Ford Super Duty Powerstroke diesel truck

Diesel Cold Air Intake Buyer Guide: Powerstroke, Cummins and Duramax

A cold air intake is one of the easiest bolt-on upgrades you can make to a diesel truck. Your engine lives on air, and the factory airbox is built for quiet and cost, not flow. Swapping it for a well-designed intake lets the turbo breathe easier, sharpens throttle response, and gives you a filter you can actually service.

This guide covers the S&B intake kits Polar Diesel carries for the late-model 6.7L Powerstroke, 6.7L Cummins and 6.6L Duramax, so you can pick the right style, the right filter and the right kit for your year.

Ram Cummins diesel truck

What does a cold air intake actually do?

The factory intake has to pull air through restrictive tubing and a filter sized to fit a crowded engine bay. An aftermarket intake replaces that with a larger filter and a smoother path to the turbo. S&B tests each kit against the stock system, and the airflow gains on the kits we carry range from about 29% to over 54% more airflow than stock, depending on the truck.

More airflow on its own is not a horsepower promise. What you will notice right away is better throttle response and a stronger turbo sound. Where an intake really earns its keep is on a truck that is already tuned or working hard, where the engine wants more air than the stock box can comfortably give.

Will an intake throw a check engine light?

Not with these kits. Every S&B intake we carry keeps the factory MAF sensor in its stock location, so the truck reads airflow the way it was designed to. They are all bolt-on installs.

Enclosed airbox or open air?

This is the first choice you will make on most trucks.

  • Enclosed airbox: The filter sits inside a fully sealed box that keeps out dirt and engine heat. Cooler air is denser air, so this is the pick for most people, especially if you tow, run gravel roads or see a lot of dust. Several kits also seal to the hood or pull fresh air from outside the engine bay (more on that below).
  • Open air: The filter sits exposed under the hood with no box around it. You get a bigger, more visible filter and a louder intake sound. The tradeoff is that it pulls in warmer under-hood air, so it suits trucks that see mostly clean, cool conditions.

On the 6.7L Powerstroke, S&B offers both styles. On the Cummins and Duramax kits we carry, the enclosed airbox is the option.

Cotton or dry filter?

Every kit comes with your choice of filter at the same price.

  • Cotton - Cleanable: An oiled cotton filter. It flows very well and you can wash and re-oil it again and again, so it is a good long-term choice if you do not mind a little maintenance.
  • Dry - Extendable: A dry filter with no oil. It is the cleaner, low-fuss option and a good fit for dusty work trucks and anyone who would rather not handle filter oil.

Either way, replacement filters are listed by part number on each product page, so you can reorder the exact one later.

Which S&B intake fits my truck?

Ford 6.7L Powerstroke

S&B cold air intake kit for 6.7 Powerstroke

Shop everything for your truck on the Powerstroke parts page.

Ram 6.7L Cummins

S&B cold air intake kit for 6.7 Cummins

Shop everything for your truck on the Cummins parts page.

Chevy / GMC 6.6L Duramax

S&B cold air intake kit for 6.6 Duramax L5P

Shop everything for your truck on the Duramax parts page.

Keeping the factory intake on an L5P? Try the resonator delete plug

If you want to keep the stock L5P intake but clean up the air path, the Polar Diesel 2017-2026 Duramax 6.6L Intake Resonator Delete Plug seals the intake pipe after you pull the factory resonator box. It is precision machined from billet 6061 T6 aluminum, comes raw or black anodized, needs no tuning, and gives the turbo a clearer whistle.

One note: it is built for the factory intake tube and is not compatible with most aftermarket intakes, so it is an either-or choice with the S&B kits above.

How do I maintain my intake filter?

A clean filter is what keeps the airflow gains working for you.

  • Check it regularly. Look at the filter at every oil change, and more often if you run dusty roads or job sites.
  • Cotton filters: Wash and re-oil when they look dirty. S&B makes a Red Oil cleaning kit (part 88-0008) and a Blue Oil cleaning kit (part 88-0009) for this. Do not over-oil, and let the filter dry fully before you re-oil it.
  • Dry filters: These are not meant to be oiled. Replace the filter when it is dirty, using the replacement part number on your kit's product page.
  • Inspect the seals. Make sure the clamps, couplers and any hood seal are tight so the engine only breathes filtered air.

Duramax diesel hood badge on Chevrolet HD truck

Is an intake a good first upgrade?

For most diesel owners, yes. It bolts on, keeps the stock MAF location so it does not trigger warning lights, and pairs well with whatever you add next, whether that is tuning, exhaust or a full build. If you are planning a bigger build, our Power Packages bundle the parts that work together for your exact truck.

Not sure which intake fits? Reach out to the Polar Diesel team with your year, engine and cab style and we will point you to the right kit.

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