2010-2018 Ram 6.7L Cummins Air Intake Parts

Air intake on the 2010-2018 RAM 6.7L Cummins

Here is the path air takes on the fourth-generation Ram Heavy Duty. It comes in through a hood-fed airbox, runs down a baffled intake tube to the turbo, gets pushed through the boost tubes to the air-to-air intercooler, then comes back to the intake elbow, also called the air horn. The grid heater sits in the manifold inlet under that horn to help cold starts. 2010-2012 trucks run the Holset HE351VE variable-geometry turbo. For 2013, Ram switched to the Holset HE300VG and added Ram Active Air, an airbox with a swing gate that can pull from a ram-air duct behind the grille. That change is why the airbox, intake tube and boost tubes are different parts on each half of this generation.

Ram built this intake for quiet, not flow. The factory intake tube carries a large baffling system to cut noise, and the factory elbow flows about 38.6 lb/min of air. On a stock truck doing stock work, that is fine. The baffled tube, the horn and the boost tubes are the usual starting points when you want the Cummins to breathe easier.

What fails and why

Three problems come up again and again on this platform.

• Grid heater fastener. The grid heater draws roughly 200-225 amps. Heat, arcing and vibration can work its terminal fastener loose until it drops into the intake manifold. The engine sits on a 5-degree rake, so loose debris heads for cylinder 6. Watch for a knock and codes P2609 or P0542. Failures are documented from about 40,000 miles, and there is no recall.
• Dented hot-side boost tube. On 2013-2018 trucks, Banks documents the hot-side tube leaving the factory dented down to about 2-1/4 inches, while the cold side is 2-3/4 inches. The result is pressure loss between the turbo and the engine, which shows up as boost loss and exhaust gas temperature creeping up under load.
• Sooted grid and a tight horn. The grid heater cakes with soot in normal use, and the factory horn is the main flow restriction after the intercooler. You usually see the soot when the horn comes off.

Some 2013 owners have also logged an 'Active Airbox System Faulty' message. It is an isolated complaint, and the swing-gate airbox behind it only exists on 2013 and later trucks.

Stock replacement vs. upgrade

If the intake is healthy and you only need service, stay stock. Change the filter on the factory interval of 30,000 miles or 24 months, put fresh gaskets on anything you unbolt, and replace failed sensors with genuine or OEM-grade parts. If you want more air, stick with emissions-compliant parts that carry a CARB Executive Order number:

• The S&B 75-5068 cold air intake for 2013-2018 is CARB-exempt under EO D-590-33 and street legal in all states, with 51.7-54.6% more airflow than stock. S&B's 75-5092 covers 2010-2012; check its product page for EO status.
• The Banks Ram-Air 42255 for 2013-2018 is 50-state legal under EO D-161-134, with an enclosed housing and a choice of oiled or dry filter.
• The Banks 25992 boost tube kit for 2013-2018 swaps the dented factory tubes for 3-1/2 inch constant-diameter, mandrel-bent tubes and carries EO D-161-122.
• The Banks 25987 intercooler for 2013-2018 pickups flows 48% better with 55% less pressure drop and is listed under EO D-161-153.
• The Banks Monster-Ram intake elbow for 2013-2018 replaces the grid with a coil heater, which removes the fastener risk. Banks describes it as the only 50-state emissions-compliant Ram intake elbow.

One more thing: 2010-2012 trucks never got Ram Active Air, so an intake upgrade tends to help those years more than it helps a 2013-2018 truck.

What we carry

This collection covers the whole intake path, from the filter to the manifold.

• Cold air intakes: S&B kits for both year ranges, Banks Power Ram-Air intakes, and Wehrli Custom Fabrication 4-inch kits with air box and Stage 2 bundles.
• Filters and pre-filters: S&B replacement filters and filter wraps, Banks filter elements, WCFab dry filters, and Fleece Performance Engineering filters for its 2nd Gen swap kit.
• Grid heater and horn: the Banks Monster-Ram, the BD Diesel Killer Grid Heater kit, the S&B 76-1014 intake elbow, and XDP's heavy-duty grid heater relay fusible link wire.
• Intercoolers and piping: Mishimoto intercoolers, pipe kits and factory-fit boot kits, CSF OEM+ and heavy-duty intercoolers, Banks intercooler and boost tube kits, WCFab 3.5-inch pipe kits, and PPE pipe kits and silicone couplers.
• Sensors, gaskets and hardware: Cummins genuine IAT sensors, MAP sensor harness pigtails and upper engine gasket kits, MAF sensors from Alliant Power and XDP, Mahle intake manifold gasket sets and head sets, G&R Diesel MAF and IAT bungs, and a Dorman intake hose.

Comparing complete kits across trucks? Start at our main intakes page.

Fitment notes

Model year is the first split. Intakes, boost tubes and intake elbows come in 2010-2012 and 2013-2018 versions, and they do not cross over. Chassis cabs (3500, 4500 and 5500) share the engine but often need their own parts. The standard Monster-Ram fits dual-alternator pickups but not chassis cabs, which is why Banks sells separate chassis-cab Monster-Ram kits, and the Banks 25987 intercooler does not fit chassis cabs either. If you add an aftermarket horn, the engine-mounted fuel filter cap gets harder to reach. One naming note: 2010 trucks wear Dodge badges and 2011-2018 trucks wear Ram badges, but they are the same generation, and a 2010 takes the 2010-2012 parts listed here. Verify by VIN or use the fitment checker on the product page before you order.

Frequently asked questions

How do I tell a 2010-2012 intake setup from a 2013-2018 one?

Go by model year. 2013-2018 trucks have the Ram Active Air airbox with a swing gate tied to a duct behind the grille, plus the Holset HE300VG turbo. 2010-2012 trucks lack Active Air and run the HE351VE. The airbox, intake tube and boost tubes differ between the two, so buy the version that matches your year.

Is a cold air intake legal on my Ram 2500 or 3500?

Look for a CARB Executive Order number. The S&B 75-5068 (EO D-590-33) and the Banks Ram-Air 42255 (EO D-161-134) are both 50-state legal on 2013-2018 trucks. On anything else, find the EO number on the product page before you buy.

Why is the grid heater such a big deal on the 6.7L?

Its terminal fastener can loosen from heat, arcing and vibration and fall into the intake. Because the engine is raked 5 degrees, that debris tends to end up in cylinder 6. Failures are documented from around 40,000 miles and no recall covers it. A coil-heater elbow like the Banks Monster-Ram takes the fastener out of the picture.

What does the dented boost tube actually cost me?

On 2013-2018 trucks the factory hot-side tube is pinched to about 2-1/4 inches. That loses boost pressure between the turbo and the engine and lets exhaust gas temperature climb under load. The Banks 3-1/2 inch tubes give up to 103% more hot-side flow area and carry CARB EO D-161-122.

How often should I change the air filter?

The factory interval is 30,000 miles or 24 months. If you run an oiled cotton filter, you clean and re-oil it instead of replacing it, and the S&B Precision II cleaning and oil kit is made for that job. Dry filters skip the oil step.

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.