engine overheat CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2018 Owner's Manual

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11374030) - 2018 - CRC - 11/8/17
108 Instruments and Controls
This gauge indicates vacuum during
light to moderate throttle and boost
under heavier throttle.
It displays the air pressure level in
the intake manifold before it enters
the engine's combustion chamber.
The gauge is automatically centered
at zero every time the engine is
started. Actual vacuum or boost is
displayed from this zero point.
Changes in ambient pressure, such
as driving in mountains and
changing weather, will slightly
change the zero reading.Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
Metric
English
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the gauge pointer moves to the
high end, the engine is too hot.
This reading indicates the same
thing as the warning light. It means
that the engine coolant has
overheated. If the vehicle has been
operating under normal driving
conditions, pull off the road, stop the
vehicle, and turn off the engine as
soon as possible. See Engine
Overheating 0240 for more
information.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11374030) - 2018 - CRC - 11/8/17
116 Instruments and Controls
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally the
indicator light goes off.
Caution
The engine coolant temperature
warning light indicates that the
vehicle has overheated. Driving
with this light on can damage the
engine and it may not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. See
Engine Overheating0240.
The engine coolant temperature
warning light comes on when the
engine has overheated.
If this happens, pull over and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
See Engine Overheating 0240.
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this light
comes on briefly when the engine is
started. It provides information
about tire pressures and the TPMS.
When the Light Is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of
the tires are significantly
underinflated.
A Driver Information Center (DIC)
tire pressure message may also
display. Stop as soon as possible,
and inflate the tires to the pressure
value shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See Tire
Pressure 0266. When the Light Flashes First and
Then Is On Steady
If the light flashes for about a minute
and then stays on, there may be a
problem with the TPMS. If the
problem is not corrected, the light
will come on at every ignition cycle.
See
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation 0268.
Engine Oil Pressure Light
Caution
Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. Driving with the engine oil
low can also damage the engine.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Check
the oil level as soon as possible.
Add oil if required, but if the oil
level is within the operating range
and the oil pressure is still low,
have the vehicle serviced. Always
follow the maintenance schedule
for changing engine oil.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11374030) - 2018 - CRC - 11/8/17
Driving and Operating 171
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
. Pass with caution.
. Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
. Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See Tires0257.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.
Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
. Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering assist. Always
have the engine running and the
vehicle in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, accident).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 173
Warning (Continued)
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0184.
To save fuel, run the engine for
short periods to warm the vehicle
and then shut the engine off and
partially close the window. Moving
about to keep warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle
speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to
signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible, to
save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. See
Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 196.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the
forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
see
Towing the Vehicle 0290.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle may
show how much weight it may
properly carry: the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification label.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11374030) - 2018 - CRC - 11/8/17
Driving and Operating 181
with it, the Driver Information
Center (DIC) will display a
message.
2. When the engine begins cranking, let go of the button
and the engine cranks
automatically until it starts.
If the battery in the RKE
transmitter is weak, the DIC will
display a message. The vehicle
can still be driven.
See “Starting the Vehicle with a
Low Transmitter Battery” under
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation 028. If the
RKE transmitter battery is
dead, insert it into the steering
column transmitter pocket to
enable engine starting.
3. Do not race the engine immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and
transmission gently until the oil
warms up and lubricates all
moving parts. 4. If the engine does not start and
no DIC message is displayed,
wait 15 seconds before trying
again to let the cranking motor
cool down.
If the engine does not start
after five to 10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather
(below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor while cranking for up
to 15 seconds maximum. Wait
at least 15 seconds between
each try, to allow the cranking
motor to cool down. When the
engine starts, let go of the
accelerator. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again,
repeat these steps. This clears
the extra gasoline from the
engine.Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by returning the
ignition to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
Stopping the Engine
If the vehicle has an automatic
transmission, move the shift lever to
P (Park) and press and hold
ENGINE START/STOP on the
instrument panel, until the engine
shuts off. If the shift lever is not in
P (Park), the engine shuts off and
the vehicle goes into the accessory
mode. The DIC displays SHIFT TO
PARK. Once the shift lever is moved
to P (Park), the vehicle turns off.
If the vehicle has a manual
transmission, move the shift lever to
R (Reverse) and set the parking

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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182 Driving and Operating
brake after turning off the engine by
pressing and holding ENGINE
START/STOP.
If the RKE transmitter is not
detected inside the vehicle when it
is turned off, the DIC displays a
message.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
Some vehicle accessories may be
used after the ignition is turned off.
The power windows and sunroof,
if equipped, will continue to work for
up to 10 minutes or until any door is
opened.
The infotainment system will
continue to work for 10 minutes,
until the driver door is opened,
or until the ignition is turned on or
placed in ACC/ACCESSORY.
Shifting Into Park
1. Hold the brake pedal down andset the parking brake. See
Electric Parking Brake 0193. 2. Move the shift lever into
P (Park) by holding the button
on the lever and pushing the
lever all the way toward the
front of the vehicle.
3. Press ENGINE START/STOP to turn the engine off.
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running (Automatic
Transmission)
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
It could overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park 0182.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After moving the shift
lever into P (Park), hold down the
regular brake pedal. See if you can
move the shift lever away from
P (Park) without first pushing the
button on the lever. If you can, it
means that the shift lever was not
fully locked into P (Park).
Torque Lock (Automatic
Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you
do not shift the transmission into
P (Park) properly, the weight of
the vehicle may put too much
force on the parking pawl in the

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 215
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 216
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 217
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Lifting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 231
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 233
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 233
Cooling System (Engine) . . . . . 236
Cooling System (Aero Panel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 240 Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Battery - North America . . . . . . 244
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 246
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 247
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 247
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 248
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 250
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 251
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252 Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Competition Oriented Tires . . . 260
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 261
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 237
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts.
They can be very hot and can
burn you. Do not run the engine if
there is a leak; all coolant could
leak out. That could cause an
engine fire and can burn you. Fix
any leak before driving the
vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL engine
coolant. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants 0313. The fluid
requires changing at certain
intervals. See Maintenance
Schedule 0304.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating 0240.
What to Use
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such
as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. With
plain water or the wrong mixture,
the engine could get too hot but
there would not be an overheat
warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be
burned.
Use a mixture of 40% DEX-COOL
coolant and 60% clean, drinkable
water. If using this mixture, nothing
else needs to be added. This
mixture:
. Gives freezing protection down
to−28 °C (−18 °F), outside
temperature.
. Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine
temperature.
. Protects against rust and
corrosion. .
Will not damage aluminum parts.
. Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.Caution
Do not use anything other than a
mix of DEX-COOL coolant that
meets GM Standard
GMW3420 and clean, drinkable
water. Anything else can cause
damage to the engine cooling
system and the vehicle, which
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or into sewers, streams,
or bodies of water. Have the coolant
changed by an authorized service
center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used
coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11374030) - 2018 - CRC - 11/8/17
238 Vehicle Care
If ambient temperatures are
anticipated below−28 °C (−18 °F),
make sure a proper mixture ratio of
50% DEX-COOL coolant and 50%
clean, drinkable water is used.
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 cold fill line, add a
mixture of 40% DEX-COOL coolant
and 60% clean, drinkable water at
the coolant recovery tank, but be
sure the cooling system is cool
before this is done. See Engine
Overheating 0240.
The engine coolant surge tank is
toward the rear of the engine
compartment on the passenger side
of the vehicle. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0221. When the engine is cold, the coolant
level should be at the cold fill line on
the coolant surge tank.
When the engine is hot, the level
could be higher than the cold fill
line. If the coolant is below the cold
fill 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 your dealer for
service.
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank
{Warning
Spilling coolant on hot engine
parts can burn you. Coolant
contains ethylene glycol and it will
burn if the engine parts are hot
enough.
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure
cap, even a little, can cause them
to come out at high speed and
you could be burned. Never turn
the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
pressure cap to cool.
If coolant is needed, add the proper
DEX-COOL coolant mixture directly
to the surge tank, but be sure the
cooling system is cool before this
is done.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11374030) - 2018 - CRC - 11/8/17
240 Vehicle Care
1. Press up on the two indents atthe bottom and lift the aero
panel off the bracket.
Stingray Shown, Grand Sport and
Z06 Similar
2. Unscrew the two fasteners that secure the bracket.
3. Gently pull the bracket away from the grille.
To replace the bracket and aero
panel: 1. Position the bracket over the grille.
2. Secure the bracket by pushing the two fasteners into place. 3. Snap the aero panel into place.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several indicators
to warn of engine overheating.
There is an engine coolant
temperature gauge on the
instrument cluster. See
Engine
Coolant Temperature Gauge 0108.
The vehicle may also display a
message on the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood but to get service help right
away, see Roadside Assistance
Program 0325.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fan is running. If the engine
is overheating, the fan should be
running. If it is not, do not continue
to run the engine, and have the
vehicle serviced.
Caution
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak in the engine cooling system.
This can cause a loss of all
coolant and can damage the
system and vehicle. Have any
leaks fixed right away.
If Steam Is Coming from the
Engine
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure
cap, even a little, can cause them
to come out at high speed and
you could be burned. Never turn
the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
pressure cap to cool.