2012 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C6 coolant change

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Introduction v
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
%:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j: LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control/Active
Handling System
M: Windshield Washer Fluid

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-16 Instruments and Controls
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
Metric
English
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature. If the gauge
pointer moves into the shaded area,
the engine is too hot.
This means that the engine coolant
has overheated. If the vehicle has
been operating under normal driving
conditions, pull off the road, stop the
vehicle and turn off the engine as
soon as possible.
See Engine Overheating on
page 10‑30 for more information.
Voltmeter Gauge
Base and Z06
The voltmeter shows the voltage
output of the battery. It shows the
voltage output of the charging
system while the engine is running.
The reading changes as the rate of
charge changes (with engine speed,
for example), but if the voltmeter
reads at 9 volts or below, the
instrument panel cluster and other
systems may shut down. The Driver
Information Center (DIC) reads
BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW when
the vehicle is at 10 volts or below.

Black plate (39,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-39
HATCH AJAR (Coupe)
This message displays when the
hatch is not closed completely.
Make sure that the hatch is closed
completely. SeeHatch on page 2‑11
for more information.
PASSENGER DOOR AJAR
This message displays if the
passenger door is not closed
properly. Make sure that the door is
closed completely.
TONNEAU AJAR (Convertible)
This message displays when the
convertible top is not closed
completely. Make sure that the
top is closed completely. See
Convertible Top on page 2‑24 for
more information.
TRUNK AJAR (Convertible)
This message displays when the
trunk is not closed completely.
Make sure that the trunk is closed
completely. See Hatch on page 2‑11
for more information.
Engine Cooling System
Messages
CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
This message displays when
the engine coolant level is low.
Have the cooling system serviced
by your dealer as soon as possible.
See Engine Coolant on page 10‑26.
COOLANT OVER
TEMPERATURE
This message displays and a sound
will be heard if the engine coolant
exceeds 124°C (255°F). If you have
been operating the vehicle under
normal driving conditions, pull off
the road, stop the vehicle, and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
You can monitor the coolant
temperature with the gauges
button on the DIC or the engine
coolant temperature gauge on
the instrument panel cluster. See
Engine Overheating on
page 10‑30, Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑26, and
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
on page 5‑16.
To acknowledge the message, press
the RESET button. The message
and sound will come back on until
this condition changes. If you do not
press the RESET button, the
message remains on until the
condition changes.ENGINE OVERHEATED –
STOP ENGINE
This message displays and a sound
will be heard when the engine has
overheated. Stop and turn the
engine off immediately to avoid
severe engine damage. See Engine
Overheating on page 10‑30.

Black plate (40,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-40 Instruments and Controls
ENGINE PROTECTION
REDUCE ENGINE RPM
This message displays if the engine
oil temperature exceeds 160°C
(320°F). Check the engine coolant
temperature and engine oil level.
If the engine is too hot, seeEngine
Overheating on page 10‑30.
The vehicle may need service, so
see your dealer.
You can monitor the oil temperature
with the gauges button on the DIC.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑26.
Multiple chimes sound when
this message is displayed. This
message remains displayed and
active until the issue is resolved.
HOT ENGINE AIR
CONDITIONING OFF
This message displays when the
engine coolant becomes hotter than
the normal operating temperature. To avoid added strain on a hot
engine, the air conditioning
compressor is automatically turned
off. When the coolant temperature
returns to normal, the A/C operation
automatically resumes. You can
continue to drive the vehicle. If this
message continues to appear, have
the system repaired by your dealer
as soon as possible to avoid
compressor damage.
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE ENGINE OIL
This message displays when the
life of the engine oil has expired.
See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3. After an oil change, the
engine oil life system must be reset.
See “Engine Oil Life” underDriver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑26. Also, see Engine Oil on
page 10‑14 andEngine Oil Life
System on page 10‑19 for more
information.
CHECK OIL LEVEL
On some vehicles, this message
displays and two chimes sound if
the oil level in the vehicle is low.
Once the vehicle senses a change
in the engine oil level, the light
remains off.
If this message appears after
starting the engine, the engine oil
level may be too low. You may need
to add oil. See Engine Overheating
on page 10‑30.
To acknowledge the message, press
the RESET button. The message
reappears every 10 minutes until
this condition changes.
LOW OIL PRESSURE
This message displays if low oil
pressure levels occur. If this
message appears while the engine
is running, stop the engine and do
not operate it until the cause of low
oil pressure is corrected. Severe
damage to the engine can result.

Black plate (41,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-41
A sound will be heard when this
message is displayed. SeeEngine
Oil on page 10‑14.
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE DRAG CONTROL
ACTIVE
This message displays when engine
drag control is active. When driving
in a lower gear in rainy, snowy,
or icy conditions and then letting up
on the accelerator or downshifting,
the rear wheels may begin to slip
and this message displays.
This message stays on for a few
seconds following the engine drag
control event.
REDUCED ENGINE POWER
If this message displays and the
check engine light comes on, a
noticeable reduction in the vehicle's
performance may occur. If the
REDUCED ENGINE POWER
message is displayed, but there is
no reduction in performance, proceed to your destination.
The performance may be reduced
the next time the vehicle is driven.
The vehicle may be driven at a
reduced speed while the REDUCED
ENGINE POWER message is
displayed, but acceleration and
speed may be reduced. Anytime the
check engine light stays on, the
vehicle should be taken to your
dealer as soon as possible for
diagnosis and repair. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5‑19
for more information.
Multiple chimes sound when this
message is displayed.
To acknowledge the message, press
the RESET button. The message
reappears every five minutes until
this condition changes.
If the REDUCED ENGINE
POWER message is displayed in
combination with the COOLANT
OVER TEMPERATURE message,
see Engine Overheating on
page 10‑30.
Fuel System Messages
CHECK GAS CAP
This message displays if the fuel
cap has not been fully tightened.
Check the fuel cap to make sure
that it is on properly. Once
tightened, it takes at least one
overnight park to reset or clear this
message. If both the CHECK GAS
CAP message and the malfunction
indicator lamp in the instrument
panel cluster are on, you may need
to see your dealer for service.
See Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5‑19 for more information.
LOW FUEL
This message displays when the
fuel tank is less than 10 percent
full and the display is turned off.
A sound will be heard when this
message is displayed. Refill the fuel
tank as soon as possible. See Fuel
Gauge on page 5‑12.

Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-27
What to Use
{WARNING
Adding only plain water or some
other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The vehicle's coolant warning
system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water
or the wrong mixture, the engine
could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning.
The engine could catch fire and
you or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant.Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. If using this mixture,
nothing else needs to be added.
This mixture:.Gives freezing protection down
to
−37°C (−34°F), outside
temperature.
.Gives boiling protection
up to 129°C (265°F), engine
temperature.
.Protects against rust and
corrosion.
.Will not damage aluminum parts.
.Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Notice: If an improper coolant
mixture is used, the engine could
overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Too much water in the mixture
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other
parts. Notice:
If extra inhibitors
and/or additives are used in the
vehicle cooling system, the
vehicle could be damaged.
Use only the proper mixture of
the engine coolant listed in this
manual for the cooling system.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12 for
more information.
Never dispose of engine coolant
by putting it in the trash, pouring it
on the ground, or into sewers,
streams, or bodies of water.
Have the coolant changed by an
authorized service center, familiar
with legal requirements regarding
used coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.

Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-32 Vehicle Care
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam:
1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highesttemperature and to the highest
fan speed. Open the windows
as necessary.
3. If in a traffic jam, shift to N (Neutral) while stopped. If it is
safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral)
and let the engine idle.
If the temperature overheat gauge
is no longer in the overheat zone or
an overheat warning no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly
for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the vehicle in
front. If the warning does not come
back on, continue to drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle
right away. If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for three minutes while
parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it
cools down. Also, see
“Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode”
next in this section.
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode
lets the vehicle be driven to a
safe place, up to 80 km (50 mi),
in an emergency situation. If an
overheated engine condition exists
and the messages COOLANT
OVER TEMPERATURE and
REDUCED ENGINE POWER are
displayed, along with the check
engine light, an overheat protection
mode which alternates firing groups
of cylinders helps prevent engine
damage. In this mode, there is a
significant loss in power and engine
performance. Driving extended distances in the
overheat protection mode should be
avoided.
Notice:
After driving in the
overheated engine protection
operating mode, to avoid engine
damage, allow the engine to cool
before attempting any repair.
The engine oil will be severely
degraded. Repair the cause of
coolant loss, change the oil
and reset the oil life system.
See Engine Oil on page 10‑14.
Power Steering Fluid
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑8 for reservoir location.

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.