Is a Cold Air Intake Worth It for Your Truck? | Lions Den Off-Road
Posted by Calvin Hale on
Roll into the throttle on a highway on-ramp and the first change you notice after installing a cold air intake may be the sound. On a 5.7L HEMI, more of that V8 growl can come through from under the hood, even with the factory exhaust. If you spend your weekends on gravel, you might come to appreciate a quieter detail just as much. A clear airbox lid lets you check how much dust the filter picked up on the way to camp.
What does a cold air intake change?
Follow the air from the fender or grille to the engine. It enters the airbox, passes through a filter and travels down the intake tube. A cold air intake can change each part of that path. A larger filter gives air more surface area to pass through, smoother tubing can reduce restriction, and a sealed airbox helps keep engine-bay heat away from the filter.
The S&B kit for the 2009–2018 Ram 5.7L HEMI shows how those pieces work together. Its enclosure has two air inlets, a plug that lets you close one of them, and a clear lid with a rubber seal. You can see the filter without opening the box and disturbing that seal. See the S&B cold air intake for the Ram 5.7L HEMI.
What does better airflow mean behind the wheel?
For that HEMI kit with the cotton filter, S&B reports 41.28% more airflow than the factory intake in its testing. That figure tells you how much air the intake assembly can move. To put a horsepower number on the upgrade, you’d need a separate before-and-after dyno test on the same engine. Read the airflow details for S&B part 75-5106.
On the road, lower restriction matters most when the engine is asking for more air. Think of accelerating up a long grade with a trailer behind you. If the factory intake was limiting airflow under load, that’s where you’re more likely to feel a difference in how the truck pulls. At a steady highway cruise, the change can be subtle.
If you drive gravel, shop the filter too
Two trucks can cover the same kilometres in a week and come home with very different-looking filters. If yours spent Saturday following a buddy down a dusty access road, take a look through the airbox lid when you get home. When it’s time for service, the filter you chose determines what comes next.
For the Ram HEMI, the cotton cleanable filter suits owners who prefer to wash, dry and re-oil a reusable element. The dry extendable filter skips the oiling step. If you’re choosing between the two, picture the maintenance job you’ll want to do on a Sunday evening after a weekend away. View the dry-filter intake for the Ram 5.7L HEMI.
Find the intake that fits your truck
Start with your year, make, model and engine. A 2017 Ram 1500 with the 5.7L HEMI and one with the 3.0L EcoDiesel can sit side by side in the driveway and take different kits. Once you’ve matched the engine, compare the airbox design and filter options for your truck. Compare cold air intakes for the 2009–2018 Ram 1500.
Shopping for another truck? Use our Vehicle Finder to narrow the collection to your year, make and model. If you’re between two kits, send us your engine size and the part numbers you’re considering. We’ll help you check fitment before you order. Find a cold air intake for your truck at Lions Den Off-Road.