Garrett PowerMax 2017+ Ford F: Specs, Fitment, and Is It Worth It

The Garrett PowerMax Stage 2 turbocharger kit for the 2017+ Ford F-150 and Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost is the performance upgrade for the third-generation EcoBoost twin-turbo system. The 2017+ F-150 and Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost was substantially redesigned from the 2011-2016 platform, featuring larger factory turbochargers, port injection added alongside direct injection, and revised charge cooling. Even with those improvements, the Gen 3 factory turbos operate near their compressor surge boundary when a Stage 2 tune raises the boost setpoint above the OEM calibration. Garrett's Stage 2 PowerMax upgrade replaces the factory left and right turbos with larger-compressor units engineered to deliver the surge margin and peak airflow a Stage 2 build demands -- and the upgrade path applies equally to the performance-truck F-150 and the high-output Raptor, both of which share the same 3.5L twin-turbo architecture. This guide covers the Garrett PowerMax Stage 2 specifications for the 2017+ platform, what Stage 2 requires in practice, and how to choose between the individual upgrade kits and the complete twin package.

Fitment: Garrett Stage 2 PowerMax for 2017+ Ford F-150 and Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost

The Garrett PowerMax Stage 2 Upgrade Kits (901654-5001W left, 901655-5001W right) fit:

• 2017+ Ford F-150 with 3.5L EcoBoost V6 (Gen 3, twin-scroll)
• 2017+ Ford F-150 Raptor with 3.5L EcoBoost V6 (High Output variant shares turbocharger mounting)
• The combined GT2260S Stage 2 kit (911984-5003S) covers 2017-2021 specifically -- confirm model year for 2022+ F-150 applications

The 2017+ F-150 3.5L EcoBoost uses a substantially revised twin-turbo layout compared to the 2011-2016 platform. The Gen 3 factory turbos mount with different flanges, oil and coolant connection locations, and electronic boost solenoid routing than the earlier generations. Neither the 2011-2012 nor the 2013-2017 Stage 1 upgrade kits (911984-5001S and 911984-5002S) are compatible with the 2017+ mounting positions. The Stage 2 individual kits (901654-5001W and 901655-5001W) are engineered specifically for the 2017+ mounting geometry and install at the factory turbocharger locations without requiring custom fabrication for the turbo connections themselves.

Stage 2 supporting hardware is required alongside the turbocharger upgrade. A front-mount intercooler capable of handling increased charge air flow at Stage 2 boost levels is recommended; the factory intercooler in the 2017+ F-150 is undersized for sustained Stage 2 boost. A performance downpipe is a common addition to reduce turbine backpressure at Stage 2 exhaust volume. An ECU calibration that raises boost targets and adjusts fueling and ignition timing is required to access the performance the upgrade delivers. The Stage 2 PowerMax turbos can be installed with the factory ECU calibration, but they operate at factory boost and do not deliver Stage 2 power gains without a supporting tune.

Top Picks: Garrett Stage 2 Turbochargers for the 2017+ F-150 EcoBoost

The Garrett PowerMax 2017+ Ford F-150/Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost Stage 2 Upgrade Kit - Right Turbocharger (901655-5001W) and the Garrett PowerMax 2017+ Ford F-150/Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost Stage 2 Upgrade Kit - Left Turbocharger (901654-5001W) are the individual Stage 2 upgrade turbos for the 2017+ platform. The right and left kits are sold separately, each containing one Stage 2 PowerMax turbo for the respective cylinder bank. Both the driver-side and passenger-side turbos must be upgraded together for a Stage 2 build -- installing one Stage 2 unit and retaining one factory turbo creates a boost imbalance between the cylinder banks that the ECU cannot fully compensate for and that can produce unequal wear. For a phased replacement approach, ordering both individual kits in sequence is supported, though the combined twin kit (below) is the more straightforward option when replacing both at once.

The Garrett 17-21 Ford F-150 3.5L PowerMax GT2260S Stage 2 Upgrade Kit - Left and Right Turbocharger (911984-5003S) packages both Stage 2 turbos -- the GT2260S-specification left and right units -- in a single purchase for the 2017-2021 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost. The GT2260S Stage 2 kit is the recommended option for owners who are ready to replace both factory turbos at the same time, since it ensures matched Stage 2 compressor specifications on both banks in one order. For Stage 2 charge cooling, the Garrett Air/Air Intercooler for 2015+ Ford F-150 2.7L EcoBoost/3.5L Raptor (870702-6001) is Garrett's direct-fit intercooler upgrade for this platform. Browse the complete Garrett PowerMax F-150 EcoBoost turbocharger catalog for all Stage 1, Stage 2, and supporting hardware options for the EcoBoost F-150 platform.

Match to the Build

• 2017+ F-150 or Raptor at Stage 2 with upgraded intercooler, downpipe, and tune: The Stage 2 PowerMax kits are designed for this build configuration -- the full Stage 2 hardware package unlocks the GT2260S compressor map at the boost levels a Stage 2 tune commands; running Stage 2 turbo hardware without a supporting tune and upgraded intercooler does not achieve Stage 2 power results
• 2017+ Raptor High Output where the Gen 3 turbos have accumulated mileage: The Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost uses the same turbocharger architecture as the F-150 3.5L; Raptor owners with high-mileage turbos nearing service can combine the replacement with a Stage 2 upgrade using the same 901654/901655 individual kits rather than replacing with OEM-spec units
• 2017-2021 F-150 EcoBoost as a complete twin replacement and Stage 2 upgrade: The GT2260S combined kit (911984-5003S) is the most efficient path for this application -- two GT2260S Stage 2 turbos for both banks in a single order, matched specifications, and direct-fit installation at the Gen 3 EcoBoost mounting points
• 2017+ F-150 used for towing where Stage 1 has reached its limit: Owners who have already completed a Stage 1 build and find the factory turbos surging at tow loads their tune demands can step up to the Stage 2 turbos; the Stage 2 PowerMax units provide the surge margin and peak flow ceiling that Stage 1 turbos cannot sustain when the engine is calibrated for Stage 2 boost targets under tow load

Signs the 2017+ F-150 EcoBoost Factory Turbos Are Due for Upgrade

• Compressor surge under wide-open throttle on a tuned 2017+ F-150 or Raptor -- a cyclic flutter or stutter from the intake at hard acceleration indicates one or both factory turbos pushed past the surge line by the elevated boost target the tune commands; the Garrett Stage 2 PowerMax units move the surge boundary outward to sustain stable boost where the factory compressor map cannot
• Boost pressure not reaching the tune's commanded target at high engine load -- the ECU logs showing actual boost falling below requested boost as the factory compressors reach their maximum mass flow; characteristic of a build where the tune has advanced beyond the factory turbo's flow ceiling; the Stage 2 PowerMax turbos raise the compressor flow ceiling to match what a Stage 2 calibration demands
• Elevated intake air temperatures at Stage 2 boost levels -- the factory turbos operating outside their efficiency island produce more heat per unit of compressed air, which raises charge temperatures and pushes the factory intercooler beyond its design envelope; replacing both factory turbos with Stage 2 PowerMax units and upgrading the intercooler addresses both the compressor efficiency and the charge cooling deficit
• Audible bearing or seal wear on high-mileage Gen 3 turbos -- the 2017+ EcoBoost has now accumulated several years of boost cycles on performance-calibrated trucks; oil seal wear and bearing wear on high-mileage examples are the normal service interval failure mode; the Stage 2 upgrade provides a fresh rotating assembly with the compressor specifications the Stage 2 tune was designed for

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the 2017+ Stage 2 kits work on the F-150 Raptor specifically?

Yes. The 2017+ Ford F-150 Raptor uses the same 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbo mounting architecture as the F-150 EcoBoost. The Stage 2 individual kits (901654-5001W left, 901655-5001W right) are confirmed fitment for both the standard F-150 3.5L EcoBoost and the Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost. The High Output Raptor engine uses the same turbocharger mounting locations as the standard-output 3.5L EcoBoost for these model years. As always, confirming the specific model year and variant against the Garrett fitment documentation before ordering is recommended.

What is the difference between Stage 1 and Stage 2 on the 2017+ F-150 EcoBoost?

Stage 1 on the 2017+ F-150 3.5L EcoBoost typically involves an ECU calibration with optional cold-air intake and no major hardware changes to the intercooler, exhaust, or turbos. Stage 2 adds upgraded turbos, an upgraded front-mount intercooler, and typically a performance downpipe alongside a Stage 2 ECU calibration that takes advantage of the hardware improvements. The Stage 2 boost target and fueling strategy demand the larger compressor maps the Stage 2 PowerMax turbos provide; running a Stage 2 tune on factory turbos produces surge and does not achieve Stage 2 power levels.

Bottom Line

The Garrett PowerMax Stage 2 turbocharger upgrade for the 2017+ Ford F-150 and Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost is the correct path for a full Stage 2 build on the Gen 3 twin-turbo platform. Order both the left and right kits individually or as the GT2260S combined twin kit, pair with a front-mount intercooler and a Stage 2 calibration, and the Stage 2 PowerMax turbos deliver the surge margin and peak flow the build requires. These are generation-specific parts -- confirm the 2017+ or 2017-2021 fitment range for the specific kit before ordering.