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aFe 46-33018 Throttle Body Spacers for Ford Explorer - product photo
aFe 46-33018 Throttle Body Spacers for Ford Explorer - gallery image
aFe 46-33018 Throttle Body Spacers for Ford Explorer - gallery image
aFe 46-33018 Throttle Body Spacers for Ford Explorer - gallery image
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aFe Silver Bullet Spacer - Ford Explorer Sport 3.5L EcoBoost

aFe
AFE46-33018
802959463413
Throttle Body Spacers
1 Units In Stock
$ 173.75 $ 139.00
$ 139.00

Silver Bullet spacer for exact engine and intake requirements

The aFe 46-33018 is documented for the 2013–2019 Explorer Sport 3.5L twin-turbo EcoBoost. Its preinstalled O-ring replaces a generic promise of a loose flat gasket in this exact kit.

Key Features

  • 6061-T6 billet-aluminum serrated/helix entry design; claimed turbulence and reduced whistle do not guarantee an improvement on every setup.
  • The exact manual requires the O-ring to seal against the rear of the throttle body and reuses the original small black upper bracket.
  • Fasteners are tightened to factory specifications; the manual gives no standalone numeric value.
  • Manufacturer reports up to 10 hp and 14 lb-ft in testing, not guaranteed results. No filter or coupling is listed in the exact kit.

Fitment

Years / source scope Model Exact requirements
2013–2019 exact page / manual Ford Explorer Sport V6 3.5L twin-turbo EcoBoost
2016–2019 legacy search row Explorer Platinum Separate trim/assembly support remains unresolved; not inferred solely from a shared engine

46-33018: The current exact page and linked manual identify Explorer Sport 2013–2019. The legacy Platinum row is withheld pending exact trim/assembly proof rather than automatically approved because it shares a nominal engine. D-550-43 prints a broader 2012–2017 Explorer 3.5L-turbo row; that emissions entry neither establishes a 2012 Sport model nor independently covers every later-year emissions configuration.

Specifications

Detail Value
Manufacturer Part Number 46-33018
Material / design 6061-T6 billet aluminum; serrated/helix entry
Engine / application See exact engine-specific fitment table and source qualifications
Sealing arrangement One preinstalled O-ring, sealing against the back of the throttle body; a loose flat gasket is not listed.
Throttle-body fastening Follow the factory fastening specification for the actual assembly; no numeric torque is given in the exact manual. Recheck after 100 miles.
Emissions scope D-550-43 lists 2012–2017 Explorer 3.5L turbocharged, while the current exact Sport page/manual cover 2013–2019 mechanically. This difference remains qualified; do not claim blanket 2018–2019 or Platinum emissions coverage.

What's Included

  • One Silver Bullet spacer with one preinstalled O-ring
  • Four 6 mm Γ— 65 mm bolts, four 6 mm flat washers and four 6 mm lock washers

About aFe Power

aFe Power develops application-specific intake, filtration, exhaust, cooling, tuning, suspension, drivetrain, and truck-performance components supported by product testing and documented installation requirements.

Related Parts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 46-33018?

A model- and engine-specific Silver Bullet throttle-body spacer, not a complete intake or replacement throttle body.

Does it include a filter or coupling?

The exact parts list below governs. Generic manufacturer page fields do not establish a supplied intake filter or coupling for this spacer.

Are gains guaranteed?

No. Turbulence, throttle-response and whistle statements are manufacturer design claims, not guaranteed horsepower, fuel-economy or sound results for the actual engine.

Which sealing parts are used?

One preinstalled O-ring, sealing against the back of the throttle body; a loose flat gasket is not listed.

What is the correct torque?

Follow the factory fastening specification for the actual assembly; no numeric torque is given in the exact manual. Recheck after 100 miles.

Are all original search rows certified?

The current exact page and linked manual identify Explorer Sport 2013–2019. The legacy Platinum row is withheld pending exact trim/assembly proof rather than automatically approved because it shares a nominal engine. D-550-43 prints a broader 2012–2017 Explorer 3.5L-turbo row; that emissions entry neither establishes a 2012 Sport model nor independently covers every later-year emissions configuration.

Can another spacer’s instructions be substituted?

No. Gaskets, O-rings, brackets, screw sizes, control cables and intake restrictions differ by exact part number.

Does the EO reference cover every application?

D-550-43 lists 2012–2017 Explorer 3.5L turbocharged, while the current exact Sport page/manual cover 2013–2019 mechanically. This difference remains qualified; do not claim blanket 2018–2019 or Platinum emissions coverage.

Installation Instructions

  1. Read the exact manufacturer instructions for 46-33018, verify the actual engine, intake, hardware and applicable emissions scope before removal.
  2. Remove the oil cap to lift off the engine cover, then reinstall the cap immediately to prevent debris entering during the work.
  3. Release the intercooler-tube clamp at the body and move the tube aside. Remove the four body bolts and retain the small black upper bracket.
  4. Position the spacer between manifold and body with its preinstalled O-ring sealing against the back of the body; follow the marked orientation.
  5. Refit the original upper bracket and install supplied hardware in the manual’s flat-washer, lock-washer and bolt order. Tighten according to the correct factory specification; do not borrow a numeric torque from another kit.
  6. Restore the intercooler tube and clamp. Remove the oil cap only while reinstalling the engine cover, then replace it. Recheck bolts and clamps after 100 miles and verify actual EO coverage before using a label.

46-33018: installation details and any unresolved source scope must be matched to the actual vehicle before use.

California Proposition 65 Warning

California Proposition 65 warning: this product can expose you to chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm.

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