Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9956103) - 2017 - crc - 4/28/16
232 Vehicle Care
Checking Engine Oil (Z06,
Grand Sport, and Stingray
with Z51)
1. Engine Oil Dipstick
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap
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. The dipstick is located on the
dry sump engine oil tank. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0225 for the location of the dry
sump engine oil tank. These vehicles 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 checking
the engine oil level. Follow this
procedure closely.
The engine oil level must be
checked when the engine is warm.
Cold oil level in the dry sump tank
may not indicate the actual amount
of oil in the system. With this
system, engine oil is contained in an
external tank, separate from the
engine. Under normal operating
conditions, the oil pan under the
engine does not store any oil. If the
vehicle has been parked for an
extended period without the engine
being started, some oil will seep
back into the oil pan, reducing the
amount of oil held in the dry sump
tank and there could be no engine
oil at all showing on the dipstick.
This is normal since the dipstick is
designed to read the engine oil level
only after the engine has run long
enough to reach normal operatingtemperature. 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 oil level 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. Check the oil level between five and 10 minutes after the
engine is shut down.
{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
wipe it with a clean lint-free
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9956103) - 2017 - crc - 4/28/16
Vehicle Care 235
Caution
Failure to use the recommended
engine oil or equivalent can result
in engine damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Viscosity Grade
Use SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade
engine oil.
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
of the appropriate viscosity grade, it
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) 0115.
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.
Z06, Grand Sport, and Sting Ray
with Z51 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 0230.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9956103) - 2017 - crc - 4/28/16
242 Vehicle Care
Stingray Shown, Grand Sport andZ06 Similar
2. Unscrew the two fasteners that secure the bracket.
3. Gently pull the bracket away from the grille.
To replace the bracket and aero
panel: 1. Position the bracket over the grille.
2. Secure the bracket by pushing the two fasteners into place.
3. Snap the aero panel into place.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants 0316. The fluid
requires changing at certain
intervals. See Maintenance
Schedule 0307.
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 0244.
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.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9956103) - 2017 - crc - 4/28/16
Vehicle Care 243
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
Lubricants0316.
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. If ambient temperatures are
anticipated below
−28 °C (−18 °F),
make sure a proper mixture ratio of
50% DEX-COOL coolant and 50%
clean, drinkable water is used.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until
it cools down. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level is not at or
above the cold fill line, add a
mixture of 40% DEX-COOL coolant
and 60% clean, drinkable water at
the coolant recovery tank, but be
sure the cooling system is cool
before this is done. See Engine
Overheating 0244.
The engine coolant surge tank is
toward the rear of the engine
compartment on the passenger side
of the vehicle. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0225.
When the engine is cold, the coolant
level should be at the cold fill line on
the coolant surge tank.
When the engine is hot, the level
could be higher than the cold fill
line. If the coolant is below the cold
fill line when the engine is hot, there
could be a leak in the cooling
system.
If the coolant is low, add the coolant
or take the vehicle to your dealer for
service.
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank
{Warning
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9956103) - 2017 - crc - 4/28/16
352 Index
E
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . 197
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . 110
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Emergency OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Check and Service EngineSoon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 225
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . 239, 241
Cooling System Messages . . . 125 Engine (cont'd)
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 189
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 336
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 142
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 142
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
F
FeaturesMemory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Filter,
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 145
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304 Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 236
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Front Air Dam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Front Seats Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . 61
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . .114
Management, Active . . . . . . . . . . 188
Requirements, California . . . . . 214
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254 Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9956103) - 2017 - crc - 4/28/16
354 Index
Lamps (cont'd)Exterior Lamps Off
Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Malfunction Indicator . . . . . . . . . 108
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Latches, Seatback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Lifting the Vehicle, Tires . . . . . . . . 221
Light Electronic Stability Control
(ESC), Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Gear Shifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Lighting Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . 146
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Lights Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Lights (cont'd)
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . .110
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . .110
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning . . . . . . . .113
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . .113
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 143
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . 106
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Service Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Traction Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . 208
Locks Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 114
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
M
MaintenanceRecords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Maintenance and Care Additional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . 307 Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . 108
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Matching Active Rev . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Messages Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Battery Voltage andCharging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122