Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9956103) - 2017 - crc - 4/28/16
222 Vehicle Care
Caution
Lifting the vehicle improperly can
damage it and result in costly
repairs not covered by the vehicle
warranty. To lift the vehicle
properly and prevent vehicle
damage:. Be sure to place a block or
pad between the jack and
the vehicle.
. Lift only in the areas shown
in the following illustrations.
For additional information, see
your dealer and the Chevrolet
Corvette service manual.
Caution
The front jack pads must not
contact the rocker panels, the
front fenders, or the floor pan.
If they do, damage may occur.
Lifting from the Front –Cradle
The front lifting points can be
accessed from either side of the
vehicle, behind the front tires.
1. Locate the front lifting points.
2. Place a block or pad between the jack and the vehicle. 3. Lift the vehicle with the jack.
Lifting from the Front –Frame
Use only a service jack with a lifting
pad diameter of 64 mm (2.5 in) or
smaller, and thick enough to make
sure the jack does not contact the
vehicle body.
Position the service jack and lifting
pad under the frame rail shipping
slot reinforcement.
Lifting from the Rear –Cradle
The rear lifting points can be
accessed from the rear driver or
passenger side of the vehicle.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 223
1. Locate the rear lifting points.
2. Place a block or pad betweenthe jack and the vehicle.
3. Lift the vehicle with the jack. Lifting from the Rear
–Frame
Use only a service jack with a lifting
pad diameter of 64 mm (2.5 in) or
smaller, and thick enough to make
sure the jack does not contact the
vehicle body.
Position the service jack and lifting
pad under the frame rail shipping
slot reinforcement.
For more information, see Doing
Your Own Service Work 0223.
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work on
your vehicle if you do not have
the proper knowledge, service
manual, tools, or parts. Always
follow owner manual procedures
and consult the service manual
for your vehicle before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service
manual. It tells you much more
about how to service the vehicle
than this manual can. To order the
proper service manual, see Service
Publications Ordering
Information 0333.
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, see Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 078.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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224 Vehicle Care
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed. See
Maintenance Records0319.
Caution
Even small amounts of
contamination can cause damage
to vehicle systems. Do not allow
contaminants to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood
To open the hood:
1. Pull the hood release lever
inside the vehicle. It is below
the instrument panel on the
driver side.
2. Go to the side of the vehicle
and pull up on the rear edge of
the hood, near the windshield.
Before closing the hood, be sure all
the filler caps are on properly. Then,
pull the hood down and close it
firmly.
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Vehicle Care 231
Follow these guidelines:
.To get an accurate reading, park
the vehicle on level ground.
Check the engine oil level after
the engine has been off for at
least two hours. Checking the
engine oil level on steep grades
or too soon after engine shutoff
can result in incorrect readings.
Accuracy improves when
checking a cold engine prior to
starting. Remove the dipstick
and check the level.
. If unable to wait two hours, the
engine must be off for at least
15 minutes if the engine is
warm, or at least 30 minutes if
the engine is not warm. Pull out
the dipstick, wipe it with a clean
paper towel or cloth, then push it
back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down, and
check the level.When to Add Engine Oil
(Except Z06, Grand Sport, and
Stingray with Z51)
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick and
the engine has been off for at least
15 minutes, add 1 L (1 qt) of the
recommended oil and then recheck
the level. See “Selecting the Right
Engine Oil” later in this section for
an explanation of what kind of oil to
use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, see Capacities and
Specifications 0321.
See Track Events and Competitive
Driving 0164 for additional
information on engine oil.
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil
levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful
to the engine. If you find that you
have an oil level above the
operating range, i.e., the engine
has so much oil that the oil level
gets above the cross-hatched
area that shows the proper
operating range, the engine could
be damaged. You should drain
out the excess oil or limit driving
of the vehicle and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess amount of oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 225 for the location of the engine
oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when through.
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Vehicle Care 233
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.
When to Add Engine Oil (Z06,
Grand Sport, and Stingray
with Z51)
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 0321.
See Track Events and Competitive
Driving 0164 for additional
information on engine oil.
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil
levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful
to the engine. If you find that you
have an oil level above the
operating range, i.e., the engine
has so much oil that the oil level
gets above the cross-hatched
area that shows the proper
operating range, the engine could
be damaged. You should drain
out the excess oil or limit driving
of the vehicle and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess amount of oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 225 for the location of the external
engine oil tank and fill cap. Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back into the oil tank when through.
Changing Engine Oil and Filter
(Z06, Grand Sport, and
Stingray with Z51)
The vehicle may 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. Follow this
procedure closely when changing
the engine oil and filter.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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236 Vehicle Care
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.
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) 0115.
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
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Vehicle Care 237
service manual, seeService
Publications Ordering
Information 0333.
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 0316.
Change the fluid and filter at the
intervals listed in Maintenance
Schedule 0307, and be sure to use
the fluid listed in Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0316.
Manual Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
manual 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. See
Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0316 for the
proper fluid to use.
Hydraulic Clutch
It is not necessary to regularly
check clutch fluid unless you
suspect there is a leak in the
system. Adding fluid will not correct
a leak. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired.
The fluid will darken over time. See
Maintenance Schedule 0307 for
when to replace the fluid.
When to Check and What
to Use
The hydraulic clutch fluid reservoir
cap has this symbol on it. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0 225 for reservoir location. Refer to
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0316 for the proper fluid
to use. The fluid requires changing.
See Maintenance Schedule 0307.
How to Check and Add Fluid
Visually check the clutch fluid
reservoir to make sure the fluid level
is at the MIN (minimum) line on the
side of the reservoir. The hydraulic
clutch fluid system should be closed
and sealed.
Do not remove the cap to check the
fluid level or to top off the fluid level.
Remove the cap only when
necessary to add the proper fluid
until the level reaches the MIN line.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 225 for the location of the engine
air cleaner/filter.
Caution
If water is sprayed and enters the
engine air cleaner/filter intake and
housing, the engine could be
(Continued)
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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.