[M376X6]

I don't know if there are any Mopar engineers that visit here but my question concerns the impact on a Durango Hellcat that is used for commuting. The wife's current vehicle is a Durango RT. She drives about 7 miles 4 times a day going to the office, coming home for lunch, and back to the office, and the at the end of the day, home. I use my Hellcat to run into Denver 30 miles away so it has a chance to get to temp and stretch it's legs, this is occasionally. The Charger is a 2019 and has 8K miles on it now. The Durango will probably go more often but for the most part used for commuting. 7 miles isn't enough to really get to temp and everything stabilize temp wise. Will this put undo strain on the engine and the components that might be harmful to the vehicle? I'm inclined to think yes, but hearing from someone who has experience and actual knowledge of what I am describing is helpful. If it is best not to get a D H I'll go ahead and order us an SRT with a 6.4. She drives like an old lady because she is. Someone who does this with a Challenger or a Charger and of course a Durango would be really nice to hear from. Thanks

 

[DevilsReject97]

It'll be completely fine...

 

[Rockster]

That type of usage can have the oil more contaminated with among other things water. Maybe.

It depends. With my Hellcat before it and with my Scat Pack 7 miles of city driving would have the oil temperature up over 212F.

Also, based on seeing at least Porsche engines torn down after being subjected to similar usage combustion chamber/piston deposits will be heavier. This was at the Burlingame CA Porsche dealer. These cars were referred to as "SF cars": 5 miles from home to office (downtown), 5 miles from office to home and back again, this for lunch. Then 5 miles home after work.

A pic...

For the oil contamination you can change the oil more often than the 6 months/6K miles the factory calls for. If you want some idea of how much sooner you can at say 1K miles or 2K miles have the oil analyzed to find out how bad water accumulation might be. I had the oil analyzed the oil from a new car with 4K miles on it and the analysis found 7% water. Given the engine's oil capacity was just over 9 quarts this represented nearly 1/2 quart of water. No there was no coolant leak. There was no trace of any anti-freeze compounds found by the analysis. The water was from the engine running cold -- the 4K miles had been accumulated in the dead of winter. After the analysis I monitored engine coolant temperature with an OBD2 scan tool/data viewer/logger and discovered just how "cold" the engine coolant stayed even at highway speeds.

For the engine deposits a tank of Chevron Supreme gasoline every so often helps with the deposits.

Or you can use the wife's vehicle for your 30 mile drive to Denver. However, my experience with my Hellcat on the open highway is the engine tends to run a bit cool -- coolant and oil temperature -- vs. when it is driven in town. The extended engine run time might alleviate the deposits some but the engine may not get hot enough long enough to boil the water out of the oil.

 

[baabootoo]

Synthetic oil won't care one bit.

 

[M376X6]

That type of usage can have the oil more contaminated with among other things water. Maybe.

It depends. With my Hellcat before it and with my Scat Pack 7 miles of city driving would have the oil temperature up over 212F.

Also, based on seeing at least Porsche engines torn down after being subjected to similar usage combustion chamber/piston deposits will be heavier. This was at the Burlingame CA Porsche dealer. These cars were referred to as "SF cars": 5 miles from home to office (downtown), 5 miles from office to home and back again, this for lunch. Then 5 miles home after work.

A pic...



View attachment 572993


For the oil contamination you can change the oil more often than the 6 months/6K miles the factory calls for. If you want some idea of how much sooner you can at say 1K miles or 2K miles have the oil analyzed to find out how bad water accumulation might be. I had the oil analyzed the oil from a new car with 4K miles on it and the analysis found 7% water. Given the engine's oil capacity was just over 9 quarts this represented nearly 1/2 quart of water. No there was no coolant leak. There was no trace of any anti-freeze compounds found by the analysis. The water was from the engine running cold -- the 4K miles had been accumulated in the dead of winter. After the analysis I monitored engine coolant temperature with an OBD2 scan tool/data viewer/logger and discovered just how "cold" the engine coolant stayed even at highway speeds.

For the engine deposits a tank of Chevron Supreme gasoline every so often helps with the deposits.

Or you can use the wife's vehicle for your 30 mile drive to Denver. However, my experience with my Hellcat on the open highway is the engine tends to run a bit cool -- coolant and oil temperature -- vs. when it is driven in town. The extended engine run time might alleviate the deposits some but the engine may not get hot enough long enough to boil the water out of the oil.

Good information, thank you. Darn, I'll have to drive it to Denver once a week and also my Charger. I don't get the Charger out much during the winter. We live at 8,500 feet and I won't take it out if there are poor road conditions. The Durango with AWD would work great. On a another note, our dealership mentioned not to bother with scheduled oil changes as the car keeps track of the condition of the oil and recommends when to change it. This goes against everything I did over the years, but as long as it doesn't interfere with the warranty I am fine. I change the oil in my 2012 3500 every six months even though it may only have a couple of thousand miles on it. We use it quite a bit towing a trailer with our hunting Dodges around the West in the Fall. That can put as much as 4 thousand miles on it in a season. It has just over 60 right now, but I love it as it was the last year before DEF. Thanks again Rockstar for your great information.

 

[frictioncircle]

Another suggestion would be the SRT D the 6.4 motor is very good in the Durango.I have over 26 k miles on mine and also have a 7 mile commute no issues. The HC seems like overkill unless it is a want purchase. Also unless you already have a sold order they will be hard to come by.

 

[M376X6]

Another suggestion would be the SRT D the 6.4 motor is very good in the Durango.I have over 26 k miles on mine and also have a 7 mile commute no issues. The HC seems like overkill unless it is a want purchase. Also unless you already have a sold order they will be hard to come by.

Driving the Durango with the 5.7 is somewhat lacking when you get used to the Charger HC. I'm having a bit of a hard time pushing the Durango HC on the wife as she has only driven the Charger once. It frightens her. I tell her it only goes as hard and fast as you push down on the pedal but she screams a lot when she is in the Charger with me. But you're right, my Son had the Charger with the 6.4 and I loved it. I'm 50/50 right now, but still, having a Durango HC is a wild ride. I'll probably grow up and act my age when push comes to shove. But it is nice to dream. We're looking to retire in 2 or 3 years so maybe the price difference will be the deciding factor. Thanks for your wisdom.

 

[frictioncircle]

HaHa well I'm trading in my SRT for a HCD...so maybe I'm not so wise...

 

[Nateusarmy13]

HaHa well I'm trading in my SRT for a HCD...so maybe I'm not so wise...

I’m in same boat, olive the DDSRT but a DDHC literally is falling I to my lap and I had first dibs on it so I locked it down primarily due to them never being made again after this year. Guess I’m a sucker but oh well

 

[M376X6]

HaHa well I'm trading in my SRT for a HCD...so maybe I'm not so wise...

We're both wise as every post I've seen here so far is. I was disappointed when I found out they had reached the limit for Durango Hellcats for the 2021 year. But then a few weeks ago I found out they're going to do another limited order for 2022 and do some style changes.

 

[frictioncircle]

We're both wise as every post I've seen here so far is. I was disappointed when I found out they had reached the limit for Durango Hellcats for the 2021 year. But then a few weeks ago I found out they're going to do another limited order for 2022 and do some style changes.

That would be the first I've heard about that. The factory is retooling for other models and the HC motor does not meet evap emission standards in the Durango for 22.

 

[matt someone with an SRT]

Driving the Durango with the 5.7 is somewhat lacking when you get used to the Charger HC. I'm having a bit of a hard time pushing the Durango HC on the wife as she has only driven the Charger once. It frightens her. I tell her it only goes as hard and fast as you push down on the pedal but she screams a lot when she is in the Charger with me. But you're right, my Son had the Charger with the 6.4 and I loved it. I'm 50/50 right now, but still, having a Durango HC is a wild ride. I'll probably grow up and act my age when push comes to shove. But it is nice to dream. We're looking to retire in 2 or 3 years so maybe the price difference will be the deciding factor. Thanks for your wisdom.

I would just get the 392. The Durango isn’t anywhere near as fast as a hellcat charger or challenger. not to say its not gonna be fun. But already owning a charger HC it’s significantly lighter and more aerodynamic. I raced a 392 Durango in my Charger hellcat.. they do alright.. once they hit 3 digit speeds though it’s like a brick wall. The hellcat puts a few bus lengths on it.. just my 2 cents. Plus it’s your wife 392 is more than enough and will be much better on gas mileage commuting. Don’t forget the SRTs probably have a tuned suspension so the ride will be harsher than the 5.7 someone can correct me if I’m wrong but pretty sure the SRT 392 and Hellcat Durango have quite a bit firmer suspension

 

[frictioncircle]

The suspension in auto mode is not harsh..and the SRT team tuned the HC ride to be cushier in auto than the SRT.Also a Durango HC with surprise you off the line from a dig and will get to 80 mph a little quicker than your rwd HC...all things being equal of course bench racing is a battle of opinions

 

[matt someone with an SRT]

The suspension in auto mode is not harsh..and the SRT team tuned the HC ride to be cushier in auto than the SRT.Also a Durango HC with surprise you off the line from a dig and will get to 80 mph a little quicker than your rwd HC...all things being equal of course bench racing is a battle of opinions

This is true but the spec sheet has the Durango at 9.3 seconds 0-100mph. My Redeye does it under 7 seconds on Nitto 555R2s.. that’s about 20 cars lengths by 100. With the 555R2s you don’t spin it just chirps and hooks. If you had poohrellis sure it’s like the Redeye has 500hp because the other 300 is unusable

 

[matt someone with an SRT]

The suspension in auto mode is not harsh..and the SRT team tuned the HC ride to be cushier in auto than the SRT.Also a Durango HC with surprise you off the line from a dig and will get to 80 mph a little quicker than your rwd HC...all things being equal of course bench racing is a battle of opinions

My average 0-60 is between 3.6 and 3.8 without tires being pre heated. So the Durango is most likely going to be neck and neck with me to about 50.. then it’s going to be in the dust

 

[102542]

ZERO issues with daily commuting--I am on my 7th SRT product including one HellCat and two Redeyes--ZERO.. enjoy!!

 

[frictioncircle]

damn it, I lost another bench race...

 

[M376X6]

That would be the first I've heard about that. The factory is retooling for other models and the HC motor does not meet evap emission standards in the Durango for 22.

That was the word almost a year ago. But Dodge has already announced the 2022 Durango SRT Hellcat. They must've solved the problem. 710 horsepower and restyling the body and other changes. A number of articles online about it. The wife had made some out of it for me when she told me they sold out of the 2021s. But at least she also told me they were going to take orders for them again this year.

 

[M376X6]

This is true but the spec sheet has the Durango at 9.3 seconds 0-100mph. My Redeye does it under 7 seconds on Nitto 555R2s.. that’s about 20 cars lengths by 100. With the 555R2s you don’t spin it just chirps and hooks. If you had poohrellis sure it’s like the Redeye has 500hp because the other 300 is unusable

I'll have to keep your tires in mind. I have a hard time with the stock tires on my Charger. I figure they'll need replacing by 10,000 miles.

 

[frictioncircle]

That was the word almost a year ago. But Dodge has already announced the 2022 Durango SRT Hellcat. They must've solved the problem. 710 horsepower and restyling the body and other changes. A number of articles online about it. The wife had made some out of it for me when she told me they sold out of the 2021s. But at least she also told me they were going to take orders for them again this year.

anything is possible, but most of those articles are saying 22 but should be 21 for the Hellcat D...