2004.5-2007 Dodge 5.9L Cummins Replacement Air Filters

Aftermarket replacement filters on the 2004.5-2007 RAM 5.9L Cummins

From mid-2004 on, the 5.9L Cummins pulls air through a filter and a vaned intake tube into a Holset HE351CW turbo. The ECM and electronically controlled wastegate cap boost around 30-31 psi, so a lower-restriction setup mostly sharpens spool and response rather than raising peak boost. Once a truck wears an aftermarket intake, the filter becomes the part you buy over and over, and it has to match the kit it came with.

Dry media vs. oiled gauze

Dyno testing on this engine found oiled gauze flowed the most but filtered the least. The stock paper element and a nano-fiber dry filter matched each other, and both made more low-end torque below 2,000 rpm while giving up 2-3 hp above 2,700 rpm. The other side of the story shows up inside the turbo: over-oiled or poorly sealed cone filters leave dust erosion on the compressor inducer wheel. If your truck sees gravel roads, fields or job sites, dry media and a pre-filter wrap are the safer bet.

What we carry

S&B replacement elements include the KF-1000 (listed for 1994-2007 5.9L), the KF-1032 (2003-2009 5.9L and 6.7L) and the KF-1035, plus the S&B WF-1017 filter wrap. Banks Power supplies the 42148 element for its Ram-Air intake and the 42645 pre-filter wrap, which fits Ram-Air filters 42148 and 42178. Wehrli Custom Fabrication offers the WCF100717, a dry filter with a 4-inch inlet.

Fitment notes

Match the filter to your intake kit's part number first and the truck second. Intake kits and tubes for this engine are year-split at 2004.5, because the 600 lb-ft engine got a larger airbox inlet, a baffle and a vaned tube, so a kit built for a 2003-2004 truck is a different animal. These trucks were sold as the Dodge Ram, and our catalog files them under RAM. On a 2007, confirm the engine is the 5.9L and not the 6.7L that replaced it partway through the model year. If you are unsure, verify by VIN.

Frequently asked questions

Will a new filter add horsepower to my stock 5.9L?

Not much. On the dyno, filter media alone changed peak power by about 3 hp at stock fueling, and a magazine test of six aftermarket intakes on a stock 2005 found none beat the factory system. Choose a filter for how well it protects the turbo first, then for flow.

Is a pre-filter wrap worth adding?

A wrap like the S&B WF-1017 or Banks 42645 adds an outer layer over the main element. It is worth considering if your truck spends time in dust, since dust that gets past a filter ends up on the turbo inducer wheel. Make sure the wrap is listed for your exact filter before you order.

Not sure what fits? Call the shop at the number in the header, or use the fitment checker on any product page. We install everything we sell.