2009 CHEVROLET CORVETTE check oil

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-4
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements.....5-4
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-5
Adding Equipment to the Outside of the
Vehicle......................................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-6
Gasoline Octane............................................5-6
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-7
Additives.......................................................5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-8
Filling the Tank..............................................5-9
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-12
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-12
Hood Release..............................................5-13
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-14
Engine Oil...................................................5-20
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-26
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-28
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-30
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-31
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-31
Cooling System (Engine)................................5-32
Cooling System (Intercooler)...........................5-33Engine Coolant.............................................5-34
Engine Overheating.......................................5-39
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-41
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-42
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-43
Brakes........................................................5-44
Battery........................................................5-50
Jump Starting...............................................5-51
Rear Axle.......................................................5-55
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-56
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-56
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting............5-56
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-57
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and
Parking Lamps..........................................5-57
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-59
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-59
Windshield Replacement.................................5-60
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-60
Tires..............................................................5-62
Winter Tires.................................................5-63
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-64
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-66
Run-Flat Tires..............................................5-69
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

California Fuel
If the vehicle is certied to meet California Emissions
Standards, it is designed to operate on fuels that meet
California specications. See the underhood emission
control label. If this fuel is not available in states adopting
California emissions standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal specications, but
emission control system performance might be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp could turn on and the
vehicle might fail a smog-check test. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 3-42. If this occurs, return to your
authorized dealer/retailer for diagnosis. If it is determined
that the condition is caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs might not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that help prevent
engine and fuel system deposits from forming, allowing
the emission control system to work properly. In most
cases, you should not have to add anything to the fuel.
However, some gasolines contain only the minimum
amount of additive required to meet U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency regulations. To help keep fuel injectors
and intake valves clean, or if the vehicle experiences
problems due to dirty injectors or valves, look for gasoline
that is advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
For customers who do not use TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline regularly, one bottle of GM Fuel System
Treatment PLUS, added to the fuel tank at every engine
oil change, can help clean deposits from fuel injectors
and intake valves. GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS
is the only gasoline additive recommended by General
Motors.
Also, your dealer/retailer has additives that will help
correct and prevent most deposit-related problems.
5-7

Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines might be available in
your area. We recommend that you use these gasolines,
if they comply with the specications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and other fuels containing
more than 10% ethanol must not be used in vehicles that
were not designed for those fuels.
Notice:This vehicle was not designed for fuel
that contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage would not be covered under the
vehicle warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. We recommend against
the use of such gasolines. Fuels containing MMT can
reduce the life of spark plugs and the performance of
the emission control system could be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp might turn on. If this occurs,
return to your dealer/retailer for service.Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel might be hard
to nd. 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
the vehicle 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.
5-8

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while it is in
the vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the fuel vapor. You can be
badly burned and the vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others:
Dispense fuel only into approved containers.
Do not ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed,
or on any surface other than the ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact with the inside
of the ll opening before operating the nozzle.
Contact should be maintained until the lling
is complete.
Do not smoke while pumping fuel.
Do not use a cellular phone while
pumping fuel.
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.
5-12

A. Clutch Master Cylinder Reservoir (If Equipped).
SeeHydraulic Clutch on page 5-31.
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-43.
C. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-44.
D. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-34.
E.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-28.F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-42.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-20.
H. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-20.
I.Engine Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-106.
J. Passenger Compartment Air Filter (Out of View).
SeePassenger Compartment Air Filter on page 3-30.
K.Battery on page 5-50.
5-15

A. Intercooler. SeeCooling System (Engine) on
page 5-32orCooling System (Intercooler) on
page 5-33.
B.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-28.
C. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir and Cap.
SeePower Steering Fluid on page 5-42.
D. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-34.
E. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-43.
F. Clutch Master Cylinder Reservoir (If Equipped).
SeeHydraulic Clutch on page 5-31.G. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-44.
H. Passenger Compartment Air Filter (Out of View).
SeePassenger Compartment Air Filter on page 3-30.
I. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-20.
J. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-20.
K. Remote Positive (+) Terminal (Out of View).
SeeJump Starting on page 5-51.
L.Engine Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-106.
5-17

A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-28.
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-42.
C.Engine Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-106.
D. Remote Positive (+) Terminal (Out of View).
SeeJump Starting on page 5-51.
E. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-20.
F. Dry Sump Engine Oil Tank. See “Changing Engine
Oil and Filter (Z06 Only)”Engine Oil on page 5-20.G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-20.
H. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-34.
I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-43.
J. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-44.
K. Clutch Master Cylinder Reservoir. SeeHydraulic
Clutch on page 5-31.
5-19

Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
(Except ZO6 and ZR1)
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL message displays on the
Driver Information Center (DIC), check the engine oil
level right away. For more information, seeDriver
Information Center (DIC) on page 3-49. 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 5-14
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.
3. Remove the dipstick again, keeping the tip down
and read the level on the cross-hatched area. Oil
levels that fall in the cross-hatched area are normal.
4. Push the dipstick back in all the way.
When to Add Engine Oil
(Except ZO6 and ZR1)
If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip of the
dipstick, add at least one quart/liter of the recommended
oil. This section explains what kind of oil to use. For
engine oil crankcase capacity, seeCapacities and
Specifications on page 5-110.
SeeRacing or Other Competitive Driving on page 4-15
for additional information on engine oil.
5-20