2004 CHEVROLET CORVETTE fuel additives

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specifications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-18
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-20
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-21
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-22
Engine Coolant.............................................5-23
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-26
Engine Overheating.......................................5-26
Cooling System............................................5-29
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-35
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-36Brakes........................................................5-37
Battery........................................................5-40
Jump Starting...............................................5-41
Rear Axle.......................................................5-47
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-48
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-48
Headlamps..................................................5-48
Taillamps and Turn Signal Lamps...................5-50
Back-Up Lamps............................................5-52
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-52
Tires..............................................................5-55
Extended Mobility Tires (Except Z06)...............5-61
Inflation - Tire Pressure.................................5-62
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
(Except Z06).............................................5-64
Tire Rotation................................................5-65
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-65
Buying New Tires.........................................5-66
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-67
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-68
Wheel Replacement......................................5-68
Tire Chains..................................................5-71
Lifting Your Vehicle.......................................5-71
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-75
Tire Inflator Kit (Z06 Only).............................5-77
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
allowing your emission control system to work
properly. You should not have to add anything to your
fuel. However, some gasolines contain only the
minimum amount of additive required to meet U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency regulations. General
Motors recommends that you buy gasolines that
are advertised to help keep fuel injectors and intake
valves clean. If your vehicle experiences problems due
to dirty injectors or valves, try a different brand of
gasoline.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be available in
your area to contribute to clean air. General Motors
recommends that you use these gasolines, particularly if
they comply with the specifications described earlier.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel
system and also damage the plastic and rubber
parts. That damage would not be covered under
your warranty.Some gasolines that are not reformulated for
low emissions may contain an octane-enhancing
additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant where you
buy gasoline whether the fuel contains MMT. General
Motors does not recommend the use of such gasolines.
Fuels containing MMT can reduce the life of spark
plugs and the performance of the emission control
system may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp
may turn on. If this occurs, return to your authorized
GM dealer for service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard
to find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you will be driving.
5-6

Your vehicle’s engine is filled at the factory with a
Mobil 1®synthetic oil, which meets all requirements for
your vehicle.
Substitute Engine Oil:When adding oil to maintain
engine oil level, oil meeting GM Standard GM4718M
may not be available. You can add substitute oil
designated SAE 5W-30 with the starburst symbol at all
temperatures. If temperatures are above 0°F (-18°C),
you may substitute SAE 10W-30 with the starburst
symbol. Substitute oil not meeting GM Standard
GM4718M should not be used for an oil change.
Engine Oil Additives
Do not add anything to your oil. The recommended oils
with the starburst symbol that meet GM Standard
GM4718M are all you will need for good performance
and engine protection.
When to Change Engine Oil
(GM Oil Life System)
Your vehicle has a computer that lets you know when to
change your engine oil and filter. This is based on
engine revolutions and engine temperature, and not on
mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at
which an oil change will be indicated can vary
considerably. For the oil life system to work properly,
you must reset the system every time the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE OIL SOON message will come
on. Change your oil as soon as possible within the
next two times you stop for fuel. It is possible that, if you
are driving under the best conditions, the oil life
system may not indicate that an oil change is necessary
for over a year. However, your engine oil and filter
must be changed at least once a year and at this time
the system must be reset. Your dealer has GM-trained
service people who will perform this work using
genuine GM parts and reset the system. It is also
important to check your oil regularly and keep it at the
proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change your oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your
last oil change. Remember to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed.
5-16

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-22
Activating the Theft-Deterrent Feature................3-86
Active Handling System...................................4-10
Active Handling System Light...........................3-40
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-36
Additional Program Information........................... 7-9
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-92
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)......3-72, 3-78
Air Bag
Off Light.....................................................3-36
Readiness Light..........................................3-35
Air Bag System..............................................1-40
Air Bag Off Switch.......................................1-46
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-44
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-49
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?....................1-43
What Will You See After an
Air Bag Inflates?......................................1-44
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?...................1-43
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-42
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-18
Air Compressor..............................................5-78
Air Dam, Front...............................................2-19
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9
AM ...............................................................3-88
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-89
Antenna, Power Antenna Mast Care..................3-90Antennas, Integrated Windshield and Rear
Window......................................................3-90
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)............................ 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-39
Appearance Care............................................5-82
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-85
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-90
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-83
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-85
Fiberglass Springs.......................................5-90
Finish Damage............................................5-89
Titanium Exhaust System..............................5-89
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-89
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-90
Weatherstrips..............................................5-85
Arming the System.........................................2-16
Ashtrays........................................................3-23
Audio System(s).............................................3-69
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-88
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-89
Care of Your CDs........................................3-89
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-89
Integrated Windshield and Rear Window
Antennas................................................3-90
Power Antenna Mast Care............................3-90
Radio with Cassette.....................................3-70
Radio with CD............................................3-76
Setting the Time..........................................3-69
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-86
Trunk-Mounted CD Changer..........................3-81
1

Electrical System (cont.)
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-92
Emergency Trunk Release Handle
(Convertible Only)........................................2-13
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs.................................3-44
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-18
Battery.......................................................5-40
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-41
Coolant......................................................5-23
Coolant Heater............................................2-23
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-41
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-14
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-36
Oil .............................................................5-13
Oil Pressure Gage.......................................3-44
Overheating................................................5-26
Starting......................................................2-21
Engine Compartment Fuse Block......................5-96
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-16
Event Data Recorders (EDR)............................. 7-9
Exit/Entry Lighting...........................................3-17
Express-Down Window....................................2-15
Extended Mobility Tires....................................5-61
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-19
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-13F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-18
Finding a Station....................................3-71, 3-77
Finish Care....................................................5-86
Finish Damage...............................................5-89
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-89
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-8
Flat Tire........................................................5-75
Floor Mats.....................................................2-41
Fluid
Automatic Transmission................................5-20
Manual Transmission....................................5-21
Power Steering...........................................5-35
Windshield Washer......................................5-36
FM ...............................................................3-88
Fog Lamps....................................................3-15
Front Air Dam................................................2-19
Fuel............................................................... 5-4
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-10
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-6
Gage.........................................................3-46
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specifications.................................. 5-5
5