Several Disjointed Questions
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19
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From: Armada Michigan
Several Disjointed Questions
Last week I took my c5 into the dealer for an $11.95 oil change....yeah right! Read that as $95.00 oil change. The mechanic didn't reset the computer so it shows 25% oil life left. I tried resetting it myself but it won't take. Is there a way to do it without taking it back to the dealer?
Secondly, I'm looking at doing something to beef up the performance....it's stock now. Looking at superchargers and turbochargers and wondering if they're really all that impressive with what they do. What are some other options? I'm sure it's not a plug and play installation. Any recommendations? Thirdly I'm looking at having the seats recovered and refoamed, and maybe the exterior painted something more glamorous than factory paint WOuld be interested in reputable sources in the general Detroit area. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Secondly, I'm looking at doing something to beef up the performance....it's stock now. Looking at superchargers and turbochargers and wondering if they're really all that impressive with what they do. What are some other options? I'm sure it's not a plug and play installation. Any recommendations? Thirdly I'm looking at having the seats recovered and refoamed, and maybe the exterior painted something more glamorous than factory paint WOuld be interested in reputable sources in the general Detroit area. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro TN
Last week I took my c5 into the dealer for an $11.95 oil change....yeah right! Read that as $95.00 oil change. The mechanic didn't reset the computer so it shows 25% oil life left. I tried resetting it myself but it won't take. Is there a way to do it without taking it back to the dealer?
Secondly, I'm looking at doing something to beef up the performance....it's stock now. Looking at superchargers and turbochargers and wondering if they're really all that impressive with what they do. What are some other options? I'm sure it's not a plug and play installation. Any recommendations? Thirdly I'm looking at having the seats recovered and refoamed, and maybe the exterior painted something more glamorous than factory paint WOuld be interested in reputable sources in the general Detroit area. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Secondly, I'm looking at doing something to beef up the performance....it's stock now. Looking at superchargers and turbochargers and wondering if they're really all that impressive with what they do. What are some other options? I'm sure it's not a plug and play installation. Any recommendations? Thirdly I'm looking at having the seats recovered and refoamed, and maybe the exterior painted something more glamorous than factory paint WOuld be interested in reputable sources in the general Detroit area. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Armada Michigan
There are supposedly 2 ways to do it. You can display the oil life on the DIC and hold the reset button until it clears. I also read you can reset it by turning the ignition to run and pushing the gas pedal to the floor and letting off 3x in 5 seconds like my Silverado P/U uses to reset it. I had to try both a couple of time this weekend to get mine to reset after the oil change.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
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As mentioned above - you can either pump the throttle three times with the ignition on, engine off or go to TRIP on the buttons along the right side of the instrument cluster and scroll through until you come to OIL LIFE and press and hold reset, again ignition on, engine off.
$95 for a full synthetic oil change + filter (6.5 quarts , but you will be charged for 7) doesn't sound that bad to me.
Forced induction on a C5 is maybe the best way to "bolt on" 150 rwhp, and still maintain almost stock driveability. It is cost effective and reliable, as long as you don't over do the boost. 7 - 9 psi boost is safe on a stock bottom end. If you take your stock 290 (or so) rwhp LS1 and add 150 rwhp, it is very satisfying and enjoyable. Proper installation and then professional tuning on a dyno is in my mind a requirement.
As far as reskinning your interior, look no further than Vette Essentials. They will fix you up with any design you can imagine and it will be top quality materials, in my mind unsurpassed.
Paint - I can't help you there, but you might try posting a question in your regional forum - click here
Good luck!
$95 for a full synthetic oil change + filter (6.5 quarts , but you will be charged for 7) doesn't sound that bad to me.
Forced induction on a C5 is maybe the best way to "bolt on" 150 rwhp, and still maintain almost stock driveability. It is cost effective and reliable, as long as you don't over do the boost. 7 - 9 psi boost is safe on a stock bottom end. If you take your stock 290 (or so) rwhp LS1 and add 150 rwhp, it is very satisfying and enjoyable. Proper installation and then professional tuning on a dyno is in my mind a requirement.
As far as reskinning your interior, look no further than Vette Essentials. They will fix you up with any design you can imagine and it will be top quality materials, in my mind unsurpassed.
Paint - I can't help you there, but you might try posting a question in your regional forum - click here
Good luck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro TN
Try the gas pedal method, that is what it took to get mine reset. I got the same "---%" which went back to the last % before my attempt when I tried to reset it using the DIC.
Instructor
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From: Lakeland Florida
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As mentioned above - you can either pump the throttle three times with the ignition on, engine off or go to TRIP on the buttons along the right side of the instrument cluster and scroll through until you come to OIL LIFE and press and hold reset, again ignition on, engine off.
$95 for a full synthetic oil change + filter (6.5 quarts , but you will be charged for 7) doesn't sound that bad to me.
Forced induction on a C5 is maybe the best way to "bolt on" 150 rwhp, and still maintain almost stock driveability. It is cost effective and reliable, as long as you don't over do the boost. 7 - 9 psi boost is safe on a stock bottom end. If you take your stock 290 (or so) rwhp LS1 and add 150 rwhp, it is very satisfying and enjoyable. Proper installation and then professional tuning on a dyno is in my mind a requirement.
As far as reskinning your interior, look no further than Vette Essentials. They will fix you up with any design you can imagine and it will be top quality materials, in my mind unsurpassed.
$95 for a full synthetic oil change + filter (6.5 quarts , but you will be charged for 7) doesn't sound that bad to me.
Forced induction on a C5 is maybe the best way to "bolt on" 150 rwhp, and still maintain almost stock driveability. It is cost effective and reliable, as long as you don't over do the boost. 7 - 9 psi boost is safe on a stock bottom end. If you take your stock 290 (or so) rwhp LS1 and add 150 rwhp, it is very satisfying and enjoyable. Proper installation and then professional tuning on a dyno is in my mind a requirement.
As far as reskinning your interior, look no further than Vette Essentials. They will fix you up with any design you can imagine and it will be top quality materials, in my mind unsurpassed.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
As mentioned above - you can either pump the throttle three times with the ignition on, engine off or go to TRIP on the buttons along the right side of the instrument cluster and scroll through until you come to OIL LIFE and press and hold reset, again ignition on, engine off.
$95 for a full synthetic oil change + filter (6.5 quarts , but you will be charged for 7) doesn't sound that bad to me.
Forced induction on a C5 is maybe the best way to "bolt on" 150 rwhp, and still maintain almost stock driveability. It is cost effective and reliable, as long as you don't over do the boost. 7 - 9 psi boost is safe on a stock bottom end. If you take your stock 290 (or so) rwhp LS1 and add 150 rwhp, it is very satisfying and enjoyable. Proper installation and then professional tuning on a dyno is in my mind a requirement.
As far as reskinning your interior, look no further than Vette Essentials. They will fix you up with any design you can imagine and it will be top quality materials, in my mind unsurpassed.
Paint - I can't help you there, but you might try posting a question in your regional forum - click here
Good luck!
$95 for a full synthetic oil change + filter (6.5 quarts , but you will be charged for 7) doesn't sound that bad to me.
Forced induction on a C5 is maybe the best way to "bolt on" 150 rwhp, and still maintain almost stock driveability. It is cost effective and reliable, as long as you don't over do the boost. 7 - 9 psi boost is safe on a stock bottom end. If you take your stock 290 (or so) rwhp LS1 and add 150 rwhp, it is very satisfying and enjoyable. Proper installation and then professional tuning on a dyno is in my mind a requirement.
As far as reskinning your interior, look no further than Vette Essentials. They will fix you up with any design you can imagine and it will be top quality materials, in my mind unsurpassed.
Paint - I can't help you there, but you might try posting a question in your regional forum - click here
Good luck!
Except for a $95 oil change not sounding too bad. I usually do it myself but when I'm feeling lazy and need it my mechanic will do a full synthetic oil change with 7 quarts of mobile 1 or royal purple with a K&N filter for $70...FI will greatly enhance the performance of your car... It will feel like a completely different car actually. No, it is not "plug and play" if you've never done it before get someone else to do it.
Good luck
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,828
Likes: 14
Check under parts for sale
STS system for sale at a really great price. ($3,500) Have posted my comments on the systems I own and can only say I highly recommend.
Also if you go the turbo route make sure you consider changing to a forced induction cam as well. You'll love the power and sound.
Also if you go the turbo route make sure you consider changing to a forced induction cam as well. You'll love the power and sound.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,064
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From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
i change my own oil using castol edge (not a fan of mobil 1 any more, but they are pretty price competitive) with a high grade filter and my cost retail is just under $60.00. if i could find someone to do it for $70, i'd be all over that, LOL!! $95 from the dealer sounds just about right (depending on your geographic location i would think). that's about what they get down here.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 4
From: Warrenville Il
If you didn't like the $95.00 oil change cost I highly recommend you staying away from adding anything serious power wise to your car. If you want to find out how expensive it gets when you go down the road of serious modifications such as forced induction, then you should be prewarned that lots of little things will be needed once you enter this world, let alone the cost of the supercharger or turbo.
Example:
The superchargers all installed, so that's it right, I'm all set to go? Oh wait the supercharger doesn't fit under the stock hood, now the fuel system isn't adequate, tuning what tuning, Now the clutch got fried on the dyno because of all the new power, on a 75,000 mile stock clutch. First time on the street, POW. Whats the fluid under the rearend coming from. I hope that's not synthetic because that's gonna be extra. Should have left it alone.
This is just a joke, but some of us have been there
Example:
The superchargers all installed, so that's it right, I'm all set to go? Oh wait the supercharger doesn't fit under the stock hood, now the fuel system isn't adequate, tuning what tuning, Now the clutch got fried on the dyno because of all the new power, on a 75,000 mile stock clutch. First time on the street, POW. Whats the fluid under the rearend coming from. I hope that's not synthetic because that's gonna be extra. Should have left it alone.
This is just a joke, but some of us have been there
Last edited by MG RED 99; Oct 11, 2010 at 04:36 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
i change my own oil using castol edge (not a fan of mobil 1 any more, but they are pretty price competitive) with a high grade filter and my cost retail is just under $60.00. if i could find someone to do it for $70, i'd be all over that, LOL!! $95 from the dealer sounds just about right (depending on your geographic location i would think). that's about what they get down here.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Armada Michigan
Thanks for all your input guys. I was able to reset the oil life....I guess the secret is "key on, not running". Didn't have to pump the gas pedal either. The oil change comment was made as a joke.....I'm aware of the fact that the $11.95 oil change does not apply to Vettes. Just a standing joke between me and my dealer. Your comments regarding superchargers and turbochargers was about what I was expecting to hear, kind of a "tip of the iceberg". A local dealer here does the Callaway conversions. Maybe they have some performance suggestions that won't turn me into a full time mechanic. Thanks again.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 197
Likes: 1
From: West Milford new jersey
questions?
I think $95 for an oil change is absurd regardless if its at a dealer and they do a 21 point inspection or rotate the tires for you. I buy mobil 1 at walmart for $21 buks plus another $4 buks for an additional quart..bosch oil fiilter for $5-6...bam, 30buks. Just labor now and you save 60 buks or do an additional 2 oil changes for that amount it would cost at a dealer for 1. Remember at times, the guys that are doing oil changes are fresh out of mechanic school or have no schooling at all so don't think your getting certified trained techs to do the work and look over your car. And i agree w/ MG Red 99's statement about the additional costs associated w/any forced induction setup. They are unequivocally the best bang for the buk and an instant smile adder but your looking at at least 10g's when all said and done and reliability may be compromised as a result of the added power on all drivetrain components.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 992
Likes: 3
From: Chesterfield Michigan
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
A 5-gallon jug of Mobil1 5W-30 is $21. You can buy three of them for $63, and two filters for about $6 each. That puts you at two oil changes for a grand total of $75+tax. Autozone will take your used oil for free, so no money there.
What you pay for labor is up to you. I prefer free labor in my garage. Even if I did pay someone to do it, I would not pay more than about $10-$15 for the 20 minutes it takes to change the oil. Like 1320b4you said, you are not getting the best trained certified tech changing out oil, you are getting the high school dropout that is working cheap while he pays for community college.
What you pay for labor is up to you. I prefer free labor in my garage. Even if I did pay someone to do it, I would not pay more than about $10-$15 for the 20 minutes it takes to change the oil. Like 1320b4you said, you are not getting the best trained certified tech changing out oil, you are getting the high school dropout that is working cheap while he pays for community college.