1996 GTS Oil Pan Upgrade

[Tom and Vipers]

I'm trying to figure out what pan Wayne Skiles put on "Bad Viper."

He told me when I bought it that he did something and had to scribe a new, lower fill mark on the dip stick. But I've forgotten.

Could it be that newer Gen II's had deeper pans?

I know when I put the 9-ish (don't remember exactly how many) quarts in it, that lower mark coincides with full.

Thanks in advance,
Tom

 

[ViperJohn]

I wonder if he upgraded to the newer Gen II oil pan. Not certain, but I believe the change was made in 2000. Oil capacity was increased to 10 quarts and the new pan had better baffling in it.

 

[Dom426h]

If he scribed a lower mark on the dipstick then that would defeat the purpose of installing the deeper pan to achive higher capacity.

Take a pic if your pan and post here. Looking at it we can tell you wich one of the two it is. Also, can tell by the part number on it.

 

[Tom and Vipers]

There are 2 reasons for a deeper pan: more oil and less windage (keeping oil lower and away from crank.)

I wish I had read these posts earlier - I just had the car on a rack for oil change. I got a good look at the pan. It is "square iso-grid" finned aluminum with a sump that is NOT the length of the block rails. I think the sump was on the aft end. Guessing, the bottom of the sump was 3" lower than the "non-sump" bottom.

I bot the car in mid 2001 so it may be what he did.

I guess I have two choices: run the oil lower or add a quart.

QUESTION: Is the same dipstick used?

This is NOT the pan: (mine has square fin pattern all over it)

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[Jay Lopez]

Check this old thread. Not my post, but on my 97 I upgraded to a newer, deeper oil pan, and added the windage and baffle kit. I think the pan was from 2000, but am not sure.

http://forums.viperclub.org/threads/604150-Oil-Pan-Baffle-install

 

[CWhiteRun]

If you want a deeper, more capacity pan, you need one from a 2000-2002. All the 1996-1999 were 8.5 qt. The later were 10 qt. I might know of one sitting in a garage...................

 

[Tom and Vipers]

I don't know what's up with my ID. I can post, but I can't click on links - it says I don't have permission. Can't click any of the How To Do It links either. Can click on Search links though.

Any ideas?

 

[Tom and Vipers]

Finally pics:

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Turns out my memory of the pan was completely wrong. No rectangular iso grid (maybe I confused trans or rear???)

But fortunately I save face because mine has 3 ribs and not the 2 of the pan I said I didn't have (!)

 

[Dom426h]

There are 2 reasons for a deeper pan: more oil and less windage (keeping oil lower and away from crank.)

More oil yes. Not sure about the less windage part though. I don't think the oil level goes any lower with the deeper pan as the deepness is just for the extra capacity. Also, on both versions there is a baffle/windage tray both mounted to the oil pan as well as the bottom of the crank with separation between the two. I don't think you have to worry at all about that particular design.
The real issue is with the 8.5qt version she runs out of oil in the sump during sustained high-g cornering. The extra capacity of the 10qt one helps buy you a couple more seconds of oil pressure which is good but even better is the simple install of a baffle kit to keep oil centered over the pickup where your motor wants it to be.

the Two-fin picture you posted above is indeed the 96-99 8.5 version
I'm pretty sure a simple way to tell the difference between it and the 00-02 10qt version is that it has 3 parallel bottom fins.

Like this:

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See the following link for how to install the baffle kit in either oil pan. (Includes pictures of the 00-02 pan)
http://www.kouchicentral.com/viper/oil_pan_baffle.htm

The baffle kit can be purchased @ http://www.ipsco.org/Viper_files/Viper_oilpan_kit.htm

 

[Dom426h]

ahhh, I see you posted as I was typing a response

Yes, 3-fin's... You have the good one.

 

[Tom and Vipers]

So is the dipstick level mark the same for both pans?

I got the oil changed and it took 9 quarts AND the OE dipstick was manually scribed lower than the stock FULL mark.

One other related question: Is there a larger oil filter that can be used?