Are you looking to take your car or truck’s performance to the next level? The 5.9 Cummins engine is popularly known to be a beast. But you can still improve on its performances with some minor tweaks.

One of the best and cheapest ways to boost the power and performance of any vehicle can come from upgrading the air intake and letting it breathe a bit easier.

Generally, Cold Air Intake (CAI) are aftermarket upgrades used to improve the filtration and cold air intake in order to enhance the engine performances. Air filters are used to prevent particulates from entering the engine, radiator, and fuel lines.

The CAI Filters are an integral part of the engine’s live performance. That is why we’ve put together a list of the best cold air intake for 5.9 Cummins. Enjoy.

IN A HURRY? Here’s Our Top Picks…

Last update on 2024-09-09 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Top Rated Cold Air Intake For 5.9 Cummins Reviews

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1# S&B Filters Cold Air Intake

Last update on 2024-09-09 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

First on the list is the S&B Filters Cold Air Intake. S&B may not be the oldest or most experienced company in the industry, but the company has been at the top of their game for over four decades.

One of the best qualities of the S&B Filters Cold Air Intake is its build quality. It is one of the few products on our list that feature a silicone air filter couple with a rubber tubing.

A silicone filter is known to last longer than most materials – this product boasts of delivering up to 99.5% airflow efficiency. This is approximately 40% more than what a standard Cold Air Intake Filter could provide.

The S&B Filters cold air intake is actually one of the few CAIs in its class that features a secondary air inlet. This feature helps improve on the airflow by far more than the normal requirement.

This product also comes with a plug to let you have total control over the level of the airflow; this is also part of the draw of custom enclosure, which completely shields the intake from engine heat.

Things We Like:

• Both oil and dry filter options
• Uses Premium Silicone parts
• Durable construction
• Custom heat shield

Things That Could Improve:

• Not the easiest to install
• Not suitable for certain turbo systems

>> Check Price and Reviews on Amazon <<

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2# Banks 42180 Cold Air Intake

Last update on 2024-09-09 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Next on the list is the Banks 42180 Cold Air Intake. Though Banks may be the youngest company in the industry, the company is unique in its own ways.

They have a reputation for top-tier quality, which they strive to maintain in all of their products.

Unlike most CAIs, the Banks Cold Air Intake is positioned closer to the engine – this makes the air supplied by this product a bit hotter compared to other CAIs.

This is why the Banks CAI provides only 33% more airflow than your normal stock intake.

One nicer quality with the Banks cold air intake is the option to choose the type of filter that you want. It’s one of the few CAI systems out there to do so.

In addition to that, the Banks 42180 Cold air intake comes with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty.

Things We Like:

• Durable construction
• Ease of installations
• Elegant design
• Relatively cheaper

Things That Could Improve:

• Reliable but not the most popular brand out there

>> Check Price and Reviews on Amazon <<

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3# K&N Cold Air Intake Kit

Last update on 2024-09-09 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

K&N have developed a solid reputation over the 50 years plus of its existence. The company has partnered itself with a wide range of automotive affiliations worldwide.

The K&N cold air intake is designed to help improve the performance of your vehicle’s engine. The K&N CAI Kit is packed with so many useful features.

This unit can provide a solid 11HP boost to your car’s engine. The secret behind the K&N CAI efficiency is the HDPE tubing. This works well to keep the air cool while still maintaining good durability.

Though K&N cold air intake kit may not be the cheapest product on our list, however, the sheer length of its expected lifespan is what makes it one of the best cold air intakes for 5.9 Cummins out there.

All the component in this kit comes with a minimum of 100,000 to 1,000,000 miles warranty.

In addition, this unit is also CARB compliant. This means you don’t have to worry about local emission standards.

Things We Like:

• Washable air filter
• Can boost the engine power by 11 HP
• CARB compliant
• Has HDPE tubing
• Solid heat shield

Things That Could Improve:

• Made for stock engines
• A bit noisy

>> Check Price and Reviews on Amazon <<

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4# aFe Power Magnum Performance Intake System

Last update on 2024-09-09 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

If all you are after is increasing the power and performances of your vehicle’s engine, then the aFe Power Magnum Performance Intake System is a great option.

This product is designed to give your car’s engine exactly what it needs. This system will replace your air filter and stock air box – and it has an optional add-on of an intake tube.

The aFe Magnum Performance Intake System will provide a healthy 14 HP boost, plus an additional 27 lbs per foot of torque to boot.

The secret behind these improved performances is the monstrous airflow increase of 105% over the stock intake. In addition, the filters are completely cleanable and re-usable.

This unit happens to be one of the most expensive cold air intakes in the market. However, it’s worth buying because you will definitely enjoy a smoother engine performance in the end.

Therefore, when it comes to power boosting, the aFe Power Magnum Performance Intake System is the overall winner.

Things We Like:

• Easy to install
• Increase the airflow by 105%
• A solid heat shield
• Durable construction

Things That Could Improve:

• Relatively pricey

>> Check Price and Reviews on Amazon <<

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5# K&N Cold Air Intake Kit

Last update on 2024-09-09 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The next product to secure a place in our list another K&N Cold Air Intake Kit. But this time it’s the K&N 57-1532 Second generation Fuel Injection performance kit.

This unit is a perfect solution to vehicle owners who are looking for an increase in reliable power.

The state-of-art filtration system in this unit features thousands of microscopic cotton fibers. This, together with the innovative design layered, oil cotton media help protect the engine from contaminants.

With the K&N 57-153 Cold air intake installed on your car, you will enjoy quiet and smoother engine operation even at the highest speed.

The washable cabin air filter featured in this unit is the first of its kind; designed to replace your vehicle’s cabin air filter. It’s a washable and reusable version which cleans and refreshes the air coming into the engine’s combustion chamber.

Using the combination of an advanced synthetic filter-media and the refresher, the K&N washable cabin air filter grabs and holds dust particles, preventing them from getting into your engine.

Things We Like:

• Quick and easy to install
• Street legal horsepower upgrade
• Improves the engine sound
• Improve the overall engine performance
• Washable cabin air filter

Things That Could Improve:

• A bit pricey

>> Check Price and Reviews on Amazon <<

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6# Spectre Performance Air Intake Kit

Last update on 2024-09-09 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Spectre performance is another renowned company that has been around for over 3 decades. The company is specialized in manufacturing high-quality air intake systems – and supplying them into the market at affordable prices.

The Spectre performance air intake has a unique design and sturdy material construction. The heat shield on this unit is made out of a high-quality powder-coated stainless steel.

This makes it highly water-resistant and durable. To add to the durability of this kit, all the tubes are elegantly made out of polished aluminum. However, Aluminum tubes are more likely to get hotter compared to plastic tubes.

As such, there could be an increase in the temperature of the air that is entering the engine. Nevertheless, aluminum tubing has its own advantage in that you don’t have to worry about the tubing suffering from any kind of damages.

One other great feature with the Spectre performance air intake kit is the quality of the filter. It uses a high-quality synthetic material that is held in place with a steel mask.

Above all, it is also washable and reusable.

Things We Like:

• Washable air filter
• Powder-coated steel heat shield
• Provides a modest power boost
• Polished aluminum tubing
• High-quality air filter

Things That Could Improve:

• Not the coldest air intake
• Relatively difficult to install

>> Check Price and Reviews on Amazon <<

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7# Banks 42145 Ram Air Intake System

Last update on 2024-09-09 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Increase your vehicle performance with the Banks 42145 Ram Air Intake System. This unit is designed to reveal the full potential of your vehicle’s engine performance.

It has the power to bring the powerful blows of a tropical storm directly into your car’s engine.

Adding cool air into your engine with the Banks 42145 will help increase the horsepower, torque, and also reduce the level of your engine’e fuel consumption.

With the superior design and quality, the Banks features a premium filter which allows for 51% more airflow than the stock intake.

If you carefully follow the installation instruction and illustrations, you can install the Banks 42145 Ram Air System on your vehicle in less than 30 minutes.

While this may not be the cheapest cool air intake system out there. Its quality and performance speak for itself. It has some of the largest air inlets and outlets – with a completely covered enclosure.

Things We Like:

• The ease of installation
• Great heat shield
• CARB compliant
• Durable construction

Things That Could Improve:

• Not as cold as other CAIs

>> Check Price and Reviews on Amazon <<

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Best Cold Air Intake For 5.9 Cummins Buying Guide

Buying the best cold air intake for 5.9 Cummins lies to a number of factors. Highlighted below are some of the factors you should keep in mind when buying a cold air intake system for your vehicle.

1# The type of cold air intake

This is the most important point you should check before buying Cold Air Intake. Generally, there are 3 types of CAI: the Short Ram System, the Ram Air intake, and lastly, the True Cold air Intake System. Each of these has its own benefits.

The short run system:

This basically replaces your factory intake with a smooth pipe and an open element air filter. The short run system collects air from inside the engine bay and gives a short, smooth path to the engine to breathe. It’s cheaper and easier to install. Because all it does is simply to create an easier passage for the engine heat, the short run system tends to generate less horsepower and torque compared to other types of cold air intakes.

True Cold air intake:

This is constructed with more emphasis on moving the air filter as far forward as possible. In this case, air is drawn from outside the engine bay to supply the engine with cooler and denser air. It also creates a more comfortable passage for heat to move out of the engine. This type of CAI allows for better cold airflow than the short ram system design. It’s however, more expensive and more difficult to install

Ram Air Intake:

This is more of a True cold air intake, but the only difference is that it usually comes with longer tubes and an air filter at the back of the system. This is especially important when you are moving on high speeds – it draws a larger volume of air with a substantial wind pressure, which results in more engine power.

From the above explanation, depending on your budget and desire needs, you know which type of cold air intake to buy.

2# Filter

It is very crucial to check the quality of the filter before buying a Cold Air Intake. It’s one of the most important parts of the CAIs – the filter should be washable and reusable.  This will make it last longer and save you the cost of replacement.

3# Size

Select the right size according to your vehicle. Make sure you check the engine space and then carefully look into details regarding the size while buying CAI.

4# Durability

You wouldn’t want to buy a Cold air intake that will get damaged a few days after installation. Pay much attention to the type of material the Cold Air Intake is made up of. Choose a studier unit made from high-quality material – and that will not be prone to wear and tear.

5# Price

In as much as you want a quality material, you should also look for something within your budget plan. After all, not all the expensive CAIs are the best. You may find a relatively cheaper CAI that will take your engine performance to the next level even by far better than the so called expensive brands. With the best cold air intake, you’ll be saving indirectly on the fuel mileage.

FAQs

Q1. What is a Cold Air Intake?

A Cold Air Intake is an aftermarket assembly of parts used to improve a vehicle’s engine performance.

The components of a Cold Air Intake are designed to supply the engine with cool, denser air into the combustion chamber – this is in order to improve the health and power of a vehicle’s engine.

In any automobile, there are many airflow restrictions by means of tubes, turns, and bends, which basically slow down the rate of movement of air into the combustion chamber.

More restrictions mean more resistance, an increase in temperature, and a decrease in the amount of air which is delivered into the combustion chamber.

This may lead to poor ignition of fuel and air mixture. The overall effect of this is a decrease in the engine’s performance.

However, the Cold Air Intake is designed to set free those restrictions, drawing cooler air into the combustion chamber and hence increasing the engine power and torque.

Q2. Of what Importance is the Cold Air Intake to the engine?

As stated earlier, Cold Air Intake collects cold, denser air, which has high oxygen concentration from the environment and supplies it to the engine.

This results in better engine combustion, reduction in the level of fuel needed to create the spark, and an increase in horsepower and torque. Moreover, it increases the efficiency of the engine as well.

Q3. Does Cold Air Intake make any difference in engine performance?

Of course, yes! CAI does make a difference by improving your vehicle’s engine performance. Some manufacturers claim that their products can provide up to 20-30 HP increase.

However, from our experience, you can gain up to 15-20 HP increase from adding a Cold Air Intake. You will also notice a decrease in the level of fuel consumption per mileage.

Q4. Should I get a Filter wrap for my Cold Air Intake?

Well, it’s not always necessary to buy a Filter wrap for your cold air intake. It’s, however, recommended to use one.

Because filter wraps help prevent larger debris from coming into contact with the filter element. When larger debris stack up on the filter, the filter begins to have a snowball effect.

This causes the filter to become dirty much faster.

Q5. How often should I change my Cold Air Intake Filter?

This depends on the type of air filter you are using and the level of work that it’s subjected to. Unlike dry filters, Oil filters are washable and reusable, as such, you can wash them and put them back.

Q6. Can I clean my filter with any oiled cleaning kit?

A Capital NO! This is because all companies design and test their filters to run with some level of oil in them.

If you buy a cleaning kit from a brand different from the filter brand, you are likely to use too much or too little oil on the filter. Either way, both can harm the Cold Air Intake and your vehicle as well.

Q7. Can A Cold Air Intake damage your engine?

The probability of a cold air intake damaging your engine is 0.01%. The major concern with cold air intake to your vehicle is what is called Hydro-lock or hydro-locking.

It’s a situation where the engine takes in water instead of air – leading to engine damage.

When water gets trapped in the cylinder of the engine – and because water does not compress, it can ruin the pistons and cause the connecting rods to bend and damage the engine.

This occurs in rare cases nowadays.

This usually occurs in the past, but it’s very rare these days. Because the modern cold air intake comes with an air bypass valve installed in the middle.

The high temperature of the bypass valve will not allow water into your engine.

Q8. Why my Cold Air Intake pipe easily becomes very hot?

Heat Soak is when your intake pipe is frequently becoming very hot. In this case, the intake pipe is heated up, which also increases the temperature of the air going into the engine, hence, decreasing your engine performance.

Heat Soak is most likely to occur with a low-grade intake. A good cold air Intake is made out of excellent material such as aluminum which does not allow the piping to get hot enough to affect your vehicle’s performance.

Conclusion

We want you to understand that the best cold air intake depends on what you want.  However, there are excellent cold air intakes you should not skimp on.

For example, the S&B filters cold air intake is made out of high-quality materials, it provides excellent airflow and the best efficiency ever.

If you are looking for a big power boost, then you shouldn’t go beyond the aFe Magnum performance cold air intake. If sheer cost is your main concern, then Spectre performance air intake kit will solve this issue.

Finally, we do hope that this guide will help you make a definitive decision when it comes to choosing the best cold air intake for 5.9 Cummins.

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