Steve M
Enthusiast
A couple weeks ago I noticed my stock oil cooler lines leaking a bit - there was a single drop of oil on the floor, so I decided I'd better take care of the problem before it turned into a bigger one. It seems that these lines are prone to leaking either at the crimp or the quick disconnect; mine was leaking at the crimp on the lower line at the block.
Rather than replace them with the stock lines, I decided to go with the Viper Specialty pre-made lines seen here:
http://forums.viperclub.org/threads/655068-Gen-3-and-Gen-4-Stainless-Steel-Braided-Oil-Lines
It didn't look like it would be a hard install - that was a poor assessment on my part. I decided to install the lines in conjunction with my oil change...6 hours later, I finally got it done. My hands hurt like hell too.
A couple tips to make this install easier:
1. Don't do it on your back like I did...big mistake.
2. The portion of the quick disconnects that screw into the block and oil cooler were incredibly hard to loosen...I'm pretty sure God Himself did the original tightening. These fittings are also rather large - about 1.25", which meant that I didn't have a wrench or a socket that would fit them. 10" and 12" adjustable wrenches came in very handy, especially for the upper fitting on the block.
3. Unscrew the two 10mm bolts that hold the A/C condenser line to the oil pan...you can bend it out of your way, and it makes things much easier.
4. It should be obvious, but do the longer line first, and expect it to take 2-3 times longer to get this one in place than the shorter line.
5. You might as well do this install in conjunction with an oil change - you'll be removing the oil filter to be able to access the lines.
As it turned out, both stock oil cooler lines were leaking - the lower one at the crimp near the block, and the upper one was leaking at the quick disconnect also near the block. Oh, and I now realize why these were quick disconnect fittings...this would have been much easier if I had just replaced the lines with OEM ones. Hopefully this will be the last time I have to deal with these stupid things for a LONG time.
I will say...the Viper Specialty lines are very nice, and look pretty too.
Rather than replace them with the stock lines, I decided to go with the Viper Specialty pre-made lines seen here:
http://forums.viperclub.org/threads/655068-Gen-3-and-Gen-4-Stainless-Steel-Braided-Oil-Lines
It didn't look like it would be a hard install - that was a poor assessment on my part. I decided to install the lines in conjunction with my oil change...6 hours later, I finally got it done. My hands hurt like hell too.
A couple tips to make this install easier:
1. Don't do it on your back like I did...big mistake.
2. The portion of the quick disconnects that screw into the block and oil cooler were incredibly hard to loosen...I'm pretty sure God Himself did the original tightening. These fittings are also rather large - about 1.25", which meant that I didn't have a wrench or a socket that would fit them. 10" and 12" adjustable wrenches came in very handy, especially for the upper fitting on the block.
3. Unscrew the two 10mm bolts that hold the A/C condenser line to the oil pan...you can bend it out of your way, and it makes things much easier.
4. It should be obvious, but do the longer line first, and expect it to take 2-3 times longer to get this one in place than the shorter line.
5. You might as well do this install in conjunction with an oil change - you'll be removing the oil filter to be able to access the lines.
As it turned out, both stock oil cooler lines were leaking - the lower one at the crimp near the block, and the upper one was leaking at the quick disconnect also near the block. Oh, and I now realize why these were quick disconnect fittings...this would have been much easier if I had just replaced the lines with OEM ones. Hopefully this will be the last time I have to deal with these stupid things for a LONG time.
I will say...the Viper Specialty lines are very nice, and look pretty too.