The surface of rutile titania nanoparticles was chemically modified by reacting with alkoxy silane. The surface and rheological properties in silicone oil having a wide range of viscosity were investigated. Total surface free energy($gamma_S$) of the titania particles decreased from 53.12 to 26.94 mJ/$m^2$ as the silane used for surface treatment was increased from 0 to 5.0 wt$\%$. The surface free energy of neat silane was 25.5 mJ/$m^2$, which is quite close to that oftitania particles treated with 5.0 wt$\%$ silane. Due to the hydrophobic nature oftreated-titania, the contact angle was accordingly higher for polar solvent in the order of water>ethylene glycol> formamide>$alpha$-bromonaphthalene. In sum of rheological behavior, as the applied shear stress or viscosity of the silicone oil increased, the titania particles tend to form layers and agglomerated clusters, showing shear-thinning and shear-thickening behaviors, sequentially. A good dispersion of discrete titania particles obeying a Newtonian flow behavior was achieved at a surface energy or low concentration of silane-treated titania particles in hydrophobic silicone oil.