So, after reading about issues with previous model year intercooler pipes, I decided to go ahead and swap the stock cold side intercooler pipe on my 22 now instead of possibly later. To be clear, I haven't read of folks having this particular issue with the 22MY trucks exactly, so I am not saying that this is a "must" upgrade, but it is one that I decided to make... and I'll admit, some of the reason I wanted to do so was also because getting new stuff for my new truck is fun...

Anyway, I know that there are a few different aftermarket companies out there that make these intercooler pipes. I chose S&B based on lots of good feedback on all of their products, and I am also planning on putting at least one more S&B item in my truck in the future... the 60 gallon fuel tank! I'll also admit that I am considering their CAI too... not because I am expecting/wanting a huge performance increase, and if I'll continue to be honest, I like the way it looks and I don't see it causing any issues with my truck. Also, to a lesser degree, it is tough finding stock air filters right now, but I can get a cleanable one from S&B plus they do seem to have their filters in stock every time I have looked. Again, not saying that a new CAI is important on these trucks, but I am considering it... Anyway, all of that to say, I chose S&B over the other companies because I plan on being a repeat customer and they seem to be well received from multiple sources.

But, I did wonder if going with a 2 piece pipe was a good idea verses 1 piece pipes, but again, I didn't see anything negative about it, so I felt like it was a safe bet. When I ordered it, it was on backorder. I contacted S&B about how long the backorder would last. They responded the same day and told me it was about 2 weeks. I waited a few more days and then pulled the trigger on the order. I ordered on January 21. It shipped February 7th, which was a Monday. I figure they got them back in stock on the Friday before, which was exactly 2 weeks from the date of my order. Of course though FedEx took the long way to get to my house, and decided to hang onto it for an extra day or 2 also, but that's on FedEx, not S&B.

I got around to installing it a few days after I received it. It looked pretty straight forward, but just to make sure I didn't miss a step, I printed the instructions from the website (about 30+ pages... lol!) and got busy. When I took the stock pipe off and compared it to the S&B pipe, there was no comparison... the stock pipe is a bit pathetic. (I wish I had taken a picture of them side by side...) Putting the new pipe on wasn't as easy as taking the old pipe off, but it wasn't terribly difficult either. What I did struggle with was twisting the aluminum pipe so that it slipped inside the silicone hose. The aluminum pipe didn't just slide right in like in the video I watched a while back, however, I think if I would have put just a thin layer of oil on the end of the aluminum pipe it would have. Once I got the pipe all together, I almost made a mistake... for whatever reason, I read the "tighten to 75 in/lb" as 75 ft/lb! Thankfully I realized it before getting carried away and messing anything up! (I pictured myself crushing the intercooler fitting!) Anyway, I didn't have anything to measure 75 in/lb so I just got the hose clamps "snug" and called it good. So far no lights have come on so it must be good and sealed.

Anyway, like I said above, I haven't read of the 22MY's intercooler pipes failing, but I have read about them bursting on recent previous years, so while it may not have been necessary, I feel like I have decreased the chances of having this failure now... plus, the S&B pipe looks way better than the OEM pipe too!

I have shared this upgrade over in the "What did I do to my 22" thread but I also wanted to share it here in the 6.7L PSD group. Also, what really surprised me was I received a phone call a couple of days ago from an unknown number. As usual, I didn't answer it, but later realized I had a voicemail. Turns out, it was S&B just calling to make sure everything arrived as expected and that install went well and to make sure I didn't have any questions. I didn't call them back, but felt like it was a nice touch, and if I do have questions, I wouldn't hesitate to call them. Also, the next day I received a follow up email stating the same as the phone call. So, very nice product, and above and beyond customer service means that I definitely wanted to share my experience, and like I mentioned above, I will definitely be doing more business with them in the future! If anyone is looking to swap out intercooler pipes on their own trucks, I wouldn't hesitate at all about going with S&B!


Just took everything out of the box.

All installed and good to go! It looks much nicer than the OEM pipe too!

 

Looks good! Thanks for posting!

Mike

 

Great post and good job. I wasn't aware that S&B came out with their own version. What did they wack you for that?

Never mind, I see on their site it's 300 dollars.

 

Yeah, $300... after looking at a few other aftermarket intercooler pipes, their price seemed pretty much inline... some were higher, some slightly less. Without looking real hard I came across the stock OEM pipe for $180 (not sure how much they vary since I didn't really look for those though). The other one I considered was the H&S intercooler pipe, which was about $10 less expensive. Sinister was about $35 more.

 

I've recently been perusing water methanol injection systems. I've been looking at articles online. But just researching for now. I like how it cleans the engine.

If or when I do it, I'd go with an SPE Motorsports as the throttle body adapter comes with 3 ports. But I've got more research to do and other things I want before I would go with a system.

 

I'm totally lost on that! The next big thing I do to mine needs to be the S&S DPK kit... I have watched several videos on it and it doesn't look too bad, but I am a little nervous just in how much has to come off. Besides that, the 60 gallon fuel tank, and like I mentioned above, I am contemplating swapping over to the S&B CAI...

 

Yeah I'm not going to dive right into the methanol injection, but first have to install my S&S 2nd gen DPK kit done and my Air Dog pump installed as well. I'll probably have it done by one of my friends with me with work clothes on to help and learn. I could probably do it but not as experienced as friends I know nor as young. I will take pics and post to my truck thread when this happens. Plus also have to install my Derringer tuner once that stuff is done.

I've been back and forth with different CAIs in the past. I had considered many different ones but I do like the fact that the Banks and S&B intakes are CARB approved even though I probably wouldn't have an issue with ones not approved. NY state follows CARB laws but only where the population density is high like NYC/Long Island.

After looking on S&B's website, I do like that S&B replaces the stock intake tube to the turbo but Banks does a lot of testing so I'm thinking that the OEM tube doesn't affect much. I also like the S&B has larger filters, are cheaper to replace and that the CAI from them is cheaper than Banks.

I also like this by S&B:

https://www.sbfilters.com/2011-2019-...6-7-map-sensor

 

Nice. I've ordered a cold side pipe from HS motorsports and it has not shipped yet. S&B was my second choice.

I believe you do not want to use oil to assemble. Silicon lube if anything...

When my cold side pipe gets here I'll install the S&S dpk and new cold pipe at the same time.

 

In their install instructions they do state to put a thin coat of clean Diesel engine oil on the outside edge of the throttle assembly, but you are right, that isn’t on the silicone tube.

 

Yeah I saw that their’s is CARB approved. To be honest I didn’t even look to see what that meant exactly. But I do like the look of it…

I am interested in their filters though, particularly the cleanable ones. I was in the process of buying new OEM filters and Diesel Filters Online actually called me when they had some come in but I decided not to get them after all. I am thinking I will probably just get their CAI sometime soon and just replace it all at once.

 

I have not seen any 2020 and up failures. It is different design from the older cold side pipes..

 

I thought the pipe was same on 17+ and it’s plastic and rubber. I’ve seen pics of the rubber with a split in it.

 

As I mentioned in my initial post, I haven't come across any posts stating that the 22's have had issues with the intercooler pipes, but I have seen posts about folks with 17+ having them. I can't say that the pipes on the 22's (or even the 20+) are the same as on the original 17 trucks either. But, I can say that even before I replaced mine, when I would squeeze on the pipe it just seemed flimsy. After putting my hands on the silicone pipe from S&B, I realized just how flimsy. Saying that, I replaced the pipe hoping to prevent future potential issues, and yes, partly because I think the S&B pipe just looks better too...

Anyway, I wish I had taken a photo of them side by side, but I didn't... but you can see the end of the S&B silicone pipe in the photo in my initial post, and you can tell it is heavily reinforced. I did go out just now and take a photo of the stock pipe, and you can tell quickly that the stock pipe is not near as reinforced as the S&B pipe. Would it have failed? I have no idea... but I am much more confident in the one from S&B.

 

Is that an image of the stock pipe on the 22's? If so that is a much beefier pipe than the plastic pipes that fail on the earlier models. At least that is a rubber or silicone pipe and I wouldn't be concerned of it failing.

This is how the plastic ones fail.

 

Yes, this is the stock pipe that came off my 22. This is the end that connects to the intercooler, but at the other end that connects to the throttle assembly there is a plastic piece similar to the one in the photo you linked to. As for the hose, it feels like (thin) rubber to me.