When your Cummins 6.7 diesel equipped truck rolls off the assembly line, it does so with an air intake system that’s major goal is to deliver a quieter ride. This is accomplished by using baffles to restrict and slow down the flow of air into the combustion chamber.
Doing so creates a quieter ride at the expense of fuel economy and power. An after market cold air intake system will eliminate these airflow restrictions, allowing your Cummins engine to breathe as it should and give your truck an immediate boost in horsepower and fuel economy. Below, we review 6 of the best after market cold air intake systems for your Cummins 6.7 diesel engine.
Best Cold Air Intake for 6.7 Cummins – Top Picks:
| K&N 71-1557 | K&N 57-1557 | Sinister Diesel SD-CAI-6.7C-13 | Sinister Diesel SD-CAI-6.7C-19 | aFe 54-32412 | aFe 50-72005 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  | |
| OEM Part Number | 71-1557 | 57-1557 | SD-CAI-6.7C-13 | SD-CAI-6.7C-19 | 54-32412 | 50-72005 |
| Torque Increase | 19.1 ft. lbs. of torque | 43.35 ft. lbs. of torque | No data | No data | No data | 18 ft. lbs. of torque |
| Horsepower increase | 9.29 HP | 20.63 HP | No data | No data | No data | 7 HP |
| Airflow increase | up to 50% | up to 50% | No data | No data | 113% | 58% |
| Filter Type | Washable and reusable | Washable and reusable | Reusable | Reusable | Oiled, washable | Oiled, washable |
| Vehicle applications year | 2007-2009 | 2007-2009 | 2013-2019 | 2019-2020 | 2013-2018 | 2013-2018 |
| Price | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon |
Benefits of Cold Air Intakes
1. Better Throttle Response
Bringing colder air into the combustion chamber will immediately increase throttle response. Cold air has a better oxygen density than the warmer air delivered through a factory system and will allow the engine to respond quicker.
Best CAI for Throttle Response: Sinister Diesel Cold Air Intake 2013+ or 2019+
2. Horsepower Increases
Oxygen is the key to any combustion, whether the combustion is in your backyard fire pit or inside your engine. The instant more oxygen is introduced, fuel will burn more efficiently. With your engine, this results in increased horsepower.
Best CAI for Horsepower Increase: aFe 50-72005 Momentum HD Pro 10R Stage 2
3. Better Fuel Mileage
As the ratio of air (meaning oxygen) to fuel increases so does fuel efficiency. The more efficient the fuel burns, the better your fuel mileage gets.
Best CAI for Better Fuel Mileage: aFe Power Magnum FORCE 54-32412
4. Cost of Operation
Better fuel mileage will reduce the cost of operating your vehicle. But not only will mileage be increased, saving you money, but you will also save money on maintaining your cold air intake system. CAI air filters are much longer lasting than disposable factory air filters. In fact, CAI filters last at least 3 times and sometimes up to 6 times longer than the factory paper filters when it comes to servicing them.
Best CAI for Cost of Operation: K&N 71-1557 or K&N 57-1557
K&N 71-1557 High Performance Cold Air Intake Kit
This K&N system comes in two configurations, a dry, black filter with a black metal tube or an red oiled filter with a HDPE tube. K&N estimates that this system will provide a gain of 9.3 horsepower. It has been dyno-tested to improve airflow by 50% over the factory intake, which will improve throttle response, fuel mileage, increase the sound of the power under the hood and requires no ECU tuning. No maintenance is required for up to 100,000 miles and the system is backed by K&N’s 10-year/Million mile limited warranty. Installation can be done in 90 minutes or less.
Pros
- Dyno-tested 50% better airflow
- Increased horsepower and throttle response
- 10-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty
- Made in USA
Cons
- Not CARB approved
- Not all parts included are of high quality
K&N 57-1557 High Performance Cold Air Intake Kit
The K&N 57-1557 is designed to reduce airflow restrictions, allowing your engine to receive a larger amount of cooler, oxygen-rich air. This allows for better acceleration and power across the engine’s entire RPM range. With only simple hand tools you can complete the installation in 90 minutes or less. K&N backs this cold air intake system with their 10-Year?Million Mile Limited Warranty. K&N guarantees a 50% increase in airflow, which equates to more power and better fuel mileage.
Pros
- 50 State legal – CARB EO Number D-269-36
- Optional black HDPE tube or black metal tube
- 10-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty
- Improved turbo spin-up sound
Cons
- Owner complaints about missing parts
Sinister Diesel Cold Air Intake 2013+
This Sinister CAI has Mandrel bent aluminum tubing, polished and powder-coated Sinister’s elegant blue color, looks great under the hood. It has an oversized, reusable, oiled cotton filter and will boost engine performance. The couplers are made of silicone, which adds to the systems durability. The filter is slightly larger than a normal CAI filter with very narrow pores that resists dust infiltration.
Pros
- Aluminum construction
- Quality silicone couplings
- Lightweight
- Filter larger than traditional CAI filters
Cons
- Does not come with a rubber boot
Sinister Diesel Cold Air Intake 2019+
Constructed from CNC mandrel-bent aluminum, this cold air intake system will deliver a higher performance from your Cummins 6.7 diesel. It is powder-coated Sinister’s signature blue color and has a large reusable cotton media filter. You will feel increased throttle response and improvements in daily driving and towing capability. Installation is not hard, it fits like it is original equipment and the couplers are made of high-durability silicone. Purchasers report that this CAI will cause no engine codes.
Pros
- Improved throttle response
- Distinctive Sinister blue color
- Quality aluminum construction
Cons
- Does not include a rubber boot
aFe Power Magnum FORCE 54-32412 Performance Intake System
This aFe system will wake up the power of your Cummins engine. One of the first things you will notice after installation is the increased sound of the turbo spooling up and increase the sound of the exhaust brake. You can expect fuel mileage to increase by 1-2 miles per gallon. aFe claims the powder-coated heat shield and one-piece intake tube will improve airflow by 113% over the original factory intake. The installation uses all the factory mounting locations but it is a tight fit.
Pros
- Increased throttle response
- Will not void most warranties
Cons
- Installation difficult – tight fit
- Complaints about causing Check Engine Light to come on
- Will not completely seal off warmer engine compartment air
- Not CARB exempt
aFe 50-72005 Momentum HD Pro 10R Stage 2 Si Intake System
The aFe Momentum HD pro has a one-piece sealed housing with a sight window for inspecting the filter. The filter is 10-layered cotton media that is washable and reusable. aFe claims that this system will increase airflow by 58% and horsepower by an additional 7hp. The system comes with stainless steel clamps and silicone couplers to provide a secure fit. Because there are few parts, installation is easy.
Pros
- Improved engine sound
- Noticeable power increase
Cons
- Not CARB exempt
- Some owners experience engine-coding issues
Conclusions
Upgrading to an after market cold air intake system will deliver a larger volume of cooler air to your engine. Doing so will increase engine efficiency in terms of fuel economy and power. The factory system is designed for two reasons; first to keep the engine quiet, not to necessarily produce the most power possible, and second, the public is basically interested in convenience. It is more convenient time wise to just throw away and replace the factory installed paper air filter.
There are lots of modifications you can make to your vehicle to improve engine performance, like exhaust systems and superchargers. But installing a cold air intake is one of the least expensive and simplest modifications that you can make to your Cummins 6.7 diesel. A cold air intake will deliver not only more airflow into the combustion chamber, but that air will be cooler in temperature and cooler air has a denser oxygen content. The benefits of the increased cooler air will be more power, better fuel economy, and the enjoyment that comes from an improved engine and turbo sound.