CHEVROLET CORVETTE 1997 5.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The fuel fill door
release is located at the
right front corner
of
the center console
storage compartment.
I-
If your fuel filler door release won’t operate, there is a
manual release tab. The tab
is located against the upper
trim on the driver’s side in the rear compartment.
6-6

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites
it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you
if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible.
See “Cleaning the
Outside of Your Corvette” in the Index. When
you put
the cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until you hear a clicking sound. Make sure
you fully install the cap.
NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for you.
If you get
the wrong type, it may not
fit or have proper
venting, and your fuel tank and emissions system
might be damaged.
6-7

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Things Under the Hood
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
Hood Release
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to drop
or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.
NOTICE:
In order to avoid possible contact of the hood to
the headlamp doors, care should be taken in
raising the hood with the headlamps up,
or shut
off the lamps prior to opening the hood.
6-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To open the hood, first
pull the handle inside
Then go
to the side of the vehicle and pull up on the rear
edge of the hood, near the windshield.
6-9

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine You’ll see the following when you open the hood:
A. Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap
B. Battery
C. Engine Oil Dipstick
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap
E, Air Cleaner
F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
G. Brake Fluid Reservoir
H. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
Reservoir (if equipped)
1. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir
6-10

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps
are on properly. Then, just pull the hood down and close
it firmly.
Engine Oil
If the LOW OIL LEVEL message on the Driver
Information Center comes on, it means you need to
check your engine oil level right away. For more
information, see “Driver Information Center” in the
Index.
You should check your engine oil level regularly;
this is an added reminder.
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil level every time
you get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground. The
engine oil dipstick is
next to the coolant surge
tank. The dipstick handle is
a round, yellow loop.
Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t,
the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
6-11

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Engine Oil
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or a
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down.
When to Add Oil
If the oil is at or below the ADD mark, you’ll need to
add at least one quart
of oil. But you must use the right
kind.
This part explains what kind of oil to‘use. For
crankcase capacity, see “Capacities and Specifications”
in the Index.
NOTICE:
Don’t add too much oil. If your engine has so
much oil that the oil level gets above the upper
mark that
shows the proper operating range,
your engine could be damaged.
6-12

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The engine oil fill cap is on
top
of the right valve rocker
arm cover.
What Kind of Oil to Use
Look for two things:
GM4718M
The Corvette engine requires a special oil meeting
GM Standard GM47 18M. Oils meeting this Standard
may be identified as synthetic. However, not all
synthetic oils will meet this GM Standard. You
should look for and
use only an oil that meets GM
Standard GM47 18M.
Be sure to fill it enough to put the level somewhere in
the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when you’re through. I I
1 NOTICE: I
If you use oils that don’t have the GM4718M
Standard designation, you can cause engine
damage not covered
by your warranty.
6-13

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
SAE VISCOSITY GRADE OIL
FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
I
HOT
WEATHER
COLD
WEATHER
LOOK
FOR MIS
SYMBOL
DO NOT USE SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER
GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
SAE 5W-30
As shown in the viscosity chart, SAE 5W-30 is best
for your vehicle. However, you can use
SAE
1OW-30 if it’s going to be 0°F (-18°C) or above.
These numbers on an oil container show its viscosity,
or thickness.
Do not use other viscosity oils such as
SAE 20W-50.
Oils meeting these
requirements should also
have the “Starburst” symbol
on the container.
This symbol indicates that the oil has been certified by
the American Petroleum Institute
(API). Do not use any
oil which does not carry this Starburst symbol.
You should look for this on the oil container, and use
only those oils that are identified as meeting GM
Standard
47 18M and have the Starburst symbol on the
front
of the oil container.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Corvette engine is filled at the factory with a
Mobil
l@ synthetic oil, which meets all requirements for
your vehicle.
Substitute Oil: When adding oil to maintain engine oil
level, oil meeting GM Standard GM4718M may not be
available. You can add substitute oil designated SAE
5W-30 with the “Starburst” symbol at all temperatures.
If temperatures are above 0°F
(- 18 O C), you may
substitute SAE 1OW-30 with the “Starburst” symbol.
Substitute oil not meeting GM Standard GM4718M
should not be used for an oil change.
Engine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your Chevrolet dealer is
ready to advise
if you think something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil
Your Corvette has an Engine Oil Life Monitor. This
feature will let you know when to change your oil and
filter
-- usually between 3,000 miles (5 000 km) and
10,000 miles (1 6 000 km) since your last oil change.
Under severe conditions, the indicator may come on
before
3,000 miles (5 000 km). Never drive your vehicle
more than 10,000 miles
(1 6 000 km) or 12 months
(whichever occurs first) without an oil change. Use
engine oil meeting the GM Standard GM4718M. The
system won’t detect dust in the
oil. So, if you
drive in a dusty area, be sure to change your oil every
3,000 miles (5 000 km) or sooner if the CHANGE OIL
light comes on. Remember to reset the Engine Oil Life
Monitor when the oil has been changed. For more
information, see “Engine Oil Life Monitor” in the Index.
When Changing the Engine Oil
There is a special procedure for changing engine oil.
Contact your Chevrolet dealer for additional information
or the procedure can be found in a Corvette Service
Manual. To purchase a service manual, see “Service and
Owner Publications”
in the Index.
How to Reset the Engine Oil Life Monitor
Press RESET to acknowledge the CHANGE OIL SOON
warning. The oil page on the DIC will then show a
message such as OIL LIFE 0%. To reset the monitor,
press and hold RESET for two seconds.
You will then
receive a message such as OIL LIFE
99%.