Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12032182) - 2019 - crc - 5/8/18
22 In Brief
The low tire pressure warning light
alerts to a significant loss in
pressure of one of the vehicle's
tires. If the warning light comes on,
stop as soon as possible and inflate
the tires to the recommended
pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
Vehicle Load Limits0175. The
warning light will remain on until the
tire pressure is corrected.
The low tire pressure warning light
may come on in cool weather when
the vehicle is first started, and then
turn off as the vehicle is driven. This
may be an early indicator that the
tire pressures are getting low and
the tires need to be inflated to the
proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. Maintain
the correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
0 275.Performance Vehicle
Features
Checking Engine Oil
Your vehicle may have a high
performance dry sump lubrication
system. This system operates
differently than a standard engine
lubrication system. See Engine Oil
0 232.
Check the oil level only after the
engine has been thoroughly warmed
up and then check between five and
10 minutes of shutoff. This ensures
that the oil level reading obtained
will be accurate.
Brake Noise
Under certain weather or operating
conditions, occasional brake squeal
may be heard with the vehicle's
performance braking system. This
brake system is designed for
superior fade resistance and
consistent operation using high
performance brake pads. Brake
squeal is normal and does not affect
system performance. Tire Chatter/Hop
When driving at slow speeds and in
very tight turns, the vehicle may
have tire chatter/hop. This condition
is normal and the vehicle does not
require service.
Road Imperfections/Crown Effects
The vehicle's precise steering and
handling make it very responsive to
road surface feedback. A slight pull
may be felt in the steering
depending on the crown of the road
and/or other road surface variations
such as troughs or ruts. This is
normal and the vehicle does not
require service.
Fuel (LT1 6.2L V8 Engine)
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12032182) - 2019 - crc - 5/8/18
In Brief 23
Premium Recommended
Use premium 93 octane—(R+M)/2
— unleaded gasoline in your
vehicle. TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline is recommended.
Unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating as low as 87 may be used,
but it will reduce performance and
fuel economy.
See Recommended Fuel (LT1 6.2L
V8 Engine) 0212 orRecommended
Fuel (LT4 and LT5 6.2L
Supercharged V8 Engines) 0213.
Fuel (LT4 and LT5 6.2L
Supercharged
V8 Engines)
Premium Required
Use premium 93 octane —(R+M)/2
— unleaded gasoline in your
vehicle. TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is recommended.
Unleaded gasoline with a 91 octane
rating may be used, but it will
reduce performance and fuel
economy.
See
Recommended Fuel (LT1 6.2L
V8 Engine) 0212 orRecommended
Fuel (LT4 and LT5 6.2L
Supercharged V8 Engines) 0213.
E85 or FlexFuel
No E85 or FlexFuel
Gasoline-ethanol fuel blends greater
than E15 (15% ethanol by volume),
such as E85, cannot be used in this
vehicle.
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and displays a Driver Information Center (DIC) message when it is
necessary to change the engine oil
and filter. The oil life system should
be reset to 100% only following an
oil change.
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.
Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Scroll through the DIC Info Pages menu until the
REMAINING OIL LIFE
percentage is displayed. See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
0121.
2. Press and hold SEL on the DIC while the Oil Life display is
active. The oil life will change
to 100%.
See Engine Oil Life System 0237.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12032182) - 2019 - crc - 5/8/18
122 Instruments and Controls
LOW will be displayed when the
vehicle is low on fuel. The fuel
range estimate is based on an
average of the vehicle's fuel
economy over recent driving history
and the amount of fuel remaining in
the fuel tank.
Instantaneous Fuel Economy
displays the current fuel economy in
either liters per 100 kilometers (L/
100 km) or miles per gallon (mpg).
This number reflects only the
approximate fuel economy that the
vehicle has right now and changes
frequently as driving conditions
change.
This display may also show the
number of cylinders the vehicle is
running on. SeeActive Fuel
Management (Except ZR1/LT5)
0 185.
Oil Life : Displays an estimate of
the oil's remaining useful life.
If REMAINING OIL LIFE 99% is
displayed, that means 99% of the
current oil life remains. When the remaining oil life is low,
the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message will appear on the display.
The oil should be changed as soon
as possible. See
Engine Oil0232.
In addition to the engine oil life
system monitoring the oil life,
additional maintenance is
recommended in the Maintenance
Schedule. See Maintenance
Schedule 0312.
The Oil Life display must be reset
after each oil change. It will not
reset itself. Do not reset the Oil Life
display accidentally at any time
other than when the oil has just
been changed. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil change.
To reset the engine oil life system,
press and hold SEL for several
seconds while the Oil Life display is
active. See Engine Oil Life System
0 237.
Tire Pressure : Displays the
approximate pressures of all four
tires. Tire pressure is displayed in
either kilopascal (kPa) or in pounds
per square inch (psi). If the pressure
is low, the value for that tire is shown in amber.
See
Tire Pressure Monitor System
0 275 andTire Pressure Monitor
Operation 0276.
Best Average Fuel Economy :
Displays the average fuel economy,
the best fuel economy over the
selected distance, and a bar graph
showing instantaneous fuel
economy. Press
pto change the
selected distance.
Fuel Used/Timer : Displays the
approximate liters (L) or
gallons (gal) of fuel that have been
used since last reset. The fuel used
can be reset by pressing and
holding SEL while this display is
active.
This display can also be used as a
timer. To start/stop the timer, press
pwhile this display is active and
then SEL to start/stop the timer. The
display will show the amount of time
that has passed since the timer was
last reset. To reset the timer to zero,
press and hold SEL or use
pto
access the menu while this display
is active.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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162 Driving and Operating
vehicle for racing or other
competitive driving. SeeCompetitive
Driving Mode 0203.
A manual transmission is
recommended for extended track
usage at higher ambient
temperatures. Consult the Track
Preparation Guide for additional
information. See your dealer.
Be sure to follow all service
procedures before driving the
vehicle at track events or
competitively.
Prior to each track event and again
before re-entering the public road
system, tighten the wheel nuts with
a torque wrench to the proper
torque specification. See Capacities
and Specifications 0326.Engine Sound Management
Setting
Caution
Do not place the vehicle in
Engine Sound Management –
Stealth mode. Damage could
result to exhaust valve actuators.
Engine Oil
Caution
If the vehicle is used for track
events and competitive driving,
the engine may use more oil than
it would with normal use. Low oil
levels can damage the engine.
Check the oil level often and
maintain the proper level. See
Engine Oil0232.
The engine is factory filled with
0W-40 dexos2 oil. For LT1 and LT4
engines only, 0W-40 dexos2 engine
oil is approved for both track and
street use. 15W-50 full synthetic engine oil may also be used for
track use, but after track use must
be changed back to 0W-40 dexos2
for street use. If 0W-40 dexos2 oil is
not available, 5W-30 dexos1 full
synthetic engine oil may be used for
street use. If 5W-30 dexos1 is used,
it must be changed to 0W-40
dexos2 or 15W-50 full synthetic
engine oil for track use.
For the LT5 engine, SAE 15W-50
full synthetic engine oil must be
used for track use, but after track
use must be changed back to
0W-40 dexos2 for street use.
Z51 Performance Package, Grand
Sport, Z06, and ZR1: Check the oil
level often during track events and
competitive driving and keep the
level at or near 0.5 L (0.5 qt) above
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.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 163
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.
Fuel
LT1 Engine :93 octane (or higher)
unleaded gasoline is required.
LT4 Engine : 93 octane (or higher)
unleaded gasoline is required.
100 octane (or higher) unleaded
gasoline is recommended at the
track when temperatures are above
30 °C (86 °F) to maximize
powertrain performance and
improve longevity of components
within the powertrain. LT5 Engine :
93 octane (or higher)
unleaded gasoline is required.
100 octane (or higher) unleaded
gasoline is recommended to
maximize powertrain performance
and improve longevity of
components within the powertrain.
Caution
Some high octane fuels contain
additives and compounds that
may damage the vehicle and void
the vehicle warranty. See
Prohibited Fuels 0213.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Transmission fluid should be
changed after every 15 hours of
track usage. Any transmission level
set or change should be performed
at your dealer.
Manual Transmission Fluid
Manual transmission fluid should be
changed after every 15 hours of
track usage.
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).
Grand Sport, Z06, and ZR1 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.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 165
after every 24 hours of racing or
competitive driving. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants0321.
General Information
If reduced performance is
experienced during track events or
competitive driving, turning off the
A/C will help to improve engine
performance.
Maintain a mixture of 40%
DEX-COOL coolant and 60% clean,
drinkable water to optimize engine
performance.
The front license plate bracket or
aero panel should be removed for
track events and competitive driving
to improve engine performance.
Brakes
{Warning
Braking above 200 mph:
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Applying and sustaining full force
braking at speeds exceeding
200 mph (322 km/h) can cause
serious damage to the braking
system. At any speed, braking
must be performed in a smooth
and controlled manner, but at
these speeds specifically, lower
initial brake pedal efforts are
recommended.
Brake Cooling
If additional brake cooling is
required, the grille mesh in the lower
corners of the front grille in front of
the brake duct can be removed.
This is not reversible, and a
replacement grille will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
If this is done, it is recommended
that the gap between the fascia and
the cooling duct be taped over. Brake Fluid
Replace existing brake fluid with a
qualified high performance brake
fluid from a sealed container. Brake
fluid with a dry boiling point >310 °C
(590 °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.
Brake Burnishing
New brake pads must be burnished
before racing or other competitive
driving.
Caution
Performing the brake burnish
procedure on a base brake
system can result in brake
damage.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 179
Starting and
Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
Follow these recommended
guidelines during the first 2 414 km
(1,500 mi) of driving this vehicle.
Parts have a break-in period and
performance will be better in the
long run.
For the first 322 km (200 mi):
.To break in new tires, drive at
moderate speeds and avoid hard
cornering.
. New brake linings also need a
break-in period. Avoid making
hard stops. This is
recommended every time brake
linings are replaced.
For the first 800 km (500 mi):
. Avoid full throttle starts and
abrupt stops.
. Do not exceed 4000 rpm. .
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.
. If equipped with a dry sump
engine (Stingray with Z51,
Grand Sport, and Z06), the initial
oil and filter change must be
performed at 800 km (500 mi).
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.
Composite Materials
This vehicle may be equipped with
parts containing carbon fiber,
sheet-molding compound, or other
composite materials.
Dealer-installed accessories may
also contain composite materials.
These parts and accessories may
include the splitter or rocker
extensions.
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Vehicle Care 233
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 ZR1, 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 0326.
See Track Events and Competitive
Driving 0161 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 the oil level is
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. Drain
the excess oil or limit driving of
the vehicle, and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess 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.