More Power for your Dodge Ram Truck Thanks to an AIRAID Cold Air Intake System

Jan 26, 2017

The cold air dam panels help provide a free-flowing supply of cooler outside air into your Cummins

It was 1978, the midst of the gas crisis, and the OEMs were burning the midnight oil to be the first to market with a more economical diesel pickup truck. GM and Dodge tied for being the first to market, but neither would even get a look from today’s diesel owner. Chevrolet stuffed a 120 horsepower 5.7-liter Oldsmobile diesel into a C10. Chevrolet continued to offer the 5.7 in C10s through 1981, replacing it with the much better 6.2-liter in 1982. Dodge offered a 4.0-liter Mitsubishi diesel inline six with 100 horsepower. Dodge dropped the Japanese motor after 1979 and remained diesel-less until 1989. During that time period Chrysler was in discussions with International Harvester for a diesel engine for Ram trucks. Instead, Ford came in with a better offer of $500 million and left Dodge on the outside.

Left with no option to either develop its own diesel V8, or partner with a company with the expertise to develop one on Dodge’s behalf, neither of which the cash-strapped company could afford, the Dodge division went out and purchased engines from diesel specialist Cummins. What broke with Detroit tradition is that engines developed or purchased outside the company are given names that fit within the existing company nomenclature and all marketing materials pretend that the engine is a product of the company. Dodge didn’t do that with Cummins. It made the availability of a real diesel, not a converted passenger car engine, the center point of its marketing. And in doing so, started driving truck sales in 1989 like Dodge had never seen before.

Fast forward to 1994. The Generation 2 Cummins 6BT turbodiesel engine is introduced. Along with smaller detail changes is the replacement of the original fuel pump with one of higher capacity, allowing for greater power production. It offered 175 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. To better meet emissions, Dodge switched first to the Cummins ISB and then the Cummins ISB CR diesels. By 2002, the Cummins 5.9-liter was producing 245 horsepower and a whopping 505 lb-ft of torque.

The 360-degree air filter is washable and reusable and less restrictive than paper filters

If you own a Cummins-powered Dodge Ram truck, particularly an earlier model, an upgrade you should definitely consider is the AIRAID 302-139 cold air dam (CAD) air intake. They’re engineered to provide a steady, free-flowing supply of cooler outside air for your turbocharged diesel to draw from, which the ECU reads, adds more fuel accordingly, and produces more horsepower and torque.

A critical factor is the 11.5” by 7” oval tapered AIRAID premium air filter that’s housed inside an air box providing outstanding air flow and filtration. The filter utilizes a reusable, dry, non-woven synthetic filter media. To maintain performance, clean your AIRAID filter every 30,000 to 50,000 miles for normal driving, and more frequently if your drive in off-road or heavy dust conditions. The best and easiest way is with the AIRAID 790-558 premium dry filter cleaning solution.

Incoming cold air from outside the vehicle is directed through a new air intake tube with a smooth, low-restriction interior thanks to its construction of cross-linked, high-density polyethylene. This cold air dam intake system also has provisions for the factory mass air sensor and filter minder gauge, so there’s no need to recalibrate your truck’s ECU.

Installation of the 302-139 cold air dam is simple, with easy-to-follow instructions. You need only a few basic hand tools and around 90 minutes to increase the power and responsiveness of your Cummins-powered Dodge Ram truck.

The 302-139 cold air dam is backed by AIRAID’s “No Hassle” Lifetime Warranty, which is simple. If you are ever dissatisfied with the materials, workmanship, or performance of this air filter, just give us a call at 800-498-6951 and we will be happy to assist you. You don’t have to worry about a warranty card. AIRAID filters are warranted for life.

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