DIY Ram Cold Air Intake on 3rd Gen CTD

[Diesel_Dave]

I got the finishing touches done. I added a "pre-filter" and also painted the end.

I was somewhat concerned with getting insects and debris up into the filter. After running for two weeks (600 miles) with the ram intake, I was happy to see that when I opened the airbox back up, the main air filter visually seems identical to what it was originally. Nevertheless, I came up with a good idea to make sure I keep stuff out of the main air filter. At first I was going to use a piece of window screen, but then I was an old washable plastic mesh furnace filter that I had lying around. I cut out a piece, like this:

Then I cut out a donut of plywood, and used it to sandwich the furnace filter piece against the toilet flange:

Here's what it looks like inside the airbox. I took the main air filter out just for this picture so that you can see it.


I also got some Krylon Fusion black spray paint that can be used on plastic. I used that to spray paint the end of the pipe so it's less visible. Here's the finished, near-invisible look:


As far as the FE numbers, I think there is an advantage. My average of the last ~600 miles with the ram CAI installed, I've averaged 50.28 mpg on the overhead. This is a 4.1% improvement over 48.29 mpg for the previous 600 miles. Both periods had similar tempeatures (79 deg F avg temp). I don't think it's fair, however, to ascribe the whole 4.1% improvement to the intake. Recently, I've really racheted up the hypermiling intensity in an effort to break the single tank range record. If I had to guess, I'd say probably 1% FE improvement from the intake, but it's hard to say much of anything definitative about such small differences.

[slowmover]

Give it two cents (%), DD, we'll let'cha.

[Diesel_Dave]

Originally Posted by slowmover

Give it two cents (%), DD, we'll let'cha.

After I get done with this tank, I think I'm going to back off on the hypermiling intensity somewhat. At that point, I think I may do some A-B-A type testing with some of my mods (this one and others). Right now, I'm pushing things to the limit for the sake of the record, but at some point I'd like to do some experimentation to be able to have good, reliable numbers to share with others.

[slowmover]

Yeah, buddy, glad your feelings translated that way . . it was my mine as I rolled along yesterday on a bulk load run considering the potential advantage of these "upgrades" to our truck/brand/type. The intensity needs boundaries. I've had to change my boundaries of late. And will have to run the truck in a different manner than in years past to keep reliability/longevity at peak efficiency . . some of my operating parameters were falling over on themselves (in this light).

I do think, and strongly, that your plan including bellypan and [generically] aerolid will "complete" a natural course of completion. "Completion" in that one has taken a solo/unladen pickup and maximized its' potential for a particular service. Your idea of A-B-A to generate numbers (as with temp records) is a true service.

It really doesn't matter what the Great Unwashed think about stratospheric mpg numbers, but it is a service of the finest type to offer numbers of what can work (and leaves out the question of personal skill).

The paint looks great, and the furnace filter chunk was well-chosen.

.

[Diesel_Dave]

Originally Posted by slowmover

I do think, and strongly, that your plan including bellypan and [generically] aerolid will "complete" a natural course of completion. "Completion" in that one has taken a solo/unladen pickup and maximized its' potential for a particular service.

I DO still intend on continuing ecomodding (vehicle modifications), however, I was talking about decreasing the intensity of my hypermiling (driving modifications). I'll still intend on driving efficiently, but just not to the extreme levels I have been.

There are several reasons for this, which I won't get into fully here, but most of them stem from the fact that my personality is such that I tend to push things to extremes. When I do something, I go all out. When I was younger and played video games I didn't play that many games, but those I did I would beat every level to perfection or I wasn't happy. When I was in college I channeled it into academics and got staight A's for 4 straight years. There are also some negative examples, but I won't share those It can be a blessing or a curse depending on how I channel it. I guess what I'm saying is that I've learned I need to set some boundaries for myself--particularly in the hypermiling department, otherwise I'm going to push things too far.

If this current tank (which should finish up this week) comes in as I suspect it will, I think I'll have proven just about everything there is to prove, and it'll be time for me to back off and take a breather.

[rvpps2rocks]

im planning to do something similar, though i am not diesel and i have fog lights so i will have to route to the center grill

[Diesel_Dave]

Originally Posted by rvpps2rocks

im planning to do something similar, though i am not diesel and i have fog lights so i will have to route to the center grill

If you're not diesel and/or turbocharged, I don't think it will buy you any FE. It will get you more power, but not FE.

[slowmover]

Yeah, Dave . . what I meant exactly. Course of completion meaning not that one is done, but that one has reached a plateau (and that this is a good thing).

[oil pan 4]

I ran my ram-air open for years, just had some bugs and sand, nothing that would clog it up. But mine was also about 4 feet off the ground and hidden behind the grill.

[Domman56]

Love this write up, I think it's very reliable information for what worked out for your vehicle