2007 CHEVROLET CORVETTE checking oil

Service........................................................ 319
Accessories and Modications................... 319
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 320
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 320
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...................................... 321
Fuel............................................................. 321
Gasoline Octane........................................ 321
Gasoline Specications.............................. 322
California Fuel........................................... 322
Additives................................................... 323
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 324
Filling the Tank......................................... 324
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 327
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 328
Hood Release........................................... 329
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 330
Engine Oil................................................. 333
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 340
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 342
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 345
Manual Transmission Fluid........................ 345
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 346
Engine Coolant.......................................... 347
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 350Engine Overheating................................... 350
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 352
Cooling System......................................... 353
Power Steering Fluid................................. 358
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 360
Brakes...................................................... 361
Battery...................................................... 364
Jump Starting............................................ 365
Rear Axle.................................................... 370
Bulb Replacement....................................... 371
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting..... 371
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 372
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and
Parking Lamps....................................... 372
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps...... 374
Replacement Bulbs................................... 374
Windshield Replacement............................ 375
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 375
Tires............................................................ 378
Winter Tires.............................................. 379
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 380
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 382
Extended Mobility Tires............................. 384
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 386
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
317

Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start
up and injure you even when the engine
is not running. Keep hands, clothing,
and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine
parts and start a re. These include
liquids like fuel, oil, coolant, brake uid,
windshield washer and other uids, and
plastic or rubber. You or others could be
burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.
328

A. Clutch Master Cylinder Reservoir
(If Equipped). SeeHydraulic Clutch
on page 346.
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir.
See “Adding Washer Fluid” under
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 360.
C. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 361.
D. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeEngine Coolant on page 347.
E. Engine Air Cleaner/Filters. SeeEngine
Air Cleaner/Filter on page 342.F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir.
SeePower Steering Fluid on page 358.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 333.
H. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 333.
I. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 422.
J. Passenger Compartment Air Filter (Out of View).
SeePassenger Compartment Air Filter on
page 186.
K. Battery. SeeBattery on page 364.
331

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine
Air Cleaner/Filter on page 342.
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir.
SeePower Steering Fluid on page 358.
C. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 422.
D. Remote Positive Terminal (Out of View).
SeeBattery on page 364.
E. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 333.
F. Dry Sump Engine Oil Tank. See “Changing
Engine Oil and Filter (Z06 Only)”Engine Oil
on page 333.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on page 333.
H. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeEngine Coolant on page 347.
I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir.
See “Adding Washer Fluid” under
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 360.
J. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 361.
K. Clutch Master Cylinder Reservoir.
SeeHydraulic Clutch on page 346.Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil (Except Z06)
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL message on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) comes on, check the
engine oil level right away. For more information,
seeDriver Information Center (DIC) on page 207.
You should check the engine oil level regularly;
this is an added reminder.
It is a good idea to check the 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.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 330
for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil a few
minutes to drain back into the oil pan. If
you do not do this, the oil dipstick might not
show the actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a
lint-free paper towel or a cloth, then push
it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down.
333

Checking Engine Oil (Z06 Only)
A. Engine Oil Dipstick
B. Engine Oil Fill CapIt is a good idea to check the 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.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
The dipstick is located on the dry sump engine
oil tank. SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 330for the location of the dry sump
engine oil tank.
Z06 models have a racetrack-ready dry sump
engine lubrication system. This high-performance
system operates differently than a standard
engine lubrication system and requires a special
procedure when checking the engine oil level.
Follow this procedure closely when checking the
engine oil level.
334

The engine oil level must be checked when the
engine is warm. Cold oil level in the dry sump tank
may not indicate the actual amount of oil in the
system. With this system, engine oil is contained
in an external tank, separate from the engine.
Under normal operating conditions, the oil
pan under the engine does not store any oil.
If the vehicle has been parked for an extended
period without the engine being started, some
oil will seep back into the oil pan, reducing
the amount of oil held in the dry sump tank
and there could be no engine oil at all showing
on the dipstick. This is normal since the
dipstick is designed to read engine oil level
only after the engine has run long enough
to reach normal operating temperature.Do not add engine oil based on cold engine
dipstick readings. The engine oil level on the
dipstick will also be inaccurate if checked while
the engine is running.
1. To obtain an accurate engine oil level reading,
warm up the engine to at least 175°F (80°C).
Cold oil will not give a correct oil level reading.
2. Once the engine is warm, turn off the engine.
Checking the oil while the engine is running
will result in an incorrect oil level reading.
3. Wait at least ve minutes (but not more
than 20 minutes) to allow oil to drain and
settle in the engine.
4. Remove the dipstick from the external engine
oil tank and clean it with a lint-free paper
towel or a cloth. Re-insert the dipstick into
the external oil tank, pushing it all the way
in until it stops.
5. Remove the dipstick from the oil tank and
read the level on the cross-hatched area.
Oil levels that fall in the cross-hatched
area are normal.
335

A. Engine Oil Drain Plug
B. Seal
1. Remove the two engine oil drain plugs
from the bottom of the engine oil pan.
One drain plug drains the external oil tank
via the oil transfer supply line. The other
drain plug drains residual oil from the
crankcase sump. Allow the oil to drain.2. Once the oil has been drained from the
engine, remove the engine oil lter and
allow the oil to drain.
3. Re-install both drain plugs and tighten them
to 18 lb ft (25
Y).
4. Replace the oil lter and tighten it to
18 lb ft (25
Y). SeeNormal Maintenance
Replacement Parts on page 445for the
correct lter.
5. Oil is lled through the opening in the top
of the external engine oil tank. Remove the
oil ll cap.
6. Add eight quarts (7.6 L) of oil to the oil tank.
SeeCapacities and Specications on
page 426.
7. Install the oil ll cap and insert the dipstick,
if removed.
8. Start the engine and let it run at idle for at
least 15 seconds. This will circulate the
fresh engine oil through the lubrication system.
9. Shut off the engine and check the oil level
as described under “Checking Engine Oil
(Z06 Only).”
338

Checking Brake Fluid
You can check the brake uid without taking
off the cap. Look at the brake uid reservoir.
The uid level should be above the MIN mark on
the reservoir. If it is not, have the brake system
checked to see if there is a leak.
After work is done on the brake hydraulic system,
make sure the level is between the MIN and
MAX marks.
What to Add
When you do need brake uid, use only DOT-3
brake uid. Refer toRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 443. Use new brake
uid from a sealed container only.
Always clean the brake uid reservoir cap and
the area around the cap before removing it. This
will help keep dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in the brake
system, the brakes may not work well.
This could cause a crash. Always use the
proper brake uid.
Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just a
few drops of mineral-based oil, such
as engine oil, in the brake system can
damage brake system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced. Do not
let someone put in the wrong kind of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint nish can
be damaged. Be careful not to spill brake
uid on your vehicle. If you do, wash it
off immediately. SeeWashing Your Vehicle
on page 411.
362