Cold Air Intake for 2020 MKZ 3.0T

[Fred H]

I'm new to this forum.  Sorry if I am posting in the wrong spot.  I previously saw a post somewhere on this forum regarding a cold air intake designed for a Ford Fusion Sport that would fit a 2017 Lincoln MKZ 3.0T AWD.  I checked with K & N and they don't make one for the 2020 Lincoln MKZ, only a panel filter.  I'm not sure if the 2017 MKZ 3.0T AWD engine is the same, but I read where the Steeda cold air intake for the Ford Fusion Sport would fit with one minor modification to the air box to allow the hood to close.   I have ordered a new 2020 MKZ 3.0T AWD and have not yet received it.  My question is will the Ford Fusion Sport Steeda Cold Air Intake fit on the 2020 Lincoln MKZ 3.0T AWD?

 

Thanks for any advice.

 

FH   

[bbf2530]

17 minutes ago, Fred H said:

I'm new to this forum.  Sorry if I am posting in the wrong spot.  I previously saw a post somewhere on this forum regarding a cold air intake designed for a Ford Fusion Sport that would fit a 2017 Lincoln MKZ 3.0T AWD.  I checked with K & N and they don't make one for the 2020 Lincoln MKZ, only a panel filter.  I'm not sure if the 2017 MKZ 3.0T AWD engine is the same, but I read where the Steeda cold air intake for the Ford Fusion Sport would fit with one minor modification to the air box to allow the hood to close.   I have ordered a new 2020 MKZ 3.0T AWD and have not yet received it.  My question is will the Ford Fusion Sport Steeda Cold Air Intake fit on the 2020 Lincoln MKZ 3.0T AWD?

 

Thanks for any advice.

 

FH   

 

Hi Fred. Welcome to the Lincoln MKZ Forum!

 

Concerning your question: As a direct, out of the box install? No.

 

Like with most things, enough modifications can be made to force fit almost anything. But keep in mind Steeda likely will not warranty it, since it is not designed or sold for the MKZ.

 

Just a few notes, as an FYI - First, you may want to read through some of the existing threads concerning aftermarket "cold air intakes". If you are installing one for looks (when the hood is opened) or sound, go ahead. If you are installing it expecting performance gains, don't waste your money. The MKZ already has a very efficient factory intake which actually takes in cold air from outside the engine compartment through the snorkels. Aftermarket "cold air" intakes actually take in hot engine compartment air.

 

Next, keep in mind that installing an aftermarket intake can/will cause warranty coverage issues if you should have engine issues in the future.

 

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Edited May 1, 2020 by bbf2530

[Fred H]

Thanks for the reply.  If I were to get a Steeda Cold Air Intake, which one fits?  Is it the 2017 Ford Fusion Sport (Twin Turbo)?

 

Do you have any thoughts on the K & N Panel filter?  Is it worth it to put one of those on? 

 

I looked back at the post I initially read about the Ford Fusion Sport Cold Air Intake fitting on the 2017 MKZ 3.0T AWD.  I have copied and pasted it below.

 

Thanks again.

 

Fred

 

"On its own, the Livernois 93 octane tune is restricted with all stock parts. The tune is cool once you first get it, and definitely wakes up the car...but over time I personally start feeling the limitations more than any other "ecoboost vehicle" I've been in that has been tuned. But there were times I just couldn't help but feel it wasn't so great vs stock tune since its more about unlocking middle to high end performance. This is my honest thoughts on the Livernois tune after being with it since December. These performance bottlenecks are what make the shifting and overall feel of the vehicle feel...unimpressive.

 

I took my focus onto the 3.0T's Intake system. Being limited by, essentially the 2.7L Ecoboost for the fuel economy benefits when daily driving, and probably explains why we can get equal MPG as the 2.7L brethren. I cannot say how it would fare for the 2.7L Ecoboost, but by removing some air flow and boost restrictions, the 3.0T becomes more stable and reliable at higher engine loads. There is more than just a 0.3L difference between the two engines going on. After you go pass the throttle body, the 3.0L is more uniquely designed compared to say, the 2017 Ford Fusion Sport. Less shared parts.

 

Resistance to heat soak while in idle is important and useful to have, but recovery from heat soak while in motion is more important and useful for the real world. Temperatures should drop, not rise, when in motion and optimal is when temperatures keep dropping as acceleration keeps increasing. If temperatures rise during acceleration, an inefficient component is at work. This is the 3.0T's Achilles' heel in stock form.

 

First is the Air Box Intake upgrade. Steeda's 2017 Fusion Sport fits, and the only modification is to allow a slice in the top half of the box so the hood strut can rest within the box. While the Steeda "CAI" is open air unit, while the stock box is sealed, it is superior to the stock box in air flow and heat soak recovery. Tested plenty of times watching Intake Air Temperatures and the stock air box is flat out terrible and only good for "the daily driving". The 3.0T is a "one trick pony" as heat soak, is impossible to recover from in stock form until it cools down with engine shut off. With the Steeda CAI in place along with the soon to mention throttle body upgrade, I can keep IAT readings in better check as the vehicle is seeing action, and recover faster when the MKZ is idling after a high engine load run.

 

Sealed intakes are not always the best, especially if the entire engine bay is going to become a 150 F oven. The entire box will take longer to shed trapped heat whereas the Steeda CAI will get absorbed into the hood liner once the vehicle begins to go into motion. Faster you go, the faster the Steeda CAI returns to ambient while low to middle engine load is being applied.

 

 

The 3.0T doesn't need larger induction pipes, as long the turbochargers are stock, so the CAI being only the air box being changed is really the only necessary part for reliable air flow and faster heat soak recovery pre-Intercooler. To improve IAT2 and Charge Air Cooler temperatures however, the Front Mount Intercooler needs to be upgraded as it will rapidly heat soak under high load, yet only recover once the load demand is released. I await C-PE's creation and release of the 2.7L Ford Fusion Sport Intercooler to enjoy as an upgrade.

 

Not to mention it does unlock stronger roar to the induction system. I'm not too much a big fan of Steeda's products, and the CAI itself isn't worth the price brand new. I bought mine used from someone who wanted to sell it for about half its cost after feeling it wasn't so great for their Fusion Sport locally (they're jealous of my MKZ, oh ho ho). But it does get the job done and allow the 3.0T to breathe and cool much better than stock can ever hope to do."

[Zalvern]

I should sum it up more simply in regards to that post. I'm different from what I was back then. Those were days of growing to learn the 3.0T MKZ.

 

It's an individual's choice to decide if it's worth it or not. Yes, the Steeda CAI is an improvement over stock. It will reduce IAT1 temps better than stock box. But there are other issues in place that make it's benefits not worth the price.

 

Would I do this mod again? No. I wouldn't do any go fast mods actually. Time and money it took did not accomplish what I wanted. All because of one issue:

 

No matter how much performance is chased, the 3.0T MKZ will be held back by it's transmission programming in low gears. No aftermarket tunes will save it either, and only slightly reduce but not eliminate. Thus all performance mods are not being fully utilized on the 3.0T with 6F55 transmission. This is why I did not get myself another 3.0T MKZ. It is a good car, but only for what it is in stock form if the owner is fine with it's transmission behavior.