99 GTS Oil Change Questions

[Talon]

Since I bought my 99 GTS used, it didn't have the owner's manual (shame), but from the many many threads I've just read through it appears the 99's had a 8.5 qt oil pan. 2000+ they went to the 10 qt pan.

I won't start the age old battle of which oil to use and just go with the factory Mobil 1 stuff. The convenient fact is my wife's Mercedes takes Mobil 1 0W-40 anyway so there is a bulk buy opportunity for me going with that anyway.

What I haven't crawled under my car yet to check is how to drain the oil. Right off the bat my natural inclination is that there is an oil pan plug I can pull, but when I was reading through some of the threads there was a post where someone indicated the oil pan torque specs... surely I don't pull the whole pan to drain the oil do I? Someone please tell me these things have a plug.

 

[DrumrBoy]

Yep. Normal plug. The only Issue you might find Is If the frame recall was done poorly you can have a challenge getting the oil filter out. You'll know it when you see it but very few have been bitten by this.....also very unlikely if the previous owner actually changed the oil. Generally speaking, its very easy to change the oil on Vipers.

 

[Talon]

Thanks Drumr. My viper actually never had the recall performed on it. Considered doing it when I bought it, but spoke to the wizard and said as long as things look good, and I don't really track it, it will be fine. I'm in Austin, TX too where there isn't a good capable shop to perform this recall now given the years since it was done. I was suggested to visit a place in Houston.

I've basically written it off until I plan a trip over to Houston in the Viper since it's really a non-issue for me.

Glad to hear there is in fact a drain plug... I was about to worry about the amount of effort involved in changing my oil.

 

[Luisv]

Another note... don't know how you plan on lifting the car for the change but it may be a good idea to lift it level. I have found that as much as an extra quart comes out of there when the car is level vs. just the front being lifted. Don't know if this is the same on the smaller oil pan as I don't know if the shape is different on the two. I have an '02 with the 10 qt.

Good luck....

 

[Jay Lopez]

Have extra oil in case the previous owner upgraded to the larger oil pan. I did that on my 97, and added the windage baffles to help reduce the potential oil starvation in high speed track turns.

 

[Sybil TF]

The only Issue you might find Is If the frame recall was done poorly you can have a challenge getting the oil filter out. You'll know it when you see it but very few have been bitten by this......

I got bit. Still need to get it fixed.

 

[Talon]

I will likely one day go get my frame recall done, and I will absolutely be making sure to talk specifically on that aspect when it gets done so there is no issue.

 

[VIPER GTSR 91]

If and when you do the frame recall go to Tomball Dodge near Houston and make the appt. with Morgan, their Viper tech. He did my 99 GTS years ago. The Wiz is right as the failures occurred via tracking and with track tires under high G loads.

 

[Talon]

That's where The Wizard told me to go. Couldn't remember the name he told me, but Morgan sounds good to me.

 

[Fatboy 18]

THERE is a plug on the oil pan so no problems draining the fluid

However.... If you have just got this car, personally I would drop the pan and clean it out fully. If you intend to do any form of tracking in the Car I would also get the sump pan baffle kit sold by mark at Ipsco, or who knows you car might have it fitted already (but you won't know until you drop the pan) other things to check are the small screws on the sump pan cover plate and wire filter at the bottom of the pan, it has been known for those to come loose!. The Oil pan gasket is reusable, just clean everything up making sure there is Zero oil on the pan gasket before reinstalling it and clean the threads on the pan bolts too. A small dab of rtv sealant is recommended front and rear at the corners where the timing cover sits and the rear engine cover holding the crankshaft oil seal.

Just good house keeping and piece of mind