Garrett PowerMax Turbo Upgrade Kit 13: Specs, Fitment, and Is It Worth It

The Garrett PowerMax turbo upgrade kit for the 2013-2016 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost is a direct-fit twin-turbocharger upgrade that replaces both factory turbochargers with Garrett's improved PowerMax compressor assemblies for Stage 1 performance applications. The 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 in the 2013-2016 F-150 uses one turbocharger per cylinder bank -- a left-side and a right-side unit -- that share the same compressor inlet and charge pipe architecture but mount on opposite sides of the engine. When the factory turbos are worn, surging at Stage 1 tune boost targets, or limiting further power development, the Garrett PowerMax upgrade addresses both units simultaneously with improved compressor maps sized for Stage 1 output levels. This guide covers the Garrett PowerMax kit specifications, how the 2013-2016 application differs from the 2011-2012 and 2017+ fitments, and what the Garrett Turbocharger upgrade delivers on the 3.5L EcoBoost F-150 platform.

Fitment: Garrett PowerMax for 2011-2016 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost

The Garrett PowerMax F-150 3.5L EcoBoost upgrade covers three generation-specific kit sets:

• 2013-2016 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost: Left turbocharger kit (881027-5002S) and right turbocharger kit (881028-5002S) -- the revised first-generation 3.5L EcoBoost with the updated charge pipe and intercooler system Ford introduced for the 2013 model year; both left and right kits must be purchased and installed together to complete the twin-turbo upgrade on a 2013-2016 F-150
• 2011-2012 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost: Left turbocharger kit (881027-5001S) and right turbocharger kit (881028-5001S) -- the first-year 3.5L EcoBoost configuration; the 2011-2012 kit uses a different compressor housing outlet to match the first-generation charge pipe connection and must not be substituted with the 2013-2016 kits on a 2011 or 2012 model year truck
• 2017+ F-150 and Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost: Left turbocharger kit (901654-5001W) and right turbocharger kit (901655-5001W) -- the second-generation 3.5L EcoBoost, which uses a substantially different turbocharger configuration from the 2011-2016 first-generation engine; Stage 2 designation reflects the higher output level the 2017+ engine supports

The PowerMax upgrade kits install at the factory turbocharger mounting locations using the factory oil supply and drain ports, coolant connections, exhaust manifold inlet flanges, and charge pipe outlet connections for each generation. The electronic boost control solenoid interface is retained on both the left and right units, allowing the factory PCM to manage boost pressure through the standard circuit without a standalone controller. A Stage 1 ECU calibration is required to command the elevated boost target that extracts the PowerMax upgrade's compressor efficiency improvement over the factory turbos.

A critical installation note for any 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbo upgrade: the left and right turbochargers are separate part numbers and separate purchases, but they must always be replaced as a pair. Running a new PowerMax unit on one side alongside a worn factory turbo on the other side creates imbalanced boost delivery between the two cylinder banks, which the 3.5L EcoBoost's PCM cannot fully compensate for. Order both the left and right kit for the applicable generation to complete the upgrade correctly.

Top Picks: Garrett PowerMax F-150 3.5L EcoBoost Upgrade Kits

For the 2013-2016 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost, the complete PowerMax twin-turbo upgrade requires the Garrett PowerMax Turbo Upgrade Kit 13-16 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost - Left Turbocharger (881027-5002S) and the Garrett PowerMax Turbo Upgrade Kit 13-16 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost - Right Turbocharger (881028-5002S). Both kits use the same PowerMax compressor specification; the left and right designations reflect the mirror-image housing geometry required to fit each bank's mounting position and charge pipe direction. For 2011-2012 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost applications, the correct kits are the Garrett PowerMax Turbo Upgrade Kit 11-12 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost - Left Turbocharger (881027-5001S) and the Garrett PowerMax Turbo Upgrade Kit 11-12 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost - Right Turbocharger (881028-5001S). Browse the complete Garrett PowerMax F-150 turbocharger catalog for all EcoBoost upgrade kit options including the 2017+ Raptor Stage 2 kits.

Match to the Build

• 2013-2016 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost at Stage 1 tune: The PowerMax kits are sized for Stage 1 output levels on the 3.5L EcoBoost, where a performance calibration raises boost and fueling above the factory setpoint; the improved compressor maps on the 881027-5002S and 881028-5002S provide the surge margin the elevated Stage 1 boost target requires on both cylinder banks simultaneously, and the improved efficiency of the updated compressor wheels reduces charge air temperatures compared to factory turbos operating at Stage 1 boost conditions
• High-mileage 2013-2016 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost replacing worn factory turbos: The factory twin turbos on high-mileage 3.5L EcoBoost F-150s are subject to compressor seal wear, bearing wear, and variable nozzle deterioration on turbos that use variable geometry; the PowerMax upgrade replaces both worn units with fresh assemblies that provide improved surge margin and efficiency over even new factory turbos at their specified condition, giving the owner an upgrade path alongside what would otherwise be a straight-replacement service interval
• 2013-2016 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost with cold-air intake and Stage 1 tune: A cold-air intake on the 3.5L EcoBoost reduces the pressure drop at the compressor inlet, improving the inlet conditions for both left and right turbochargers; the PowerMax upgrade paired with a cold-air intake and Stage 1 tune produces better compressor efficiency than the PowerMax alone by supplying cooler, less restricted air to the improved compressor maps
• 2011-2012 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost with first-generation surge issues on tune: The first-generation 2011-2012 3.5L EcoBoost is the version most likely to show factory compressor surge on a Stage 1 tune given the original turbocharger specification; the 881027-5001S and 881028-5001S PowerMax kits address the surge condition on both banks and are the generation-correct solution for 2011 and 2012 model year trucks

Signs the 3.5L EcoBoost Factory Turbos Need Replacement

• Compressor surge on one or both cylinder banks under Stage 1 tune boost targets -- audible as a flutter or stutter from the intake side under wide-open throttle; the factory compressors operating past their surge boundary on a tuned 3.5L EcoBoost; the PowerMax upgrade's improved compressor maps push the surge line outward on both left and right units, eliminating the surge at Stage 1 boost levels
• Uneven power delivery or cylinder bank imbalance on a tuned 3.5L EcoBoost -- one bank producing less boost than the other due to a worn or surging turbocharger on that side; the PCM may partially compensate through trim adjustments but cannot fully correct a mechanical compressor limitation; replacing both turbos with matched PowerMax units restores balanced boost delivery across both banks
• Oil consumption or blue smoke at startup on a high-mileage 3.5L EcoBoost -- shaft seal wear on one or both turbos allowing oil into the intake charge; identifiable by oily residue inside the intercooler or charge pipes and brief blue smoke on cold start before the turbos reach operating temperature; the PowerMax upgrade restores fresh seals and updated compressor assemblies on both units
• Boost pressure not reaching the Stage 1 target consistently on a tuned truck -- the factory compressor reaching its flow ceiling before the boost controller's commanded pressure is achieved; the PowerMax upgrade's higher flow ceiling allows the compressor to sustain the commanded boost pressure throughout the RPM range rather than tapering off as the factory compressor reaches its maximum efficiency limit

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install the 2013-2016 PowerMax kit on a 2011 or 2012 F-150?

No. The 2011-2012 and 2013-2016 Garrett PowerMax kits use different compressor housing outlet geometries to match each generation's charge pipe connections. The 2013 model year F-150 introduced a revised charge pipe and intercooler system that requires the updated outlet connection of the 881027-5002S and 881028-5002S kits. Installing a 2013-2016 kit on a 2011-2012 truck will not fit the charge pipe correctly. Always confirm the exact model year and use the generation-specific kit: 881027/881028-5001S for 2011-2012 and 881027/881028-5002S for 2013-2016.

Bottom Line

The Garrett PowerMax turbo upgrade kit for the 2013-2016 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost is the direct-fit Stage 1 twin-turbocharger upgrade for a platform where the factory turbos limit boost performance under a performance calibration or have accumulated enough mileage to warrant replacement. Order both the left (881027-5002S) and right (881028-5002S) kits for a complete upgrade, confirm the model year before ordering, and pair with a Stage 1 ECU calibration to access the full benefit of the improved compressor maps on both cylinder banks.