Another Viper blew its engine at the track yesterday

[Bruce H.]

We heard about it at the driver's meeting this morning. They said it didn't spill oil all over the track fortunately...and then added "because there wasn't any in it"!

Remember to check your oil level once in a while!

[texasram]

No blown gen v engine ever spewed oil anywhere. Man chrysler should have spent the small coin in letters sent out to all owners telling them to check oil after EVERY single drive. If we were able to weed out ALL of the low oil engine killers then overall this wouldnt be SO bad.

[viperBase1]

Wow..

Never check your oil *AND* take it to the Track. That's just crazy!

[Bruce H.]

A letter could have saved a bunch I'm sure as owners just didn't realize that it was common for these forged engines to consume significant oil during the break-in period. However, after the engine seals up during the initial break-in of a couple of thousand miles most don't consume oil... and some don't during break-in either according to some owners. I still check mine before and after a track day but I don't think I've had to add even a half liter between oil changes since break-in. Once an owner knows their car's rate of oil consumption they can figure out the frequency of checking their levels. In my case that's just a few times between oil changes.

[ACRSNK]

How low are these people that are blowing their engines running? Has to be more than a quart or 2.

[J TNT]

Forged motors are known to consume more oil than cast motors , unfortunately some are not in tune with it .........
But does seem to be a common theme even with other manufacturers .....

[Gen5snake]

If you have an engine that consumes oil, about how many miles does it take to consume a quart? I just can't see how these people don't check their levels...especially if you're tracking it.

[ForTehNguyen]

How on earth are people attending a track event not checking oil level. Straight up negligence.

If you have an engine that consumes oil, about how many miles does it take to consume a quart? I just can't see how these people don't check their levels...especially if you're tracking it.

each car is going to be different, have to establish your own trend. Mine burns 1qt/2000 miles on 5W40 oil. Im running 15W50 now for 500 miles and doesnt look like its burned any. I will keep monitoring of course

[Jack B]

How on earth are people attending a track event not checking oil level. Straight up negligence.



each car is going to be different, have to establish your own trend. Mine burns 1qt/2000 miles on 5W40 oil. Im running 15W50 now for 500 miles and doesnt look like its burned any. I will keep monitoring of course

Exactly, I have had four 5.7 Grand Cherokee's, the first three burned one qt per 5000 miles, the fourth burns no oil. My G5 burned two quarts the first 3000 miles. The rings then sealed and the consumption went down to no-consumption.

[Bill Pemberton]

The crazy situation is how so many folks don't even check their oil. With more and more Manufacturers telling new owners that they do not need to change their oil for very long intervals, the common consumer seems to assume they may not need to check their oil as often. It is something Service Writers at Dealerships see more and more --- low oil, dark oil, etc. because owners think they can drive for a long time between changes? I know when at the track, talking to newcomers and asking them what they have done to their cars, items like brake fluid, rear end fluid, and oil, seem to not be on their radar for changing!! To complain about an engine blowing due to low oil levels is frankly , imho, the fault of the owner. How in the heck can you run at high speeds on a road course, and not be cognizant that fluid levels should be monitored -- pretty basic info at most Professional Racing Schools and a common comment in many groups ( NASA, SCCA, PCA, ETC. ). Clear back with Gen IIs , it was not unusual for many of us to use a quart of oil even during one track day ---blow by, heat, and more. I remember it being a ritual to check frequently and I remember SRT Engineers even suggesting we change rear end fluid after two weekends.

Many of these type of threads put the blame on the engine ( regardless of manufacturer ) and routine maintenance and visualization while at the track is somehow forgotten. This is the main focus and issue, and regardless of who you track with , it should be one of the main items a road course organizer should bring up and emphasize!

[dewilmoth]

As mentioned 100s of times on this forum, people need to be religious about checking their oil. I drilled a small hole in my dip stick at the high level mark to mimic some other OEM sticks. It’s as easy as making sure when I pull the stick, the hole is filled with oil. No guessing. My car does seem to be burning less oil as time/miles go on, which makes sense.

[texasram]

My wifes 200c consumes 2 quarts every 1000 miles with 50k on the odometer. Before i knew this, she ran it dry 2 or 3 times to the point where a built in fail safe cuts the engine off. Previously i asked the dealer if i could bring it in for the cutting off and they immediately said check the oil. Turns out the dip stick was dry.

[dewilmoth]

My wifes 200c consumes 2 quarts every 1000 miles with 50k on the odometer. Before i knew this, she ran it dry 2 or 3 times to the point where a built in fail safe cuts the engine off. Previously i asked the dealer if i could bring it in for the cutting off and they immediately said check the oil. Turns out the dip stick was dry.

I accept the oil burn in the Viper, but if I had a normal car that was burning that quantity of oil, I’d be pissed. A quart per 500 miles in a dd doesn’t seem right.

[ViperJon]

Actually the crazy thing is that in 2019 you still have to check your oil the same way they did in 1920. Why in f***s sake they can't develop a low oil indicator in this day and age is beyond me. Sure you should be aware enough but seriously....it's the most important fluid and the life blood of the car. It's absurd a car can be running 3-4 quarts low and nothing indicated.

[Martin]

Actually the crazy thing is that in 2019 you still have to check your oil the same way they did in 1920. Why in f***s sake they can't develop a low oil indicator in this day and age is beyond me. Sure you should be aware enough but seriously....it's the most important fluid and the life blood of the car. It's absurd a car can be running 3-4 quarts low and nothing indicated.

I wholeheartedly agree. With all the other "nanny" crap and electronic BS that they put in every car these days, you'd think that they'd install something as simple as an oil level indicator. Way back in the day, when cars were a new thing, people used to have to check the fuel level just like we check oil today. After just about everyone got stuck because they ran out of gas, manufacturers started installing fuel level indicators. Now, over a hundred years later, we still don't have oil level indicators in 99.9% of cars. How hard can it be - especially when compared to the difficulty in installing some of these crazy electronics that people like me hate.

[commandomatt]

Actually the crazy thing is that in 2019 you still have to check your oil the same way they did in 1920. Why in f***s sake they can't develop a low oil indicator in this day and age is beyond me. Sure you should be aware enough but seriously....it's the most important fluid and the life blood of the car. It's absurd a car can be running 3-4 quarts low and nothing indicated.

Agree 100%

Amazing that it seems more important to let us know we are running 1 PSI low in one of the tires on the car. All kinds of flashing warnings and even audible. Yet a low oil warning system wasn't worth developing

This type of warning or shut down system is certainly critical as what if an oil line blows ? You could have checked the oil and everything was OK minutes ago yet when that line blows, you are seconds away from seizing your engine

[GTS Dean]

Agree 100%

Amazing that it seems more important to let us know we are running 1 PSI low in one of the tires on the car. All kinds of flashing warnings and even audible. Yet a low oil warning system wasn't worth developing

In this day and age, tire pressure is an absolutely ESSENTIAL, CRITICAL value to communicate to the driver as a SAFETY measure. Oil quantity, or even its presence, is merely a convenience. Unlubricated blown or seized motors are good for warranty claim denials and service department revenues.

The multiple comments about measuring oil depth in wide, long, shallow pans are absolutely spot-on. If you have 12 fluid ounces of water held in both a glass and a cookie sheet, you can easily visualize how difficult it is. I think an ultrasonic sensor(s), combined with multi-axis slope sensors could resolve the quantity mathematically prior to start-up.

[Taximan1]

Actually the crazy thing is that in 2019 you still have to check your oil the same way they did in 1920. Why in f***s sake they can't develop a low oil indicator in this day and age is beyond me. Sure you should be aware enough but seriously....it's the most important fluid and the life blood of the car. It's absurd a car can be running 3-4 quarts low and nothing indicated.

agreed. water under the bridge of course.. But with how many Dodge/Jeep/etc vehicles share a "very similar" dash,console,unconnect cluster. Its hard to believe that there was no low oil level indicator done on this car, I assume the other vehicles have such a trigger?. Think of what a $25-$50 sensor per car could have saved here. $$

Pretty sure I've shared this before. But was at a local C&C a while back. A gentleman with a gorgeous 14 yellow GTS was there. Not a "forum" guy, first viper. Purchased it new... car only had like 6000 miles on it if I remember.
I mentioned the recalls, and oil "situation" to him... The reply was, I just take it to the dealer for maint..... well (I said), lets just see for S & giggles... Dipstick was BONE dry... not a drop of oil.. we ran across the street to Autozone… It took 75% of a 5 QUART jug, to get it back in the safe zone.!!!!

and the bigger issue on used ones. is, you don't REALLY know if the car was ever run low during its life..... Using the above as an example... That car ran and drove fine, and likely still does.... but what damage was done during the time it was low??? Eventually, the car will be recycled into the used car market, and the new owner will be none the wiser.

[ForTehNguyen]

and the bigger issue on used ones. is, you don't REALLY know if the car was ever run low during its life..... Using the above as an example... That car ran and drove fine, and likely still does.... but what damage was done during the time it was low??? Eventually, the car will be recycled into the used car market, and the new owner will be none the wiser.

this is going to be a stigma for selling a G5 later, hence why I decided to do an oil analysis every year for documentation to any future owner that my engine was taken care of. My first one came back with good results, so already off to a good start

[chris_lee]

this is going to be a stigma for selling a G5 later, hence why I decided to do an oil analysis every year for documentation to any future owner that my engine was taken care of. My first one came back with good results, so already off to a good start

This is not a bad idea at all. Thinking down the road if I was in the market to buy, this could be a deal "maker" for me.

[FrankBarba]

Isn't there an oil Pressure gauge in these Vipers? Anyone that does not check their before going to the track is just plane
LAZY...

[ViperTony]

I track and hardly consume oil but I check between sessions. As for the pressure gauge....if people are not checking their oil levels then its likely they're not paying attention to the oil pressure gauge either. By the time that oil pressure gauge goes red....its too late anyway.

[Arizona Vipers]

I went to the track with a friend that had a new 2017 ACR with break in miles, and even had a recent oil change. I told him to check his oil before we went out first session, he couldn't see any oil on the dip stick. Turned out to be 6 quarts low. As said above, Dodge could have saved millions of dollars and a lot of heartache if they had installed some sort of low oil warning indicator. I'll be honest, in the last 20 years, in all my daily drivers I've had I have never once checked the oil, it's not needed when cars let you know when the oil is low. I've never had to add any oil at all in probably the last 20 daily divers between my wife and I and oil changes are usually around 15K miles (the car tells you when the oil needs to be changed). On a forged motor that the engineers knew would be burning oil and COMBINE THAT with the fact that nobody can read these dipsticks, I'm surprised there wen't a lot more blown motors. I honestly still can't read my dipstick on my stock ACR. I just change the oil after every track weekend so I know exactly how much goes in it.

[Racingswh]

Like Cable mine is fresh before every event so I know it's full with the proper amount in it. There's only two gauges that I pay most of my attention to. Oil pressure and temperature. I am not in the car at the moment so I can't remember which set of gauges I put on the screen, Gauge cluster #2 I think, but I will set the SRT gauges on the screen to show me what I need to know when I am on the track at a glance.

[dewilmoth]

Like Cable mine is fresh before every event so I know it's full with the proper amount in it. There's only two gauges that I pay most of my attention to. Oil pressure and temperature. I am not in the car at the moment so I can't remember which set of gauges I put on the screen, Gauge cluster #2 I think, but I will set the SRT gauges on the screen to show me what I need to know when I am on the track at a glance.

I also like how you can program the gauges on the instrument panel to show what you want. I have oil PSI and oil temp displayed in the configurable spots so they’re always visible right next to the rpm display.