How much servicing is necessary?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 119
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From: Minneapolis
How much servicing is necessary?
Recently bought a 2004 C5 with 8,400 miles on it. Obviously this vehicle hasn't been driven much. It looks and runs perfect. I called a dealer and asked him for recomendations as to what services should be performed.
Besides an oil change, he recommended a cooling system flush, and a transmission flush. What say the experts? Thank you.
Besides an oil change, he recommended a cooling system flush, and a transmission flush. What say the experts? Thank you.
Last edited by toughshift; Sep 27, 2010 at 01:18 PM.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Columbia SC
Look at your brake (and clutch?) fluids. They are probably dark, not the pale yellow of fresh fluid. I'd certainly put fresh fluid in the brake system, it's not hard to do if you can get the car up in the air properly and is even easier if you have a helper. If you have a manual transmission, the clutch fluid cannot be properly drained and refilled without major work. Best to siphon all the clutch fluid out of the little reservoir, wipe it down inside with a clean lint-free cloth or paper towel, and refill. It will probably get dark again fairly quickly; repeat the clean-out periodically. Enjoy that magnificent car.
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Did the dealer volunteer to do the service for you? For a small fee of course! Antifreeze deteriorates with age, so a check would be helpful. Transmission? Serviced my truck at 150,000 and wife's car at 90,000. Of course, if you have some extra cash laying around.....
Get er done!
That said.....I now relinquish to the wrenches....
Get er done!That said.....I now relinquish to the wrenches....
Race Director
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Little use !
Like everyone has said, I'd do a coolant fluid DexCool drain and a flush & Refill, Defiantly drain, flush and refill of both the clutch and the brake fluid. If I'm not wrong the transmission fluid is Dextron V or VI and is synthetic. And I'd look at the serpentine belt for dry rot. Good luck, it should be a real decent car once serviced.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: MA
I got my 2001 with 32,505 on it and now have 59,700 on it and had every single fluid/changeable/maintainable item changed in the almost 2 years I have had the car.
I have changed the rear end fluid twice now.
I have not had one single issue since doing so. I have my 5th oil change coming up.
I have changed the rear end fluid twice now.
I have not had one single issue since doing so. I have my 5th oil change coming up.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Eureka California
Drive the hell out of it, that should be all it needs.... Change the oil and filter and don't worry about anything for quite awhile. Somebody mentioned looking at the tires but if it's been stored inside and they have good tread left on them and are not weather checked or cracked i wouldn't worry about them either.
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For peace of mind (not knowing what the previous owner did or did not do), I would change the oil/filter, coolant and brake fluid. Check the battery as well. The tranny fluid should be good for a long time. I believe the owners manual has the change scheduled around 100K miles.
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I bought my '03 last year with about the same mileage on it as yours. I did the coolant flush, brake fluid flush and fill, transmission fluid and filter change. Didn't do the rear diff fluid change as it had been done within the last couple of years. If you have a clutch, change the clutch fluid also.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 831
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From: Houston Texas
If my car- I would change out all fluids.
Do not forget to flush the brake fluid - I do it every 2 years regardless. Brake fluid absorbs moisture thus even if zero mileage it needs to be flushed out and replaced. Do it yourself- or pay someone to do it.
Do not forget to flush the brake fluid - I do it every 2 years regardless. Brake fluid absorbs moisture thus even if zero mileage it needs to be flushed out and replaced. Do it yourself- or pay someone to do it.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 233
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From: Fall City WA
I've had the same questions as the O.P. Thanks for the answers. What about changing oil in a seldom used vehicle? Both my C5Z and pickup get very few miles. If they haven't been driven in a while, I run both in the garage log enough to get the oil temp high enough to evaporate out the moisture. I wonder how often I should change the oil though? The pickup ('94 F250) I change twice a year. The C5Z 3x a year, but the oil looks brand new!
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 233
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From: Fall City WA
Found the answer to my own question. Basically, 1 year because oil breaks down and can become acidic.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-oil-life.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-oil-life.html