Looking for some recommendations on a cold air intake on a 2012 Ram 6.7 Cummins.Thoughts and comments appreciated.

Spend your money on something else. The factory intake does an excellent job. After markets are mostly hype.

Vehicles made in the last 5 or 8 years typically don't benefit much in the way of a cold air intake. If you are wanting for power, and don't care about a warranty, tuning is the better way to go. Intake and exhaust restrictions aren't nearly an issue as it were for cars made before the mid 2000's.Really, exhaust and intake in most modern vehicles benefit in the single digit horsepower range, maybe very low double digit. Most people do it to have a different engine noise.

WHY?Seriously....WHY?What do you think it will accomplish, what are you wanting to accomplish.....WHY?

jus2shy wrote:Vehicles made in the last 5 or 8 years typically don't benefit much in the way of a cold air intake. If you are wanting for power, and don't care about a warranty, tuning is the better way to go. Intake and exhaust restrictions aren't nearly an issue as it were for cars made before the mid 2000's.Really, exhaust and intake in most modern vehicles benefit in the single digit horsepower range, maybe very low double digit. Most people do it to have a different engine noise.This is a good answer. I have used both cold air and exhaust on previous trucks and have lost MPgs with cheap aftermarket exhaust. The only aftermarket filter I use is a drop in K&N. Tuning is the best bang for the buck, but do not run a tune past what the engine is capable of doing. Search out the ones that work well with your truck and are reliable.

Some people report lower EGTs from a better intake. While this isn't more horsepower, lower EGTs keeps things cooler and helps with the fan clutch coming on less on mountain passes.I haven't tried it yet, just repeating what I've read.

Cold Air Intake | Good Sam Community

25 Replies

Grit_dog
Trailblazer
Sep 08, 2016
Bhaf is a gimmick unless you're making some real power. Period. Not going to beat stock filtration and a cold air filter, by itself isn't going to free up enough air to spin the turbo that much easier resulting in 100deg egt reduction. And if it does, who cares as long as you're still in the safe range.
Coming from a guy that mods about everything, I wouldn't give $10 for one.
Hannibal
Explorer
Sep 08, 2016
Is the stock intake on the Cummins powered Ram so poorly engineered that the engine is starving for air or running hot? My four Cummins powered Rams had factory cold air intakes and rarely did the air filter minder even move. Other than extra noise and an ultra cool sticker for the window, I see nothing to gain from an after market intake gimmick.
TexasChaps
Explorer
Sep 07, 2016
goducks10 wrote:
I have a 12 Ram 2500 CTD and I don't think I'd even notice another 10-15HP. The trucks got way more than I need already.

x2 ^
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Sep 07, 2016
AFE does make quality products. Oil samples always came back with good silicon numbers on my 98 12V. That engine was tuned with no sensors to get fouled.

New truck gets OE filters.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Sep 07, 2016
blkdodge wrote:
Looking for some recommendations on a cold air intake on a 2012 Ram 6.7 Cummins.
Thoughts and comments appreciated.

I've used the AFE pro 7 since my'03 Dodge/Cummins had around 6k miles. My trucks have to last many years and wanted to help the Cummins run cooler.
I use the Westach boost/egt gage and find the AFE drop temps in the 75-100 degree range overall over OEM filters when towing or running 85 mph in 100-110 degree hea.
The truck is getting close to 300k miles on the odo. I'm satisfied with the results.
Grit_dog
Trailblazer
Sep 06, 2016
Old-Biscuit wrote:
WHY?

Seriously....WHY?

What do you think it will accomplish, what are you wanting to accomplish.....WHY?

Settle down.....go for a walk, take a deep breath?.........
But I agree, no need unless you're making some serious power. I can't suck the filter minder down on my 07 running around 450/950 at the crank when I hammer down, so that tells me it's flowing pretty good.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Sep 06, 2016
S Davis wrote:
Waste of money, my 09 chev 2500HD is pushing 530HP and will do the quarter mile in 12.95 @103mph on the stock intake.

https://youtu.be/iw3PYjIg6U4

https://youtu.be/sxXIHk5VzF4

My Son's 98 RAM 24V 4x4 hit 103 at 12.78 at Spokane, his truck dynode 430. He only had a screen on the turbo intake.
ShinerBock
Explorer
Sep 06, 2016
blkdodge wrote:
Looking for some recommendations on a cold air intake on a 2012 Ram 6.7 Cummins.
Thoughts and comments appreciated.

I am not going to jump on the "you don't need a cold air intake" band wagon like just about everyone has done here since that is not what you asked. You are a grown up and can spend your money as you please.

S@B is highly rated by many tuners. The one thing I noticed in an install video is that you have to cut your MAF sensor in order to extend it to make it fit.

The AFE momentum is another on that is highly recommended by tuners. Very easy to install from what I have seen. If you go with this one then get the Pro-guard 7 filter option. AFE recommends this newly revised filter for all diesels especially this in dusty conditions.

I believe both with give you more turbo noise, but I don't know how much. I am not sure how much both will lower EGTs either. I do know that your biggest restriction on your truck is right where the intake horn comes into the manifold. That is where your heater grid sits and it opening is small even without the heater grid.
deltabravo
Nomad
Sep 05, 2016
Snorkel is about the only true "CAI"

CAI terminology has morphed in to being applied to describe any aftermarket intake, whether it draws air from outside of the engine bay or not.
john_bet
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2016
blkdodge wrote:
Looking for some recommendations on a cold air intake on a 2012 Ram 6.7 Cummins.
Thoughts and comments appreciated.
My '04 Dodge gets its' air from the fender well, not the engine bay. How much cooler do I need? Not much I think. JMHO.