Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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168 Driving and Operating
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . 169
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Track Events and CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Front Air Dam (and Splitter) . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Composite Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 192
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . 194 Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 195
Dual Clutch Transmission
Dual Clutch Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . 204
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Hill Rollback Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Front Lift System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Competitive Driving Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Limited-Slip Differential (Stingray Models Without Z51 Performance
Package) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Limited-Slip Differential (Stingray With Z51 Performance Package and
Z06 model) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Assistance Systems for Parking orBacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Curb View Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 229
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . 230
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 169
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here
are some driving tips to get the best fuel
economy possible:
.Set the climate controls to the desired
temperature after the engine is started,
or turn them off when not required.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long periods
of time.
.When road and weather conditions are
appropriate, use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed limits or
drive more slowly when conditions
require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the same
TPC Spec number molded into the tire's
sidewall near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
.Using Tour mode rather than Sport or
Track modes, will result in better Active
Fuel Management operation. SeeActive
Fuel Management 0194.
.For recommended shift speeds, see Dual
Clutch Transmission 0195.
Premium Fuel
Use the recommended fuel. See
Recommended Fuel 0227.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and can
take your focus from the task of driving.
Exercise good judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away from
the road. Many local governments have
enacted laws regarding driver distraction.
Become familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep your eyes
on the road, keep your hands on the
steering wheel, and focus your attention on
driving.
.Do not use a phone in demanding driving
situations. Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take notes,
or look up information on phones or
other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle features
before driving, such as programming
favorite radio stations and adjusting
climate control and seat settings. Program
all trip information into any navigation
device prior to driving.
.Wait until the vehicle is parked to
retrieve items that have fallen to the
floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend to
children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate carrier or
restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversations while
driving, whether with a passenger or on a
cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too long or
too often could cause a crash resulting in
injury or death. Focus your attention on
driving.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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170 Driving and Operating
Refer to the infotainment section for more
information on using that system and the
navigation system, if equipped, including
pairing and using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means“always expect the
unexpected.” The first step in driving
defensively is to wear the seat belt. See
Seat Belts 044.
.Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers)
are going to be careless and make
mistakes. Anticipate what they may do
and be ready.
.Allow enough following distance between
you and the driver in front of you.
.Focus on the task of driving.
Impaired Driving
Death and injury associated with impaired
driving is a global tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking alcohol or taking drugs and then
driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment
can be affected by even a small amount
of alcohol or drugs. You can have a
serious —or even fatal —collision if you
drive after drinking or taking drugs.
Do not drive while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, or ride with a driver
who has been drinking or is impaired by
drugs. Find alternate transportation
home; or if you are with a group,
designate a driver who will remain sober.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating are
important factors in helping to control a
vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time. Deciding to push the brake
pedal is perception time. Actually doing it is
reaction time. Average driver reaction time is about
three-quarters of a second. In that time, a
vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels
20 m (66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind include:
.Keep enough distance between you and
the vehicle in front of you.
.Avoid needless heavy braking.
.Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops or a brake fault
occurs, the brakes may lose power assist.
More effort will be required to stop the
vehicle. It may take longer to stop.
Steering
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering system,
do not drive over curbs, parking barriers,
or similar objects at speeds greater than
3 km/h (1 mph). Use care when driving
over other objects such as lane dividers
and speed bumps. Damage caused by
misuse of the vehicle is not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 173
using the vehicle for racing or other
competitive driving. SeeCompetitive Driving
Mode 0215.
{Warning
Some of the adjustments and procedures
specified in this section may require
specialized skill, training, and equipment.
Failure to perform these procedures
properly could cause malfunction,
potentially resulting in death, personal
injury, or damage to the vehicle or
property. Do not attempt to perform
these adjustments or procedures unless
properly qualified.
Be sure to follow all service procedures
before driving the vehicle at track events or
competitively. See New Vehicle Break-In
0 189.
{Warning
Prior to each track event and again
before returning to public roads, tighten
the wheel nuts with a torque wrench to
the proper torque specification. Wheel
nuts that are improperly or incorrectly
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
tightened can cause the wheels to
become loose or come off, resulting in a
crash. SeeCapacities and Specifications
0 315 for wheel nut torque specifications.
For Z06 vehicles only, remove the front
license plate and bracket (if installed) and
remove the front aero covers before track
use. See your dealer for complete procedure.
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 Oil (5.5L LT6
Engine) 0242 or
Engine Oil (6.2L LT2 Engine) 0245.
Check the oil level often during track events
and competitive driving. See “Checking the
Engine Oil" in Engine Oil (5.5L LT6 Engine)
0 242 or
Engine Oil (6.2L LT2 Engine) 0245.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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174 Driving and Operating
Engine Cooling
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.
Fuel
Unleaded gasoline, rated at 93 octane or
higher, is required.
Caution
Some high octane fuels contain additives
and compounds that may damage the
vehicle and void the vehicle warranty. See
Prohibited Fuels0227.
Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) Fluid
The transmission fluid and external canister
filter should be changed after every 24 hours
of track use. Change the fluid and external
canister filter as soon as possible if
prompted by the transmission fluid life
monitor that remaining fluid life is low. Stingray
Add an additional 2 L (2 qt) of DCT
transmission fluid before track use. It is not
required to remove the additional 2 L (2 qt)
of DCT fluid after the track event.
Any transmission level set or change should
be performed at your dealer.
Z06
Additional transmission fluid is not required
for the Z06. The Z06 comes track ready
from the factory.
Brakes
Battery Disconnect
Disconnect the battery before servicing the
hydraulic brake system. It is critical to
disconnect the battery before bleeding the
system, replacing the pads, or any other
work. The battery must be disconnected to
prevent the brake master cylinder from
pressurizing the hydraulic system during its
automated self diagnostic tests that can
occur when a door is opened or the remote
key is present.
{Warning
To avoid personal injury and/or vehicle
damage, always disconnect the battery
before performing service work on the
hydraulic brake system. Bleeding the
brake system with the battery connected
can lead to the system diagnosing a leak
or air in the braking system. A Diagnostic
Trouble Code (DTC) may set and vehicle
speed may be limited.
Brake Fluid
Replace existing brake fluid with a qualified
high performance DOT 4 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.
Check the fluid level before each competitive
driving event.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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176 Driving and Operating
Caution
The new vehicle break-in period should be
completed before performing the brake
burnish procedure, otherwise damage
may occur to the powertrain/engine. See
New Vehicle Break-In0189.
Caution
Brake pedal fade will occur during any
track burnish procedure and can cause
brake pedal travel and force to increase.
This could extend stopping distance until
the brakes are fully burnished.
New brake pads must be burnished before
racing or other competitive driving.
When this procedure is performed as
instructed, it will not damage the brakes.
The brake pads will smoke and produce an
odor. The braking force and pedal travel
may increase. After the procedure, the brake
pads may appear white at the rotor contact.
Perform this procedure only on dry
pavement, in a safe manner, and in
compliance with all local and state
ordinances/laws regarding motor vehicle
operation. Brake Burnishing Procedure for J55 (Stingray
with Z51) and J56 (Z06 Standard) Brakes
This brake burnish procedure should only be
performed on vehicles with the Z06 with
J56, or Z51 with J55 factory equipped brake
systems.
1. Using the friction bubble in the Cluster Performance menu, apply the brakes 25
times starting at 100 km/h (60 mph) to
50 km/h (30 mph) while decelerating at
0.4 g. See Instrument Cluster 079. This
is a medium brake application. Drive for
at least 1 km (0.6 mi) between applying
the brakes. This first step may be
skipped if there are more than 320 km
(200 mi) on the brake pads.
2. Apply the brakes 25 times starting at 100 km/h (60 mph) to 25 km/h (15 mph)
while decelerating at 0.8 g. This is a hard
brake application without activating the
Antilock Brake System (ABS). Drive for at
least 1 km (0.6 mi) between applications.
Depending on conditions, some increase
in brake pedal travel and brake pedal
force may be experienced.
3. Cool down: Drive at 100 km/h (60 mph) for approximately 15 km (10 mi) without
using the brakes. 4. Apply the brakes 25 times from
100 km/h (60 mph) to 50 km/h (30 mph)
while decelerating at 0.4 g. This is a
medium brake application. Drive for at
least 1 km (0.6 mi) between applications.
As with all high performance brake systems,
some amount of brake squeal is normal.
Brake Burnishing Procedure for Z06 with
Available J57 Carbon Ceramic Brakes
This brake burnish procedure should only be
run on Z06 vehicles with J57 factory
equipped brake systems.
Perform this procedure only on dry
pavement, in a safe manner, and in
compliance with all local and state
ordinances regarding motor vehicle
operation. 1. Using the friction bubble in the Cluster Performance menu, apply the brakes 25
times starting at 100 km/h (60 mph) to
50 km/h (30 mph) while decelerating at
0.4 g. This is a medium brake
application. Drive for at least 1.6 km
(1.0 mi) between applications. This first
step may be skipped if there are more
than 320 km (200 mi) on the brake pads.
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Driving and Operating 183
Rear (per corner)
.Caster: 0 degrees
.Camber: -2.0 degrees
.Toe (total): 0.1 degrees toe in
.Thrust Angle: 0 degrees
Z06 with Z07 Performance Package Equipped
With Carbon Fiber Wheels (RPOs ROY
and ROZ)
When participating in Track Events or
Competitive Driving with these wheels, a
proper cool down without hot soaking the
wheels is critical.
.On a typical road course 3.2–6.5 km
(2-4 miles) long per lap, one cool down
lap without using the brakes will suffice.
If the track being driven is shorter than
3.2 km (2 mi), perform two cool down
laps without using the brakes.
.If adequate cool down without using the
brakes cannot be achieved (i.e., red flag
on track, have to stop unexpectedly, etc.),
the key is to not have one area of the
wheels exposed to the "chimney effect"
of the heat that rises off of a stationary
hot brake rotor. This can be prevented by
very low speed driving of the car such
that the entire circumference of the wheel is exposed to the heat. Rolling the
car back and forth in a small space is
better than sitting still with hot brakes.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle
traction and affect your ability to stop and
accelerate. Always drive slower in these
types of driving conditions and avoid driving
through large puddles and deep-standing or
flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They
might not work as well in a quick stop
and could cause pulling to one side. You
could lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of
water or a car/vehicle wash, lightly apply
the brake pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates strong
forces. Driving through flowing water
could cause the vehicle to be carried
away. If this happens, you and other
vehicle occupants could drown. Do not
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
ignore police warnings and be very
cautious about trying to drive through
flowing water.
Caution
Driving through deep puddles or standing
water can cause water to come in
through the engine air intake and
damage the engine. If deep puddles or
standing water cannot be avoided,
proceed with caution and do not exceed
8 km/h (5 mph). Do not drive through
water that may come close to or cover
the vehicle’s underbody.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can build
up under the vehicle's tires so they actually
ride on the water. This can happen if the
road is wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is hydroplaning, it
has little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow
down when the road is wet.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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184 Driving and Operating
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet weather
driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping equipment in
good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir
filled.
.Have good tires with proper tread depth.
SeeTires 0271.
.Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through mountains
is different than driving on flat or rolling
terrain. Tips include:
.When driving downhill in D (Drive), the
vehicle may automatically downshift to
assist with speed control.
.A lower gear may also be selected to
provide further speed control.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the vehicle on a
long downhill slope can cause brake
overheating, can reduce brake
performance, and could result in a loss of
braking. Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the brakes
on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or with
the ignition off is dangerous. This can
cause overheating of the brakes and loss
of steering assist. Always have the engine
running and the vehicle in gear.
.Drive at speeds that keep the vehicle in
its own lane. Do not swing wide or cross
the center line.
.Be alert on top of hills; something could
be in your lane (e.g., stalled car, crash).
.Pay attention to special road signs
(e.g., falling rocks area, winding roads,
long grades, passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Caution
To avoid damage to the wheels and
brake components, always clear snow and
ice from inside the wheels and
underneath the vehicle before driving.
Snow or ice between the tires and the road
creates less traction or grip, so drive
carefully. Wet ice can occur at about 0 °C
(32 °F) when freezing rain begins to fall.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin and makes the
surface under the tires slick.
.Turn on Traction Control. See Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control 0206.
.The Antilock Brake System (ABS) improves
vehicle stability during hard stops, but
the brakes should be applied sooner than
when on dry pavement. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) 0204.