2012 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C6 engine

Black plate (86,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-86 Vehicle Care
Underbody Maintenance
Use plain water to flush dirt and
debris from the vehicle's underbody.
Your dealer or an underbody car
washing system can do this. If not
removed, rust and corrosion can
develop.
Fiberglass Springs
(Composite Springs)
Notice:Do not use acidic or
corrosive cleaning products,
engine degreasers, or aluminum
cleaning agents on fiberglass
springs as it may cause damage.
The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle's warranty.
Use only approved cleaners.
Sheet Metal Damage
If the vehicle is damaged and
requires sheet metal repair or
replacement, make sure the body
repair shop applies anti-corrosion material to parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion
protection.
Original manufacturer replacement
parts will provide the corrosion
protection while maintaining the
vehicle warranty.
Finish Damage
Quickly repair minor chips and
scratches with touch-up materials
available from your dealer to avoid
corrosion. Larger areas of finish
damage can be corrected in your
dealer's body and paint shop.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Airborne pollutants can fall upon
and attack painted vehicle surfaces
causing blotchy, ring-shaped
discolorations, and small, irregular
dark spots etched into the paint
surface.
Interior Care
To prevent dirt particle abrasions,
regularly clean the vehicle's interior.
Immediately remove any soils.
Note that newspapers or dark
garments that can transfer color
to home furnishings can also
permanently transfer color to the
vehicle's interior.
Use a soft bristle brush to remove
dust from knobs and crevices on the
instrument cluster. Using a mild
soap solution, immediately remove
hand lotions, sunscreen, and insect
repellant from all interior surfaces or
permanent damage may result.
Your dealer may have products for
cleaning the interior. Use cleaners
specifically designed for the
surfaces being cleaned to prevent
permanent damage. To prevent
overspray, apply all cleaners
directly to the cleaning cloth.

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Service and Maintenance 11-3
Maintenance
Schedule
Owner Checks and Services
At Each Fuel Stop
.Check the engine oil level.
SeeEngine Oil on page 10‑14.
Once a Month
.Check the tire inflation
pressures. See Tire Pressure on
page 10‑62.
.Inspect the tires for wear.
See Tire Inspection on
page 10‑68.
.Check the windshield washer
fluid level. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑34.
Engine Oil Change
When the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message displays, have the
engine oil and filter changed within
the next 1 000 km/600 mi. If driven
under the best conditions, the
engine oil life system might not
indicate the need for vehicle service
for more than a year. The engine oil
and filter must be changed at least
once a year and the oil life system
must be reset. Your trained dealer
technician can perform this work.
If the engine oil life system is reset
accidentally, service the vehicle
within 5 000 km/3,000 mi since the
last service. Reset the oil life
system when the oil is changed.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑19.
Required Services Every
12 000 km/7,500 mi
.Check engine oil level and oil
life percentage. If needed,
change engine oil and filter, and
reset oil life system. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑14 andEngine
Oil Life System on page 10‑19.
.Check engine coolant level.
See Engine Coolant on
page 10‑26.
.Check windshield washer fluid
level. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑34.
.Visually inspect windshield
wiper blades for wear, cracking,
or contamination. See Exterior
Care on page 10‑82. Replace
worn or damaged wiper blades.
See Wiper Blade Replacement
on page 10‑43.

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
11-4 Service and Maintenance
.Check tire inflation pressures.
SeeTire Pressure on
page 10‑62.
.Inspect tire wear. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑68.
.Visually check for fluid leaks.
.Inspect engine air cleaner filter.
See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑22.
.Inspect brake system.
.Visually inspect steering,
suspension, and chassis
components for damaged, loose,
or missing parts or signs of
wear. See Exterior Care on
page 10‑82.
.Check restraint system
components. See Safety
System Check on page 3‑14.
.Visually inspect fuel system for
damage or leaks.
.Visually inspect exhaust system
and nearby heat shields for
loose or damaged parts.
.Lubricate body components.
See Exterior Care on
page 10‑82.
.Check starter switch. See Starter
Switch Check on page 10‑41.
.Check automatic transmission
shift lock control function.
See Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control Function
Check on page 10‑42.
.Check parking brake and
automatic transmission park
mechanism. See Park Brake and
P (Park) Mechanism Check on
page 10‑42.
.Check accelerator pedal for
damage, high effort, or binding.
Replace if needed.
.Visually inspect gas strut for
signs of wear, cracks, or other
damage. Check the hold open
ability of the strut. See your
dealer if service is required.

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
11-6 Service and Maintenance
Footnotes—Maintenance
Schedule Additional Required
Services —Normal
a) Or every two years, whichever
comes first. More frequent
replacement may be needed if the
vehicle is driven in areas with heavy
traffic, areas with poor air quality,
or areas with high dust levels.
Replacement may also be needed
if there is a reduction in air flow,
excessive window fogging, or odors.
b) Check all fuel and vapor lines
and hoses for proper hook‐up,
routing, and condition. Check that
the purge valve, if the vehicle has
one, works properly. Replace as
needed.
c) Or every four years, whichever
comes first. d)
Or every five years, whichever
comes first. See Cooling System
(Engine) on page 10‑25 orCooling
System (Intercooler) on page 10‑26.
e) Or every 10 years, whichever
comes first. Inspect for fraying,
excessive cracking, or damage;
replace, if needed.

Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
11-8 Service and Maintenance
Footnotes—Maintenance
Schedule Additional Required
Services —Severe
a) Or every two years, whichever
comes first.
b) Check all fuel and vapor lines
and hoses for proper hook‐up,
routing, and condition. Check that
the purge valve, if the vehicle has
one, works properly. Replace as
needed.
c) Or every four years, whichever
comes first.
d) Or every five years, whichever
comes first. See Cooling System
(Engine) on page 10‑25 orCooling
System (Intercooler) on page 10‑26.
e) Or every 10 years, whichever
comes first. Inspect for fraying,
excessive cracking, or damage;
replace, if needed.Special Application
Services
.Vehicles with manual
transmissions: Every two years
drain, flush, and fill clutch
hydraulic system.
.Severe Commercial Use
Vehicles Only: Lubricate
chassis components every
5 000 km/3,000 mi.
.Have underbody flushing service
performed once a year.
Additional
Maintenance and Care
Your vehicle is an important
investment and caring for it
properly may help to avoid future
costly repairs. To maintain
vehicle performance, additional
maintenance services may be
required. It is recommended
that your dealer perform these
services —their trained dealer
technicians know your vehicle best.
Your dealer can also perform a
thorough assessment with a
multi‐point inspection to recommend
when your vehicle may need
attention. The following list is
intended to explain the services and
conditions to look for that may
indicate services are required.

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Service and Maintenance 11-9
Battery
The battery supplies power to
start the engine and operate any
additional electrical accessories.
.To avoid break‐down or failure to
start the vehicle, maintain a
battery with full cranking power.
.Trained dealer technicians have
the diagnostic equipment to test
the battery and ensure that the
connections and cables are
corrosion‐free.
Belts
.Belts may need replacing if
they squeak or show signs of
cracking or splitting.
.Trained dealer technicians
can inspect the belts and
recommend replacement when
necessary. Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are
crucial to safe driving.
.Signs of brake wear may include
chirping, grinding, or squealing
noises, or difficulty stopping.
.Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the brakes and
recommend quality parts
engineered for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved
fluids protect the vehicle’s
systems and components.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12 for
GM approved fluids.
.Engine oil and windshield
washer fluid levels should be
checked at every fuel fill.
.Instrument cluster lights may
come on to indicate that fluids
may be low and need to be
filled. Hoses
Hoses transport fluids and should
be regularly inspected to ensure
that there are no cracks or leaks.
With a multi‐point inspection, your
dealer can inspect the hoses and
advise if replacement is needed.
Lamps
Properly working headlamps,
taillamps, and brake lamps are
important to see and be seen on
the road.
.Signs that the headlamps need
attention include dimming, failure
to light, cracking, or damage.
The brake lamps need to be
checked periodically to ensure
that they light when braking.
.With a multi‐point inspection,
your dealer can check the lamps
and note any concerns.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
11-12 Service and Maintenance
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identified below by name, part number, or specification can be obtained from your dealer.Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine Oil Use only engine oil licensed to the dexos1 specfication, or equivalent,
of the proper SAE viscosity grade. ACDelco dexos1 Synthetic Blend is
recommended. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑14.
Engine Coolant 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and use only DEX-COOL Coolant.
See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑26.
ZR1 Only: Intercooler System 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and use only DEX-COOL Coolant.
See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑26.
Hydraulic Brake System DOT 3 Hydraulic Brake Fluid (GM Part No. 88862806,
in Canada 88862807).
Windshield Washer Optikleen
®Washer Solvent.
Hydraulic Clutch System Hydraulic Clutch Fluid. Use only GM Part No. 88958860,
in Canada 88901244, Super DOT-4 brake fluid.
Power Steering System GM Power Steering Fluid (GM Part No. 89021184, in Canada 89021186).

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
11-14 Service and Maintenance
Maintenance Replacement Parts
Replacement parts identified below by name, part number, or specification can be obtained from your dealer.Part GM Part Number ACDelco Part Number
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
6.2L LS3 V8 and 7.0L LS7 V8 Engines 15776148 A3077C
6.2L LS9 V8 Supercharged Engine 25940997 A3107C
Engine Oil Filter 6.2L LS3 V8 Engine 89017524 PF48
6.2L LS3 V8 Engine with Z52 Dry Sump Oil System 12626224 UPF-48R
6.2L LS9 V8 Supercharged Engine 12626224 UPF-48R
7.0L LS7 V8 Engine 12626224 UPF-48R
Passenger Compartment Air Filter Element 15848592 CF139
Spark Plug
6.2L LS3 V8 Engine 12621258 41-110
6.2L LS9 V8 Supercharged Engine 12571165 41-104
7.0L LS7 V8 Engine 12571165 41-104
Wiper Blades —52.5 cm (20.7 in)
Driver Side 12335960 —
Passenger Side 12335961 —