The 6.7L Cummins is a hungry diesel, and the factory airbox is built more for quiet than for flow. A good cold air intake opens up the path to the turbo, lets the engine breathe under load, and on a stock or lightly tuned truck it can wake up throttle response and sharpen turbo spool when you are towing or climbing grades. The trade off is filtration, so the right kit balances big airflow gains with a filter and enclosure that actually keep dust out of your engine.
We focused on intakes that fit the 2007.5 and newer Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks, looking at how each kit seals to the fender, whether it keeps the factory airbox lid or runs an open filter, and how easy the filter is to service. Below are seven kits that real owners actually run, ranked best first, with an honest look at where each one falls short.
| Photo | Product | Score | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
S&B Filters Cold Air Intake Kit for 6.7 Cummins Best Overall Fully enclosed airbox, oiled or dry filter option, large bore intake tube |
9.5 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
aFe Power Magnum FORCE Stage-2 Intake for 6.7 Cummins Best Airflow Roto-molded housing, large conical Pro media filter, mandrel-bent tube |
9.3 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
K&N 63 Series AirCharger Cold Air Intake for 6.7 Cummins Best Reusable Filter Washable cotton filter, heat shield, roto-molded tube |
9.1 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Banks Power Ram-Air Intake System for 6.7 Cummins Best Engineered Enclosed housing, large pleated filter, computer-modeled tube geometry |
9.0 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Spectre Performance Cold Air Intake Kit for 6.7 Cummins Best Value Washable conical filter, aluminum tube, heat shield |
8.7 | 🛒 Check Price |
|
AIRAID Cold Air Intake System for 6.7 Cummins Best Sealed Box Sealed airbox, SynthaMax dry filter, roto-molded tube |
8.5 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Volant PowerCore Cold Air Intake for 6.7 Cummins Best for Dusty Use Fully enclosed box, PowerCore filter, no-oil media |
8.2 | 🛒 Check Price |
1. S&B Filters Cold Air Intake Kit for 6.7 Cummins: Best Overall
S&B has earned its reputation on the 6.7 Cummins because it solves the real problem most intakes ignore, which is keeping dirt out while still moving more air. The fully enclosed airbox seals to the fender and pulls cooler air from outside the engine bay, and the oversized intake tube reduces restriction on the way to the turbo. On a stock or mildly tuned truck you get crisper throttle response and a turbo that spools with a little more urgency under load, which is exactly what you want when towing heavy.
The honest weakness is the clear lid. It is a genuinely useful feature for spotting a dirty filter without tools, but after a few seasons of sun and road film it hazes over and is harder to see through. You also pay for the quality here, and budget shoppers may balk. For the truck owner who wants maximum airflow without gambling on filtration, though, this is the kit we keep coming back to.
- Fully sealed airbox with a clear lid so you can check filter condition at a glance
- Choice of oiled cotton or dry synthetic filter media to match your maintenance style
- Large diameter intake tube that smooths the path from filter to turbo
Pros: Excellent filtration thanks to the fully enclosed box; Strong measured airflow gains over stock; Clean, factory-quality fit and finish
Cons: Open lid clarity dulls over time with road grime; Premium positioning compared with simpler kits
2. aFe Power Magnum FORCE Stage-2 Intake for 6.7 Cummins: Best Airflow
The aFe Magnum FORCE Stage-2 is built for owners chasing the biggest airflow number they can safely run. The roto-molded housing partially shields the large conical filter while still giving it room to breathe, and the mandrel-bent tube keeps the air moving with minimal turbulence. On a tuned 6.7 that is asking for every cubic foot it can get, this kit delivers, and the choice between the oiled Pro 5R and the dry Pro DRY S media lets you tune for either flow or low maintenance.
The compromise is heat. Because the housing is more open than a fully sealed box, the filter sits closer to underhood air, and in slow traffic on a hot day it can pull warmer charge air than a sealed design. For most highway and towing use the airflow advantage outweighs this, but if you live in stop and go conditions you should weigh that against a tighter enclosure. Build quality and flow are top tier.
- Roto-molded housing that resists heat and holds shape under hood temperatures
- Large conical filter with a big surface area for sustained airflow
- Multiple filter media options including washable Pro 5R and dry Pro DRY S
Pros: Among the highest airflow numbers in the class; Durable housing materials that handle heat well; Flexible filter media choices
Cons: Housing is more open than a fully sealed box; Conical filter can draw warmer underhood air in stop and go traffic
3. K&N 63 Series AirCharger Cold Air Intake for 6.7 Cummins: Best Reusable Filter
K&N built its name on the washable cotton filter, and the 63 Series AirCharger brings that to the 6.7 Cummins with a heat shield and a smooth roto-molded tube. The big draw here is the filter you clean and reuse instead of replacing, which suits owners who plan to keep the truck for the long haul and would rather wash a filter than buy a new one every service. Airflow is meaningfully better than the restrictive factory setup, and throttle response sharpens noticeably on a stock tune.
The catch is that a heat shield is not the same as a fully enclosed airbox, so on paper its hot air isolation is not quite as complete as a sealed competitor. The oiled filter also demands discipline, since over-oiling after a wash can foul a sensitive air sensor on some setups, though the 6.7 layout is generally forgiving. Clean it correctly and re-oil lightly and this is a dependable, long-lived intake.
- Washable and reusable cotton filter backed by a long service life
- Heat shield that blocks much of the hot underhood air
- Roto-molded intake tube engineered for smooth flow to the turbo
Pros: Reusable filter means no repeat filter purchases; Proven, easy bolt-on installation; Solid throttle response improvement over stock
Cons: Heat shield is not a fully sealed box; Oiled filter needs careful re-oiling after cleaning
4. Banks Power Ram-Air Intake System for 6.7 Cummins: Best Engineered
Banks approaches the intake like an engineering project, and the Ram-Air system for the 6.7 Cummins shows it. The enclosed housing seals against the fender to feed the turbo genuinely cooler outside air, and the large pleated filter has the dust capacity to go long between cleanings. Banks publishes real flow data rather than vague claims, and the tube is shaped to cut restriction, which translates to steady power gains and confident towing performance.
The honest downside is bulk. This is one of the larger and heavier kits here, and the engine bay gets noticeably more crowded once it is installed, which can complicate access to nearby components during other work. It also sits at the premium end of the market. If you value documented engineering and strong cold air sealing over a minimalist footprint, Banks earns its place near the top.
- Fully enclosed Ram-Air housing that draws cooler outside air
- Large pleated filter sized for high dust capacity and long intervals
- Tube geometry developed with flow modeling for low restriction
Pros: Excellent cold air sealing and filtration; Backed by detailed, published flow testing; Sturdy construction that holds up over years
Cons: On the heavier and bulkier side of the group; Premium kit positioning
5. Spectre Performance Cold Air Intake Kit for 6.7 Cummins: Best Value
Spectre, part of the same family as K&N, aims squarely at the owner who wants a real airflow upgrade without stepping up to the top-shelf price bracket. The washable conical filter and mandrel-bent aluminum tube give you a noticeable bump in throttle response and intake sound, and the heat shield does a reasonable job of keeping the filter away from the worst of the engine heat. As a first modification on a stock 6.7 it is an easy and satisfying upgrade.
Where it gives ground is in the details. The heat shield does not seal as completely as a fully enclosed airbox, so cold air isolation is good rather than great, and the overall fit and finish is a step below the precision-molded premium kits. None of that stops it from doing its core job well. For value-minded buyers who still want a reusable filter, Spectre is hard to beat.
- Washable cotton conical filter that you clean and reuse
- Mandrel-bent aluminum intake tube for a clean look and good flow
- Heat shield to separate the filter from the hottest underhood air
Pros: Strong airflow improvement for an accessible kit; Reusable filter keeps long-term upkeep simple; Straightforward bolt-on installation
Cons: Heat shield seals less completely than an enclosed box; Fit and finish trails the premium kits
6. AIRAID Cold Air Intake System for 6.7 Cummins: Best Sealed Box
AIRAID leans on a sealed roto-molded airbox, which is the right answer for owners who care as much about keeping dirt out as about moving air. The enclosed box pulls cooler air and shields the filter, and the SynthaMax dry media means you clean it without the re-oiling fuss that trips up some owners with cotton filters. On the 6.7 Cummins this adds up to a dependable intake that improves on the factory restriction while protecting the engine.
The trade off is that a sealed box with dry media usually will not chase the same peak airflow figures as an open conical filter sitting in free air. For a daily driver, a tow rig, or a truck that sees gravel and dust, that is a fair compromise and arguably the safer one. The dry filter also wants regular cleaning if you work in dusty conditions, but the no-oil maintenance keeps that chore simple.
- Sealed roto-molded airbox that isolates the filter from hot air
- SynthaMax dry filter that cleans with no re-oiling required
- One-piece roto-molded tube for consistent flow
Pros: Sealed box gives strong cold air and filtration; Dry filter is simple to maintain with no oil step; Sturdy roto-molded construction
Cons: Peak airflow trails the open-filter race kits; Dry media needs regular cleaning in dusty use
7. Volant PowerCore Cold Air Intake for 6.7 Cummins: Best for Dusty Use
Volant takes a different path with its PowerCore filter technology, and on the 6.7 Cummins that focus pays off for owners who put their trucks through genuinely dirty environments. The fully enclosed box seals out heat and debris, and the PowerCore media is engineered to trap a large volume of dust before it restricts, which is exactly what you want on a farm truck, a gravel-road commuter, or an off-road rig. The no-oil filter also removes the risk of over-oiling a delicate air sensor.
It is not the kit to grab if your only goal is the highest dyno airflow number, since its peak flow is solid but moderate rather than class-leading. The specialized PowerCore media can also be a little harder to source than a common cotton or synthetic filter when it is time to replace it. For dusty, demanding real-world use, though, Volant prioritizes the right things and protects your engine while it does it.
- Fully enclosed airbox that seals out hot air and debris
- PowerCore filter media designed for very high dust capacity
- No-oil filter that does not risk over-oiling sensitive sensors
Pros: Outstanding dust handling for off-road and farm use; Fully sealed box for clean cold air; Low-fuss, no-oil filter maintenance
Cons: Replacement filter media is less common to source; Peak airflow is moderate rather than class-leading
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a cold air intake actually add power to my 6.7 Cummins?
On a stock or lightly tuned 6.7 Cummins the gains are real but modest, mostly showing up as quicker throttle response, slightly faster turbo spool, and better breathing under sustained load like towing or climbing grades. The factory airbox is fairly restrictive, so removing that bottleneck helps the engine move air more freely. Where an intake really shines is as part of a package, since a tuned truck pulling more fuel and boost benefits far more from the extra airflow than a fully stock one does. Treat it as a foundation modification rather than a big standalone horsepower jump.
Are these intakes legal and emissions friendly?
It depends entirely on your state and whether the specific kit carries an emissions exemption for your area. Some intakes are sold as off-road only, while others are designed to retain the factory emissions equipment and may carry a compliance number that makes them street legal in stricter states. Before you buy, check the manufacturer listing for your exact truck year and confirm it does not interfere with required emissions hardware. If you live somewhere with tailpipe or visual inspections, choosing a kit that explicitly states compliance for your region saves you a headache at inspection time.
Should I choose an oiled cotton filter or a dry synthetic filter?
Both work well, and the right choice comes down to how you maintain your truck. Oiled cotton filters tend to flow extremely well and are washable and reusable, but they require careful re-oiling after cleaning, and over-oiling can foul a sensitive air sensor on some setups. Dry synthetic filters skip the oil step entirely, so you simply clean and reinstall, which many owners find foolproof, though they may flow a touch less at the absolute peak. If you drive in heavy dust or just want low-fuss upkeep, a dry filter is the safer pick. If you chase maximum airflow and do not mind the extra care, oiled cotton is excellent.
Does a cold air intake make my Cummins louder?
Yes, most cold air intakes increase intake noise, and on a 6.7 Cummins that usually means a more pronounced turbo whistle and a deeper induction sound under hard acceleration. Open-filter kits with a heat shield tend to be the loudest because the filter sits more exposed in the engine bay, while fully enclosed airbox designs are noticeably more muted since the box dampens the sound. Many owners love the added turbo spool note, but if you want to keep things quiet a sealed box is the better route. Either way the change is most obvious under throttle and largely disappears at a steady cruise.
How hard is it to install a cold air intake on a 6.7 Cummins?
These are among the most beginner friendly modifications you can do on a 6.7 Cummins, and most kits are a straightforward bolt-on job using basic hand tools in well under an hour. You remove the factory airbox and intake tube, install the new tube and filter or airbox, and reconnect any sensors and breather lines to the new housing. The most common mistakes are leaving a hose clamp loose or not fully seating the connection to the turbo, both of which can cause an unmetered air leak, so take your time tightening everything. Following the included instructions for your specific truck makes it nearly foolproof.
Our Verdict
For most 6.7 Cummins owners the S&B Filters Cold Air Intake is our top pick, because it pairs genuinely strong airflow with a fully enclosed airbox that protects the engine and a clear lid that makes filter checks easy. If you are chasing the absolute highest airflow numbers on a tuned truck, the aFe Power Magnum FORCE Stage-2 is the runner up and a superb choice, trading a little hot air isolation for class-leading flow. Whichever you choose, prioritize sealing and filtration alongside flow and you will get the breathing improvement without putting your engine at risk.
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