The Top 5 Ford Maverick Upgrades. The Maverick is the most recent addition to Ford’s truck lineup. It’s an excellent pickup for those who merely require or desire a little, compact truck. The Maverick’s 2.0 EcoBoost engine option also means there’s plenty of promise remaining. It comes standard with 250 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. However, with a few simple upgrades, the 2.0L turbo engine can produce 300+hp. This article discusses the finest Ford Maverick enhancements, including power gains, benefits, pricing, and other factors.
Options for Ford Maverick Engines
Before diving into the meat of this post, it’s crucial to first go over the Maverick engine choices. The Maverick’s standard engine is a 2.5L hybrid engine. The Mazda 2.5L L engine is an Atkinson cycle variation. Some of the modifications in this article, like as an intake and tune, are compatible with the 2.5 hybrid Maverick.
The majority of this page, however, is devoted to the 2.0 EcoBoost engine. Its turbo architecture makes it easy to modify and extract more power from the 2.0L inline-4. The EcoBoost engine is also the only one available with 4WD or AWD and has a higher towing capacity. In essence, this will most likely be the most popular Maverick engine, and that is the subject of this essay.
5 Best Maverick 2.0 EcoBoost Performance Upgrades
Among the top Ford Maverick 2.0 EcoBoost upgrades are:
- Tuning
- Downpipe
- Intercooler
- Fresh Air Intake
- Fueling
The modifications listed above are all easy bolt-ons that can take the Maverick 2.0L to the next level. A turbocharger improvement, for example, might easily enter the list of the finest tweaks. However, the main focus of this article is on easy Maverick upgrades. These changes are also the greatest place to start because they are good engine alterations no matter how far you want to push the truck.
Anyway, in the following parts, we’ll go over the above list and go over each improvement in detail. We will also discuss benefits, power gains, cost, and other topics.
1) Maverick Ford Tuning
A Maverick 2.0 tune is the foundation for increasing horsepower and torque. It’s the best bang for your buck because tuning provides significant power boosts for a little cost. A single Maverick tweak adds 25-50whp and 40-70wtq. It’s difficult to find more power for the $400-600 price of a tune.
Maverick 2.0 EcoBoost tunes also assist in maximizing the performance potential of other upgrades. Without tuning, upgrades such as a downpipe, intake, or intercooler do not provide maximum power gains. Tuners change fuelling, timing, and other characteristics to allow for aftermarket improvements.
Because the Maverick is still a new truck, tuning options are restricted for the time being; more tunes will undoubtedly appear in the following months and years. In any case, there are already a lot of high-quality Ford Maverick tuners on the market. It’s critical to look for a tuner from a known, dependable provider.
Maverick 2.0L Tuners That Work
Which tune is best for each person depends on their truck’s goals and demands. As a result, no one song is inherently superior to another. Again, stick with a reputable tuner. Among the best Ford Maverick songs are:
- JB4
- X4 or SCT Livewire
Because it is a piggyback tuner, the JB4 takes a different path than other tunes. It’s a simple plug-and-play tune that connects to two sensors in the engine compartment. It then adjusts boost, timing, and fueling in conjunction with the factory PCM tuning. Burger Motorsports JB4 is jam-packed with features, including on-the-fly map changes, E85 compatible tuning maps, and much more. It produces power improvements of up to 50whp and 70wtq, which is comparable to the effects of flash tunes.
SCT provides several tuner devices for the 2.0 EcoBoost Maverick. These are actual flash songs that remap the PCM fully. The SCT Livewire has a larger screen than the SCT X4, but it costs a few hundred dollars more. Along with off-the-shelf Maverick tuning maps, SCT provides some fantastic features. Flash tunes also allow you to choose a bespoke tune to better tailor the music to your individual needs and goals.
We love the JB4 and think it’s a wonderful option for many Ford Maverick owners. In any case, both the JB4 and SCT are reputable tunes. Whatever path you select, a tune will undoubtedly take your Maverick 2.0L to the next level.
2) Upgrades to the Maverick 2.0 EcoBoost Downpipe
Downpipes are one of the greatest bolt-on improvements for almost any turbo engine, including the Maverick. The downpipe on the Maverick 2.0L EcoBoost mounts directly to the turbocharger. It is the most critical component of a turbo engine’s exhaust system (apart from the manifold and turbo itself).
A large, heavy catalytic converter (cat) is installed in the factory downpipe. It generates a lot of back pressure, which is detrimental to turbo performance. Switching to a high-flow catted or catless downpipe improves the Maverick’s performance significantly.
The best performance will come from a catless downpipe. They are, however, forbidden for on-road use. In come high-flow downpipes. These downpipes also provide significant power improvements while being more likely to pass emissions testing.
Advantages of Downpipe Upgrade
The following are some of the advantages of Ford Maverick EcoBoost downpipe upgrades:
- 5-15whp
- quicker spool
- Easier on the turbo and engine
- Exhaust notes that are louder
Catless downpipe enhancements will almost certainly result in higher-end power gains. A high-flow Maverick downpipe should produce 7-12whp. Reducing back pressure also results in faster turbo spool, among other advantages. It makes the turbo’s job much easier and is better for the engine as a whole. Lower backpressure results in lower EGT as well as less strain on the turbo and engine.
Finally, Maverick downpipe improvements make the exhaust and turbo noises louder. It’s not too loud or irritating, especially if the remainder of the exhaust is left alone. You won’t notice any louder sounds at idle or cruise, but a downpipe produces a deeper, more aggressive voice under speed. Finally, a downpipe provides much more than just more power, making this a superb Maverick mod.
3) Ford Maverick Intercooler Modifications
Front-mount intercooler (FMIC) modifications are another great Ford Maverick mod. On a stock truck, the factory 2.0 EcoBoost intercooler works well. Start tuning and raising boost on the Maverick, however, and the intercooler rapidly becomes inefficient.
The air exiting the turbo is frequently above 200°F, and the intercooler’s purpose is to cool that air as close to ambient temperatures as possible. Extra boost and power means more heat, and the basic FMIC isn’t built to handle it. As a result, as the intake air temperature (IAT) rises, the Maverick 2.0L engine begins heat soaking.
This heat soak reduces power and performance, which is where larger FMICs come in. Ford Maverick intercooler improvements rarely result in significant peak power gains. Instead, they aid in the prevention of heat absorption and power loss. The following are some of the advantages of intercooler modifications:
- 3-10whp
- Performance that is consistent
- Engine protection
On a “glory” run, a Maverick FMIC is unlikely to produce more than 3-10whp at peak power. However, it aids in the prevention of power loss, which can surpass 20whp under certain conditions. Cooler IATs also help to avoid detonation/knock, making the 2.0 EcoBoost engine significantly safer and healthier.
4) Upgrades to the Maverick Cold Air Intake
The next step is to enhance the Maverick’s cold air intake (CAI). We don’t agree with the cold-air intake nomenclature used on turbo engines, but we’ll overlook it for now. Combining a tune and an intake as the first Maverick engine mods is a popular option. Increasing boost and power necessitates increased ventilation.
The standard Maverick intake system is a high-quality, efficient system. As a result, power improvements are negligible without further modifications such as tuning and a downpipe. Still, an intake can add 3-7whp to a Maverick, and fully modified Mavericks may see even greater increases.
Maverick cold air intakes also improve the sound of the turbo and induction. If not for the slight horsepower gains, the intake might be worth installing just for the noises. Intake upgrades are typically among the least expensive bolt-on changes, and they are simple to install. It’s not the most powerful mod on this list, but the pricing, noises, and ease of installation make it a worthwhile improvement.
Open vs. Closed Intake on the Maverick 2.0 Turbo
There are numerous names for intake enhancements. A few examples include performance intake, cold air intake, and intake systems. On turbo engines, such as the 2.0L Maverick, intakes are best thought of as open or closed systems. Turbo engines do not have cold-air intakes. Air enters the filter, passes through a red-hot turbocharger, and then is compressed before being cooled by the FMIC. The temperature at the filter has almost no effect on the intercooler’s ability to cool the air.
Running a filter wide open in the engine bay will result in increased filter temperatures. However, it will have no effect on the IAT after the intercooler. As a result, the primary goal of an intake modification is to simply move more air.
Because there is no restrictive airbox surrounding the filter, open intakes provide the optimum airflow. They’ll also produce greater turbo and induction noises. Having stated that, both open and closed Maverick intake improvements will provide nearly the same power gains. More airflow from an open filter will most likely only benefit turbo upgrades or other substantial modifications.
Related : The Guide to Charge Pipe Upgrades for the Ford Focus ST
5) 2.0L EcoBoost Engine
Last but not least, the Maverick 2.0L EcoBoost receives fueling enhancements and improved gasoline quality. We’ll keep this brief because it’s preferable to save fuel for one of your final mods. High-quality fuel is essential for optimum performance. Better gasoline also keeps the engine cooler and decreases the possibility of knock or explosion, among other benefits.
If you’re tuning the Ford Maverick, we recommend at least 91 or 93 octane. Even 93 octane is considered low fuel quality in the performance industry. It’s adequate for a simple tune with basic add-ons. If you want to take the Maverick to the next level, you’ll need more than just regular pump petrol.
To maximize performance, three prominent fueling alternatives are E85, race gas, and water-methanol injection (WMI). E85 is the greatest choice, however it is extremely taxing on the fuel system. Otherwise, race gas and WMI are possible solutions for increasing power.
Finally, there’s a lot that goes into the Ford Maverick’s gasoline quality and fueling enhancements. It could be a complete article in and of itself. If you want more power, we recommend conducting some extra study on Maverick fueling solutions.
Summary of the Best Ford Maverick Upgrades
The Ford Maverick 2.0 EcoBoost is a tough pickup right out of the box. An inline-4 engine may not seem like a good choice for a truck. The 2.0L turbo EcoBoost, on the other hand, produces a solid 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. The turbo configuration also opens up a world of aftermarket possibilities with easy bolt-on improvements.
An intake, tune, downpipe, and intercooler are excellent places to start when looking to take the Maverick to the next level. They all provide more benefits than just increased power. It’s also the starting point for creating additional power, even if you wish to go for bigger modifications like a turbo upgrade. Higher quality fuels such as E85, race gas, and WMI also help the Ford Maverick.
With these easy bolt-ons, the 2.0L EcoBoost engine can produce 300+whp and 350+wtq. All of the mods are less than $2,500 altogether, so you won’t go broke in the process. Regardless of the road you select, these Ford Maverick enhancements will undoubtedly elevate the truck and put a big smile on your face.
