cooling CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2020 Owner's Manual

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
Climate Controls 139
Climate Controls
Climate Control Systems
Dual Automatic ClimateControl System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Air Vents
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment AirFilter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Climate Control
Systems
Dual Automatic Climate
Control System
The heating, cooling, and ventilation
in the vehicle can be controlled with
this system.
1. Driver Temperature Control
2. Driver and Passenger Heated and Ventilated Seats (If
Equipped)

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
154 Driving and Operating
4. Apply the brakes 25 times from100 km/h (60 mph) to 50 km/h
(30 mph) while decelerating at
0.4 g. This is a medium brake
application. Drive for at least
1 km (0.6 mi) between
applications.
As with all high performance brake
systems, some amount of brake
squeal is normal.
Alternative Closed Course Brake
Burnishing Procedure
This brake burnish procedure
should only be run on vehicles with
the J55 Z51 factory equipped brake
system.
This procedure should only be run
on a track and only on dry
pavement. Brake pedal fade will
occur during this track burnish
procedure and can cause brake
pedal travel and force to increase.
This could extend stopping distance
until the brakes are fully burnished. 1. Start track lapping at lower speeds and lower braking
efforts for three minutes of driving. Allow for increased
braking distances due to
reduced brake output.
2. After Step 1, increase speed and braking effort for the next
six minutes of lapping,
gradually ending up at 90%
effort. Continue to allow for
increased braking distance due
to reduced brake output.
3. Cool the brakes by lapping with minimal light braking for six
minutes.
Brake Cooling Kit
Prior to any track event, high speed
driving event, or competitive driving,
the following should be completed:
. Ensure all brake cooling parts
are correctly and securely
installed.
. Install the rear lower control arm
cooling ducts per the instructions
included with the kit. After any
track event or competitive
driving, remove the rear lower
control arm cooling ducts. These
parts are for track use only. .
Inspect for and remove any
blockage in the ducts.
. Inspect and replace any duct
that has damage.
Passenger Side Front Shown,
Driver Side Front Similar
1. Front Brake Cooling Duct
2. Front Lower Control Arm Deflector

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
Driving and Operating 155
Passenger Side Rear Shown,Driver Side Rear Similar
3. Rear Knuckle Mounted Cooling Duct
4. Rear Lower Control Arm Cooling Duct
Shock Spring Seat Adjustment
The front shocks, on vehicles
without hydraulic front lift and rear
shocks, have threaded spring seats
that allow adjustment of the preload
on the coil springs. The vehicle
corner weights can be adjusted for track use. If the vehicle trim height
is modified, it should be returned to
normal trim height before street use.
The spring seat can be adjusted
approximately 20 mm (0.8 in) up or
down from the nominal position.
Each complete turn of the spring
seat will change the vehicle height
approximately 1.5 mm (0.06 in).
When adjusting the seat to the
upper limit, lift the dust boot and
ensure the seat does not thread off
the center support tube (stop
adjustment when threads no longer
visible). When adjusting the seat to
the lower limit, leave approximately
10 mm (0.4 in) of thread visible for
the lower lock nut to have full thread
engagement.
To adjust the lower spring seat:
1. Raise the vehicle so the tires are completely off the ground.
Front Shown, Rear Similar
2. Loosen the lower spring seat lock nut (2).
3. Thread the lower spring seat lock nut (2) downward off of the
threads to its resting location
on the shoulder of the center
support tube.
4. While holding the center support tube holes, turn the
spring seat (1) upward to
increase spring preload,
or downward to decrease
spring preload.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
Vehicle Care 209
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 210
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Lifting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Underhood Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 221
Dual Clutch Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Dual Clutch Transmission Fluid Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 224
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226 Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 230
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Battery - North America . . . . . . 234
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 235
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 236
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 236
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . 238
Bulb Replacement
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 239
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 239
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 249
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 265
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 267Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
216 Vehicle Care
1. Engine Cooling Fan (Out ofView). See Cooling System
0 226.
2. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter (Under Access Panel). See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0224.
3. Dry Sump Engine Oil Tank and Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0218.
4. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0218.
5. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0226.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
218 Vehicle Care
1. Engine Cooling Fan (Out ofView). See Cooling System
0 226.
2. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter (Under Access Panel). See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0224.
3. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0226.
4. Dry Sump Engine Oil Tank and Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0218.
5. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0218.
Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, pay
careful attention to engine oil.
Follow these important steps:
.
Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
later in this section. .
Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” later in this section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0221.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking the Engine Oil
1. Engine Oil Dipstick
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap
Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially
prior to a long trip. To get an
accurate reading, the vehicle must
be parked on a level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a
loop. See Engine Compartment
Overview 0215 for the location.
The vehicle has 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.
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. 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

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
226 Vehicle Care
6. Remove the air cleaner coverscrews (2) and cover (1).
7. Remove the air cleaner/filter.
8. Inspect or replace the aircleaner/filter.
9. Reverse Steps 2–7 to replace the air cleaner/filter.
{Warning
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you or
others to be burned. Use caution
when working on the engine. Do
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
not start the engine or drive the
vehicle with the air cleaner/filter
off, as flames may be present if
the engine backfires.
Caution
If the air cleaner/filter is off, dirt
can easily get into the engine,
which could damage it. Always
have the air cleaner/filter in place
when driving.
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the
engine to maintain the correct
working temperature.
Convertible
1. Engine Cooling Fans (Outof View)
2. Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure Cap

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
Vehicle Care 227
Coupe
1. Engine Cooling Fans (Outof View)
2. Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure Cap
{Warning
An underhood electric fan can
start up even when the engine is
not running and can cause injury.
Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood
electric fan.
{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. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants 0295. The fluid
requires changing at certain
intervals. See Maintenance
Schedule 0286.
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 0230.
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.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
228 Vehicle Care
.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. 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
Be sure the cooling system is cool
and that the vehicle is on a level
surface.
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 0230.
The surge tank is in the engine
compartment. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0215.
When the engine is cold, the coolant
level should be at the COLD FILL
indicator in the coolant surge tank.
When the engine is hot, the level
could be higher than the COLD FILL
indicator. If the coolant is below the
COLD FILL indicator 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.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
Vehicle Care 229
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, be sure the
cooling system is cool, then add the
proper DEX-COOL coolant mixture
directly to the surge tank.
1. Open the Hatch/Trunk. See Hatch (Trunk) 023.
2. When the cooling system,
including the coolant surge
tank pressure cap and engine,
is no longer hot, remove the
pressure cap.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about
one-quarter turn and then stop.
If a hiss is heard, wait for that
to stop. A hiss means there is
still some pressure left.
3. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and remove it.
4. Fill the coolant surge tank withthe proper mixture until the
level inside stabilizes at the
COLD FILL indicator in the
surge tank.
5. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until the
engine is hot.
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank
may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge
tank until the level stabilizes at
the COLD FILL indicator in the
coolant surge tank.