For all of us who WILL be driving through the winter....

[SteveBCloud9]

I've seen a lot of posts about how to put your snake to sleep during the winter but really nothing about taking care of it while driving it THROUGH the winter. I plan on no snow or salt on the roads when it is out. What if anything should I do to make sure I get through winters O.k. I just bought a new battery. Should I be concerned about oil weight, battery charge? etc.

 

[ACR Joe]

1) Change the engine oil from 15-50 to 10-30.
2) Change the coolant, axle and trans fluids.
3) Set the Koni's shocks to the softest settings (if applicable).
4) Be sensitive to reduced traction at lower temperatures.
5) Drive the Viper as often as possible!

 

[Jim Hodel]

I live in the Northwest and pretty much drive my Viper year round, except when it snows. We have a lot of rain, but it doesn't get too cold, so I use the standard oil weight all year. It's probably colder in IL. I'd check the owners manual to see if it recommends a thinner oil for winter. I do take it a little easier on everything until the car warms up, slow shifts, low revs etc.

Also, we don't salt the roads out here so I don't have to worry about that. Gravel is popular after it snows, so I may not drive the car for a week or two after a snowstorm, but other then that I just drive and enjoy. I wash the car once a week and keep it garaged.

I wouldn't much like the idea of having to put my car away for the winter.

Jim

 

[SteveBCloud9]

I've changed all of the fluids as routine maint. incl. coolant, transmission and brakes. I use 10-30 all year but the owners manual indicates 5w-30 if temp. goes below 0. In Chicago, I guess there aren't too many days that we see a true -1 F.(Maybe windchill). I don't believe I have adjustable shocks, I can't find them in the manual.

 

[KenH]

Like Jim, I also live in Portand and plan on driving my '01 GTS through the winter unless we get snow or ice. My biggest concern is the gravel they lay down about once a year and I'll also either wait it out or take backroads where they haven't graveled.

I will wash the car every week rain or shine. My last car (non-Viper) looked like new after 6 years of daily driving in Portand and I chalk that up to getting the crude washed off regularly. I'm sure my neighbors think I am a nut for washing my car in the rain, but what the heck! I also plan on putting a fresh coat of wax on each month to provide protection and help ensure nothing has a chance to bond to the paint for too long.

I plan on sticking with standard 10-30 mobile, but it rarely gets lower than the 20's here and I'll give it a little more warm-up time before starting out (when it hasn't been sitting in the garage). Lastly, I'll drive like a gray-hair in the slow lane if the rain gets to heavy, or stick to the surface streets to avoid hydroplaning and in general, try to keep my foot out of it whenever the ground is wet.

--- Ken
'01 GTS