318 MAX fuel economy builds?

A noisy CPS could trigger a spark event either too early or too late (compared to a good CPS). If triggering too early, you are getting additional spark timing advance. If too late, you are getting spark timing retard. Regardless of what it actually did, I believe your experience relates to altered ignition timing versus the internal Look-Up Tables (LUTs).

Ford IAT sensors are fairly high in resistance values compared to most other makes. To advance timing, put a 4.7k ohm resistor in SERIES with either of the IAT sensor wires. This will result in the overall IAT circuit having higher resistance. Colder air = higher resistance = more ignition timing advance. This means you cut one of the 2 wires and attach the resistor leads to the cut ends. If you want to see if retarding the timing helps, put a 47k ohm resistor in PARALLEL with the IAT sensor (splice one lead from the resistor into one IAT sensor wire, and the other lead with the other wire). This will reduce overall resistance, which tells the ECU you have hotter air. It will then retard timing. You could dial the specific resistance value in better for more precise timing alteration.