Garrett 11: Specs, Fitment, and Is It Worth It

The Garrett GT1749S PowerMax turbocharger kit for the 2011-2012 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost is a direct-fit twin-turbo upgrade for the first generation of Ford's turbocharged half-ton truck platform. When Ford introduced the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 in the 2011 F-150, it established a new benchmark for turbocharged truck performance -- 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque from a twin-turbocharged V6 that outpulled the available naturally aspirated V8 in both output and fuel economy. Over a decade later, the 2011-2012 EcoBoost F-150 remains a capable platform, but the factory turbos on high-mileage examples show the wear of years of boost cycles, and performance-minded owners continue to tune and upgrade the first-generation EcoBoost. Garrett's GT1749S Stage 1 PowerMax kit addresses both the replacement and the upgrade case for the 2011-2012 platform, offering factory-footprint installation with larger-compressor turbos engineered to support Stage 1 power levels without the surge the factory units produce at elevated boost. This guide covers the Garrett GT1749S specifications, Gen 1 EcoBoost fitment details, and whether this Garrett turbocharger kit is the right upgrade for the 2011-2012 F-150.

Fitment: Garrett GT1749S Stage 1 for 2011-2012 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost

The Garrett Stage 1 GT1749S PowerMax Turbocharger Kit (911984-5001S) fits the following applications:

• 2011 Ford F-150 with 3.5L EcoBoost V6 (all cab configurations)
• 2012 Ford F-150 with 3.5L EcoBoost V6 (all cab configurations)

The 2011-2012 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost uses a first-generation turbocharger mounting arrangement that differs from the revised configuration Ford introduced for the 2013 model year. The turbocharger mounting flanges, coolant and oil connection positions, and turbine inlet geometry on the Gen 1 platform are specific to these two model years. The 2013-2017 Stage 1 kit (911984-5002S) does not fit the 2011-2012 mounting locations, and the 2011-2012 kit does not fit 2013 and later F-150 EcoBoost applications. The generation-specific part numbers exist because the underlying hardware dimensions are not interchangeable between the two generations.

The GT1749S Stage 1 kit for the 2011-2012 platform installs at the factory turbocharger locations using the factory oil feed and return ports, coolant connections, and exhaust manifold flanges. No custom fabrication is required for a base installation. A supporting ECU calibration is recommended alongside the turbo kit to take full advantage of the GT1749S compressor map at elevated boost levels; at factory ECU calibration, the GT1749S operates at factory boost and delivers improved durability and surge margin without the power gains a Stage 1 tune enables.

Top Picks: Garrett PowerMax for the 2011-2012 3.5L EcoBoost

The Garrett 11-12 Ford 3.5L Stage 1 GT1749S PowerMax Turbocharger Kit (911984-5001S) is the recommended solution for 2011-2012 F-150 EcoBoost owners. The kit replaces both factory turbos -- driver side and passenger side -- with GT1749S PowerMax units that use larger-inducer compressor wheels than the factory turbos. Replacing both units simultaneously is the correct approach on a parallel twin-turbo platform; installing one performance turbo and one stock unit creates unequal boost contribution from each cylinder bank that the ECU cannot fully compensate for. Garrett packages the Gen 1 Stage 1 kit to address both positions in a single purchase for matched performance from both banks. Browse the complete Garrett EcoBoost turbocharger upgrade catalog for Stage 1 kits for the 2011-2012 and 2013-2017 F-150 EcoBoost platforms.

For a 2011-2012 F-150 where only one factory turbo has failed and a phased replacement is the plan, the Garrett PowerMax Turbo Upgrade Kit 11-12 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost - Left Turbocharger (881027-5001S) is the individual driver-side unit; the matching right-side upgrade kit (881028-5001S) is available separately for a complete twin-turbo replacement in two steps. For owners of the 2013-2017 F-150 EcoBoost, the Garrett 13-17 Ford 3.5L EcoBoost Stage 1 GT1749S Twin Turbo Kit (911984-5002S) is the generation-correct kit for that platform.

Match to the Build

• High-mileage 2011-2012 F-150 EcoBoost replacing worn factory turbos: The Gen 1 EcoBoost F-150 is now well past a decade old, and factory turbos on high-mileage examples commonly show compressor seal wear, reduced peak efficiency, and audible bearing noise; the GT1749S Stage 1 kit is the correct premium replacement -- it restores full compressor output while delivering improved surge margin and peak flow the factory units never had
• 2011-2012 F-150 EcoBoost at Stage 1 tune level: The GT1749S was designed for the Stage 1 use case on this platform -- a supporting ECU calibration raises boost and fueling above the factory setpoint, and the GT1749S compressor map sustains the elevated boost target the Stage 1 tune commands without the surge the factory turbos produce at the same conditions
• 2011-2012 F-150 EcoBoost with cold-air intake: An aftermarket cold-air intake on the Gen 1 EcoBoost reduces inlet restriction and improves airflow to the compressor; the GT1749S benefits from the reduced inlet restriction and performs optimally when a Stage 1 tune is added alongside the intake and turbo combination
• 2011-2012 F-150 EcoBoost used for light towing: The factory EcoBoost turbos on a first-generation F-150 used for towing accumulate boost cycles faster than a street-only truck; the GT1749S's improved surge margin sustains stable boost through towing demand cycles better than aging factory turbos, and the kit eliminates the elevated EGTs that worn compressors produce at equivalent tow loads

Signs the 2011-2012 EcoBoost Factory Turbos Need Replacement

• Audible whine or bearing noise from the turbo area at idle that increases with RPM -- the most common first sign of factory turbo wear on high-mileage Gen 1 EcoBoost F-150s; the factory turbos accumulate significant boost cycles over 100,000-plus miles and bearing wear becomes audible before full mechanical failure; replacement before complete failure avoids debris ingestion into the engine
• Blue smoke at cold start that clears after the engine warms -- compressor seal wear on one or both factory turbos allowing oil into the intake tract; identifiable by oily residue on the charge pipe at the compressor outlet and by smoke appearing immediately at cold engine start; more common on the Gen 1 platform than the revised 2013+ version due to age and accumulated cycles
• Compressor surge sound under hard acceleration on a tuned 2011-2012 EcoBoost -- a rhythmic flutter or stutter at wide-open throttle indicating one or both factory turbos operating past the surge line at the boosted condition the tune commands; the GT1749S PowerMax units move the surge limit outward and eliminate this condition
• Boost pressure plateauing below the tune's commanded target -- the factory compressors reaching maximum flow before the tune's boost target is achieved; the ECU logs actual boost falling short of requested boost at peak demand; the GT1749S raises the compressor flow ceiling and sustains the target the calibration commands

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the 2011-2012 Stage 1 kit be used on a 2013 or newer F-150 EcoBoost?

No. The 911984-5001S kit is dimensionally specific to the 2011-2012 Gen 1 EcoBoost mounting configuration. Ford changed the turbocharger mounting flanges, coolant connection positions, and related hardware when the 3.5L EcoBoost was revised for the 2013 model year. The 2013-2017 application requires the 911984-5002S kit, which has the correct dimensions for that generation's mounting points. Installing the wrong generation kit results in a fitment mismatch at the mounting flanges or oil and coolant connections.

Does the Garrett GT1749S Stage 1 kit improve towing performance on the 2011-2012 EcoBoost?

The GT1749S improves boost stability and reduces surge during towing compared to worn factory turbos. Under towing load, the engine demands sustained high boost for extended periods -- conditions where aging factory compressors with reduced efficiency produce elevated exhaust gas temperatures and increased surge frequency. The GT1749S's larger compressor wheels deliver more stable boost at equivalent tow loads and with better compressor efficiency, which reduces EGTs at a given power output during towing. The improvement is most noticeable on trucks where the factory turbos have accumulated significant mileage and show measurable efficiency degradation.

Bottom Line

The Garrett GT1749S PowerMax Stage 1 kit for the 2011-2012 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost is the generation-correct Garrett performance upgrade for the first-generation EcoBoost F-150. It replaces both factory turbos with matched GT1749S PowerMax units, delivers the surge margin a Stage 1 tune requires, and is the correct premium replacement choice for high-mileage Gen 1 EcoBoost trucks due for turbocharger service. Use the 911984-5001S kit for 2011-2012 applications and the 911984-5002S for 2013-2017 -- the two generations are not interchangeable.