Best Cold Air Intake For 5.7 Hemi Ram

Whenever you have an older truck like a Dodge Ram 1500, you have to be wary of the winter months and keep a closer eye on all of the vehicle’s parts. This isn’t because the car is bad, it’s just because it’s old.

When the days get cold, older cars have to battle the temperatures and frigid winds in a way that younger cars don’t have to. And as the owner, you need to keep an eye out for cracks inside the engine.

If all of this seems like too much hassle, there is another way. Replacing or upgrading parts of your truck is an easy way to make sure the older equipment hasn’t worn away. It can’t let you down if it’s no longer there!

Today, I’m going to be showing you the best cold air intakes for the Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi Engine, so you don’t have to spend days searching through the internet scratching your head and wondering if the product you are looking at is even an upgrade to your current cold air intake.

And if you don’t know what you are looking for, then I’ve got you covered on that too. I’ve made you a handy buyers guide so you know what to look out for, both for your truck and for you personally.

I’ve also made a guide to help you figure out if your cold air intake is deteriorating! As I said, I’ve got you covered, so scroll down to the information you need and know that you are being taken care of.

5 Best Cold Air Intakes for a 5.7 Hemi Ram Dodge

K&N Cold Air Intake Kit

If what you really want in a cold air intake is the knowledge that the equipment will last a long time, then look no further than the K&N. The K&N promises that their CAI will last for either 10 years or one million miles.

That is a massive amount of time, and their promise isn’t just in their word. They give you a warranty to confirm this longevity.

When it comes to installation, the K&N has a bolt-on system that takes a little less than an hour to install. I installed the K&N with just some basic tools that any DIY tool kit has, so you don’t need to be an expert to modify your truck!

The K&N is so confident in their ability to improve your Dodge Ram, that they even say that the acceleration improves even when towing a heavy vehicle behind. 

The kit is amazing, but looking at the reviews, it seems like a lot of customers have had pieces of the hardware missing.

Little things that they can get at their DIY store, but still that’s not what you want to see when you settle down to install the kit. If this happens to you, remember your warranty! You can ask for the pieces that are missing!

Pros

• 10 Years/One Million Miles Longevity
• Easy To Install
• Improved Towing

Cons

• Customers Complained about Missing Parts.

Last update on 2024-04-19 / If you click this affiliate link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Flowmaster

If ease is a quality you strive for, then I would suggest grabbing the Flowmaster. The Flowmaster can also be installed with typical DIY tools, but it goes one still further than the other cold air intakes on my list.

The Flowmaster doesn’t need to be cut or (and this is the kicker) drilled into. This is because the Flowmaster is designed specifically for the Dodge Ram 5.7L.

All of the CAIs on my list are compatible with Dodge Ram 5.7L, but this one was made for it, so no adjustments need to be made, and you don’t have to hesitate.

Being easy to install is one thing, but where a lot of people found a fault, is following the instructions. I say, don’t bother with the instructions, they were made by someone who cares more for their word count than they do for the content.

Instead, watch a Youtube Video, then you have the guidance of someone installing it at the same time as you, and you can see how they are doing it. 

The Flowmaster Brand is known for its iconic aggressive sound. If you want to have a truck that makes your friends jealous, then this will be an extra bonus for you.

The Flowmaster gives your exhaust and your engine a deep and healthy roar that will have you giddy in excitement! If you buy the Flowmaster’s other upgrades, your truck will be the most ripped car out there! 

Pros

• Easiest to Install
• Ionic Aggressive Sound
• Made for Dodge Ram 5.7L Specifically

Cons

• Trash Instructions, use Youtube Instead.

Last update on 2024-04-19 / If you click this affiliate link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

AF Dynamic

If what you are after is an improvement to your current Dodge Ram 5.7L’s horsepower, then do I have the cold air intake for you!

The AF Dynamic helps the engine to efficiently draw in the cold air like any old air intake does, but the difference with this piece of technology is that the outcome is ridiculously higher than any other CAI.

The AF Dynamic improves the filtration efficiency by 95%. You read that right! 95%. And that’s in comparison to the original systems within your Dodge Ram 5.7L HEMI.

Because of these improvements to the efficiency, the horsepower increases by 5% to 10% horsepower. That’s 6% to 8% torque. An intense upgrade for something that is focusing on cooling your engine. 

The downside to this product is that the instructions are terrible, and the installation process is tricky. If you are hard set on buying this CAI, I recommend having a professional do the upgrade for you.

Don’t waste time getting frustrated if you have the dollar to get it done right. 

Pros

• Biggest Horsepower Improvement
• 95% efficiency improvement compared to origins systems
• 6%-8% increase in Torque

Cons

• Hard to install

Last update on 2024-04-19 / If you click this affiliate link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Million Parts Cold Air Intake

Don’t be put off by the brand name, there are not a million parts in this cold air intake! In total, the kit comes with around 20 parts, all of which you have to assemble together.

Don’t stress about the assembly though, as the kit is designed to be installed with typical DIY tools. You don’t need anything fancy or special or technical to upgrade your Dodge Ram 150.

As the subtitle suggests, the Million Parts is the cheapest cold air intake on our list and it won that title by a landslide! Despite its price tag it is still an amazing piece of tech and will improve your trunks intake system.

One reason for this is the anodized aluminum pipes. Aluminum is more wear-resistant than plastic and does much better in cold environments (like the cold air intake) than steel does. 

The only real downside to this cheap bit of technology is its look. It looks basic, what can I say. If you want a bit of flare in your interior you won’t find it with the Million Parts kit.

Pros

• Cheapest Cold Air Intake
• Easy to Install
• Very Durable

Cons

• Basic Design
• No Instructions at all

Last update on 2024-04-19 / If you click this affiliate link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Spectre Performance

Maintenance is a dreaded task for anything in your life, so when it comes to your truck you want to keep the maintenance level low. That’s when the Spectre Performance comes in.

With the Spectre Performance, you only need to clean the filter once every 100,000 miles! That’s a long-distance! The filter system in the cold air intake can handle much more than the other CAIs on my list, with its closest competition being the K&N!

The Spectre Performance is just as easy to install in comparison to the K&N and has the same towing improvement as the K&N, making them the two cold air intakes at the top of my list.

When it comes between the two of them, what do you care about more? The ease of maintenance, or the longevity of the product?

Maybe the price tag can help you make a decision. The Spectre Performance is half the price of the K&N, making it possibly the best deal out there!

But don’t let me sway your mind, pick the product which suits your needs! They are all compatible with the Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L HEMI so take your pick!

Last update on 2024-04-19 / If you click this affiliate link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Best Cold Air Intake For 5.7 Hemi Ram Buyers Guide

What is a Cold Air Intake?

If you don’t know what a cold air intake is, let me go into detail so you know what you are investing in. A cold air intake, also known as a CAI, is a collection of parts that brings cool air into your car’s internal combustion engine.

The CAI moves the air from outside your vehicle through an air filter which is just outside of the engine compartment.

This air is then cooled through that filter. Because of the location, this newly cooled air is sucked into the engine for combustion. 

This cool air does more than keep your engine at its needed temperature, it also brings oxygen to the combustion chamber. More oxygen means more power!

Cold air allows your truck to burn its fuel more efficiently because of this increased rate of oxygen, and because your car can burn fuel more efficiently, the overall horsepower of your truck is increased! All because of the car air intake!

Some older cars use a normal air filter to keep the engine clean and cool, but this newer technology is miles better.

Along with the added horsepower, the colder air allows you to accelerate faster. This is because your car can reach its max speed faster when a large volume of cold air is around the engine. 

What Are The Signs Of Cold Air Intake Deterioration? 

There are three main signs of your cold air intake no longer working as it should. If you don’t have a cold air intake, but instead have a short ram, then the same signs apply. 

The first is that the engine’s performance is starting to deteriorate. The cold air intake uses the engine’s air filter, which left unchecked can get clogged or dirty. This extra surface will mean that there isn’t a clean and clear airflow.

Airflow is important to keep the power high, speed fast, and fuel efficient. If you notice that the engine’s performance has decreased but you decide to do nothing about it, then you will eventually find problems with starting your truck. When this happens the problem has turned severe, so an upgrade or replacement is needed quickly. 

The second thing that you might notice is that the idle speed is excessively high. If this happens, then there might be a leak in the cold air intake’s vacuum. If the hoses break or come free from the vacuum then it will leak, making the engine surge unnecessarily.

The last thing that you should be aware of is the Check Engine light coming on. Normally when a Check Engine light comes on, it’s because of the cold air intake.

This is the most obvious way to take care of your trunk, by listening to it when it’s telling you something is wrong.

Because the cold air intake is responsible for feeding cold air into the engine, if it is faulty or deteriorated, then it will dramatically affect the engine, which is the heart of your truck. 

So now you know what the signs are for you to replace the cold air intake, the next step is to know what to look for in a new CAI!

What Should I Look For In A Cold Air Intake?

There are a couple of things you should be looking for when it comes to picking out a cold air intake. The first being that the CAI actually fits your car’s make and model.

There is no point in buying the best cold air intake on the market if it isn’t compatible with your vehicle. When it comes to Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L HEMI trucks, this page will have you covered.

The CAIs on the list below are tailored specifically for that make and model, and although they can fit other vehicles as well, they are a perfect fit for your truck. 

The next thing you should be looking out for is the longevity of the product. If a product gives you a warranty that’s amazing, because sometimes factories make errors, so a warranty will protect you from any accidental malfunctions.

But after a warranty, you want to see how long the cold air intake is predicted to last. These pieces of equipment can be expensive, so you don’t want to have to replace them every couple of years. What you really want is a CAI that lasts for the life of your vehicle. 

Maintenance is another important factor when looking for Cold Air Intakes because you don’t want to spend too much time faffing around with the cleaning of equipment.

Ideally, the car should look after itself, but as the CAI is a filter it will need emptying every now and then.

With that in mind, you should try and find a cold air intake that gives you an estimate for how often it needs to be maintained, that way you can add the date to your calendar and ignore the tidy up until then.

Now, this last thing you should be looking for in a cold air intake is how easy it is to install.

This issue is one that only affects you in the beginning (unless you install it incorrectly), and only matters if you plan on installing it yourself, instead of hiring a mechanic.

Mechanics can be expensive, but to make sure your truck is looked after properly, I would recommend hiring one. If you are a little tight for cash, then you should be looking out for an easy to install cold air intake, so the process won’t be as complicated for a DIY project. 

Let’s look at our checklist! You now know what a cold air intake is, you know how to look for deterioration of the CAI, and you know what to look for when you are buying a new CAI. Check, Check, Check. Time to look at the cold air intakes themselves!

Conclusion

So there you have it! All you need to know about cold air intakes and how they fit with your Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L HEMI. It is always best to know what you want when you buy a modification or upgrade, so have a look at the information in my guide and my list and see which one makes the most sense for you!