Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 163
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.
Stingray without Z51 Performance
Package: Additional oil fill above the
upper mark on the dipstick is not
recommended for track events or
other competitive driving. 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. 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.
After track use, change the oil back
to 5W-30 for street use. SeeEngine
Oil 0223.
Brake Fluid
Replace existing brake fluid with a
qualified high performance brake
fluid from a sealed container. Brake
fluid with a dry boiling point >279 °C
(534 °F) is qualified. If high performance brake fluid is used,
replace it with GM approved brake
fluid before driving on public roads.
If high performance brake fluid is in
the vehicle and the age of the brake
fluid is over a month old or
unknown, replace the brake fluid
before track events and competitive
driving. Do not use silicone or
DOT-5 brake fluids.
Load Limit
Z51 Performance Package Only:
Limit vehicle load to the driver only,
with no other cargo. Inflate tires to
180 kPa (26 psi) and drive at a
maximum speed of 280 km/h
(174 mph).
Z06 Only: Limit vehicle load to the
driver only, with no other cargo.
Inflate tires to 180 kPa (26 psi) and
drive at a maximum speed of
296 km/h (184 mph).
Wheel Alignment
Caution
Using these wheel alignment
settings may cause excessive tire
wear. Only use these wheel
alignment settings for racing or
competitive driving. Excessive tire
wear is not covered under the
vehicle warranty.
If the vehicle is equipped with the
Z51 Performance Package or is a
Z06, the racing and competitive
driving wheel alignment settings
should be set as follows:
Alignment should only be done by
adjusting the lower control arm cam
bolts and by removing a maximum
of one washer between the upper
control arms and frame.
Alignment values are targets. See
your dealer for tolerances.
Front (per corner)
. Caster: +7.0 degrees
. Camber: -2.0 degrees
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Driving and Operating 167
Racing/Track Brake Burnishing
Procedure (Z06 with Z07
Performance Package or Z06 with
J57 Ceramic Brakes)
This procedure should only be run
on a track and only on dry
pavement.
Caution
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, not too aggressively.
2. Laps 2 and 3 should be gradually driven faster and
more aggressively, while
allowing for reduced brake
output and increased stopping
distance due to brake fade. 3. Drive Lap 4 near 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.Z07 Performance Package
The Z07 Performance Package has
an installed Stage 2 Aero Package,
which consists of a front splitter with
short end caps, rocker panel
extensions, and a rear spoiler.
Stage 3 Aero components are
delivered but not installed on the
vehicle. These are intended to be
installed for track use only. The
components include:
.Front splitter tall end caps that
replace the front splitter short
end caps.
. A center transparent wicker bill
for the rear spoiler.
{Warning
Changing the following track
settings could reduce tire traction
and could cause a crash. Do not
change the track settings.
The track settings for the Z07
Performance Package with the
Stage 3 Aero Package are:
. The front splitter tall end caps
installed.
. The center transparent wicker
bill installed all the way up on
the rear spoiler.
. The Driver Mode Selector in
Track Mode.
Stingray with Performance
Package-Carbon Fiber (CFZ)
The Stingray with Performance
Package-Carbon Fiber (CFZ) has
an installed aero package which
consists of a front splitter with short
end caps, rocker panel extensions,
and a rear spoiler. A center
transparent wicker bill for the rear
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 175
.Avoid driving at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
including the use of cruise
control.
. Avoid downshifting to brake or
slow the vehicle when the
engine speed will exceed
4000 rpm.
. Do not let the engine labor.
Never lug the engine. With a
manual transmission, shift to the
next lower gear. This rule
applies at all times, not just
during the break-in period.
. After the first 800 km (500 mi),
change the engine oil on
vehicles with the LT1 engine and
Z51 package, or the LT4 engine.
For the first 2 414 km (1,500 mi):
. Do not participate in track
events, sport driving schools,
or similar activities.
. Check engine oil with every
refueling and add if necessary.
Oil and fuel consumption may be
higher than normal.Front Air Dam
If equipped, the front air dam has
minimal ground clearance.
Under normal operation, the
components will occasionally
contact some road surfaces (speed
bumps, driveway ramps, etc.). This
can be heard inside the vehicle as a
scraping noise. This is normal and
does not indicate a problem.
Use care when approaching bumps
or objects on road surfaces and
avoid them when possible.
Carbon Fiber
This vehicle may be equipped with
carbon fiber parts. Dealer-installed
accessories may also contain
carbon fiber. Some vehicles have a
carbon fiber splitter and rocker
extension. Do not stand on the
rocker extension or use it as a step,
as it could break.
{Warning
The exposed edges of carbon
fiber parts can be sharp when
damaged. You or others could be
injured. Use caution when
washing the vehicle, coming in
contact with damaged carbon
fiber parts, or removing these
parts. See your dealer for
replacement.
Ignition Positions
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208 Driving and Operating
vehicle may not pass a smog-check
test. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0106.
If this occurs, return to your
authorized dealer for diagnosis. If it
is determined that the condition is
caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs may not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries
If planning to drive in countries
outside the U.S. or Canada, the
proper fuel might be hard to find.
Check regional auto club or fuel
retail brand websites for availability
in the country where driving. Never
use leaded gasoline, fuel containing
methanol, manganese, or any other
fuel not recommended. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper
fuel would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuel Additives
To keep fuel systems clean, TOP
TIER Detergent Gasoline is
recommended. See Fuel0206.
If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is
not available, one bottle of Fuel
System Treatment PLUS added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help. Fuel System
Treatment PLUS is the only
gasoline additive recommended by
General Motors. It is available at
your dealer.
Filling the Tank
{Warning
Fuel vapors and fuel fires burn
violently and can cause injury or
death. . To help avoid injuries to you
and others, read and follow
all the instructions on the
fuel pump island.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Turn off the engine when
refueling.
. Keep sparks, flames, and
smoking materials away
from fuel.
. Do not leave the fuel pump
unattended.
. Do not use a cell phone
while refueling.
. Do not reenter the vehicle
while pumping fuel.
. Keep children away from
the fuel pump and never let
children pump fuel.
. Fuel can spray out if the
refueling nozzle is inserted
too quickly. This spray can
happen if the tank is nearly
full, and is more likely in hot
weather. Insert the refueling
nozzle slowly and wait for
any hiss noise to stop prior
to beginning to flow fuel
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Vehicle Care 223
1. Engine Oil Dipstick. See“Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0223.
2. Dry Sump Engine Oil Tank Fill Cap. See “Changing Engine Oil
and Filter” Engine Oil 0223.
3. Passenger Compartment Air
Filter 0156 (Out of View). See
Passenger Compartment Air
Filter 0156.
4. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant 0235.
5. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0247.
6. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0230.
7. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
(Engine) 0232 orCooling
System (Aero Panel) 0234.
8. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0240.
9. Clutch Master Cylinder Reservoir (If Equipped). See
Hydraulic Clutch 0230. 10. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer
Fluid 0238.
Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.
Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
. Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0228.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil (Except
Stingray with Z51 and Z06)
If the ENGINE OIL LOW–ADD OIL
message displays on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), check the
engine oil level right away. See
Engine Oil Messages 0123. Check
the engine oil level regularly.
It is a good idea to check the engine
oil level at each fuel fill. In order to
get an accurate reading, the vehicle
must be on level ground. The
engine oil dipstick handle is a loop.
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 218 for the location of the engine
oil dipstick.
Obtaining an accurate oil level
reading is essential:
1. If the engine has been running recently, turn off the engine and
check within five and
10 minutes of shutoff.
Checking the oil level too soon
after engine shutoff will not
provide an accurate oil level
reading.
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228 Vehicle Care
is recommended to select an oil of
the correct specification. See
“Specification”earlier in this section.
For track events or competitive
driving, use Mobil 1
®15W-50 engine
oil. An instrument cluster warning
light will be illuminated at high oil
temperatures. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) 0113.
Engine Oil Additives/Engine
Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil. The
recommended oils meeting the
dexos1™ specification 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.Z51 and Z06 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 0223.
When the system has calculated
that oil life has been diminished, it
indicates that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON 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 may not indicate that an oil
change is 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
important to check the oil regularly
over the course of an oil drain
interval and keep it at the proper
level.
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Vehicle Care 229
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
Dry Sump Engine Break-In Oil
Change
If equipped with a dry sump engine,
the initial oil and filter change must
be performed at 800 km/500 mi.
Follow the engine oil life system for
every oil change thereafter.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. To reset the
system:1. Scroll through the DIC Info Pages menu until the
REMAINING OIL LIFE
percentage is displayed. See
Driver Information Center
(DIC) 0113. 2. Press and hold the SEL button
on the DIC while the Oil Life
display is active. The oil life will
change to 100%.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not reset. Repeat the
procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to the
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible.
The vehicle is not equipped with a
transmission fluid level dipstick.
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should be
done at the dealer. Contact the dealer for additional information or
the procedure can be found in the
service manual. To purchase a
service manual, see
Service
Publications Ordering
Information 0324.
Caution
Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission fluid may damage
the vehicle, and the damage may
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always use the
automatic transmission fluid listed
in Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0307.
Change the fluid and filter at the
intervals listed in Maintenance
Schedule 0298, and be sure to use
the fluid listed in Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0307.
Manual Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
manual transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
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Vehicle Care 235
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants 0307. The fluid
requires changing at certain
intervals. See Maintenance
Schedule 0298.
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 0237.
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
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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
mixture of 40% DEX-COOL
coolant and 60% clean, drinkable
water.
Use a mixture of 40% DEX-COOL
coolant and 60% clean, drinkable
water. If using this mixture, nothing
else needs to be added. This
mixture:
. Gives freezing protection down
to−28 °C (−18 °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.
Caution
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
vehicle warranty. Use only the
proper mixture of engine coolant
for the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0307.
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.