cooling CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2007 6.G Owners Manual

Lockout Protection
Your vehicle can be programmed to sound the horn
three times and unlock the driver’s door when both
doors are closed and there is a keyless access
transmitter inside the vehicle. When the driver’s
door is opened, a reminder chime will sound
continuously. The vehicle will remain locked only
when at least one transmitter has been removed
from the vehicle and both doors are closed. See
DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 234.
Hatch/Trunk
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the
hatch/trunk lid open because carbon
monoxide (CO) gas can come into your
vehicle. You can not see or smell CO.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
It can cause unconsciousness and
even death. If you must drive with the
hatch/trunk lid open or if electrical wiring
or other cable connections must pass
through the seal between the body and
the hatch/trunk lid:
Make sure all other windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or
cooling system to its highest speed
and select the control setting that will
force outside air into your vehicle.
SeeDual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 179.
If you have air outlets on or under
the instrument panel, open them all
the way.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 106.
82

Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter
The ashtray and cigarette lighter are located on
the instrument panel, in front of the shift lever.
To use the ashtray, press on the indentation at
the top of the door.
Notice:If you put papers, pins, or other
ammable items in the ashtray, hot cigarettes
or other smoking materials could ignite
them and possibly damage your vehicle.
Never put ammable items in the ashtray.
Loose objects, such as paper clips, can lodge
behind and beneath the ashtray lid and prevent
movement of the lid. You should avoid putting
small, loose objects near the ashtray.
To use the cigarette lighter, push it in all the way
and let go. When it is ready, it will pop back
out by itself.
Notice:Holding a cigarette lighter in while
it is heating does not let the lighter back
away from the heating element when it is hot.
Damage from overheating can occur to the
lighter or heating element, or a fuse could
be blown. Do not hold a cigarette lighter
in while it is heating.
Climate Controls
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System
With this system you can control the heating,
cooling, and ventilation for your vehicle.
When the vehicle is rst started, the display will
show the driver’s temperature setting, the outside
temperature, the fan speed and the air delivery, for
about 10 seconds.
The outside temperature is shown in the center of
the display. The digital display will show the
readings in Fahrenheit or Celsius. See “Personal
Options” underDIC Vehicle Personalization on
page 234for information on changing your display.
179

CHANGE ENGINE OIL
This message displays when the life of the engine
oil has expired. SeeScheduled Maintenance on
page 433. After an oil change, the engine oil
life system must be reset. See “Engine Oil Life”
underDIC Controls and Displays on page 208.
Also, seeEngine Oil on page 333andEngine Oil
Life System on page 340for more information.
CHECK BRAKE FLUID
This message displays, a chime sounds, and the
brake system warning light on the instrument
panel cluster turns on if the ignition is on to inform
the driver that the brake uid level is low. See
Brake System Warning Light on page 196. Have
the brake system serviced by your dealer as
soon as possible. SeeBrakes on page 361.
CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
This message displays when the engine coolant
level is low. Have the cooling system serviced
by your dealer as soon as possible. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 347.
CHECK GAS CAP
This message displays if the fuel cap has not
been fully tightened. Check the fuel cap to make
sure that it is on properly. Once tightened, it takes
at least one overnight park to reset or clear this
message. If both the CHECK GAS CAP message
and the malfunction indicator lamp in the
instrument panel cluster are on, you may need to
see your dealer for service. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 200for more information.
CHECK OIL LEVEL
This message displays and two chimes sound if
the oil level in the vehicle is low. Once the vehicle
senses a change in the engine oil level, the
light remains off.
If this message appears after starting the engine,
the engine oil level may be too low. You may
need to add oil. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 350.
To acknowledge the message, press the RESET
button. The message reappears every 10 minutes
until this condition changes.
217

Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different
from driving in at or rolling terrain.If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are
planning to visit there, here are some tips that
can make your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check
all uid levels and also the brakes, tires,
cooling system, and transmission. These parts
can work hard on mountain roads.
{CAUTION:
If you do not shift down, the brakes could
get so hot that they would not work well.
You would then have poor braking or
even none going down a hill. You could
crash. Shift down to let the engine assist
the brakes on a steep downhill slope.
302

Service........................................................ 319
Accessories and Modications................... 319
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 320
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 320
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...................................... 321
Fuel............................................................. 321
Gasoline Octane........................................ 321
Gasoline Specications.............................. 322
California Fuel........................................... 322
Additives................................................... 323
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 324
Filling the Tank......................................... 324
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 327
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 328
Hood Release........................................... 329
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 330
Engine Oil................................................. 333
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 340
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 342
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 345
Manual Transmission Fluid........................ 345
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 346
Engine Coolant.......................................... 347
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 350Engine Overheating................................... 350
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 352
Cooling System......................................... 353
Power Steering Fluid................................. 358
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 360
Brakes...................................................... 361
Battery...................................................... 364
Jump Starting............................................ 365
Rear Axle.................................................... 370
Bulb Replacement....................................... 371
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting..... 371
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 372
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and
Parking Lamps....................................... 372
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps...... 374
Replacement Bulbs................................... 374
Windshield Replacement............................ 375
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 375
Tires............................................................ 378
Winter Tires.............................................. 379
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 380
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 382
Extended Mobility Tires............................. 384
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 386
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
317

Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is
designed to remain in your vehicle for ve years
or 150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever
occurs rst, if you add only DEX-COOL
®
extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system
and how to add coolant when it is low. If you
have a problem with engine overheating,
seeEngine Overheating on page 350.A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at
the rst maintenance service after each
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in
your vehicle.
347

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water
and one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will
not damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant
mixture, you do not need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water,
or some other liquid such as alcohol, can
boil before the proper coolant mixture will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning system
is set for the proper coolant mixture. With
plain water or the wrong mixture, your
engine could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could
be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.Notice:If you use an improper coolant
mixture, your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost would not be
covered by your warranty. Too much water
in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times
a year, have your dealer check your cooling
system.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or
additives in your vehicle’s cooling system,
you could damage your vehicle. Use only
the proper mixture of the engine coolant
listed in this manual for the cooling system.
SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 443for more information.
348

Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood,
here is what you will see:
A. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
B. Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure Cap{CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the
hood can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away from
any underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on a level surface.
353

The coolant level should be at the FULL COLD
mark on the front of the coolant surge tank. If it is
not, you may have a leak at the pressure cap or in
the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump or somewhere else in the cooling system.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other
engine parts, can be very hot. Do not
touch them. If you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak.
If you run the engine, it could lose all
coolant. That could cause an engine re,
and you could be burned. Get any leak
xed before you drive the vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on,
check to see if the electric engine cooling fan is
running. If the engine is overheating, the fan should
be running. If it is not, your vehicle needs service.Notice:Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant is not covered by your
warranty. SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 352for information
on driving to a safe place in an emergency.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant could require changing sooner,
at 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in
your vehicle.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If you have not found a problem yet, check
to see if coolant is visible in the surge tank.
If coolant is visible but the coolant level is not
at the FULL COLD mark on the front of the
coolant surge tank, add a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant at
354

the coolant surge tank, but be sure the cooling
system, including the coolant surge tank pressure
cap, is cool before you do it. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 347for more information.
If no coolant is visible in the surge tank, add
coolant as follows:
{CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot
cooling system can blow out and burn
you badly. They are under pressure, and if
you turn the coolant surge tank pressure
cap — even a little — they can come out
at high speed. Never turn the cap when
the cooling system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and coolant
surge tank pressure cap to cool if you
ever have to turn the pressure cap.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can
boil before the proper coolant mixture will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning system is
set for the proper coolant mixture. With
plain water or the wrong mixture, your
engine could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could
be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and
crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts. Use the recommended coolant
and the proper coolant mixture.
355