checking oil CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2009 6.G Owners Manual

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-4
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements.....5-4
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-5
Adding Equipment to the Outside of the
Vehicle......................................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-6
Gasoline Octane............................................5-6
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-7
Additives.......................................................5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-8
Filling the Tank..............................................5-9
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-12
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-12
Hood Release..............................................5-13
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-14
Engine Oil...................................................5-20
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-26
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-28
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-30
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-31
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-31
Cooling System (Engine)................................5-32
Cooling System (Intercooler)...........................5-33Engine Coolant.............................................5-34
Engine Overheating.......................................5-39
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-41
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-42
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-43
Brakes........................................................5-44
Battery........................................................5-50
Jump Starting...............................................5-51
Rear Axle.......................................................5-55
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-56
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-56
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting............5-56
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-57
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and
Parking Lamps..........................................5-57
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-59
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-59
Windshield Replacement.................................5-60
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-60
Tires..............................................................5-62
Winter Tires.................................................5-63
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-64
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-66
Run-Flat Tires..............................................5-69
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while it is in
the vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the fuel vapor. You can be
badly burned and the vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others:
Dispense fuel only into approved containers.
Do not ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed,
or on any surface other than the ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact with the inside
of the ll opening before operating the nozzle.
Contact should be maintained until the lling
is complete.
Do not smoke while pumping fuel.
Do not use a cellular phone while
pumping fuel.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
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.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a re. These include liquids like fuel, oil,
coolant, brake uid, windshield washer and other
uids, 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.
5-12

A. Clutch Master Cylinder Reservoir (If Equipped).
SeeHydraulic Clutch on page 5-31.
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-43.
C. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-44.
D. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-34.
E.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-28.F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-42.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-20.
H. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-20.
I.Engine Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-106.
J. Passenger Compartment Air Filter (Out of View).
SeePassenger Compartment Air Filter on page 3-30.
K.Battery on page 5-50.
5-15

A. Intercooler. SeeCooling System (Engine) on
page 5-32orCooling System (Intercooler) on
page 5-33.
B.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-28.
C. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir and Cap.
SeePower Steering Fluid on page 5-42.
D. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-34.
E. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-43.
F. Clutch Master Cylinder Reservoir (If Equipped).
SeeHydraulic Clutch on page 5-31.G. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-44.
H. Passenger Compartment Air Filter (Out of View).
SeePassenger Compartment Air Filter on page 3-30.
I. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-20.
J. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-20.
K. Remote Positive (+) Terminal (Out of View).
SeeJump Starting on page 5-51.
L.Engine Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-106.
5-17

A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-28.
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-42.
C.Engine Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-106.
D. Remote Positive (+) Terminal (Out of View).
SeeJump Starting on page 5-51.
E. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-20.
F. Dry Sump Engine Oil Tank. See “Changing Engine
Oil and Filter (Z06 Only)”Engine Oil on page 5-20.G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-20.
H. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-34.
I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-43.
J. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-44.
K. Clutch Master Cylinder Reservoir. SeeHydraulic
Clutch on page 5-31.
5-19

Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
(Except ZO6 and ZR1)
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL message displays on the
Driver Information Center (DIC), check the engine oil
level right away. For more information, seeDriver
Information Center (DIC) on page 3-49. You should
check the engine oil level regularly; this is an added
reminder.
It is a good idea to check the 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 handle is a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-14
for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes
to drain back into the oil pan. If you do not do this,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a lint-free
paper towel or a cloth, then push it back in all
the way.
3. Remove the dipstick again, keeping the tip down
and read the level on the cross-hatched area. Oil
levels that fall in the cross-hatched area are normal.
4. Push the dipstick back in all the way.
When to Add Engine Oil
(Except ZO6 and ZR1)
If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip of the
dipstick, add at least one quart/liter of the recommended
oil. This section explains what kind of oil to use. For
engine oil crankcase capacity, seeCapacities and
Specifications on page 5-110.
SeeRacing or Other Competitive Driving on page 4-15
for additional information on engine oil.
5-20

Notice:Do not add too much oil. If the engine
has so much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows the proper operating
range, the engine could be damaged.
SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-14
for the location of the
engine oil ll cap.
Add enough oil to put the level somewhere in the proper
operating range. Push the dipstick all the way back in
when you are through.Checking Engine Oil (ZO6 and ZR1)
A. Engine Oil Dipstick
B. Engine Oil Fill Cap
It is a good idea to check the 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.
5-21

The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
The dipstick is located on the dry sump engine oil tank.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-14
for the location of the dry sump engine oil tank.
These vehicles have a racetrack-ready dry sump
engine lubrication system. This high-performance system
operates differently than a standard engine lubrication
system and requires a special procedure when checking
the engine oil level. Follow this procedure closely when
checking the engine oil level.
The engine oil level must be checked when the engine
is warm. Cold oil level in the dry sump tank may not
indicate the actual amount of oil in the system. With
this system, engine oil is contained in an external tank,
separate from the engine. Under normal operating
conditions, the oil pan under the engine does not store
any oil. If the vehicle has been parked for an extended
period without the engine being started, some oil will
seep back into the oil pan, reducing the amount of oil
held in the dry sump tank and there could be no engine
oil at all showing on the dipstick.This is normal since the dipstick is designed to read
engine oil level only after the engine has run long enough
to reach normal operating temperature. Do not add
engine oil based on cold engine dipstick readings.
The engine oil level on the dipstick will also be inaccurate
if checked while the engine is running.
1. To obtain an accurate engine oil level reading,
warm up the engine to at least 175°F (80°C).
Cold oil will not give a correct oil level reading.
2. Once the engine is warm, turn off the engine.
Checking the oil while the engine is running
will result in an incorrect oil level reading.
3. Wait at least ve minutes (but not more than
20 minutes) to allow oil to drain and settle in
the engine.
4. Remove the dipstick from the external engine oil
tank and clean it with a lint-free paper towel or a
cloth. Re-insert the dipstick into the external oil tank,
pushing it all the way in until it stops.
5. Remove the dipstick from the oil tank and read the
level on the cross-hatched area. Oil levels that fall
in the cross-hatched area are normal.
5-22

A. Engine Oil Drain Plugs
B. Seals
1. Remove the two engine oil drain plugs from the
bottom of the engine oil pan. One drain plug drains
the external oil tank via the oil transfer supply line.
The other drain plug drains residual oil from the
crankcase sump. Allow the oil to drain.2. Once the oil has been drained from the engine,
remove the engine oil lter and allow the oil
to drain.
3. Re-install both drain plugs and tighten them to
18 lb ft (25Y).
4. Replace the oil lter and tighten it to 18 lb ft
(25Y). SeeMaintenance Replacement Parts
on page 6-14for the correct lter.
5. Oil is lled through the opening in the top of the
external engine oil tank. Remove the oil ll cap.
6. Add 10.5 quarts (9.9 L) of oil to the oil tank.
SeeCapacities and Specifications on page 5-110.
7. Install the oil ll cap and insert the dipstick,
if removed.
8. Start the engine and let it run at idle for at least
15 seconds. This will circulate the fresh engine
oil through the lubrication system.
9. Shut off the engine and check the oil level
as described under “Checking Engine Oil
(ZO6 and ZR1).” ZO6 Shown, ZR1 Similar
5-24

Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level surface when checking
the coolant level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in the coolant surge
tank. If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling,
do not do anything else until it cools down. If coolant
is visible but the coolant level is not at or above the
FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL coolant at the coolant
recovery tank, but be sure the cooling system is cool
before this is done. SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-34
for more information.
The engine coolant
surge tank is located
toward the rear of the
engine compartment on
the driver side of the
vehicle. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 5-14for more
information on location.When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the FULL COLD mark on the coolant surge tank.
When the engine is hot, the level could be higher
than the FULL COLD line. If the coolant is below the
FULL COLD line when the engine is hot, there could
be a leak in the cooling system.
If the coolant is low, add the coolant or take the vehicle
to a dealer/retailer for service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot enough.
Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
5-36