Coolant leak

[V10_homie]

Hi guys, I am just a few days new to the Viper game! Lovin' it so far can't complain at all it's a dream! Anyways, I encountered a little problem today in the morning. A coolant leak in front of the engine more towards the passenger side. Yesterday I turned on the car in the morning and let it sit for about 5-7 mins(that was probably a mistake) I hear these cars cannot be left idling for long. It looks like the leak is coming from a hose that might've gotten loose from yesterday's idling?? Any intel on what not to do and what to do so this doesn't happen? Is it true that they are not to be left idling for long?

[Steve-Indy]

V10_homie, these cooling systems are complex on Gen I and II cars...the year matters. I can probably talk you through the various possibilities...so, just call me 317 402 9013.

For the record, prolonged idling CAN overheat cats, melt O2 sensor wires etc. I NEVER start our Vipers and leave them unattended.

[dave6666]

Gonna disagree with Steve on this one. I've owned and maintained Gen 2s in 110+ degree climate for several decades now. I can idle it forever and not overheat anything. No part affected. Every "Viper this and that radiator-cooling this and that blah blah blah" story I've found is total BS simply by properly maintaining the cooling system. My experience in near desert heat is completely contrary to stories.

You have a 20 year old car. Proper maintenance schedules on your car include changing factory cooling hoses at 4 years, coolant at 3 years, and I could go on and on about what makes the Gen 2 cooling system anything but complex. Just maintain it. Nothing complex about that.

And a hose loosening from idling the car? Are you freakin' serious?

Step 1 - Replace all your hoses and make sure you use the OEM clamps if using OEM hoses.

Step 2 - Properly refill the system and make sure the fascia tank is properly serviced and the hose to it works correctly.

Step 3 - Ignore everyone that says you have to burp the system. The Gen 2 is self purging of air if you have it maintained properly. Gen 1 is more complicated ref air entrapment. You don't give the year of your car so....

Step 4 - Come to grips that there's a 100% chance your radiator is fouled both internally and externally.

Step 5 - Remember to ignore all the Viper cooling horror stories. Absolutely all of them are due to maintenance ignorance.

[Steve-Indy]

Hi, Dave...actually, we don't disagree at all. Proper and complete understanding of the plumbing anatomy (10 hose system on Gen I or a 7-8 hose system on Gen II...neither of said total numbers are counting hoses/hard lines on coolant recovery bottle)...coupled with PROPER maintenance is the key to success. Our Vipers run between 185 to 200 degrees water temp in traffic on 95 degree summer days.

Interestingly, most owners I encounter are still a little shakey on these issues let alone how to use the controls in the cabin so as NOT to isolate the heater core resulting in its premature failure.

My first guess is that the original poster has a rotted or disconnected hose to the coolant recovery bottle based on his description.

Once one learns the Viper anatomy, the maintenance is easy !!

Dave is an engineer and has helped countless folks sort Viper cooling issues...be they electrical or plumbing.

My offer to discuss this still holds.

Whoops...forgot to address prolonged idle situation: With stock setup, this can be hard on cats (see your owners manual) and can accelerate discoloration of some paint colors as well as bubbling of the plastic at the bottom of the door sills. The last time that I measured the temp of a cat on an idling , stock 97 Viper with the side sill removed, the external surface temp was 550 degrees...hot to me. On modded cars with headers (especially with inadequate heat shielding), I have seen Vipers that were started, left idling "for ten minutes" only to have owner return to find a silent car that will no longer start...due to melting of O2 sensor wires. And, yes...I am siting a couple of extreme, but impressive situations. Day to day, not an issue as one works on one's car. I just do not leave them unattended.
You can certainly find cars at dealership for prolonged periods of time...and said cars survive.

Bottom line...an effective cooling system can be easily achieved once understood and properly maintained.

[Lalmeida617]

V10 I was a new guy not to long ago. Take Steve up on his offer and call him. He has helped me and a few friends of mine several times and is a wealth of knowledge. Mr Fess is one of the main people you want to know if you plan to own your car for any length of time. Call him you will not be sorry. Ya and Dave’s cool too. Most of the time! ��

[V10_homie]

Gonna disagree with Steve on this one. I've owned and maintained Gen 2s in 110+ degree climate for several decades now. I can idle it forever and not overheat anything. No part affected. Every "Viper this and that radiator-cooling this and that blah blah blah" story I've found is total BS simply by properly maintaining the cooling system. My experience in near desert heat is completely contrary to stories.

You have a 20 year old car. Proper maintenance schedules on your car include changing factory cooling hoses at 4 years, coolant at 3 years, and I could go on and on about what makes the Gen 2 cooling system anything but complex. Just maintain it. Nothing complex about that.

And a hose loosening from idling the car? Are you freakin' serious?

Step 1 - Replace all your hoses and make sure you use the OEM clamps if using OEM hoses.

Step 2 - Properly refill the system and make sure the fascia tank is properly serviced and the hose to it works correctly.

Step 3 - Ignore everyone that says you have to burp the system. The Gen 2 is self purging of air if you have it maintained properly. Gen 1 is more complicated ref air entrapment. You don't give the year of your car so....

Step 4 - Come to grips that there's a 100% chance your radiator is fouled both internally and externally.

Step 5 - Remember to ignore all the Viper cooling horror stories. Absolutely all of them are due to maintenance ignorance.

I appreciate all the info from both of you guys! So I actually took a hard look to see where it was leaking from and it looks like it was from a hose that runs from the front of the engine(closer to the passenger side) to the passenger side of the engine. Anyways i reached down and could feel liquid and there was some rust. Like I said I just got the car, car wasn't in the best shape! So I am taking it to my mechanic and will be flushing out all fluids(trans, motor, diff, coolant) just to start fresh. And I might as well replace all hoses as stated by dave. Motor was replaced, chassis has 85k miles, new block has 20k miles with cams and belanger headers. I drove it for a while when i test drove it everything looked fine! Temp gauge was very active, the highest it got was i think close to 215?? Anyways! Just wanted to get some info on that! But i would like to keep in touch and I'm sure I'll have other questions!

[V10_homie]

V10 I was a new guy not to long ago. Take Steve up on his offer and call him. He has helped me and a few friends of mine several times and is a wealth of knowledge. Mr Fess is one of the main people you want to know if you plan to own your car for any length of time. Call him you will not be sorry. Ya and Dave’s cool too. Most of the time! ��

Thank you man I appreciate it! Looking forward to owning this thing for a long time!

[V10_homie]

V10_homie, these cooling systems are complex on Gen I and II cars...the year matters. I can probably talk you through the various possibilities...so, just call me 317 402 9013.

For the record, prolonged idling CAN overheat cats, melt O2 sensor wires etc. I NEVER start our Vipers and leave them unattended.

I will be reaching out man! Ill save that in my contacts thank you! And the car is a '95!