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HELP: Tune for 2018 Durango GT 3.6L?

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MeanDurangoGT

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey guys,

I'm new to the forum. My brother has a 2018 Durango GT with the 3.6L V6. He wants look into a little more power. He suggested a cold air intake but through my experience with my Mustang, they don't do a lot unless paired with a tune.

Is there anyone making tunes for a 2018 Durango V6? If so, how do I go about this?

Thanks guys.
 
#4 ·
If your brother is looking for just a little more power, then I think it will be more cost effective if he trades it in for R/T model which will give you an additional ~65 HP.
 
#5 ·
Might want to contact Diablosport and ask them if they are working on something.

Otherwise my advise for him is to swap out the rear diff from his 3.23 to the 3.45 they came in the 2014-2016 model year Durango and JGC 3.6L.
That will give him a nice little boost in acceleration throughout the rpm range.
Dodge went to a taller rear gear with the updated Pentastar to improve highway mileage and take advantage of the improve midrange TQ the 2nd gen 3.6L has over the 1st gen.
However the 3.6L is lacking TQ down low, so I like the lower 3.45 ratio and it helps get the heavy D moving off the line better.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Chase300 said:
Might want to contact Diablosport and ask them if they are working on something.

Otherwise my advise for him is to swap out the rear diff from his 3.23 to the 3.45 they came in the 2014-2016 model year Durango and JGC 3.6L.
That will give him a nice little boost in acceleration throughout the rpm range.
Dodge went to a taller rear gear with the updated Pentastar to improve highway mileage and take advantage of the improve midrange TQ the 2nd gen 3.6L has over the 1st gen.
However the 3.6L is lacking TQ down low, so I like the lower 3.45 ratio and it helps get the heavy D moving off the line better.
Click to expand...
I don't think he's willing to go that far by swapping the diff. I think he just wanted something easy like a CAI. I let him know that CAIs don't really do much unless paired with a tune. I'll try contacting Diablosport as you suggested.

Thanks for the info man.
 
#8 ·
You're kidding right???
Well just in case you're not..NO, the Hemi is putting out double the TQ of the 3.6L down low and until around 3K. The Pentastar doesn't hit its peak TQ until around 4K and its power continues to 6K.
Hemi is dropping off after 5200 or so.
The Pentastar makes its power higher in the rev range than the Hemi and thus needs a lower rear end gear to take advantage of its powerband.
Try laying a tire patch with a pentastar powered RWD vehicle off the line...not going to happen.
 
#9 · (Edited)
You do know the 3.6 makes 90% of peak torque starting at 1800rpm and then holds that all the way through 6,350?

It was always my complaint of the 5.7... gutless in stock form under 3,000rpm. Only felt like it came alive above that. And yes, I’ve driven both back to back. The 5.7 is way more fun if you’re in the gas, but the 3.6 moves through town easier.

And yes, I’ve laid down tire patches with my v6. It’s not hard.

https://www.knfilters.com/dynocharts/77-1560_dyno.pdf

https://www.knfilters.com/dynocharts/77-1563_dyno.pdf


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#10 ·
Pentastar 260 tq @4800.
Hemi 390 tq @ 4000.
...and you want to argue the Pentastar makes more TQ than a Hemi at what point??? Maybe above 5000 rpms.

You need you a recalibration on your butt dyno if you think the Hemi is lacking TQ down low and the Pentastar has it.
 
#11 · (Edited)
I very rarely get to exceed 3,000rpm in my daily driving. So for me, the torque of the v6 BELOW 3,000rpm makes me happier than revving out a 5.7 and getting fuel mileage in the teens. What’s the point of having 390ft lbs of torque when I’m never going to hit that? I never towed anything, I rarely drive on any interstates. 90% of 260ft lbs is 234ft lbs at 1,800rpm. 5.7 is close, but the v6 under that is better.

I’m not saying the v6 is the superior engine. But it isn’t a penalty box motor like older v6 engines were. Not everyone drives around like they’re in a sports car. That’s why I pointed out the v6’s torque advantage under 3,000rpm.


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#12 ·
I like the Pentastar...one of the best sounding/performing V6's out there, superior to me over GM's 3.6L DI.
..and it performs great even in the Ram behind the 8-speed. If you didn't know better driving a Pentastar Ram, you'd swear there was a small V8 under the hood.

But I don't get your view its has more TQ down low than a Hemi...it just doesn't that I've ever seen and I'm not taking a K&N rear wheel dyno as proof. Too many variables in those can sway numbers.
We need engine dyno numbers from FCA.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Skippy426 said:
You do know the 3.6 makes 90% of peak torque starting at 1800rpm and then holds that all the way through 6,350?

It was always my complaint of the 5.7... gutless in stock form under 3,000rpm. Only felt like it came alive above that. And yes, I’ve driven both back to back. The 5.7 is way more fun if you’re in the gas, but the 3.6 moves through town easier.

And yes, I’ve laid down tire patches with my v6. It’s not hard.

https://www.knfilters.com/dynocharts/77-1560_dyno.pdf

https://www.knfilters.com/dynocharts/77-1563_dyno.pdf


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Based on those charts, the 3.6 actually produces about 185 lbs of torque at 3,000 RPMs, whereas the 5.7 only generates about 150 lbs of torque at 3,000 RPMs (although I believe the chart might be a bit low for the Hemi). At first I was a little bit concerned about towing our 3,000 lb trailer with the 3.6 since it has less "peak" torque than my 4.7 Dakota (260 vs 290), but in practice, my Durango with the 3.6 pulls my camper better than my 4.7, based on a flatter torque curve, plus the 8 speed transmission, and it doesn't need to downshift to 4,000 RPMs to go up hills. The charts also show the 5.7 has less HP at 3,000 RPMs than the 3.6 which surprised me.
I am now happy that I got the 3.6 Pentastar. I rarely go over 3,000 RPMs towing.
 
#14 ·
Chase, I spent way more time than I would care to admit looking for engine dyno numbers lol... the K&N ones were the best I could find. I loved my hemi, but I probably wouldn’t buy another 5.7, I got to go for a ride in a 6.4 and that blew my mind haha

Radar, I always felt the 5.7 just lumbered along below 3,000. Never got to drive one with a set of bolt ons and a nice tune, which from what I’m told REALLY wakes them up. Mine was just intake and an axle back on the stock tune. I’m sure if I have had that chance I’d have a different feeling for the 5.7


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#15 ·
I too looked..but I'm pretty confident the 5.7L is putting out around 300 ft tq at 3,000 seeing peak 390 is at 4K only 1K rpm's later.
Yes, 6.4L is a beast plus it gets the same fuel mileage as the 5.7...so agree, if I were shopping Hemi, it would be 6.4L only.
 
#16 ·
hey radar,
I have the 3.6 pen as well and I pull a 26ft jayco toy hauler without any issues. the only thing id like to change is getting a lower RMP and better performance in 5th and 6th gear. at 65-70mph I was hovering around 3500 RPM in 5th, 6th gear was just a dead pedal unless I was on flat roads and even then 6th has no power at all so, now I am looking into the diablo tuner, they're claiming better power for towing. I am looking at the i3 with the tuned PCM, so if anyone has any input on the tuners for the 3.6, please chime in, id like to hear your opinions but please keep the V8 swap comments to yourself. love my D and I am totally fine with the 3.6 pen. anyways, the complete setup is just a little over $900 and would be worth the investment if it does actually work. it does have a to tune in the programmer and I was researching the diablo forums and it sounds like its worth buying if you are looking for more towing power from the v6.

so I live in Michigan and took the Durango and toy hauler to cape Hatters last October, was a 16.5 hour drive and had to stop 4 times for fuel. think I was getting around 250 miles on a full tank and I was averaging around 10 mph and coming back at 70-75 mph I averaged 8 mph, guessing that wasn't to bad considering its a 5200lb hauler and had all my gear and my scooter on this trip.
so, now I know what she does, I already have another trip planned to cape Hatteras in April, hope ill have made up my mind on the tuner by then so I can compare the before and after results.
 
#19 ·
just curious if you bought the diablo tuner for that 3.6?
I trying to decide if I wanna drop the $900 on the programer and new PCM. I am just looking for a little more towing power and they claim the tunes will give more HP and more towing power and from what I have read, looks like it works pretty and a lot of people claim that its worth the money. I will call diablo and chat with a tech before jumping in, just looking for others input and opinion and I am not going to trade my D in for a V8
 
#20 ·
laser204 said:
just curious if you bought the diablo tuner for that 3.6?
I trying to decide if I wanna drop the $900 on the programer and new PCM. I am just looking for a little more towing power and they claim the tunes will give more HP and more towing power and from what I have read, looks like it works pretty and a lot of people claim that its worth the money. I will call diablo and chat with a tech before jumping in, just looking for others input and opinion and I am not going to trade my D in for a V8
Click to expand...
Keep us posted.
 
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hamada128
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