maintenance CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2007 6.G Owner's Manual

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

Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master
cylinder reservoir is
lled with DOT-3 brake
uid. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 330for the
location of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid
level in the reservoir might go down. The rst
is that the brake uid goes down to an acceptable
level during normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are put in, the uid level goes back
up. The other reason is that uid is leaking out of
the brake system. If it is, you should have the
brake system xed, since a leak means that
sooner or later the brakes will not work well.So, it is not a good idea to top off the brake
uid. Adding brake uid will not correct a leak.
If you add uid when the linings are worn,
then you will have too much uid when you get
new brake linings. You should add or remove
brake uid, as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If you have too much brake uid, it can
spill on the engine. The uid will burn if
the engine is hot enough. You or others
could be burned, and your vehicle could
be damaged. Add brake uid only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system. See “Checking Brake Fluid” in
this section.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
when to check the brake uid. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 433.
361

Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have to be of top quality and work
well together if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. Your vehicle was designed and tested
with top-quality brake parts. When you replace
parts of the braking system — for example, when
the brake linings wear down and you need new
ones put in — be sure you get new approved
replacement parts. If you do not, the brakes might
not work properly. For example, if someone puts
in brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle,
the balance between the front and rear brakes can
change — for the worse. The braking performance
you have come to expect can change in many other
ways if someone puts in the wrong replacement
brake parts.
Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery.
When it is time for a new battery, get one that
has the replacement number shown on the
original battery’s label. We recommend an
ACDelco
®replacement battery.For battery replacement, see your dealer or the
service manual. To purchase a service manual,
seeService and Owner PublicationsinService
Publications Ordering Information on page 468.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.
Vehicle Storage
If you are not going to drive your vehicle for
25 days or more, remove the black, negative (−)
cable from the battery. This will help keep
your battery from running down.
{CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be badly
hurt if you are not careful. SeeJump
Starting on page 365for tips on working
around a battery without getting hurt.
364

Windshield Replacement
Keep in mind that your windshield is part of the
Head-Up Display (HUD) system. If you ever have
to get your windshield replaced, be sure to get
one that is designed for HUD or your HUD image
may look blurred or out of focus.
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for
wear and cracking. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 433for more information.
Replacement blades come in different types and
are removed in different ways. For the proper type
and length, seeNormal Maintenance Replacement
Parts on page 445.It is a good idea to clean or replace the wiper
blade assembly every six months.
Allowing the wiper blade arm to touch the
windshield when no wiper blade is installed
could damage the windshield. Any damage that
occurs would not be covered by your warranty.
Do not allow the wiper blade arm to touch
the windshield.
To remove the wiper blade assembly,
do the following:
1. Open the hood to gain access to
the windshield wipers.
2. Lift the wiper arm away from the
windshield.
375

As an added safety
feature, your vehicle
has been equipped
with a tire pressure
monitoring system
(TPMS) that illuminates
a low tire pressure
telltale when one
or more of your
tires is signicantly
under-inated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a signicantly
under-inated tire causes the tire to overheat
and can lead to tire failure. Under-ination also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may
affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure,
even if under-ination has not reached the
level to trigger illumination of the TPMS low
tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when the
system is not operating properly. The TPMS
malfunction indicator is combined with the low
tire pressure telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will ash for approximately
one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the
malfunction exists.
390

When the malfunction indicator is illuminated,
the system may not be able to detect or signal
low tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions
may occur for a variety of reasons, including
the installation of replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS
from functioning properly. Always check the TPMS
malfunction telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow
the TPMS to continue to function properly.
A Tire and Loading Information label, attached to
your vehicle, shows the size of your vehicle’s
original equipment tires and the correct ination
pressure for your vehicle’s tires when they
are cold. SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 309,
for an example of the tire information label and
its location on your vehicle. Also seeInation - Tire
Pressure on page 386.Your vehicle’s TPMS can alert you about a
low or high tire pressure condition but it does
not replace normal tire maintenance. See
Ination - Tire Pressure on page 386and
When It Is Time for New Tires on page 393.
The SERVICE TIRE MONITOR message,
in the DIC, is displayed when the TPMS is
malfunctioning. For example, one or more
TPMS sensors may be inoperable or missing.
Also, the active handling system will be affected,
seeActive Handling System on page 283.
See your dealer for service.
391

Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control can collect on the underbody. If these are
not removed, corrosion and rust can develop on the
underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, oor pan,
and exhaust system even though they have
corrosion protection.
At least every spring, ush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where
mud and debris can collect. Dirt packed in close
areas of the frame should be loosened before being
ushed. Your dealer or an underbody car washing
system can do this for you.
Fiberglass Springs
(Composite Springs)
Notice:If you use acidic or corrosive cleaning
products, engine degreasers or aluminum
cleaning agents on berglass springs, you
may damage the springs. The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Use only
approved cleaners when cleaning your
vehicle’s berglass springs.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can
create a chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants
can fall upon and attack painted surfaces on the
vehicle. This damage can take two forms: blotchy,
ring-shaped discolorations, and small, irregular
dark spots etched into the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this,
we will repair, at no charge to the owner, the
surfaces of new vehicles damaged by this fallout
condition within 12 months or 12,000 miles
(20 000 km) of purchase, whichever occurs rst.
416

Maintenance Schedule................................ 430
Introduction............................................... 430
Maintenance Requirements........................ 430
Your Vehicle and the Environment............ 431
Using the Maintenance Schedule............... 431
Scheduled Maintenance............................. 433
Additional Required Services..................... 436
Maintenance Footnotes.............................. 437Owner Checks and Services..................... 438
At Each Fuel Fill....................................... 439
At Least Once a Month............................. 439
At Least Once a Year............................... 440
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants........ 443
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts..... 445
Engine Drive Belt Routing......................... 446
Maintenance Record.................................. 447
Section 6 Maintenance Schedule
429

Maintenance Schedule
Introduction
Important: Keep engine oil at the proper level
and change as recommended.
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The
Plan supplements your new vehicle warranties.
See your Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet
or your dealer for details.
Maintenance Requirements
Notice:Maintenance intervals, checks,
inspections, replacement parts, and
recommended uids and lubricants as
prescribed in this manual are necessary to
keep your vehicle in good working condition.
Any damage caused by failure to follow
scheduled maintenance might not be covered
by warranty.
430

Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep
your vehicle in good working condition, but also
helps the environment. All recommended
maintenance is important. Improper vehicle
maintenance can even affect the quality of the air
we breathe. Improper uid levels or the wrong
tire ination can increase the level of emissions
from your vehicle. To help protect our environment,
and to keep your vehicle in good condition, be
sure to maintain your vehicle properly.
Using the Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to help you keep your
vehicle in good working condition. But we do
not know exactly how you will drive it. You may
drive very short distances only a few times a week.
Or you may drive long distances all the time in
very hot, dusty weather. You may use your vehicle
in making deliveries. Or you may drive it to
work, to do errands, or in many other ways.
Because of all the different ways people use their
vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may
need more frequent checks and replacements. So
please read the following and note how you
drive. If you have any questions on how to keep
your vehicle in good condition, see your GM
Goodwrench
®dealer.
431