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First Oil Change...

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Old Jun 1, 2007 | 10:30 PM
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Default First Oil Change...

I have a "new" 2000, and would like to change the oil. I usually take my other cars to EZ Lube. Has anyone taken their C5 to one of these places? Do they know how to properly change the oil on my baby?
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Old Jun 1, 2007 | 10:32 PM
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I would take our Suburban there but the Vette (hasn't needed a change since I bought it) will be done in my garage. From what I've seen it should be a pretty easy change as finally I have a car that has the filter mounted straight down with nothing under it to splatter the oil coming out
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Old Jun 1, 2007 | 10:43 PM
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I can't give you an opinion on your lube place other than take it to someone you trust. I personally do my own oil changes.

Changing oil is not much different than any other car other than the drain plug is in the front and it's best to have the rear end a little higher than the front so you get all the oil out. I believe the oil pan is Aluminum so it's best to hand tighten the drain plug. I would recommend that you have them use a synthetic and a high quality filter. Most folks on here swear by synthetics. The top 3 that I see mentioned are Royal Purple, Mobil One and Amsoil (not in any particular order).

I'm sure someone who is familiar with EZ Lube will chime in later.
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Old Jun 1, 2007 | 10:50 PM
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DIY....not hard to do and it gives you a chance to check other things like how much crap is in your radiator fins....also you may want to spend ~$120 and get yourself some Service Manuals.....


if you are a not a DIY kinda guy I guess you need to ask around your area and see who other Vette guys use
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Old Jun 1, 2007 | 11:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Hawg
I would take our Suburban there but the Vette (hasn't needed a change since I bought it) will be done in my garage. From what I've seen it should be a pretty easy change as finally I have a car that has the filter mounted straight down with nothing under it to splatter the oil coming out
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Old Jun 1, 2007 | 11:26 PM
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Make sure that if the car is lifted to do the change that jacking pucks are used.
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Old Jun 1, 2007 | 11:33 PM
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I custom made wood ramps for my C-5 and place them at the bottom of the hill going down to my basement garage. I then drive onto the ramps and because of the hill the rear of the car is slightly higher than the front so all the oil drains out.
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Old Jun 1, 2007 | 11:45 PM
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Take it to a good reputable garage or a dealer that sells and services a lot of vettes,, Make sure they use the lift pucks when they raise the car. And hang around and keep an eye on them. When my car gets serviced ,,it never leaves my site. But I'm crazy like that. I never let some kid in a garage touch it either,,
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Old Jun 1, 2007 | 11:53 PM
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while your there change the plug gasket and get a magnetic plug :-)
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Old Jun 2, 2007 | 12:26 AM
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I do my own oil changes - gives me a chance to get under the car and look for any other potential problem areas while I'm changing the oil. Some of the quick lube places are OK, but many have people working there that just don't know much about cars.
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Old Jun 2, 2007 | 12:35 AM
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Doing it yourself will help you bond with the car and will be quality time for you with your car.
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Old Jun 2, 2007 | 12:49 AM
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Why take it to a quick lube place when an oil change from a Chevrolet dealer is $60?? How much cheaper can a quick lube place be? I know it would cost me $45+ for 7 qts of Mobil 1. For $15 bucks it's not worth my time to climb under my car.
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Old Jun 2, 2007 | 12:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Busarider
. For $15 bucks it's not worth my time to climb under my car.

famous last words before the...."I went to the Quikie Lube place and they F***ed up my Vette"

IMO in most cases if you are not gonna DIY find a reputable dealer..at least you have a chance of getting a Vette mechanic....usually if the dealer sponsors a Vette club they have a mechanic who works on members cars and they usually offer a discount if you are a member.
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Old Jun 2, 2007 | 05:20 AM
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There are loads of How Tos around the Forum. Try some bonding and do it yourself
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Old Jun 2, 2007 | 05:21 AM
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I just had it done and used Royal Purple and just love it. This may sound like crap but the car did seem to be a step quicker with that stuff.
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Old Jun 2, 2007 | 05:33 AM
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i just changed mine a few weeks ago.. it might cost u a few xtra bucks compared to what the jiffy lube quotes(the jackasses quoted me at 70.00$ when i stopped by for ****s and giggles) but thats just for the rhino ramps and jacks... i did it myself and theres no way in hell i'll ever let anybody else change mine from now on... its easy and i dont trust anybody messin with it... plus when u go to an oil change place they dont propery drain all the oil out(the rear has to be higher than the front). its a 30 min job... DIY and you will be much happier!
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Old Jun 2, 2007 | 06:07 AM
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Couple of things:

1) Lifting the rear only drains out 4 more ounces.

2) Shop Manual says allow 7 minutes for all oil to drain out, due to baffles in oil pan.

3) Use only an approved synthetic oil.

4) Do not over tighten the drain plug, the pan is aluminum and very expensive to replace if it is stripped.
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Old Jun 2, 2007 | 09:30 AM
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Personally I would never take my C5 to any quick lube place for 3 reasons.
1. They usualy employ minimum wage high school kids that have little experence with cars.
2. A C5 engine because of its bat wing oil pan requires a lot of time for the oil to drain which by there name ( quick lube oil change ) they do not do.
3. It's a Corvette, my baby, and I want to take care of it.
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Old Jun 2, 2007 | 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by pewter99
famous last words before the...."I went to the Quikie Lube place and they F***ed up my Vette"

IMO in most cases if you are not gonna DIY find a reputable dealer..at least you have a chance of getting a Vette mechanic....usually if the dealer sponsors a Vette club they have a mechanic who works on members cars and they usually offer a discount if you are a member.
I think you might need to re-read my post. I paid $60 at my local Chevy dealer. I wouldn't take a car to a Jiffy Lube, etc on a bet. Generally, I do my own, as we have a 6 car shop with a lift It's just not worth my time for $15.


For those who haven't seen this, it's definately a good watch.

http://www.knbc.com/video/2620224/index.html

or this:

http://consumerist.com/consumer/jiff...ine-176094.php
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Old Jun 2, 2007 | 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by day3165
I have a "new" 2000, and would like to change the oil. I usually take my other cars to EZ Lube. Has anyone taken their C5 to one of these places? Do they know how to properly change the oil on my baby?
Personally, I wouldn't take my car there. But... if I had to, I'd take my own oil and filter and stand there and watch them do the labor for me.

Your engine takes and oil meeting GM Standard 4718M which requires a synthetic. Several synthetic oils on the market including the factory fill Mobil 1 (not the Mobil 1 Extended Performance) are labeled to meet this spec. I wouldn't trust a quick lube place to get this correct unless I was watching them.
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