In this paper, the effects of intake manifold systems on volumetric efficiency were investigated in the 4-cylinder 4-stroke cycle diesel engines. The effects of intake manifold system were analyzed on resonant speed and on volumetric efficiency. Resonant speed was calculated by acoustic theory and volumetric efficiency by the method of characteristics. The calculation results agreed well with rest results. It was assured that between the resonant speed and the volumetric efficiency there exists good correlation in multi-cylinder engines. As the results, the prediction of resonant speed was useful to design the optimum intake system. It was assured that the intake manifold systems for BOX-type and RAM-type have different characteristics on the trend of volumetric efficiency. Also a procedure to design the desirable intake manifold system was proposed.