Page 65 of 386
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Racing or Other Competitive Driving
See your Warranty Book before using your Corvette for
racing
or other competitive driving.
NOTICE:
If you use your Corvette for racing or other
competitive driving, your engine may use more oil than
it would with normal use. Low oil levels
can damage the engine. Be sure to check the oil
level often during racing or other competitive
driving and keep the level at or near the upper
mark on the engine oil dipstick. You may need to
add oil. See “Engine Oil” in the Index.
J
Driving Through Deep Standing
Water
NOTICE:
If you drive too quickly through deep puddles or
standing water, water can come in through your
engine’s air intake and badly damage your
engine. Never drive through water that is slightly
lower than the underbody of your vehicle.
If you
can’t avoid deep puddles or standing water, drive
through them very slowly.
2-22
Page 123 of 386

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service
Engine Soon Light)
SERVICE
0
SOON
I
A computer monitors
operation
of your fuel,
ignition and emission
control systems. This amber
light should come on when
the ignition is on, but the
engine is not running, as a
check to show you it is
working.
If it does not come
on at all, have it fixed right away. If
it stays on, or it comes on while you are driving, the
computer is indicating that you have
a problem. You
should take your vehicle in for service soon.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light on,
after
a while the emission controls won’t work as
well, your fuel economy won’t be as good and your
engine may not
run as smoothly. This could lead to
costly repairs not covered by your warranty.
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge
-1
OIL
PRESS
PSI
The engine oil pressure gauge shows the engine
oil pressure in psi (pounds per square inch) or
kPa (kilopascals) when the engine is running. Oil
pressure should be
20 to 80 psi (140 to 550 Ea). It
may vary with engine speed, outside temperature and oil
viscosity, but readings above the shaded area show the
normal operating range. Readings in the shaded area tell
you that the engine is low on oil, or that you might have
some other oil problem. See “Engine Oil” in the Index.
2-80
Page 124 of 386
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and
is not covered by your
warranty.
Engine Oil Temperature Gauge
LT1 LT5
This gauge shows your engine oil temperature. Oil
temperature may vary with the type
of driving you do
and weather conditions. If your gauge pointer moves
close to or into the shaded area and stays there, your oil
temperature is too high. Check the engine coolant
temperature and engine oil level. If your engine is too
hot, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index. Your
vehicle may need service; see your dealer.
2-81
Page 125 of 386
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I 1=1 1 I -1 I
r .
For numeric gauge measurements, press the GAUGES
button on the Trip Monitor until OIL appears. The
number that appears next to the fuel gauge is the oil
temperature.
If LO appears, the temperature is below
32°F (OOC).
System Problems
If SYS flashes on the display near your fuel gauge,
there may be a problem with your Corvette’s electrical
system. If the amber SECURITY light flashes at the
same time, there
is a problem with your theft-deterrent
system. Have your vehicle checked by your dealer
if
SYS keeps appearing.
Gauge Markings
The analog gauges provide a quick visual reference to
the actual measurements of these gauges. However, you
must keep in mind that the gauges aren’t linear. This
means that the middle mark is not a temperature halfway
between the top and bottom temperatures on the gauge.
For your convenience, the following table gives the
exact reading for each mark.
Page 128 of 386

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine It’s normal for the transmission fluid temperature to
vary, depending on the type of driving you do and
weather conditions. If you drive on long grades on a hot
day, the transmission fluid temperature will be higher
than normal driving on a cold day. If you drive your
Corvette at high speeds with a lot of stop-and-go or fast
accelerations, your transmission fluid temperature may
also be higher.
If the transmission fluid exceeds
280°F (138 “C), the
CHECK GAUGES light will come on and HI
AUTO
will be displayed next to the transmission fluid
temperature when you toggle through the GAUGES
button. You should move the shift lever to DRIVE (D)
and continue driving at a slower, constant speed.
Monitor the transmission fluid temperature and allow
it
to cool to 180°F (82°C) to 200°F (93°C). Then, you
should check the transmission fluid level for a low fill or
overfill condition and bring your Corvette in for service
as soon as possible (see “Automatic Transmission Fluid”
in the Index). Also, check the engine coolant
temperature. If it’s too hot, see “Cooling System” in the
Index.
Check Gauges Light
This red light will come on
briefly when you are
starting the engine. If the
light comes on and stays on
while
you are driving, check
your gauges to see if they
are
in the warning areas.
This light can come
on for:
0 high engine oil temperature or low oil pressure
high coolant temperature
high or low battery voltage
0 low fuel level
0 high automatic transmission oil temperature
2-85
Page 184 of 386

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think
you are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh
-- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip?
If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to
go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Chevrolet dealers all across North America. They’ll be
ready and willing to help if you need it. Here
are some things you can check before a trip:
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid
a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-21
Page 240 of 386

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What about gasoline with blending materials that
contain oxygen (oxygenates), such as
MTBE or alcohol?
MTBE is “methyl tertiary-butyl ether.” Fuel that is no
more than
15% MTBE is fine for your vehicle.
Ethanol is ethyl or grain alcohol. Properly-blended fuel
that is no more than
10% ethanol is fine for your
vehicle.
Methanol is methyl or wood alcohol.
NOTICE:
Fuel that is more than 5% methanol is bad for
your vehicle. Don’t use it. It can corrode metal
parts
in your fuel system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t be
covered under your warranty. And even at
5% or
less, there must be “cosolvents” and corrosion
preventers in this fuel to help avoid these
problems.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
U.S. or Canada, unleaded fuel may be hard to find. Do
not use leaded gasoline. If you use even one tankful,
your emission controls won’t work well or at all. With
continuous use, spark plugs can get fouled, the exhaust
system can corrode, and your engine oil can deteriorate
quickly. Your vehicle’s oxygen sensor will be damaged.
All of that means costly repairs that wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice. Just tell
us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation
North American Export Sales
(NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
6-5
Page 247 of 386
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Oil
If you have the LT1 engine, it’s a good idea to check
your engine oil level every time you get fuel. In order to
get
an accurate reading, the oil must be warm and the
vehicle must be on level ground.
Turn
off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan.
If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level. If
you have the LT5
~ engine,
the best time to ~ check your engine oil
is when the engine is cold.
If
you run the engine, the engine oil won’t drain back
into the pan fast enough. Give the oil two hours to drain
back into the oil pan.
If you don’t, the oil dipstick might
not show the actual level.
6-12