fuel additives CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2006 6.G Owners Manual

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...........................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling the Tank..............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-16
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-23
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-25
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-28
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-28
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-28
Engine Coolant.............................................5-29
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-32
Engine Overheating.......................................5-32Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-34
Cooling System............................................5-34
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-40
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-41
Brakes........................................................5-42
Battery........................................................5-45
Jump Starting...............................................5-46
Rear Axle.......................................................5-51
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-52
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting............5-52
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-52
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
and Parking Lamps....................................5-52
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-54
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-54
Windshield Replacement.................................5-54
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-55
Tires..............................................................5-57
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-58
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-60
Extended Mobility Tires..................................5-62
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-64
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-67
Tire Rotation................................................5-69
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 6.0L V8 engine (VIN Code U), use
premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating
of 91 or higher. You may also use regular unleaded
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher, but your vehicle’s
acceleration may be slightly reduced, and you may notice
a slight audible knocking noise, commonly referred to as
spark knock. If the octane is less than 87, you may notice
a heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs,
use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, you might damage your engine. If
you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher and
you hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
If your vehicle has the 7.0L V8 engine (VIN Code E),
use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 91 or higher. For best performance, use
premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating
of 93. In an emergency, you can use regular unleaded
gasoline with an octane rating of 87 or higher. If
87 octane fuel is used, do not perform any aggressive
driving maneuvers such as wide open throttle
applications. You may also hear audible spark knock
during acceleration. Rell your tank with premium fuel as
soon as possible to avoid damaging your engine. If you
are using gasoline rated at 91 octane or higher and you
hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specication D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines may
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
General Motors recommends against the use of
gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives on page 5-6
for additional information.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California Emissions
Standards, it is designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specications. See the underhood
emission control label. If this fuel is not available
in states adopting California emissions standards,
your vehicle will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specications, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp may turn on and your vehicle may fail a
smog-check test. SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 3-42. If this occurs, return to your authorized
GM dealer for diagnosis. If it is determined that the
condition is caused by the type of fuel used, repairs may
not be covered by your warranty.
5-5

Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
allowing your emission control system to work properly.
In most cases, you should not have to add anything to
your fuel. However, some gasolines contain only the
minimum amount of additive required to meet
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
To help keep fuel injectors and intake valves clean,
or if your vehicle experiences problems due to dirty
injectors or valves, look for gasoline that is advertised as
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. Also, your GM dealer has
additives that will help correct and prevent most
deposit-related problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be available in
your area. General Motors recommends that you use
these gasolines if they comply with the specications
described earlier. However, E85 (85% ethanol) and other
fuels containing more than 10% ethanol must not be used
in vehicles that were not designed for those fuels.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel
system and also damage the plastic and rubber
parts. That damage would not be covered under
your warranty.Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. General Motors
recommends against the use of such gasolines.
Fuels containing MMT can reduce the life of spark plugs
and the performance of the emission control system
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp
may turn on. If this occurs, return to your authorized
GM dealer for service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard
to nd. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel.
Costly repairs caused by use of improper fuel would
not be covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you will be driving.
5-6

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power Outlet(s)...............................3-24
Active Handling System...................................4-10
Active Handling System Light...........................3-40
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-53
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-92
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-25
Air Conditioning..............................................3-25
Air Dam, Front...............................................2-21
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-35
Readiness Light..........................................3-34
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-40
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-53
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-46
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-48
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-52
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-46
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-46
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-44
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-42
Antenna, Diversity Antenna System..................3-101Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System.....................................................3-101
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-39
Appearance Care
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-89
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-85
Cargo Cover and Convenience Net................5-85
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-90
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-86
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-82
Coated Moldings.........................................5-84
Convertible Top...........................................5-88
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-83
Fiberglass Springs.......................................5-90
Finish Care.................................................5-86
Finish Damage............................................5-90
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.......................................5-85
Leather......................................................5-84
Removable Roof Panel.................................5-88
Tires..........................................................5-89
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-90
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-91
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-86
Weatherstrips..............................................5-85
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-87
Ashtray(s)......................................................3-25
1

Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-25
Battery.......................................................5-45
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-42
Coolant......................................................5-29
Coolant Heater............................................2-24
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-41
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-15
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-36
Oil .............................................................5-16
Oil Life System...........................................5-23
Oil Pressure Gage.......................................3-45
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...........5-34
Overheating................................................5-32
Starting......................................................2-23
Entry/Exit Lighting...........................................3-19
Event Data Recorders (EDR)............................. 7-9
Extended Mobility Tires....................................5-62
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-21
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-15
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver..........................3-19F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-25
Finish Damage...............................................5-90
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-6
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-9
Flat Tire........................................................5-81
Floor Mats.....................................................2-51
Fluid
Automatic Transmission................................5-28
Manual Transmission....................................5-28
Power Steering...........................................5-40
Windshield Washer......................................5-41
Fog Lamp Light..............................................3-46
Fog Lamps ....................................................3-17
Front Air Dam................................................2-21
Fuel............................................................... 5-4
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-10
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-6
Gage .........................................................3-47
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-5
5