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Dodge Ram 2009-Present: The Ultimate Air Intake Guide

The air intake system is responsible for routing cool air from outside the engine bay into the engine. The filter removes the dirt from this air, while still providing adequate airflow for the engine to operate. Performance companies engineer their intake systems with larger air inlets and highly efficient filters for improvements in fuel economy, performance, and sound.

By Weston Chadwick - July 28, 2015

This article applies to the 4th Generation Dodge Ram (2009-Present).

Air intakes are installed for gains in performance, sound, visual aesthetics, and fuel economy. Some aftermarket air filters are known to outlast the factory counterparts. By drawing in air from outside of the engine bay, intake air temperatures decrease, making the oxygen denser and the horsepower increase. Most aftermarket air filters allow higher amounts of air to flow, creating less of a restriction. However, these higher flowing air intake filters may also allow more dirt to enter your engine, which contaminates your engine oil quicker. Check the filter's micron flow rating to determine whether it's better suited for street or off-road use.

When buying an aftermarket air intake kit, you will come across one of two types: cold air and ram air. Cold air intakes route the filter away from the engine for the best horsepower gains, while ram air intakes consist of a piping and filter combo that typically fits near the headlight. When installing a cold air intake, it's important that the filter is not placed too close to the ground. Engine hydro-lock is possible if the intake sucks up water. The intakes reviewed in this article are designed to prevent hydro-lock from occurring in most situations.

Table of Contents

Air Intake Review

Air intakes are best chosen by weighing the attributes of each brand. These range between price, warranty, quality of the intake, and performance gains, among others. Not only does a great intake match well with the overall look and color scheme of your engine bay, but it also provides an increase in horsepower and possibly fuel economy. Some intakes may not be C.A.R.B. compatible; C.A.R.B. is a set of emissions standards first started by California and adopted by other states. Make sure your intake meets the C.A.R.B standards for your state.
K&N
S&B
AIRAID
Vararam
aFe Power
Price
 $274.99 $299 $487.99 $338-$443 $364
Piping Material: Metal or Plastic?
 Both available Plastic Plastic Plastic Plastic
Performance Gains
 10-15 hp Unknown amount Unknown amount Estimated 30 hp at the flywheel 18 hp and 23 ft-lbs of torque
Filter Lifespan
 100,000 miles or more 30,000 miles or more 100,000 miles or more 100,000 miles or more 100,000 miles or more
Warranty Y/N?
 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Best Quality: S&B

Best Value: Vararam

K&N

K&N Air Filter for 5.4L V8 F-150

Price – $274.99

Piping Material: Metal or Plastic? Both available

Performance Gains – 10-15 horsepower

Filter Lifespan – 100,000 miles or more

Warranty – Yes

K&N Engineering is the world's leader in manufacturing for air intake systems. Founded in 1969, K&N now operates in a manufacturing complex nearly 400,000 square feet. K&N intakes are designed and tested for maximum gains in horsepower and torque, while meeting I.S.O. (international Standards Organization) requirements. K&N filters efficiently filter air between 96% to 99%, and the company backs up their products with a million-mile warranty when used as designed (primarily for on-road use). Owners of this intake are advised to clean the filter at least every 50,000 miles. K&N intake systems are not C.A.R.B. exempt. Recommended for Ram owners looking for a proven aluminum intake.

S&B

Price – $299

Piping Material: Metal or Plastic? Plastic

Performance Gains – Unknown amount

Filter Lifespan – 30,000 miles or more

Warranty – Yes

S&B was started in the 1980's with the mission of creating the "most technically advanced high performance filter on the market." These filters meet I.S.O. standards for comparable results with the competition. Speaking of competition, as S&B continuously improves system designs, comparative results are released publicly between its own products' results and those of its competitors. Aside from the intake elbows, S&B's intake systems come with a million-mile limited warranty. Recommended for those wanting a visually appealing, high quality intake system.

AIRAID

Price – $487.99

Piping Material: Metal or Plastic? Plastic

Performance Gains – Unknown amount

Filter Lifespan – 100,000 miles or more

Warranty – Yes

AIRAID designs its intake systems using 3-D cad modeling equipment. The systems' are then flow-benched and dyno-tested to produce realistic performance numbers. AIRAID's air filters are washable and reusable for a long service life. The large majority of AIRRAID intake system owners comment on their satisfaction with the product and laud its provided increase in sound and performance. AIRRAID intake systems come with a "no hassle lifetime warranty." One drawback is that some intakes are not C.A.R.B. compatible. Recommended for those wanting a well-made intake system with good reliability and performance.

Vararam

Price – $338-$443

Piping Material: Metal or Plastic? Plastic

Performance Gains – Estimated 30 horsepower at the flywheel

Filter Lifespan – 100,000 miles or more

Warranty – Yes

Vararam brings a unique style of intake systems to the market, specifically with the Air Grabber Intake System. Unlike other systems, Vararam uses a circular style filter that draws in air from between the radiator and the hood. Vararam boasts impressive performance numbers such as knocking 3-5 tenths of a second off the quarter mile and 3-4 mph increase in speed. Similar numbers have been backed up by a DodgeForum members, and a 1-2 mpg increase in fuel economy is also advertised. The Vararam filter is washable, reusable, and comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Recommended for those wanting an intake with maximum airflow and performance.

aFe Power

Price – $364

Piping Material: Metal or Plastic? Plastic

Performance Gains – 18 horsepower and 23 ft-lbs of torque

Filter Lifespan – 100,000 miles or more

Warranty – Yes

aFe Power engineers many intake systems in addition to computer programs and fuel system components. This company manufactures staged intake kits as well as oiled and dry air filters. Stage 1 suits' owners looking to retain their original piping for easy installation. Air filters range from 98.6% to 99.7% filtration efficiency levels. aFe Power also advertises impressive horsepower and torque gains for the 5.7L Hemi engine. Owners of aFe intake systems comment on the noticeable improvement in fuel economy along with an increase in horsepower and throttle response. Recommended for those seeking an effective intake that provides the many attributes a great intake system needs.

How to Install an Intake System

Now that you have chosen the right air intake, move on to installing it yourself. Here are the steps to installing the air intake system in your Dodge Ram (5.7L engine or 4.7/3.7L engines).

Materials Needed

  • Intake system of your choice
  • Flat head screwdriver
  • 1/4" and 3/8" ratchet
  • 8, 10, and 13mm socket
  • 10 and 13mm wrench
  • Electrical tape (optional)

This article provides a DIY installation guide for typical cold air intakes, and the procedures for other products may vary. The Dodge Ram 5.7L engine installation procedure differs from the 4.7/3.7L installation.

Step 1 – Disconnect the battery

Use a 10mm wrench to remove the negative battery cable (black). Place the cable in an area where it will not accidentally contact the battery, or wrap the cable in electrical tape.

Step 2 – Remove the air intake tube (for 5.7L engines); Remove the air box (for 4.7/3.7L engines)

Running from the throttle body to the air box is the air intake tube with hose clamps on each end.

For 5.7L engines:

  • Loosen the hose clamps with a flat head screwdriver.
  • Disconnect the intake air temperature (IAT) sensor. To do so, slide the red locking tab back, and squeeze the flexible tab on the connector plug as you pull it away from the intake.

For the 4.7/3.7L engines:

  • Loosen the hose clamp holding the intake pipe to the resonator box.
  • Then lift the air box up and off the mounting studs.
  • Figure 1. The intake tube on a 5.7L Ram engine.
  • Figure 2. The 4.7/3.7L Dodge Ram intake box.

Step 3 – Remove the air box (for 5.7L engines); Remove the resonator box (for 4.7/3.7L engines)

For 5.7L engines:

  • Pull the crankcase breather hose off of the air box.
  • Remove the two 13mm bolts on the side of the air box near the fender.
  • Now, the air box is only held in place by grommets. Wiggle the air box free from the grommets and pull it up as well as out from the engine bay.

If your installation kit's instructions indicate that you remove the crankcase breather hose from the valve cover, remove the large plastic cover on top of the engine by pulling it straight up. Follow the breather hose to the port on the valve cover and pull/twist it off of the port.

For 4.7/3.7L engines:

  • Remove the resonator box by disconnecting the IAT sensor (if your Ram model year is equipped with one).
  • Remove the two 10mm bolts that retain the resonator box to the engine. There is one on each side of the box.
  • Figure 3. Red circle indicates the crankcase ventilation hose on a 5.7L Dodge Ram engine.
  • Figure 4. One of the two resonator box bolts.
  • Figure 5. The second resonator box bolt.

Step 4 – Install the new air box

Assemble the air box according to the manufacturer's instructions. This may include installing new brackets, edge trim, velocity stack, and a barb fitting for the crankcase breather hose. You may also need to swap over rubber bushings from the original air box.

For 5.7L engines:

  • Mount the new air box with the two 13mm bolts from Step 3.

For 4.7/3.7L engines:

  • Mount the air box using bolts from the upper fan shroud (13mm), radiator core support (8mm), and air box mount (8mm). Remove these bolts and install the new brackets in their locations.
  • Place the new air box onto the air box mounting studs.

Step 5 – Install the new intake pipe to the throttle body/air box

For 5.7L engines:

  • Secure the coupler to the throttle body using the provided hose clamps.
  • Install the rubber grommet for the IAT sensor, and thread the barb fitting into the intake pipe.

For 4.7/3.7L engines:

If equipped with an IAT sensor, you may need to drill a 7/8" hole into the pipe. The instructions may also have you remove the O-ring from the IAT sensor before you install it to the intake pipe grommet.

  • Remove the IAT sensor from the original intake tube by carefully pulling and twisting it out.
  • Install the sensor into the new pipe and place the pipe into the couplers on the throttle body and air box.
  • Tighten the pipe in place with the provided hose clamps.
  • Plug in the IAT sensor using the harness extension, if equipped.
  • Figure 6. Insert the IAT sensor into the intake pipe.
  • Figure 7. AIRAID air intake installation.

Step 6 – Finish the installation

  • Now that the air box/heat shield and intake pipe have been fully installed into the truck, attach the crankcase breather hose to the barb fitting on the intake pipe. You may need to cut this hose for a proper fit.
  • Install the air filter into the heat shield.
  • Finish by reconnecting the negative battery cable.
  • Figure 8. K&N air intake installed on a 4.7/3.7L engine.
  • Figure 9. Mopar air intake system installed on a 5.7L engine.

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