Panoz Cars and Parts

[Blue Streak 21]

Originally Posted by Cobra4B

Gary... what's the final verdict on the recommended oil and capacity? Looking throuh my logs it seems as if sometimes they run Mobil 1 and other times Quaker State... what do you recommend for oil? Synthetic or Organic? Weight? And how much! I have the standard 5.0 w/ an aftermarket road race pan.... it has two wells and two drain plugs.

Thanks,
Brian

Brian;
Here's some info I was given from Panoz engineering.

"7 quarts of oil recommend vr1 valvoline 20/50
No special b/s on the drain plug, drain both, copper gaskets are reusable, pan should be made by canton."

I'm pretty sure the Tremec tranny takes ATF. I've used synthethic for my Vette and had good results. I also remember that the differential takes 80/90 weight gear oil. And again I would recommend a Valvoline product or another that is synthetic.

Hope this helps and matches up with what Gary figures out tomorrow.

[Cobra4B]

Thanks Gary... I run Amsoil in my Z06 (motor, trans, and rear) and have for years. I'll order some more for the panoz.

[Gatorac]

Originally Posted by Blue Streak 21

Brian;
Here's some info I was given from Panoz engineering.



I'm pretty sure the Tremec tranny takes ATF. I've used synthethic for my Vette and had good results.

The trans takes 2.5-2.75 qts of GM Syncromesh Fluid. This is available at your GM dealer. Or Pennzoil makes a Syncromesh fluid if you can find it. My local Napa ordered some in for me.

[Cobra4B]

^ Thanks... the GTS race car manual oil change procedure includes draining the oil cooler each time.

Are you guys doing that? Or just the oil pan, then re-fill?

[Cobra4B]

^ I finished reading the GTS manual... it specs out 9 quarts capacity. Approx 2 for the cooler and lines, 1ish for the filter pre-fill, and 6 for the pan.

Assuming you just drained the pan and swapped the filter that'd be about the 7 quarts that Panoz told Jerry... sound about right?

I don't want to overfill... Do you guys bother draining the cooler every oil change? I don't do this in my Z06, but the oil cooler doesn't hold as much as the Panoz.

I'm assuming the 5.0 school car has a similar pan ad cooler as the GTS? Sorry for all the questions, but I don't care to learn by mistake

[Gatorac]

Check your dipstick for "man-made" marks. DO NOT use the factory marks on the dipstick. They are not for the oil pan you have. I had no marks on my dipstick. When I pulled the oil pan off to repair the crack, I messed with the dipstick to mark it. I found it was hitting the bottom of the pan. I trimmed it and put a mark on it where the oil level should be. According to Canton the pan will give you "a 7 qt oil capacity". I assume that is taking into account the qt in the filter.

The oil in the pan should go just over the middle section of the pan. That will give you an idea about where on the dipstick the full line should be. I'll know more about how much when I refill it in the next few days.

[Cobra4B]

^ Thanks Jim... keep us updated. I'm going to swap the oil/trans fluids before I hit the track. The diff was re-sealed in August so it'll be good for the year.

Going to run VIR end of Feb w/ NASA and then again in the end of March.

[Cobra4B]

Is filling the trans/diff the same as on my Z06 in that you fill until it just starts to come out of the fill hole?

The GTS manual says 2.5 quarts for the trans (but it's not a 3550) and 3 quarts for the Diff (assuming it's the same). I know 3 quarts doesn't fill the entire diff and it's not supposed to. Is the hole on the side of the diff a level hole? meaning you'd remove that and fill it until the fuild just comes out?

Just trying to get my ducks in a row before a full fluid swap.

Oh and my maintenance logs show 7 quarts for the oil each change, so they're not draining the cooler, just pan and fileter = 7 new quarts.

I've also found that it's had lots of different brands/types of fluids in it. I'm leaning toward running the following

10w40 or 15w50 Amsoil in the motor w/ a K&N filter (change every 3 HPDEs)
GM Synchromesh or similar in the gearbox
75w115 or 75w140 Severe duty gear oil in the rear end.

[Gatorac]

Is filling the trans/diff the same as on my Z06 in that you fill until it just starts to come out of the fill hole?

Put fluid in until it comes out your hole.

[Cobra4B]

^ Haha... so just to clarify... the hole in the side of the differential is a level hole? So do I pour fluid in the top or side?

The way I'm seeing it I'd drain the fluid out the bottom, remove the side plug, then fill through the top where the vent is located until fluid comes out the side hole?

[Gatorac]

Originally Posted by Cobra4B

^ Haha... so just to clarify... the hole in the side of the differential is a level hole? So do I pour fluid in the top or side?

The way I'm seeing it I'd drain the fluid out the bottom, remove the side plug, then fill through the top where the vent is located until fluid comes out the side hole?

I put fluid into the top hole until it came out the one on the side.

[Cobra4B]

^ Jim... do you have to remove the interior trans tunnel cover to change the fluid? I haven't looked at the gearbox closely.

[Gatorac]

Originally Posted by Cobra4B

^ Jim... do you have to remove the interior trans tunnel cover to change the fluid? I haven't looked at the gearbox closely.

Nope. Fill through the side hole with a fluid pump. You can buy the ones that screw on to the top of the oil bottle.

[Cobra4B]

^ Cool... I have 3 of those

[Gatorac]

Originally Posted by Gatorac

When I pulled the oil pan off to repair the crack, I messed with the dipstick to mark it. I found it was hitting the bottom of the pan. I trimmed it and put a mark on it where the oil level should be. I'll know more about how much when I refill it in the next few days.

The pan holds 6 quarts. Drain the pan, put 6 quarts in and mark your dipstick. If your not draining the cooler, put 7 quarts in.