OK, I have searched the web and there are a bunch of replacment fluid recommendations. One thing is unclear ... for each individual LT4 system was the OEM fluid synthetic, non-synthetic or a blend? Radiator is Dex-Cool. Howzabout ... brakes, power steering, clutch cylinders, ZF6 trans, rear diff.? Perhaps GM part numbers can be translated, but I have yet to crack the code. Your experience and knowledge on this topic is greatly appreciated.

 

FWIW all LT4 fluids are the same as LT1 fluids...

 

Gimme' the GM parts numbers and I'll try and crack 'em.

Or better still, check your owners manual. There's a section in the back labled "dimensions and capacities" that should have all the info. you need.

I think it lists the GM parts numbers, too.

 

I just looked...Pages 7-46 thru 7-47 of owners manual

Engine Oil GM4718M......doesn't even say Mobil1
Power Steering Fluid...synthetic GM 12345866
Manual Transmission.....SAE 5W-30 GM 1052931
Rear Axle.......GM 1052497

ETC......

He is right, the Owners Manual is BS

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...-oil-list.html

 

Your car should say Mobil 1 under the hood

 

Not all 96' cars have the under hood Mobil I sticker under the hood, they ran out of them during the production run. However all LT-1, Lt-4 and Lt-5 cars have the Mobil I 5/30 wt printed on the oil filler cap.

 

Engine oil = "The engine requires a special oil meeting GM standard GM4718M. Oils meeting this standard may be indentified as synthetic, and should be indentified with the American Petroleum Institute Certified for Gasoline Engines "Starburst" symbol..." Yada, yada, GM put Mobil 1 in the factory.

Brake Fluid= GM part # 1052535 or DOT3 equivilent

Clutch Fluid= GM # 12345347 or equivilent

Power Steering= GM # 12345866 or 12345867 or equivilent

Manual trans= SAE 5W/30 GM # 1052931 (this product has been discontinued from GM and replaced with #12345349)

Rear Axle= Axle lubricant GM# 12345977 + 4 oz GM# 1052358(lubricant additive)

As exampled by the trans fluid, some of these products may have changed. But if you can supply the original part # the GM parts dept can indentify the proper replacement.

 

WOW what else did they run out of and not put on the last of the C4's?
Makes you wounder dosn't it.Maybe I'm glad I got a 95.
BTW Mobil 1 5w -30 meets that spec.
Try to find power steering fluid to meet that spec,you won't only from GM,just use a quality synthetic fluid.

 

So, you think that sticker makes the car any better?
No Mobil 1 sticker under the hood of my LT4, but the oil filler cap has it listed.

 

No

There were no LT5 in 1996

 

Yea... I wondered for a while also. I bought a new 95 auto coupe in May of 95 and it had the Mobil I decal on the front of the under part of the hood so it jumped out at you when you opened it up. I decided I didn't like the auto so in August of 96 bought my current car. The 1st thing I noticed when I got it home and really looked it over was the missing Mobil I decal. I called the dealer and the told me that all of the latter run 96' models were missing the decal they didn't think much of it just happened to notice like me it was missing. Well I have had the car for 14 years now and nothing else seems to be missing.

 

OK Ladies and Gents,

Recently I purchased a 1996 LT4 coupe that had been sitting for10 years with only 12,700 on the odometer. A total maintenance and service check of all systems, tires, etc. was inorder. On fluids there were questions regarding what to use, so I did online research and visited the local GM parts department. Here it is the story.

The GM P/N, prices and capacities are from GM's parts system. The info in quotes is directly from the GM bottles. The Wally World items are equivalents and less expensive ... of course.

Cooling - Dex-Cool, 14.6 quarts, $Walmart.
Crankcase - Mobil 1, 5W-30, with high grade filter, 4.5 quarts, $Walmart.
Manual Trans (ZF6) - GM # 12345349 "partially synthetic fluid", 2.2 quarts, GM $18.22 per quart.
Rear Axle - GM # 89021669 "multi-purpose gear lubricant" (read non-synthetic), 1.5 quarts, GM $9.04 per quart.
Limited Slip Posi Additive - GM # 1052358 "specialty compounded formulation" 4 fl. oz. (read only one 4 oz. bottle), GM $13.17 per bottle.
Brakes - DOT 3; again a common item at Wally World or any part store, I am using Valvoline Synthetic DOT 3 and 4, $Walmart.
Clutch - Sames as the brakes.
Power Steering - GM # 12345867 "partially synthetic base ... and specifically recommended for cold climate conditions with temperatures below -20 F", GM $21.98.

So to net this out, the cooling crankcase, brakes and clutch are off the shelf. The power steering, manual trans and rear axle are about $100 GM list price. With a little more research the GM stuff could probably be off the shelf too. In any event, I am satisfied with the choices, and will report back with the results.

 

FYI i was told by a vette tech that dex cool is junk and that it causes failure in the cooling system, i personally would stay away from it and gear toward prestone extended life (green)

 

OMG, here we go again!
The myth continues.

Millions of GM cars running Dex Cool without any issues.


FYI: Do NOT put the (green) coolant into any car that is currently running Dex Cool.
UNLESS you are experienced and know how to properly flush the entire system, you will be the one causing the problem as the two don't mix well at all.

 

Not a damn thing wrong with Dex Cool

 

I've been using DexCool since 2000 and never had an issue.

My 92 and 95 had the green coolant, on both I flushed three times and at the end I did one last flush with 5 gallons of ionized water, drained and did 50/50 DexCool and water.

Any coolant of any color will give you a problems if you leave it there 5+ years or 150,000 miles.

 

Dex-cool is garbage.I've seen it throughout the years as a Technician.I would never have that stuff in anything I own.And if I was buying another vette I would steer clear of ones that haven't been converted to green unless they were new.Green stuff is best,& if someone says otherwise they are wrong.This is NOT an opinion but truth.I cannot say enough bad things about that stuff as I seen so many issues with that stuff.Just my edumacated & experienced advice.Sorry but needed to set it straight & inform/help people on this forum as they help me.If someone here has built many LT1s & is well known here,I will believe him if asking for engine building advice.Same goes for me seeing issues in the Automotive repair industry with Dex-cool.I'm done ranting now

 

No, what your saying is exactly an OPINION!
All your doing is spreading the rumors.


Every car GM made since 1996 has Dexcool in it.
In reality the numbers are against what your saying.
Too many millions of them on the road using Dexcool without any issues at all.

So, I guess you'll never own any new GM cars.

And your statement about converting a Dexcool car over to the green stuff is exactly what causes most of the issues.

 

I've seen many examples over the years.This statement is from experience.If you seen problems with a certain product/part in your resective field over & over & over,you speak from experience.Same with my experience.If someone wants to use it,its their choice.But ask any experienced technician what he thinks of this product that works on all makes & models,& then ask him what is better-the green or Dex-cool antifreeze.Green is the best