Questions From a Newbie

[Johann]

First an intro:
I just acquired a '97 GTS; it's in good company garaged alongside my Max Wedge Dart and Hemi Roadrunner. The Viper is red/black, all stock, 13K miles (blew both head gaskets at 11K) I'll have lots of bonehead questions as I learn the intricacies of the beast.

First questions:
The member of another board claims that Red Line transmission lube "dissolves" the T-56 synchros and that their Water Wetter causes corrosion in the motor. He further claims that these problems are well known and documented.
Any comments?

 

[Snake Bitten]

Water Wetter rocks...there's three bottles in my rad right now, and it's been there for at least a year...works very well...

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

I don't know if the fluids do what they claim to do but I doubt they ruin the motor and tranny like the guy from some other board claims.

 

[Viper Wizard]

Johann,
Congrats and Welcome!! Sounds like you have a cool Mopar garage!

Fluids: Stick with stock.

 

[Brad Manhattan Beach]

http://vca2.viperclub.org/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB2&Number=1007&Forum=All_Forums&Words=Redline%2C%20T-56&Match=Or&Searchpage=4&Limit=50&Old=allposts&Main=1007&Search=true#Post1007

 

[JonB]

Welcome and congrats....

Early on in 1996 GTS, a couple warrantees on tranny synchros were initially DENIED due to synthetic fluid in trannies that specified (then) "Dextron III ONLY." This is how this rumor started. (Ivan ** was an initial victim!)

The VCA fought for its members, and the claims were paid. And NOW, Synthetic fluid is used OEM and a TSB was issued back in 1998 to retro any tranny 92-98 needing fluid or complaining of Neutral gear rattle 96-97. Use OEM Synthetic fluid (MoPar Rebadged CASTROL in fact.)

Water Wetter is effective, but ALONE mixed with water does not provide enuf resistance to corrosion. So yet another half truth! Mix with 40% antifreexze. and 60% water, with the 2 bottle Wetter in the collat 40%. USe it if you need it, but seek out other problems (BURP!) if you have heating issues.

1997s and 96s and some 98s had an OEm small fan, offset left. Id like to strongly suggest (and provide) a new, larger, more efficient Viper fan for you, direct bolt in.

If uyou paln track / autoX or strip events you MUST ADDRESS oil starvation and capacity issues. Needs more capacity, and better drainage. SEARCH for more, or call for details. JonB
25% off list price.

 

[SNKEBIT]

Johann, congrats & welcome!
Too few Mopar diehards here!
How'd ya get hooked on the Viper?

 

[Johann]

JonB,
Thanks for the valuable info. I've been around long enough to question anything that doesn't make sense to me and having used Water Wetter successfully in my aluminum motored 928 Porsche without any corrosion problems, I wanted other opinions.
I've always been reluctant to use ATF in any manual gearbox, dates back to the sixties when Mopar used it in their 833 4-speeds without much success. I like the Syntorque idea, I think I'll try it (can you beat $50 a gallon?).
I won't be racing the car but the bigger fan does appeal to me since I run with the A/C on almost year round.

 

[ViperGTS]

Hello Sepp (Bavarian for Johann)! Congrats!!!
PICs?