Blown Engine Diagnosis

[Kai SRT10]

Kai- What is the MDH of your car?

I have found out two things from your pictures:

1. there was a Conn Rod change some time in 2004.

2. I am buying a Dry Sump...lol

What is MDH? Not familiar with that term

 

[Viper Specialty]

MDH is the Month, Day, Hour the car was built. it is on the Driver Side door sticker. It reads "MDH: XXXXXX"

 

[newredrt10]

looks like there will be a new block included in the fix.

 

[Early93Viper]

Sorry to hear about your engine.

How long where you out on the track? 20 Min? 30 min?

Anything I could do to stop this from happening that doesn't cost big $$? Perhaps an extra quart of oil will do something?

 

[Daniel Cragin/DC Performance Inc]

This is a common problem on track cars. The Comp Coupe oil pan is the fix.

 

[Viper Specialty]

This is a common problem on track cars. The Comp Coupe oil pan is the fix.

Dan, this car HAD a Comp Coupe Pan! That is why it really has my attention. From what I hear, there is an actual Comp Coupe with a blown engine as well...same thing.

 

[JiPi]

Just for curiosity, when you have a blown engine rebuild under warranty by Arrow, what happen to your non stock parts. Do you have to remove them all before you send the engine to Arrow and then to put them back on when your engine is rebuild as stock? I heard that Arrow rebuilds engine only to stock specifications, but it would be impossible if you have modified your stock parts, like heads.

 

[Racer Robbie]

I would also be interested in a dry sump system or a better oil pan

 

[Racer Robbie]

has anyone looked into the oil pans built by moroso in guilford, ct or canton from branford, ct. Frm what GR8 says the solution for right now is to over fill by 1 quart.

 

[repiv]

kai,
I spokw w/ someone at Archer Racing about my adjutable c/c sway bars, and during the conversation I asked him about the c/c oil pan. He said that the first c/c didn't come w/ the pan, after 2 races they all did. After that, he said they have never lost a car to oil starvation unless they were using the Mopar oil filter. I know you were using the Mobil 1 filter, not the Mopar, thought I would pass on the info. They use only the Napa Gold oil filter, p/n 1085 or the K&N oil filter in their cars, didn't know the part number

 

[kwiksilver]

K&N part number is 2004

 

[Viper Specialty]

K&N Oil Filters are actually Mobil-1 if I recall correctly.

 

[Janni]

I suspect that K&N is manufactured by Champion Labs - same place they make the Mobil 1 filter - but it is slightly different - if for no other reason than having the nut on the end for easier removal and the ability to safety wire it on.

 

[Kai SRT10]

kai,
I spokw w/ someone at Archer Racing about my adjutable c/c sway bars, and during the conversation I asked him about the c/c oil pan. He said that the first c/c didn't come w/ the pan, after 2 races they all did. After that, he said they have never lost a car to oil starvation unless they were using the Mopar oil filter. I know you were using the Mobil 1 filter, not the Mopar, thought I would pass on the info. They use only the Napa Gold oil filter, p/n 1085 or the K&N oil filter in their cars, didn't know the part number

Funny. Now that you mention it, my last oil change was at the dealer at my 20,000 mile service. Pretty sure they used a mopar filter. I will have to check a see what filter is on the car. When I do it myself, I use my own Mobil 1 oil (0W-40) and Mobil 1 filter. I assume that the dealer uses 10w-30 and mopar filter.

 

[Vipera Russelli]

That is a pretty odd coincidence, but I'm not convinced. Why in the world would a Mopar vs. a Mobil 1 oil filter cause or not cause oil starvation in sweeping left turns? I understand that the Mobil 1 filter is better at removing smaller contaminates (and I use it too), but I have trouble believing that the marginal difference in flow between these two filters would cause or prevent oil starvation at the track. Under what theory? The Mopar filter is so porous that it allows the tiny bit of oil still in the bottom of the pan in a left sweeper to be sucked out more quickly, while the Mobil 1 filter does not? I'm not sure that passes the sniff test.

Any thoughts on why this suggestion could be true?

 

[Viper Specialty]

Vipera... I am on the same track as you. Coincidence maybe, but I can think of no reason WHY.

 

[Steve-Indy]

Kai, just for sake of completeness, was your car on the list for the "cam bolt recall" by VIN number??

 

[Kai SRT10]

I don't know if I was on the recall list or not. I took my car in and had it checked out though. My car did have a loose crankshaft damper bolt. The guys who did my head/cam work discovered it. It was not even hand tight.

 

[Steve-Indy]

Thanks, Kai...just thought that it may be interesting to check your VIN against the list posted here in Mar. of 2004 by TacDac...though, that list may only be a "rough guide":

http://vca2.viperclub.org/forums/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=UBB21&Number=384510&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&vc=1

 

[Brian E]

Check your V.I.N. here:

http://www.dodge.com/webselfservice/dodge/index.jsp?screenName=recall&country=us&emailUrl=goToEmailForm%28%27R%27%29

 

[Racer Robbie]

I have to tell you guys that you should never trust that the dealer will put in the correct oil. I took my Mercury Marauder in for an oil change when it had 3000 miles on it. The factory called foe Mobil 10W-30. When I got it back it ran like crap and had lower oil pressure. I went back to the service manager and asked him what he put in my car and he said Mobil 1. I made him show me the drum of oil, and get this, it was Shell 0W-30 weight conventional oil. DO NOT TRUST THE DEALER TO GET IT RIGHT

 

[Steve-Indy]

As Brian notes above, one can check on BOTH "recalls" and "TSB" completions by VIN at the Dodge site...noting that the cam sprocket issue is listed for 2004 Vipers on the NTHSA site actually as a TSB and not a recall.

From the NHTSA site, TSB section:

"Summary:
THE CAMSHAFT SPROCKET RETAINING BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED. A LOOSE CAM SPROCKET BOLT CAN BACK OUT AND CAUSE SIGNIFICANT ENGINE DAMAGE. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION NO. D19. *TT "