Black plate (38,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 11/8/12
5-38 Instruments and Controls
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 theinstrument panel cluster. See
Engine Overheating on page 10‑29,
Driver Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑25, and
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge on page 5‑15.
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 10‑29.
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, see Engine
Overheating on page 10‑29. 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 5‑25.
Multiple chimes sound when this
message is displayed. This
message remains displayed and
active until the issue is resolved.
Black plate (39,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 11/8/12
Instruments and Controls 5-39
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 5‑25. Also, see Engine Oil on
page 10‑13 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 10‑29.
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.
A sound will be heard when this
message is displayed. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑13.
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.
Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 11/8/12
10-16 Vehicle Care
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 oillevel reading, warm up the
engine to at least 80°C (175°F).
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 five minutes (but not more than 20 minutes) to
allow oil to drain and settle in the
engine.{WARNING
The engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle.
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.
When to Add Engine Oil (Z06,
ZR1, manual transmission
Grand Sport Coupe, and 427
Convertible)
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick, add
1 L (1 qt) of the recommended oil
through the oil fill cap opening in the
oil tank and then recheck the level.
See “Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
for an explanation of what kind of oil
to use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, see Capacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2.
See Racing or Other Competitive
Driving on page 9‑6 for additional
information on engine oil.
Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 11/8/12
10-18 Vehicle Care
2. Once the oil has been drainedfrom the engine, remove the
engine oil filter and allow the oil
to drain.
3. Re-install both drain plugs and tighten them to 25 Y(18 lb ft).
4. Replace the oil filter and tighten it to 30 Y(22 lb ft). See
Maintenance Replacement Parts
on page 11‑14 for the correct
filter.
5. Oil is filled through the opening in the top of the external engine
oil tank. Remove the oil fill cap.
6. Add 9.9 L (10.5 quarts) of oil to the oil tank. See Capacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2.
7. Install the oil fill 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, ZR1,
and Grand Sport).”
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Specification
Use and ask for licensed engine oils
with the dexos1
®approved
certification mark. Engine oils
meeting the requirements for the
vehicle should have the dexos1
approved certification mark. This
certification mark indicates that the
oil has been approved to the dexos1
specification. Corvette recommends
Mobil 1
®engine oils that meet the
requirements of the dexos1
specification for its dry-sump
equipped engines.
Notice: Failure to use the
recommended engine oil or
equivalent can result in engine
damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty. Check with your
dealer or service provider on
whether the oil is approved to the
dexos1 specification.
Viscosity Grade
SAE 5W-30 is the best viscosity
grade for the vehicle. Do not use
other viscosity grade oils such as
SAE 10W-30, 10W-40, or 20W-50.
Cold Temperature Operation: In an
area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below −29°C
(−20°F), an SAE 0W-30 oil may be
used. An oil of this viscosity grade
will provide easier cold starting for
the engine at extremely low
temperatures. When selecting an oil
Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 11/8/12
Vehicle Care 10-19
of the appropriate viscosity grade,
always select an oil of the correct
specification. See“Specification”
earlier in this section for more
information.
Engine Oil Additives/Engine
Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil. The
recommended oils with the dexos
specification and displaying the
dexos certification mark are all that
is needed for good performance and
engine protection.
Engine oil system flushes are not
recommended and could cause
engine damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain
elements that can be unhealthy for
your skin and could even cause
cancer. Do not let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and water,
or a good hand cleaner. Wash or
properly dispose of clothing or rags containing used engine oil. See the
manufacturer's warnings about the
use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the
environment. If you change your
own oil, be sure to drain all the oil
from the filter before disposal. Never
dispose of oil by putting it in the
trash or pouring it on the ground,
into sewers, or into streams or
bodies of water. Recycle it by taking
it to a place that collects used oil.
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer that
indicates when to change the
engine oil and filter. This is based
on a combination of factors which
include engine revolutions, engine
temperature, and miles driven.
Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably. For
the oil life system to work properly,
the system must be reset every time
the oil is changed.Z06, ZR1, manual transmission
Grand Sport Coupe, and 427
Convertible 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 changing
the engine oil and filter. See
Engine
Oil on page 10‑13.
When the system has calculated
that oil life has been diminished, it
indicates that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE
OIL message comes on. Change
the oil as soon as possible within
the next 1 000 km (600 mi). It is
possible that, if driving under the
best conditions, the oil life system
might indicate that an oil change is
not necessary for up to a year. The
engine oil and filter must be
changed at least once a year and,
at this time, the system must be
reset. Your dealer has trained
service people who will perform this
work and reset the system. It is also
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10-26 Vehicle Care
5. If there is no coolant flowing outof the bleeder valve, there could
be a leak in the system. Tighten
the bleeder valve and contact
the dealer for service.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to
remain in the vehicle for 5 years or
240 000 km (150,000 mi), whichever
occurs first.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating on
page 10‑29.
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 improper coolant
mixture, inhibitors, or additives
are used in the vehicle cooling
system, the engine could
overheat and be damaged. Too
much water in the mixture can
freeze and crack engine cooling
parts. The repairs would not be
covered by the warranty. Use only
the proper mixture of engine
Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 11/8/12
i-4 INDEX
E
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Electrical System Engine CompartmentFuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Emergency OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Check and Service EngineSoon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 10-8
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Cooling System . . . . . . 10-24, 10-25
Cooling System Messages . . . 5-38
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-5
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-19 Engine (cont'd)
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Overheated Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 9-24
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Entry/Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 6-2
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
F
FeaturesMemory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Filter,
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 6-4
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-74
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-86 Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . 10-20
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Fog Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Front Air Dam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-17
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Front Seats Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-45 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-49
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . 9-46
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-45
Requirements, California . . . . . 9-46
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-40
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INDEX i-5
FusesEngine Compartment
Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . 5-60
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-60
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Gauges Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Engine CoolantTemperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Voltmeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Warning Lights and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8 General Information
Service and Maintenance . . . . . 11-1
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-7
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Hatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 6-4
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Head-up Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-30
Headlamps
Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Daytime RunningLamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . 6-2
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Twilight Sentinel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . 10-62
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 9-9
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Infants and Young Children,
Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii