This is one of the easiest jobs on a DS-body Ram 1500 and needs almost no tools. The airbox is right on top on the driver's side, the lid comes off with a couple of screws and some spring clips, and the filter is a flat panel that lifts straight out. Budget more time for cleaning leaves and pine needles out of the bottom of the housing than for the filter swap itself.
What varies is the lid hardware: some trucks use only metal spring clips, others add Phillips or 8 mm-head screws, and some model years want the outlet tube clamp loosened so the lid can hinge back. The 3.0 EcoDiesel has its own larger housing and duct routing. The mistake people make is forcing the lid down on a filter that is not fully seated in the sealing lip, or cranking the plastic lid screws until they strip - both lead to unfiltered air getting past the element.
| Item | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Phillips screwdriver #2, medium length Removes the airbox lid screws and loosens the outlet hose clamp on most DS trucks. | Required | shop |
| Socket or nut driver 8 mm, 1/4 in drive Fits the worm-gear hose clamp on the air outlet tube and some lid fasteners. | Required | shop |
| 1/4 in drive ratchet and short extension 1/4 in drive, 3 in extension Faster than a screwdriver on the clamp screw in the tight space near the fender. | Recommended | shop |
| Flat-blade screwdriver Small, 1/4 in tip Pops the spring clips on the airbox lid without breaking them. | Recommended | shop |
| Trim/panel pry tool Plastic Frees stubborn lid clips and any push-pin retainers without marring the plastic. | Recommended | shop |
| Flashlight or work light LED Lets you see leaves and debris in the bottom of the housing and confirm the filter seats fully. | Required | shop |
| Shop vacuum With crevice nozzle Cleans dirt, pine needles and mouse nests from the lower airbox before fitting the new filter. | Required | shop |
| Microfiber rags Wipe the sealing lip of the housing so the new filter gasket seals. | Consumables | shop |
| Engine air filter 5.7/4.7 V8 and 3.6 V6: flat panel (Mopar 53034051AE / Wix 49060 style); 3.0 EcoDiesel: its own panel filter The replacement element itself. | Parts | shop |
| Nitrile gloves Keeps filter dust and engine grime off your hands. | Safety | shop |
3.6 Pentastar, 4.7 V8 and 5.7 Hemi all use the same style top-mount airbox on the driver's side with a flat panel filter and the same #2 Phillips / 8 mm hardware. The 3.0 EcoDiesel uses a different, larger housing and a different part-number filter, but the same drivers apply. No engine in this generation needs a special tool for this job.
| Airbox lid screws | Snug by hand only, about 15-20 in-lb - do not strip the plastic |
| Air outlet tube hose clamp | verify in the service manual; snug so the tube cannot be twisted by hand |
Lid retention on the DS generation varies by year and engine between spring clips, Phillips screws and 8 mm-head screws, so have both a #2 Phillips and an 8 mm driver on hand and check your own airbox before buying anything.
Roughly every 20,000-30,000 miles under normal use, or every 12,000-15,000 miles if you drive dirt roads, tow in dust or work on job sites. Inspect it at every other oil change and replace it when the pleats are dark and loaded or light no longer passes through.
On some DS trucks the lid comes off with just spring clips by hand, but most need a #2 Phillips screwdriver or an 8 mm driver for the lid screws and the outlet tube clamp. Bring both plus a flashlight and a vacuum.
The soft rubber or foam sealing gasket faces up, against the lip of the upper lid, with the pleats running the same direction as the filter you removed. If the lid will not close with light pressure, the filter is in crooked.
A merely dirty filter usually just costs a little power and mileage, but a filter that is not sealed lets dust reach the MAF sensor and can set lean or MAF performance codes such as P0171/P0174 or P0101. Seat the filter and lid properly and clean the housing to avoid it.