Oil leak or common problem???

cdover73 · Mar 9, 2015

The other day I was giving my bro in law a ride for his first time in a Viper. Without admitting to possible illegal activities I will just say the car saw more rpms than it ever has with me...

When we came to a stop he asked where that smoke was coming from. I initially thought he meant the heat rising from the hood louvers; but then I saw it!! My car was about to burst into flames!! I jumped out and opened the hood. There was fresh oil running down from the valve cover onto the headers. After wiping it off and looking around I saw old seepage around the valve cover gasket toward the front corner, but I also saw fresh oil that appeared to be coming from the fill cap. Is it a common problem for the oil cap to vent and leak oil under high rpm conditions?? Is there a common fix?? Or could it have been from the valve cover only?

I am putting it in the shop next week for oil pan and valve cover gasket changes. I need to know if I also need to buy a new oil fill cap. If so, any certain type?

Thanks,

Cdover73

Allan · Mar 9, 2015

Before you do all that gasket stuff, make sure it's not the P/S pressure line fitting at the pump.

It likes to leak all over everything and make you think the car is on fire.
-same crap happened to me.

cdover73 · Mar 9, 2015

Yeah I have read about that one, and I thought it was the problem at first. But then I actually saw fresh oil running down the valve cover under the oil fill cap. I removed the cap and the o-ring was in place. I tightened it as much as I could and drove the car home very calmly. When I got back there was no more oil. Is there really that much pressure in the valve covers during acceleration? Seems odd to me.

The oil pan gasket is obvious. It has a seep but getting worse. I will have them check the power steering while it is in there. Did they ever do a TSB or recall on that?

Kirkinsb · Mar 9, 2015

I remember my oil fil cap o-ring leaked. the o-ring flattens and eventually does not seal. I happened to have a silicone o-ring laying around that gave a really nice snug fit. No leaks anymore. Take a look at your o-ring....I bet it has hardened and flattened out.

Allan · Mar 10, 2015

......................yeah, I've replaced the filler cap O-ring too now that I think about it.

No bulletin on the P/S issue.
Just fix it and go on. -in a few years, repeat..................................

ViperDad · Mar 11, 2015

I'd keep an eye on that silicone o-ring. If it is silicone, that thing will act like it's on ******! As far as the blowing oil, I'd look for crankcase pressure build. Sounds to me like it's building and blowing the valve cover gaskets and likely any other holding back crankcase vapors. Take the cap off and hold your palm over and see if it builds pressure. I'd look for a fail in the crankcase venting gizmos, or worse case busted rings with consequent blowby. Obviously, do with the block cool or use your asbestos hand :nono:

Kirkinsb · Mar 11, 2015

Thanks...I will check the silicone o-ring...I probably should get a new rubber one.

viper k · Mar 11, 2015

i have a 1996 gts if i run it real hard i mean @ or around red line oil will come out of dip stick it will push up the dip stick ????

AZTVR · Mar 11, 2015

viper k said:
i have a 1996 gts if i run it real hard i mean @ or around red line oil will come out of dip stick it will push up the dip stick ????

Well, it sounds like you do not have sufficient crankcase ventilation, for the condition of your engine. The first thing that I would suggest checking is the PCV valve to see that it is working and see that your crankcase ventilation lines are where they should be and not capped off. Or if you have an aftermarket arrangement for crankcase ventilation, that could possibly be an issue.

viper k · Mar 12, 2015

AZTVR thanks for the tip i will check the PCV valve !!!!! it only done it one time butt the dip stick still pushes up every time i get on it if i open the hood i push the dip stick back down ??

VIPER GTSR 91 · Mar 13, 2015

The oil cap is available from Dodge parts and is inexpensive. It comes with a new gasket too.

Dan Cragin · Mar 14, 2015

Change the oil fill cap. The new style has a better o-ring and seals better.

cdover73 · Mar 15, 2015

Thanks all! I'm away from home working on an extended project, but I had my wife drive it yesterday and then check to see if there are any leaks...don't string me up for that btw...I told her it was half her car too so I could buy it

She said she didn't notice anything so I'm thinking it came from the one and only "hard" drive I did. That was also the only time it smoked like that since I've had it(only a couple months). I was gonna put it in the shop to have the gaskets changed but changed my mind and will investigate more when I get home. The first thing I will do is change the oil cap and gasket/o-ring. I have already checked the torque on the valve covers and everything was in check. There is minimum oil residue and only at the front of the cover where the cap is, which could be from the oil cap or a simple spill from oil changes. I still need to do the oil pan though. I'm thinking since the car only has 37,000 miles on it and is 12 years old, the previous owner must not have driven it much at all, or hard for that matter, and the gaskets may be getting dry rotted so it may be good to change them anyway.

Now if I could only figure out how to convince my wife it can't be driven because it's got problems without her asking "why did we buy it then" all will be good....Doh!

Allan · Mar 15, 2015

Just say they're some minor maintenance issues that need attention -no big deal, then send her to the shoe store with a credit card to distract her from the car problems.

cdover73 · Mar 29, 2015

Finally made it home and checked the car for leaks. What I found was there is no gasket or o-ring on the oil fill cap! I'm guessing it either weathered away or was lost when being installed. I ordered a new one from Dodge. This would definitely explain the leak! Don't know how I missed it the day this all happened...

Thanks to all that posted. This thread is finished.

MoparMap · Mar 30, 2015

I've had similar issues with my valve covers for a while now. Initially my oil cooler lines were what were making a mess under my car, but after that I would still get a small spot on the garage floor from time to time. When I installed my headers I noticed most of the lower bolts of the valve cover were loose. Tightened them up, but think my gaskets were pretty well gone by them. Just put on new gaskets and checked the oil cap while I was at it. The o-ring was pretty flat and hard as mentioned earlier in the responses. Grabbed a new o-ring from my box of them and so far it seems like the occasional oil smell has gone away. Still waiting to see if there are any new spots.

Roy · Apr 1, 2015

viper k said:
i have a 1996 gts if i run it real hard i mean @ or around red line oil will come out of dip stick it will push up the dip stick ????

I had an '92 and this car also lost oil through the dipstick, bought a new dipstick as recommended by the wizard and that solved the problem

Oil leak or common problem???

cdover73

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Allan

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cdover73

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Kirkinsb

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Allan

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ViperDad

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Kirkinsb

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viper k

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AZTVR

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viper k

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VIPER GTSR 91

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Dan Cragin

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cdover73

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Allan

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cdover73

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VCA National President

Roy

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