simple, leak free adapter to run the pre-built hoses to an all-new filter base mounted just outside the frame rail. The new filter location is easy to service, and will use a high flowing, Caterpillar fuel filter that not only filters the fuel down to 2-micron, but can also catch water contamination within the fuel.

The new fuel filtration offers easier, faster filter changes, and reduces your continued cost of services for hundreds of thousands of miles to come.

Cold Side Piping Kit

The factory air intake and charged air piping in 2011–2024 Ford 6.7L Power Stroke engines are often restrictive and constructed from materials that may not withstand prolonged use. The H&S Motorsports Cold Side Piping Kit addresses these limitations by replacing the stock components with high-quality alternatives. 

The factory rubber style charge air hose running from the intercooler to the intake manifold is prone to cracking and rupturing under load and extended mileage. To avoid being stranded on the side of the highway, unable to get boost into the engine, replacing the factory cold side hose with a quality aftermarket kit is always a “must have” in our book. Crafted from high-quality materials, the H&S components are designed to withstand increased pressure and temperature, ensuring longevity even under demanding conditions. The custom machined billet intake bell is a direct fit replacement to the factory plastic piece and ensures a leak free, durable resolution to a cheap failure prone factory part. The heavy walled, lined silicone hose offers extreme durability and won’t break down over time from oil residue or heat. The kit also installs in minutes with just simple hand tools and is sure to save you from a major headache further down the road.

Cast Intake Manifold Upgrade

The factory plastic intake manifold in 2011–2019 Ford 6.7L Power Stroke engines is prone to cracking and leaking, on top of just being ugly to look at every time you open the hood. The cast intake elbow and metal piping from HSM offers a robust solution that offers many advantages over the stock parts.

The HSM cast manifold is molded from cast aluminum, providing superior strength and resistance to cracking compared to the factory plastic component. They are machined to exacting standards and offer a perfect fit and finish every time. The high-flow, two-piece design enhances airflow into the engine, contributing to increased horsepower and torque, and improved efficiency. Designed as a direct replacement, this upgrade requires no tuning and is compatible with both factory and aftermarket air intake systems. Upgrading to this cast intake manifold not only resolves the common issues associated with the stock plastic manifold but also contributes to a more efficient and powerful engine performance.

Conclusion

Investing in these three upgrades can significantly enhance the performance, reliability, and longevity of your 6.7L Ford Power Stroke engine, while also saving you money in maintenance and repair costs down the road. Addressing common factory component weaknesses and optimizing airflow and filtration, these modifications offer a comprehensive approach to elevating your driving experience.