What's the best performance tuner out there??

[WestCoastHemi]

I've been having a horrible time researching what the best fit for a performance tuner for my 2015 5.7 Hemi would be.

I can't seem to find out whether or not it's absolutely necessary to swap out the pcm for an unlocked one. Hopefully there are tuners out there that don't require a swap.

I've read up about the EDGE Pulsar module but personally, I'm looking for a handheld or dash device that I can use to monitor the system and adjust things that way.

The EDGE uses the up and down buttons on your steering wheel to adjust power levels and also has the added annoyance of having to remove the module every time you go to the dealership. So that type of performance system doesn't fit my needs.

What do you guys/girls think? Any advice or suggestions??

 

[Gary's Hemi]

Anything other than the Edge the pcm has to be swapped. I recommend Diablo. The Diablo I3 is the best bang for the buck. The Trinity has some neato gauges if you want that but isnt necessary. I HIGHLY recommend getting a custom tune from Jay Greene. A custom tune is a night & day difference over the canned tune. No matter what you go w/ if you want to go to the dealer you need to either swap back to your factory pcm(Diablo) or remove the product(Edge)

 

[WestCoastHemi]

Anything other than the Edge the pcm has to be swapped. I recommend Diablo. The Diablo I3 is the best bang for the buck. The Trinity has some neato gauges if you want that but isnt necessary. I HIGHLY recommend getting a custom tune from Jay Greene. A custom tune is a night & day difference over the canned tune. No matter what you go w/ if you want to go to the dealer you need to either swap back to your factory pcm(Diablo) or remove the product(Edge)

I've never looked into tuning for my truck before, until yesterday, so I'm a complete amateur when it comes to this and have amateur questions haha

1. What do you mean about getting a custom tune from Jay Greene? I looked him up and he's in Texas. Do you mean I'd have to drive from Canada down there for a tune?

2. What is a canned tune?

3. So you're saying even when I swap my stock pcm for an unlocked one to use with the diablo, I'd have to keep the stock one and swap them every time I go to the dealership?

Sorry for the questions!

 

[Ratket]

i believe there is a custom hemi tuner in Canada, and no you don’t have to drive to them. If you do not want the dealership to know you are running a tune, then yes you will need to swap the pcm ever time you take it in, “ just like with the pulsar”.
A canned tune is a reference to a manufactures tune.. like edge,diablo,bulldog,sct.. their factory tunes they load on their devices. They are ok at best, but a custom tune from hemi Fever or jay greene is a much much better option.

 

[MADDOG]

1. You don't have to drive anywhere to get it. Custom tunes can be done by email.

2 A canned tune is a tune file that comes with the programmer. It's one of the options you select when you are ready to program your truck.

3. It would be advisable to keep your stock PCM and place it back in the truck for dealership visits. Given that the service dept. could query your PCM for version information and flash it with updates, they could render the PCM inoperable or at the very least note that the PCM has been programmed. In that case, it may become a warranty issue.

So here's how it goes:

1. You buy an unlocked PCM and a programmer. The PCM is needed as your stock one was encrypted by FCA.

2. You install the PCM.

3. You plug the programmer into your OBD II port under the dash, select your programming options (canned tune selection) and let the programmer to its thing to download the canned tune. There are other options such as tire size, speed limiter, etc...you can select as well.

4. Contact a tuner. Folks here use Jay Greene and Hemifever for their tunes. Both gents do a good job. Hemifever is a supporting vendor here so we like seeing the business going his way but it's totally up to you who you pick. Let them know what sort of things you want to do, such as turn off MDS, and they will build that into the tune file.

5. The tuner will have you "log" with your programmer. They will send instructions on what to do. You log the truck's operation, then extract the log file by plugging the programmer into your computer. You email that file to the tuner.

6. The tuner will send you back a tune file that you will place on the programmer using your computer. Then you will plug the programmer into your truck and program it using the file they sent.

7. You may end up logging, emailing files, receiving files and tuning the truck several times but the time is well spent.

 

[WestCoastHemi]

1. You don't have to drive anywhere to get it. Custom tunes can be done by email.

2 A canned tune is a tune file that comes with the programmer. It's one of the options you select when you are ready to program your truck.

3. It would be advisable to keep your stock PCM and place it back in the truck for dealership visits. Given that the service dept. could query your PCM for version information and flash it with updates, they could render the PCM inoperable or at the very least note that the PCM has been programmed. In that case, it may become a warranty issue.

So here's how it goes:

1. You buy an unlocked PCM and a programmer. The PCM is needed as your stock one was encrypted by FCA.

2. You install the PCM.

3. You plug the programmer into your OBD II port under the dash, select your programming options (canned tune selection) and let the programmer to its thing to download the canned tune. There are other options such as tire size, speed limiter, etc...you can select as well.

4. Contact a tuner. Folks here use Jay Greene and Hemifever for their tunes. Both gents do a good job. Hemifever is a supporting vendor here so we like seeing the business going his way but it's totally up to you who you pick. Let them know what sort of things you want to do, such as turn off MDS, and they will build that into the tune file.

5. The tuner will have you "log" with your programmer. They will send instructions on what to do. You log the truck's operation, then extract the log file by plugging the programmer into your computer. You email that file to the tuner.

6. The tuner will send you back a tune file that you will place on the programmer using your computer. Then you will plug the programmer into your truck and program it using the file they sent.

7. You may end up logging, emailing files, receiving files and tuning the truck several times but the time is well spent.

Thank you, you've all given me solid info and enjoy to go off of to make this work.

One more question:

If I go with the Diablo I3, do I need the platinum model in order to use one of the custom tuning like Jay's?

 

[MADDOG]

Thank you, you've all given me solid info and enjoy to go off of to make this work.

One more question:

If I go with the Diablo I3, do I need the platinum model in order to use one of the custom tuning like Jay's?

Yes

 

[McBroom]

Yes

Is all this info we’re talking about only related to the 5.7 or is it compatible with the 6.4 also?


I Love My 2018 RAM 2500HD 4x4 6.4L

 

[MADDOG]

The information on the custom tunes is relevant to all engines you can tune with an I3.

The information on the PCM is relevant to all 2015 and newer vehicles.

The information on which Diablosport programmer is compatible with custom tunes is relevant to the I3 and some previous generation Diablosport units which are either no longer available from them or are no longer supported by them.

My 6.4L tuned by Hemifever using an I2:


My 6.1L custom tuned on a dyno by a Diablosport trained tuner on a first generation Predator: