2009 DODGE VIPER engine oil

•Avoid excessive idling.
•Check the engine oil level at every fuel fill.
NOTE:A new engine will consume some oil during the
first few thousand miles (kilometers) of operation. This
should be considered as a normal part of the break-in and
not interpreted as a sign of difficulty.
SAFETY TIPS
Exhaust System
WARNING!
Exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, an ex-
tremely toxic gas that by itself is colorless and
odorless. To avoid inhaling these gases, the following
precautions should be observed:
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not run the engine in a closed garage or in
confined areas any longer than needed to move
your vehicle in or out of the area.
•It may be necessary to sit in a parked vehicle with
the engine running for more than a short period. If
so, adjust your climate control system to force
outside air into the vehicle. Set the blower at high
speed and the controls in any position except OFF
or RECIRC.
•The best protection against carbon monoxide entry
into the vehicle body is a properly maintained
engine exhaust system.
Be aware of changes in the sound of the exhaust system,
exhaust fumes detected inside the vehicle, or damage to
the underside or rear of the vehicle. Have a competent
mechanic inspect the complete exhaust system and adja-
cent body areas for broken, damaged, deteriorated or
60 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

INSTRUMENT PANEL FEATURES
1 - Air Outlet 7 - Speedometer/Odometer 13 - Climate Control
2 - Sound System Speaker 8 - Oil Pressure Gauge 14 - ENGINE START Button
3 - Main Message Center 9 - Passenger Airbag Off Light 15 - Voltage Gauge
4 - Fuel Gauge 10 - Passenger Airbag 16 - Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
5 - Auxiliary Message Center 11 - Glove Compartment 17 - Engine Oil Temperature Gauge
6 - Tachometer 12 - Sound System Controls 18 - TRIP ButtonUNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 99
4

6000 RPM. This serves as a visual aid to shift before
reaching the red line. This warning will turn off when the
tachometer pointer falls below 5900 RPM.
Coolant Temperature Gauge
This gauge shows the engine coolant tempera-
ture. The gauge pointer will likely show higher
temperatures when driving in hot weather, up
mountain grades, or in heavy stop and go
traffic. If the red Warning Light turns on while driving,
safely bring the vehicle to a stop, and turn off the engine.
DO NOT operate the vehicle until the cause is corrected.
Engine Temperature Warning Light
The red Engine Temperature Warning Light is
located in the Coolant Temperature Gauge. It will
turn on to warn of an overheated engine condi-
tion. If this light turns on while driving, safely bring the
vehicle to a stop and turn off the engine. DO NOT
operate the vehicle until the cause is corrected.
Oil Temperature Gauge
This gauge shows the oil temperature. The
gauge pointer will likely show higher tempera-
tures when driving in hot weather, up moun-
tain grades, or in heavy stop and go traffic. If
the red Warning Light remains on after the bulb check or
turns on while driving, safely bring the vehicle to a
complete stop and turn off the engine. DO NOT operate
the vehicle until the cause is corrected.
Oil Pressure Gauge
This gauge shows engine oil pressure when the
engine is running. The pressure will vary with
engine speed, oil viscosity, and engine tem-
perature. Oil pressures will be higher as the
engine is warming up. The normal operating pressure is
between 20 and 80 psi (pounds per square inch). If the
pointer remains in the red range, safely bring the vehicle
to a complete stop and turn off the engine. DO NOT
operate the vehicle until the cause is corrected.
108 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

This gauge does not indicate the amount of oil in the
engine. The engine oil level must be checked under the
hood. Check the level often during severe usage.
Oil Pressure Warning Light
The red Oil Pressure Warning Light is located in
the Oil Pressure Gauge. It will turn on to indicate
low engine oil pressure. The light should turn on briefly
as a bulb check when the engine is first started. If the
light remains on or turns on while driving, safely bring
the vehicle to a complete stop and turn off the engine. DO
NOT operate the vehicle until the cause is corrected.
NOTE:This light does not indicate how much oil is in
the engine. The engine oil level must be checked using
the procedure shown in section 7.
Fuel Gauge
This gauge shows the amount of fuel in the gas
tank. The reaction time of the gauge has been
slowed to avoid needle fluctuation during pe-
riods of high G force cornering.
Voltage Gauge
This gauge shows the electrical system voltage.
The normal operating voltage is from 12 to
14 Volts with the engine running. If the pointer
remains at either the high or low ends of the
scale, the electrical system should be serviced.
Charge System Light
The red Charge System Light is located in the
Voltage Gauge. It will turn on when there is a
charging system malfunction or a possible accessory
drive belt failure.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 109
4

CAUTION! (Continued)
•Driving through standing water may cause dam-
age to your vehicle’s drivetrain components. Al-
ways inspect your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., engine oil,
transmission/transaxle, axle, etc.) for signs of con-
tamination (i.e., fluid that is milky or foamy in
appearance) after driving through standing water.
Do not continue to operate the vehicle if any fluid
appears contaminated, as this may result in further
damage. Such damage is not covered by the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
•Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can
cause it to lock up and stall out, and cause serious
internal damage to the engine. Such damage is not
covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
WARNING!
•Driving through standing water limits your vehi-
cle’s traction capabilities. Do not exceed 5 mph
(8 km/h) when driving through standing water.
•Driving through standing water limits your vehi-
cle’s braking capabilities, which increases stop-
ping distances. Therefore, after driving through
standing water, drive slowly and lightly press on
the brake pedal several times to dry the brakes.
•Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can
cause it to lock up and stall out, and leave you
stranded.
•Failure to follow these warnings may result in
injuries that are serious or fatal to you, your
passengers, and others around you.
STARTING AND OPERATING 143
5

Problems that result from using methanol/gasoline or
E85 Ethanol blends are not the responsibility of the
manufacturer. While MTBE is an oxygenate made from
Methanol, it does not have the negative effects of
Methanol.
E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles
Non-FFV vehicles are compatible with gasoline contain-
ing 10% ethanol (E10). Gasoline with higher ethanol
content may void the vehicle’s warranty.
If a Non-FFV vehicle is inadvertently fueled with E-85
fuel, the engine will have some or all of these symptoms:
•operate in a lean mode
•OBD II “Malfunction Indicator Light” on
•poor engine performance
•poor cold start and cold drivability
•increased risk for fuel system component corrosionTo fix a Non-FFV vehicle inadvertently fueled once with
E-85 perform the following:
•drain the fuel tank (see your authorized dealer)
•change the engine oil and oil filter
•disconnect and reconnect the battery to reset the
engine controller memory
More extensive repairs will be required for prolonged
exposure to E-85 fuel.
MMT In Gasoline
MMT is a manganese containing metallic additive that is
blended into some gasoline to increase the octane num-
ber. Gasolines blended with MMT offer no performance
advantage beyond gasolines of the same octane number
without MMT. Gasolines blended with MMT have shown
to reduce spark plug life and reduce emission system
performance in some vehicles. The manufacturer recom-
mends using gasolines without MMT. Since the MMT
172 STARTING AND OPERATING

•In city traffic —While moving, shift into the highest
gear possible to reduce engine RPM.
NOTE:There are steps that you can take to slow down
an impending overheat condition. If your air conditioner
is on, turn it off. The air conditioning system adds heat to
the cooling system and turning off the A/C removes this
heat. You can also turn the temperature control to maxi-
mum heat, the mode control to floor, and the fan control
to high. This allows the heater core to act as a supplement
to the radiator and aids in removing heat from the
cooling system.WARNING!
A hot cooling system is dangerous. You or others
could be badly burned by steam or boiling coolant. If
your temperature gauge pointer is in the red area,
turn off the engine immediately. You may want to call
a service center for service. If you decide to look
under the hood yourself, see Section 7 of this manual.
Follow the warnings under the “Radiator Cap” para-
graph.
TIREFIT KIT
Small punctures in the tire tread can be sealed with
TIREFIT. Foreign objects (e.g., screws or nails) should not
be removed from the tire. TIREFIT can be used in outside
temperatures down to approximately -4°F (-20°C).
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 181
6

5. Remove the cap from the valve stem and then screw
the fitting at the end of the Sealant Hose 7 onto the valve
stem.
6. Uncoil the Power Plug and Cable 5 and then insert the
plug into the vehicle’s power outlet.
NOTE:Do not remove foreign objects (e.g., screws or
nails) from the tire.
C. Injecting TIREFIT Sealant into the Deflated Tire
1. Always start the engine before turning ON the TIRE-
FIT kit.
2. After pressing the AIR PUMP POWER
button 3, the air pump should start to inflate
the tire and the sealant (white fluid) will flow
from the Sealant Bottle 1 through the Sealant
Hose 7 and into the tire.NOTE:Some sealant may leak
out through the puncture in the tire.3.If the sealant Does Not Flow Through the Clear
Sealant Hose 7
•Press the AIR PUMP POWER button 3 to turn OFF
the TIREFIT kit. Disconnect the Clear Sealant Hose 7
from the valve stem. Make sure the valve stem is
free of debris. Reconnect the Clear Sealant Hose 7 to
the valve stem. Press the AIR PUMP POWER button
3 to turn ON the TIREFIT kit.
•Turn the Mode Select knob to the Sealant/Air Mode.
•Connect the Power Plug 5 to a different power
outlet in your vehicle or another vehicle, if available.
Make sure the engine is running before turning ON
the TIREFIT kit.
•The Sealant Bottle 1 may be empty due to previous
use. Call for assistance.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 187
6