S&B Cold Air Intakes: Oiled vs Dry Filters, Fitment and Install

An S&B cold air intake replaces your truck's factory airbox and intake tube with an enclosed box, a larger filter and a smoother tube. Most S&B kits we list come with a choice of filter: cotton cleanable, which is oiled and washable, or dry extendable, which runs without oil. This guide explains how S&B intakes are built, how to choose between oiled and dry, which kit fits your truck and engine, what the install looks like, and what to know about California before you order.

How S&B cold air intakes are built

Your factory airbox is designed to be quiet and cheap to produce, with a paper filter and a tube shaped around everything else under the hood. An aftermarket intake changes three things:

• The airbox. S&B kits use an enclosed airbox around the filter. Enclosing the filter is meant to help it draw cooler air rather than hot air from around the engine. S&B also sells replacement clear lids for many of its airboxes.
• The filter. A larger filter has more media for the engine to pull through. On the 2020-2027 Super Duty 6.7L kit, S&B describes an oversized high-efficiency filter.
• The tube. A smoother, wider tube in place of the factory plumbing carries the air to the throttle body or turbo with less restriction.

S&B also sells an open air intake for some diesels, such as the open air intake for the 2020-2027 Super Duty 6.7L Powerstroke. It pairs a large filter with an oversized tube without the full enclosed box. More intake noise, and the filter sees more of the engine bay.

What S&B says about performance

S&B publishes airflow figures for some kits. A few from the listings we carry:

• Super Duty 6.7L Powerstroke (2020-2027), 75-5140: S&B lists up to 39.05% more airflow than stock and 99.42% filtration efficiency.
• Super Duty 6.7L open air (2020-2027), 75-6002: S&B claims up to 33.94% more airflow than stock.
• Tacoma 2024+ / 4Runner 2025+ 2.4L, 75-5210: S&B says it improves engine airflow by 59.7% compared to stock.

These are the manufacturer's numbers. More airflow does not mean the same percentage more horsepower, and results depend on the engine and the rest of the truck. What most owners notice right away is intake sound and how the truck feels when you step on it.

Oiled vs dry filters: which should you choose?

Almost every S&B intake we list is offered two ways, with the same box and tube and a different filter element. The part numbers make it easy: the dry version adds a D to the end, such as 75-5122 and 75-5122D.

Dust and off-road use

Both filters are reusable. On dusty trails, check the filter more often than your normal interval, whichever media you run. S&B sells filter wraps matched to specific filters, such as the filter wrap for KF-1035 and KF-1068, which go over the filter as a pre-filter. Check the product page to match the wrap to your filter number.

How to clean an oiled S&B filter

1. Remove the filter from the box and tap out loose dirt.
2. Spray it with filter cleaner and let it soak in.
3. Rinse from the inside out with low-pressure water so dirt comes out the way it went in.
4. Let it dry completely. Do not use compressed air or heat.
5. Oil it lightly and evenly, let the oil wick in, and reinstall.

S&B's Precision II Cleaning and Oiling Kit is listed for any S&B cotton cleanable filter and, per S&B, most other high performance air filters. If you only need oil, there is a 16 oz bottle of S&B filter oil. When the filter is worn out, S&B sells replacement filters by part number, such as the KF-1116 for the 75-5210 and 75-5220 kits, in both cotton and dry versions.

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Which S&B cold air intake fits my truck?

S&B intakes are engine-specific. The same truck can take different kits depending on whether it has a V8, a turbo V6 or a hybrid, so confirm your engine before you order. Here are common fitments we carry, with notes from each listing.

Toyota

Ford

Ram, Chevy, GMC, Jeep and Nissan

See every kit in our cold air intake systems collection. If your truck has a supercharger, a tune or anything else non-stock under the hood, call us before you order.

Can S&B intakes ship to California?

Often not. California restricts aftermarket parts that change emissions-related systems unless they carry a CARB Executive Order for your specific vehicle. Many of the S&B intakes we list cannot ship to California, and the product page shows it, so check there before you order.

Some kits are approved for certain years. For example, S&B lists the 2018-2026 Wrangler / Gladiator 3.6L kit as 50 state compliant for 2018-2025, with 2026 and newer listed as 49 state legal pending a CARB model year update. Other states that follow California rules may also restrict these parts, so check your state.

How to install an S&B cold air intake

Most S&B intakes are a bolt-in swap with hand tools. The exact steps are in S&B's instructions for your kit, but the general order is:

1. Let the engine cool and disconnect the battery if the instructions call for it.
2. Unplug the mass airflow sensor and any sensors or hoses attached to the factory intake.
3. Remove the factory airbox and tube. Keep the parts in case you ever go back to stock.
4. Install the S&B airbox and seal it as directed, then fit the filter.
5. Install the tube, move the airflow sensor to the S&B tube if your kit uses it, and reconnect hoses.
6. Check every clamp, then start the engine and check for leaks, warning lights and idle problems.

A few listing notes to watch: the 2016-2023 Tacoma 3.5L kit will not fit with a supercharger, the 2018-2026 F-150 5.0L kit does not fit Pro Power trucks with dual alternators, and the 2024+ Tacoma kit includes a radiator closeout piece that is only used on 4Runners.

Is an S&B cold air intake worth it?

It is worth it if you want a reusable filter you can service yourself, a better look and sound under the hood, and an intake that S&B designed for your engine. It is less compelling if you expect a large power gain by itself or if you live in California and your kit is not approved. For other upgrades on the same trucks, see our Tacoma accessories guide, F-150 accessories guide and Ram 2500 accessories guide.

What NVMOS carries

We carry S&B cold air intakes, open air intakes, replacement filters, filter wraps, clear lids and cleaning kits. Popular picks:

• S&B Cold Air Intake for 2016-2023 Tacoma 3.5L
• S&B Cold Air Intake 75-5122 for F-150 EcoBoost and Raptor
• S&B Cold Air Intake for 2019-2026 Ram 5.7L Hemi
• S&B Cold Air Intake 75-5140 for Super Duty 6.7L
• S&B Precision II Cleaning and Oiling Kit

Browse by category: Cold air intake systems, S&B Filters, Air filtration and intakes, Replacement air filters, Intake accessories, Shop by vehicle and our vendor warranty policies.

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Frequently asked questions

Should I get the oiled or dry filter on my S&B intake?

Most S&B intakes we list come with a choice: cotton cleanable (oiled) or dry extendable. Pick cotton cleanable if you are fine washing and re-oiling the filter at service time. Pick dry if you want nothing to re-oil. Both are listed for the same application; the filter element is the only difference.

Can S&B cold air intakes ship to California?

Many of the S&B intakes we list cannot ship to California, and the product page shows it. Some kits are CARB legal for certain years; for example, S&B lists its 2018-2025 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator 3.6L kit as 50 state compliant, with 2026 and newer listed as 49 state legal pending a CARB update. Check the product page for your exact kit.

Does an S&B cold air intake add horsepower?

S&B publishes airflow figures for some kits, such as up to 39.05 percent more airflow than stock for the 2020-2027 Super Duty 6.7L Powerstroke kit. Those are S&B's numbers, not a guarantee on your truck, and more airflow does not translate one-to-one into horsepower. Many drivers notice sound and throttle feel most.

How do I clean an S&B oiled filter?

Wash the cotton cleanable filter with a filter cleaner, rinse it, let it dry completely, then re-oil it lightly and evenly. S&B's Precision II Cleaning and Oiling Kit is listed for any S&B cotton cleanable filter. Do not over-oil, because excess oil can coat the mass airflow sensor.

Which S&B intake fits my truck?

S&B intakes are matched to a specific engine, so check your model year and engine before you order. For example, the 75-5122 kit fits the 2018-2026 F-150 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost and Raptor but not the 3.5L PowerBoost hybrid, which uses a separate kit. Call us if you are unsure.

Do I need a tune with an S&B cold air intake?

None of the S&B intake listings we carry say a tune is required. Install it on a stock truck, start it and check for warning lights. If your truck is already tuned or has other engine changes, tell us when you order so we can check for conflicts.

Not sure what fits? Call a real person at (920) 249-7744 or send us a message, and we'll check fitment before you order.