1994-2002 Ford 7.3L Powerstroke Cold Air Intakes

Cold air intakes on the 1994-2002 Ford 7.3L Powerstroke

The factory system draws air through a fender-side airbox and an intake tube to the turbo compressor. A complete intake kit replaces that front section with its own airbox, its own filter and a new tube to the turbo. An S&B cold air intake is a standard first upgrade on this engine for airflow and filtration. The filter schedule does not change with the hardware: 30,000 miles or 30 months in normal service, 15,000 miles or 12 months in dust, with a look at every oil change.

What fails and why

The intake parts that give trouble on this truck are mostly the factory ones. On early-1999 trucks built before December 1998, the airbox retention clips break and let unfiltered air slip past the element, which leaves dust in the turbo inlet. On any year, a dirty, restrictive filter raises crankcase vacuum and pulls oil through the crankcase ventilation into the intake, so you find oil in the Y-pipe boot and the valley. A complete kit takes the factory box out of the picture, and a filter serviced on schedule keeps crankcase vacuum in check. Low boost is a different problem. The boots and spring clamps after the turbo are the usual leak points, so pressure-test the charge system before blaming the intake or the turbo.

Stock replacement vs. upgrade

If the factory airbox is intact and the truck is stock, a fresh filter on schedule is all that intake needs. A complete kit makes sense when the factory box is damaged, when you want a filter you can clean and reuse, or when you are building the truck to breathe better. The S&B 75-5062 for Super Duty trucks comes with a choice of cotton or dry filter media. The S&B 75-5131-1 covers the OBS trucks. The Banks Power 42210 Ram-Air uses Banks filters, and Banks makes a matching pre-filter wrap for dusty work.

What we carry

• S&B 75-5131-1 cold air intake kit, listed for 1994-1997 OBS trucks.
• S&B 75-5062 cold air intake kit, listed for 1999-2003 Super Duty trucks.
• Banks Power 42210 Ram-Air cold air intake, listed for 1999-2003.

See every diesel intake we stock, or go back to the Powerstroke hub for the rest of the engine.

Fitment notes

The body style decides the kit. In this collection, OBS F-250 and F-350 trucks from 1994-1997 take the S&B 75-5131-1, and Super Duty trucks take the 75-5062 or the Banks 42210. S&B's own site lists the 75-5062 as 1998-2003 because Super Duty production started in January 1998; it is the same kit. Early-1999 trucks built before December 1998 have a unique intake system compared with late 1999, so check the listing against your build date. On a 2003, confirm the engine is the 7.3L and not the 6.0L, since the 7.3L only ran into early 2003. For a California truck, CARB EO status is not shown for most 7.3L intakes, so verify the EO number for the exact kit before you install it.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cold air intake a good first upgrade on a 7.3L Powerstroke?

It is the common starting point. An S&B cold air intake is a standard first upgrade on the 1999-2003 7.3L for airflow and filtration. Keep the rest of the intake healthy too, because the boots and clamps are where 7.3L boost usually leaks.

Which kit fits my truck?

For a 1994-1997 OBS F-250 or F-350, the S&B 75-5131-1. For a 1999-2003 Super Duty, the S&B 75-5062 or the Banks Power 42210 Ram-Air. If your truck is an early 1999 built before December 1998, confirm fitment with us first, because its intake system differs.

Is a cold air intake legal in California?

Check the specific kit. CARB EO status is not shown for most 7.3L intakes, so look up the EO number for the exact part before you install it on a California-registered truck. Call the shop if you need help finding it.

Do I still need to change the filter as often?

Yes. Stick to Ford's schedule of 30,000 miles or 30 months in normal service and 15,000 miles or 12 months in dust. A restrictive filter raises crankcase vacuum on this engine and pulls oil into the intake, intake kit or not.

Not sure what fits? Call the shop at the number in the header, or use the fitment checker on any product page. We install everything we sell.