If you own a modern diesel pickup, you already know the deal. These trucks make serious power from the factory, tow like freight trains, and do it all while staying surprisingly refined. But if you tow heavy, live in the throttle merging onto the highway, or just believe your truck should breathe better than stock, airflow still matters.
K&N clearly gets that. The company just rolled out its new NextGen Diesel Air Intake Systems along with an expanded lineup of Dryflow Performance Air Filters, and this isn’t just another “slap a cone filter on it” upgrade. These systems were designed specifically for today’s heavy-duty diesel trucks.
A Brand Diesel Owners Already Trust
K&N isn’t new to this. They’ve been building performance filtration for more than 55 years. Long before modern Power Stroke, Duramax, and Cummins trucks were dominating the roads, K&N filters were showing up in race cars, off-road rigs, and weekend toys everywhere.
Over the years, diesel trucks have gotten more advanced. Factory tuning is tighter. Emissions systems are more complex. Gains aren’t as easy to grab as they used to be. That’s why bolt-on parts must be smarter now.
K&N’s approach with the NextGen Diesel intake systems is simple: improve airflow, lower inlet temps, smooth things out, and deliver real gains—without requiring a tune.
Real Gains, No Tune Required
K&N says its NextGen Diesel intake systems can deliver gains of up to 23 horsepower and 40 lb-ft of torque on a stock truck.
The system uses a hybrid open-top airbox design with an enlarged factory fresh air inlet to help bring in cooler air. The intake tube itself is oversized—the largest diameter K&N has built for these applications—and features velocity channels to smooth airflow at higher demand.
What does that mean in the real world? More consistent airflow under load. Better response when you lean into the throttle. Stronger pulling power when you’re towing. And it does all of it while working with factory tuning parameters.
Built To Look Right Under The Hood
The NextGen system has a clean, OEM-inspired appearance instead of looking like an afterthought. The silicone hose lays flush for a factory-plus vibe, and of course, you still get those iconic K&N race stripes on the filter element. It’s subtle, but anyone who knows performance parts will recognize it.
Installation is designed to be straightforward, too. K&N’s Quick-Lock Technology allows the filter to snap securely into place without extra mounting hardware, which makes the whole process cleaner and less frustrating in the garage.
Dryflow Filters That Actually Make Sense For Diesel Trucks
Every NextGen intake system comes equipped with K&N’s Dryflow Air Filter, which uses a dry synthetic media instead of a traditional oiled design.
For diesel owners, that’s a big deal. You get strong airflow and filtration performance, but with simple maintenance. These filters are washable and reusable, and K&N rates them for up to 50,000 miles between cleanings under normal driving conditions.
If you’re not ready to swap out the entire intake, K&N also offers Dryflow and High-Flow lifetime performance filters as drop-in panel replacements for factory airboxes. That makes it easy to upgrade without going all-in.
More Than Just Intakes
K&N didn’t stop at air intake systems. The expanded Performance Diesel lineup also includes oil filters, fuel filters, and washable cabin air filters designed specifically for heavy-duty diesel pickups.
Applications cover some of the most popular trucks on the road, including Ram 2500/3500 models from 2013 up through 2024, Chevy/GMC 2500HD and 3500HD trucks from 2017 through 2026, and Ford Super Duty models from 2017 through 2026.
In other words, if you’re driving a late-model Cummins, Duramax, or Power Stroke, there’s a good chance K&N has something built specifically for your truck.
The Bottom Line
Modern diesel pickups are already impressive machines. But they’re also airflow-hungry, especially when towing or working hard. The new K&N NextGen Diesel intake systems and Dryflow filters are designed to help your truck breathe easier, pull harder, and do it all without messing with factory tuning.
If you’re interested in seeing what fits your truck, K&N has the full lineup and application list available at KNFilters.com/diesel.
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