Oil Leak Update

[swexlin]

Some of you may remember that last November, I found oil spotting under the car, and it was the notorious oil cooler line leak. Eight months, and about 700 miles later, all appears dry - except - I sometime see a small drop forming on the right front corner of the oil pan, please see pic. It doesn't happen all the time. Looking down with a flashlight from the top, everything is dry, with the exception that on the top of right front pan (which is underneath the oil lines) there is sometimes a very small sheen of wetness, which I suppose oozes down and forms that drop. It's almost never enough to drip on the ground. (By the way, is that a bolt on the top corner, or just the way the pan is made?)

It's baffling, because I can't see where it would come from. Everything else is bone dry. Nothing, the replaced oil lines are dry. It's almost like a gremlin appears out of thin air, puts a drop of oil there, and leave. Car is due in for annual service in a couple months , I'll have to show my tech when he gets it on a lift. Anyone else see this on their cars, or have any ideas? Most would say live with it, but it's driving me nuts.

[Steve M]

You shouldn't have to live with it...did they replace the oil lines with more OEM lines? It could be the new oil lines already leaking, or it could be from the pan itself (although not likely).

[swexlin]

You shouldn't have to live with it...did they replace the oil lines with more OEM lines? It could be the new oil lines already leaking, or it could be from the pan itself (although not likely).
Steve,OEM lines, yes, but I inspected them, and they are dry. How could it seep out of the top of the pan, at that corner? There is no seal there that I know of.

[Steve M]

If I'm not mistaken, the oil pan has a perimeter gasket, but also requires a dab of RTV at each corner to seal properly. This thread might help:

https://driveviper.com/forums/threads/18025-Let-s-talk-Gen-IV-oil-pan-gasket?highlight=oil+gasket

I'm pretty sure the Gen 4 and 5 pans are the same. It could be the pan leaking if you are certain the lines aren't the culprit.

[Jack B]

This is a maybe, you usually get some oil on top of the filter with a filter change, that oil tends to stay there for a long time, but, some finds its way down and back?? Look at the top of the filter from above.4

[swexlin]

This is a maybe, you usually get some oil on top of the filter with a filter change, that oil tends to stay there for a long time, but, some finds its way down and back?? Look at the top of the filter from above.4

Jack, checked that as well. All dry. That's what's weird - everything in the engine is bone dry. Maybe it is the pan, but the slight sheen above is on the rounded corner on the top of the pan - not where the gasket would be anyway. Weird. Since the car is under warranty, I'll just monitor it until it goes in, where my tech can look at it. One more thing with this car....

Steve, thanks for the link. At 06:36 in that video, you can see the cylindrical shape in that corner of the pan where my drop is in the picture. Is that a bolt on top that get tightened? I thought all the bolts were on the bottom.

[One Viper Bite]

Agreed that you shouldn't have to live with it. Annoying that you can't trace it. Is there spotting again? Or is it just that droplet that has formed? If it is a very tiny leak that is only producing a droplet every once in a while, could be really difficult to see / trace where it is coming from.

[Rapidrezults]

Had the exact, and I mean exact same problem. Dealer replaced oil cooler lines that were in fact leaking, but still this little drop buildup in the same location as your pic. Tightened pan bolts the first time but still found little drip coming back. Replaced the pan gasket and all has been dry since.

Mine was opened up for the HC package so I just figured it was related to that. Looks like it might just be another Gen 5 quirk.

[swexlin]

Had the exact, and I mean exact same problem. Dealer replaced oil cooler lines that were in fact leaking, but still this little drop buildup in the same location as your pic. Tightened pan bolts the first time but still found little drip coming back. Replaced the pan gasket and all has been dry since.

Mine was opened up for the HC package so I just figured it was related to that. Looks like it might just be another Gen 5 quirk.

This was on your 16? Good information, thank you. I probably will just monitor it until it goes in for service, then I'll have my tech give a look. I'm sure he'll enjoy replacing a pan gasket, if necessary....!

[swexlin]

Agreed that you shouldn't have to live with it. Annoying that you can't trace it. Is there spotting again? Or is it just that droplet that has formed? If it is a very tiny leak that is only producing a droplet every once in a while, could be really difficult to see / trace where it is coming from.

No spotting on the floor - yet. If I hadn't gone down there to clean the under the side sills (yes, I'm anal detailing like that) I may not have noticed it.

[swexlin]

I made an appointment to take it in this coming Monday. I'll have my tech get it on the lift, and show him. We'll put some dye in the oil, then I'll drive for a while and see if we can track it down.

[swexlin]

Quick update. Got the car to my Viper Tech this morning, and up on the lift. Diagnosis: bad o-ring on one of the new lines. With the flashlight light on it, you can see where it is seeping. New O-rings ordered, I'll drop the car back when they come in next week.

[One Viper Bite]

Glad to hear you found the source!

[Murpowa]

Good to hear it's a relatively quick fix

[swexlin]

Yep, Jeff got it right on the lift, and we saw it. Also did a look around underneath the rest of the car, and it looks pretty good (knock wood) for 12,400 miles!