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Best Performance Mods for 2010-2018 Cummins-equipped Ram 2500 & 3500

So you bought a 4th generation Cummins. You probably already know that the 6.7L Cummins engine that is the powerhouse behind the 2010-2018 Ram Heavy Duty trucks is an absolute beast! It’ll tow anything you can throw at it, it gets excellent fuel mileage, and it’s going to last you a long time. As great as it is though, there is a lot of room for improvement. Extra horsepower, torque, and fuel economy are waiting to be claimed. You can even add some time to your truck’s life span. How? Invest in the best performance mods to make your truck run better. Keep reading to find out our favorite 4th generation 6.7L Cummins performance upgrades.

1. Tuning /W Transmission Tuning

A tuner or programmer will have the most dramatic impact of any of the 4th generation 6.7L Cummins Performance upgrades on this list. Tuners modify your 6.7L Cummins factory engine calibration. Injection timing, fueling, and many other parameters are changed to give your diesel greater performance. While the extra ponies and torque are nice, when it comes to your 6.7L Cummins, what you want is transmission tuning. The 68 RFE automatic transmissions found on Ram HD trucks are the weakest link to these trucks. Good engine and transmission tuning can make a huge impact. It’ll even make the truck more enjoyable to drive. Shift points can improve, and as long as you lay off of the throttle and high-performance tunes, you can increase the life of your 68 RFE. Even if you have the beefier Aisin transmission, you could still benefit from tuning.

2. Cold Air Intakes

Cold air intakes are an excellent low-cost addition to any truck because they can improve fuel economy. You might get some extra ponies too, but gains are nominal. Cold air intakes provide your Diesel engine with cooler, denser air. Factory air intakes can often be restrictive, and limit the amount of air being drawn in. Aftermarket air intakes like S&B’s Cold Air Intake or Bank’s Power Ram Air Intake System increase air flow over stock. They also often offer superior filtration properties compared to the stock air filter. Check out some of our favorite cold air intakes for diesel trucks below.

3. Intercoolers

Aftermarket intercoolers are one of the best upgrades you can do to any diesel truck. While they won’t give you tons of power, they do a lot to extend the life of your truck. Aftermarket intercoolers are typically larger, giving them better heat reduction properties. Unfortunately, the stock intercoolers on 2013-2018 Ram HD trucks with the 6.7L Cummins are relatively small. They are located behind the front bumper, so they had to fit! While the stock intercoolers may perform okay, is just okay what you want for your diesel? An aftermarket intercooler from Banks or Mishimoto will lower your 4th Generation 6.7L Cummin’s EGTs and improve air flow. It’ll give you cooler, denser air going straight to your engine, and your truck will be better because of it! Check out some of our favorite intercoolers we have listed below.

4. Exhaust Systems

If you have an older diesel like an LB7 Duramax, 7.3L Powerstroke, or a 5.9L Cummins, your exhaust is much less restrictive than modern day diesels like the 4th generation Cummins. There is no DPF, DOCs, or DEF system you have to worry about. You can get a true 4″ or 5″ exhaust and reap the benefits. With your 4th generation Cummins, performance modifications are limited by emissions systems. DPF back exhaust systems are available from Banks or MBRP. They’ll help reduce backpressure after the DPF. Gains are small, but your truck will sound better!

5. Head Studs

Running a tuner, bigger single turbo, or twin turbochargers? You NEED Head Studs. All that power comes with a price, and if you don’t invest in head studs, your engine could be in serious trouble. ARP makes head stud kits that are second to none! Check out some of their kits below.

6. Deep Sump Transmission Pans

As I mentioned above, the 68 RFE transmission is a major weak point on the 2013-2018 Ram HD trucks. You should take any measure to help prolong transmission life. Deep Transmission pans by companies like BD Diesel, PPE, or Mag Hytec increase overall transmission fluid capacity. This helps keep fluid temperature lower, effectively adding to the life of your transmission. They are made of aluminum and have fins that help dissipate heat. Aftermarket transmission pans also make cleaning and maintenance easier. They feature drain plugs at the bottom, and an interior magnet to catch debris. Here are some of our favorite aftermarket transmission pans.

7. Lift Pumps

Our last item we recommend as one of our best 4th generation 6.7L Cummins performance upgrades is a lift pump. Lift pumps are a great performance add-on for all diesel trucks. Not only will they make sure you’re getting sufficient fuel, but they offer superior filtration compared to your fuel filter. Lift Pumps like the Fass Titanium Series Fuel Lift Pump or Air Dog help prevent premature injector and injection pump failure. The new high pressure fuel systems used on todays Cummins, Powerstroke, and especially Duramax trucks are very susceptible to poor quality fuel. This advanced filtration and water-fuel separation provided by a lift pump goes a long way! Check out our favorite lift pumps for the 4th Gen Cummins below.

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