C4 Corvette: How to change the oil

Changing the oil in your C4 Corvette

Items Needed:
Oil (Check your owners manual for the proper
amount and type)
Oil Filter (If your manual doesn’t tell you a
filter size, check your local parts store)
Floor Jack
Jack
Stands
Catch Pan
Paper Towels
Wrench or Socket Set for the
oil plug
Oil Filter Wrench (Not needed, but it can be
helpful)

Step One
Open your hood. Remove the oil cap on the valve
cover, as well as pulling the dipstick and checking your oil.  Many
people are unaware of oil problems until it is too late so check your
oil regularly.

Step Two
Jack up the front of your Corvette by placing the
jack head on the frame rail behind the front wheel on the driver’s
side.  Place a jackstand next to the jack, under the frame rail in case
the jack fails.  If your Corvette is too low to fit your jack under the
car, drive-on ramps with a long ramp area make changing the oil a great
deal easier but make sure that the ramps you use clear the bottom of the
front fascia.

Step Three
Slide the catch pan under
your Corvette.  The oil filter on most C4 Corvettes is on the driver’s
side right next to the oil pan, and the oil pan plug is generally facing
the rear of the car (this may vary based on modifications).  Loosen the
drain plug a bit and then move the catch pan under the engine.  Keep in
mind that when the plug first comes out, there will be enough pressure
to create a ‘stream? of oil ? it will not trickle straight down at first
but as it empties out it will drip directly down so make sure that your
pan is located to catch all of the oil.  Once the oil has slowed to a
trickle, you can then remove the oil filter.  Oil will still run down
the filter as you loosen it and spinning it quickly to remove it faster
will cause the oil to splatter around so take your time.  If the oil is
hot, be careful not to let the filter splash into the oil pan.  Let the
engine drain like this for 5 minutes and while you are waiting inspect
the threads on your drain plug.  If the threads are flattened out it may
not tighten or it can strip the threads in the oil pan and that is an
expensive fix.  If the plug threads are in good shape, simply clean it
off.

Step Four
Fill the new filter with new oil, and then take
some of the oil in the filter on your finger and rub it around the
filter gasket. Before installing the new filter, inspect the filter
mounting surface, or the old filter, and be certain that the old filter
gasket isn’t stuck on the filter mounting surface. Once you have made
sure that the old gasket is not stuck to the engine, screw on the new
filter.   Never use tools to tighten the filter; it should only be hand
tightened. Then put the oil plug back in, and be very careful not to
cross thread the plug, and don’t over-tighten it, as it will ruin the
plug, and sometimes the oil pan. Just make certain that the plug is nice
and tight, but it doesn’t need to be torqued down.

Step
Five
Remove the jackstands and lower your Corvette once the plug
and filter are on and tightened.  Most C4 Corvettes take 5 quarts of
oil, but some higher performance models will take as many as 8 quarts.
 Check with your owner’s manual to be sure of what amount of engine oil
to use.  Also, if you have oil system modifications like a deep sump oil
pan, check with the manufacturer for recommended oil amount.

You’re done!