2011 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Owners Manual

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-3
For persons under 21, it is against
the law in every U.S. state to drink
alcohol. There are good medical,
psychological, and developmental
reasons for these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the
leading highway safety problem is
for people never to drink alcohol
and then drive.
Medical research shows that
alcohol in a person's system
can make crash injuries worse,
especially injuries to the brain,
spinal cord, or heart. This means
that when anyone who has been
drinking—driver or passenger —is
in a crash, that person's chance of
being killed or permanently disabled
is higher than if the person had not
been drinking.Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems
help to control the vehicle while
driving —brakes, steering, and
accelerator. At times, as when
driving on snow or ice, it is easy to
ask more of those control systems
than the tires and road can provide.
Meaning, you can lose control of
the vehicle. See Traction Control
System (TCS) on page 9‑36 and
Active Handling System on
page 9‑37.
Adding non‐dealer accessories
can affect vehicle performance.
See Accessories and Modifications
on page 10‑4.
Braking
See Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑21.
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time. Average reaction time is about
three‐fourths of a second. But that
is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as two
or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition,
alertness, coordination, and
eyesight all play a part. So do
alcohol, drugs, and frustration.
But even in three‐fourths of a
second, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 feet). That could be a lot of
distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between
the vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping
distances vary greatly with the
surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition
of the road, whether it is wet, dry,
or icy; tire tread; the condition of the
brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
and the amount of brake force
applied.

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
9-4 Driving and Operating
Avoid needless heavy braking.
Some people drive in spurts,
heavy acceleration followed by
heavy braking, rather than keeping
pace with traffic. This is a mistake.
The brakes might not have time
to cool between hard stops.
The brakes will wear out much
faster with a lot of heavy braking.
Keeping pace with the traffic and
allowing realistic following distances
eliminates a lot of unnecessary
braking. That means better braking
and longer brake life.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. If the brakes are pumped,
the pedal could get harder to push
down. If the engine stops, there will
still be some power brake assist but
it will be used when the brake is
applied. Once the power assist is
used up, it can take longer to stop
and the brake pedal will be harder
to push.Under certain weather or operating
conditions, occasional brake
squeak, squeal, or other noise
might be heard with the vehicle's
performance braking system.
This brake system is designed
for superior fade resistance
and consistent operation using
high performance brake pads.
Brake noise and brake dust are
normal and do not affect system
performance.
Adding non‐dealer accessories
can affect vehicle performance.
See
Accessories and Modifications
on page 10‑4.
Steering
Power Steering
If power steering assist is lost
because the engine stops or the
system is not functioning, the
vehicle can be steered but it will
take more effort.
Magnetic Speed Variable
Assist Steering System
This system continuously adjusts
the effort felt when steering at all
vehicle speeds. It provides ease
when parking, yet a firm, solid feel
at highway speeds.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a
reasonable speed.
Traction in a curve depends on the
condition of the tires and the road
surface, the angle at which the
curve is banked, and vehicle speed.
While in a curve, speed is the one
factor that can be controlled.
If there is a need to reduce speed,
do it before entering the curve, while
the front wheels are straight.
Try to adjust the speed so you can
drive through the curve. Maintain a
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until out of the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the
straightaway.

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-5
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering
can be more effective than braking.
For example, you come over a hill
and find a truck stopped in your
lane, or a car suddenly pulls out
from nowhere, or a child darts out
from between parked cars and stops
right in front of you. These problems
can be avoided by braking—if you
can stop in time. But sometimes you
cannot stop in time because there
is no room. That is the time for
evasive action —steering around
the problem.
The vehicle can perform very well
in emergencies like these. First
apply the brakes. See Braking on
page 9‑3. It is better to remove
as much speed as possible from
a collision. Then steer around
the problem, to the left or right
depending on the space available.
An emergency like this requires
close attention and a quick decision.
If holding the steering wheel at
the recommended 9 and 3 o'clock
positions, it can be turned a full
180 degrees very quickly without
removing either hand. But you have
to act fast, steer quickly, and just as
quickly straighten the wheel once
you have avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency
situations are always possible is a
good reason to practice defensive
driving at all times and wear safety
belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only
slightly below the pavement,
recovery should be fairly easy.
Ease off the accelerator and
then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer so that the vehicle
straddles the edge of the pavement.

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
9-6 Driving and Operating
Turn the steering wheel 8 to 13 cm
(3 to 5 inches), about one-eighth
turn, until the right front tire contacts
the pavement edge. Then turn the
steering wheel to go straight down
the roadway.
Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts
say about what happens when the
three control systems—brakes,
steering, and acceleration —do not
have enough friction where the tires
meet the road to do what the driver
has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up.
Keep trying to steer and constantly
seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of
the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid
most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions,
and by not overdriving those
conditions. But skids are always
possible.
The three types of skids correspond
to the vehicle's three control
systems. In the braking skid,
the wheels are not rolling. In the
steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering in a curve causes
tires to slip and lose cornering force.
And in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
If the vehicle starts to slide, ease
your foot off the accelerator pedal
and quickly steer the way you
want the vehicle to go. If you start
steering quickly enough, the vehicle
may straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs. Of course, traction is reduced when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is on the road. For safety,
slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important to
slow down on slippery surfaces
because stopping distance is longer
and vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with
reduced traction, try to avoid
sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing
vehicle speed by shifting to a lower
gear. Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You might
not realize the surface is slippery
until the vehicle is skidding. Learn
to recognize warning clues
—such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-7
Racing or Other
Competitive Driving
Racing or competitive driving
may affect the vehicle warranty.
See the warranty book before
using the vehicle for racing or
other competitive driving.
Notice:If you use the vehicle
for racing or other competitive
driving, the engine may use more
oil than it would with normal use.
Low oil levels can damage the
engine. For information on how
to add oil, see Engine Oil on
page 10‑15.
Z06, ZR1, and Grand Sport Only:
Be sure to check the oil level
often during racing or other
competitive driving and keep the
level at or near the upper mark
that shows the proper operating
range on the engine oil dipstick. Except Z06, ZR1, and Grand
Sport: Be sure to check the oil
level often during racing or other
competitive driving and keep the
level at or near 1 L (1 quart) above
the upper mark that shows the
proper operating range on the
engine oil dipstick. After the
competitive driving, remove
excess oil so that the level on
the dipstick is not above the
upper mark that shows the
proper operating range.
Z06, ZR1, and Grand Sport
Only: For racing or competitive
driving, it is recommended that
the brake fluid be replaced with a
high performance brake fluid that
has a dry boiling point greater than
279°C (534°F). After conversion to
the high performance brake fluid,
follow the brake fluid service
recommendations outlined by the
fluid manufacturer. Do not use
silicone or DOT‐5 brake fluids.Z06, ZR1, and Grand Sport Only:
For racing or competitive driving, it
is recommended that the loading of
the vehicle be limited to the driver
only, with no other cargo, and that
tires be inflated to 180 kPa (26 psi)
for a maximum speed of 230 km/h
(143 mph).
If the vehicle is a Z06, ZR1,
or Grand Sport model, it has
greaseable outer ends on both
of the rear toe‐links. Under
normal use, lubrication should
be performed as described in
the maintenance schedule.
See
Scheduled Maintenance on
page 11‑2 andRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 11‑6.
If using the vehicle for racing,
lubrication should be performed
at the end of each racing day.
See your dealer for lubrication
and make sure any needed
repairs are made at once. Proper
procedures for performing these
services can be found in the service
manual. See Service Publications
Ordering Information on page 13‑15.

Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
9-8 Driving and Operating
If the vehicle is used for racing or
other competitive driving, the rear
axle fluid temperatures may be
higher than would occur in normal
driving. We recommend that the
rear axle fluid be drained and
refilled with new fluid after every
24 hours of racing or competitive
driving. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11‑6 for
what fluid to use.
ZR1 Brake Burnish Procedure
Notice: These procedures are
specific to the ZR1 with ceramic
brake rotors. These procedures
should not be run on other
Corvette models as damage
may result.
Notice: The new vehicle break‐in
period should be completed
before performing the brake
burnish procedure or damage
may occur to the powertrain/
engine. See New Vehicle Break-In
on page 9‑18. When performed as instructed,
these procedures will not damage
the brakes. During the burnishing
procedure, the brake pads will
smoke and produce an odor.
The braking force and pedal travel
may increase. After the procedure
is complete, the brake pads may
appear white at the rotor contact.
Street High Performance Brake
Burnishing Procedure
Run this procedure in a safe
manner and in compliance with all
local and state ordinances/laws
regarding motor vehicle operation.
Run this procedure only on dry
pavement.
1. From a stop, accelerate as
rapidly as possible without
activating traction control to
a speed of 97 kph (60 mph).
2. Use enough pedal force to completely stop the vehicle in
4 to 5 seconds. If ABS activates,
braking is too hard. 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2, 5 times.
This should take about
10 minutes.
4. After completing the 50 stops, cool the brakes by driving
for 8 km (5 miles) at 97 kph
(60 mph).
As with all high performance brake
systems, some amount of brake
squeal is normal.
Racing/Track Brake Burnish
Procedure
To prepare the ZR1 brake system
for track events and racing, the
Street High Performance Brake
Burnish as described previously
should be completed.
In addition to completing the Street
High Performance Brake Burnishing
Procedure, the following additional
procedure needs to be completed to
make the ZR1 brake system ready
for track events and racing.
This procedure should only be
run on a track and only on dry
pavement.

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-9
Notice:Brake pedal fade will
occur during this track burnish
procedure and can cause brake
pedal travel and force to increase.
This could extend stopping
distance until the brakes are
fully burnished.
1. Drive a normal first lap and not too aggressive.
2. Laps 2 and 3 should be gradually driven faster and
more aggressive, while allowing
for reduced brake output and
increased stopping distance
due to brake fade.
3. Lap 4 as near to full speed, while allowing for reduced brake
output and increased stopping
distance due to brake fade.
4. Laps 5 and 6 should be cool down laps
5. Lap 7 should be normal driving or an easy out lap.Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep‐standing or flowing water.
{WARNING
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in
a quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to
drive through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under your vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road
is wet enough and you are going
fast enough. When your vehicle
is hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
9-10 Driving and Operating
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
.Have good tires with proper
tread depth. SeeTires on
page 10‑58.
.Turn off cruise control.
Highway Hypnosis
Always be alert and pay attention
to your surroundings while driving.
If you become tired or sleepy, find
a safe place to park your vehicle
and rest. Other driving tips include:
.Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
.Keep interior temperature cool.
.Keep your eyes moving
—scan
the road ahead and to the sides.
.Check the rearview mirror and
vehicle instruments often.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips for
driving in these conditions include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
.Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{WARNING
If you do not shift down, the
brakes could get so hot that they
would not work well. You would
then have poor braking or even
none going down a hill. You could
crash. Shift down to let the engine
assist the brakes on a steep
downhill slope.
{WARNING
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. The brakes will
have to do all the work of slowing
down and they could get so hot
that they would not work well.
You would then have poor braking
or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle in
gear when going downhill.