2014-2017 Ram 1500 3.0L EcoDiesel Air Intake Parts

Air intake on the 2014-2017 Ram 1500 3.0L EcoDiesel

The EcoDiesel is a 3.0L V6 built by VM Motori for the half-ton Ram 1500, rated at 240 hp and 420 lb-ft. Air enters a closed factory airbox on the driver side, passes the mass-airflow (MAF) sensor and runs through a tube to a single variable-geometry turbo mounted low in the engine valley. Boost then travels forward through the hot-side pipe to an air-to-air charge-air cooler ahead of the radiator, and back to the intake manifold through the cold-side pipe. The factory pipes are rubber and plastic, joined by boots and clamps. On 2014-2019 trucks the cooler overlaps the radiator, and the active grille shutters sit in front of both and close at speed for aerodynamics.

The factory air filter is Mopar 68190705AA. The schedule calls for a new one every 30,000 miles or 36 months, with an inspection at every oil change if you run dusty roads. This engine also uses high-pressure EGR, which routes exhaust gas back into the intake manifold. That design choice is behind two of the three trouble spots below.

What fails and why

Intake trouble on this truck tends to show up as a P0299 underboost code, limp mode, surging or a drop in power and fuel economy. Check these spots in this order.

• MAP sensor. It mounts on the intake manifold, right in the path of the EGR soot. Once it packs up, it reads low boost and the computer sets P0299 or drops into limp mode. The sensor comes out with one T40 screw, and cleaning it is a common free fix. Cleaning or replacing it is the most common intake-side service on the EcoDiesel.
• Charge pipes and boots. Boots can split or blow off under boost. You will hear a hiss or whoosh as the turbo builds pressure, see black smoke and get P0299. Boost leaks at the pipes and boots are a leading cause of that code, so smoke-test the system before you spend money on a turbo.
• Intake manifold. EGR soot builds up inside the manifold and restricts airflow, which shows up as reduced power and poor fuel economy, often alongside P0401 or P0402 EGR codes. A leaking EGR cooler can also melt the plastic manifold and open a large boost leak. Under the VB1 EGR cooler recall, the manifold is replaced only if it is damaged.

Stock replacement vs. upgrade

If the truck is a daily driver or a work rig, stock-style parts are the right call. Change the filter on schedule, replace any boot that is split or cracked, and use good clamps. A sealed intake keeps the boost reading where the engine computer expects it. The CSF 6066 OEM+ intercooler is the answer when the factory core is damaged or leaking and you want a direct replacement.

The main upgrade in this section is the S&B 75-5074 intake. It is an enclosed-box design that keeps the factory MAF sensor, and S&B claims 22 percent more airflow than stock. S&B offers it with a cleanable cotton filter (75-5074) or a dry filter (75-5074D); cotton media gets cleaned and re-oiled, dry media needs no oil. Know the legal side first. S&B lists the kit as not street legal in all US states, will not ship it to California and lists no CARB EO for it. Check your own state's rules before you order.

What we carry

Here is what this section holds, sorted by job.

• Air filters: the MAHLE LX2923 replacement element, the Banks Power 42261 element built for the 3.0L EcoDiesel, the S&B KF-1061 replacement filter and the S&B WF-1041 filter wrap.
• Intake kit and care: the S&B 75-5074 cold air intake and the S&B 88-0008 Precision II cleaning and oil kit for cotton filters.
• Intercooler and boots: the CSF 6066 OEM+ replacement intercooler, a Pacific Performance Engineering 3-inch silicone hump coupler and an S&B 4-inch silicone coupler with clamps.
• Hardware: the MAHLE G33618 throttle body mounting gasket and BD Diesel high torque hose clamps.

Shopping for a different diesel? Our intakes section covers the other platforms we support.

Fitment notes

The 3.0L EcoDiesel was only offered in the half-ton Ram 1500, so nothing here is meant for a Ram 2500 or 3500. The same DS-body EcoDiesel carried over unchanged for 2018 and returned on the 2019 Ram 1500 Classic Laramie Crew Cab, which is why many listings read 2014-2018 or 2014-2019. The 2020 and later DT Ram 1500 uses a third-generation EcoDiesel with a low-slung charge-air cooler and a different airbox, so these intake kits and this intercooler do not carry over. The Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel uses a different airbox as well. Watch the narrower ranges too: the MAHLE G33618 gasket is listed for 2014-2016, so 2017 owners should confirm fit on the product page. Couplers are sized by diameter, so measure the joint you are replacing. When in doubt, verify by VIN.

Frequently asked questions

My EcoDiesel set P0299. Is the turbo bad?

Not necessarily. Pull the MAP sensor first; it is held by one T40 screw, and a soot-packed sensor reads low boost and sets P0299 on its own. If cleaning it does not clear the problem, smoke-test the charge pipes, boots and intake manifold, since boost leaks there are a leading cause of the code. Rule those out before you replace a turbo.

How often should I change the air filter on a 2014-2017 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel?

The factory schedule for the Mopar 68190705AA filter is every 30,000 miles or 36 months. If you drive gravel or dusty job sites, inspect it at every oil change and replace it if it is dirty. On an aftermarket intake, follow the filter maker's service instructions.

Is the S&B intake legal where I live?

S&B lists the 75-5074 as not street legal in all US states, will not ship it to California and lists no CARB EO number for it. That means the answer depends on your state. Check your state and local rules before you buy, and call the shop if you want to talk it through.

Will these parts fit my 2020 or newer Ram 1500 EcoDiesel?

Generally no. The 2020 DT truck uses a third-generation EcoDiesel with a different airbox and a low-slung charge-air cooler, and parts for the 2014-2018 engine generally do not interchange with it. Some listings, like the MAHLE LX2923 filter, do cover later years, so check the range on each product page.

Do I have to oil my intake filter?

Only if it is cotton. The cotton S&B 75-5074 filter is cleaned and re-oiled, and the S&B 88-0008 Precision II kit carries the cleaner and oil for that job. The dry 75-5074D filter needs no oil.

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.