[Z06] Z16 Questions
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Anytown
Z16 Questions
I have a few questions pertaining to my recent purchase of a Z16.
1. The owner's manual states "Keep your speed at 55 mph or less for the first 500 miles." What is the purpose of this restriction? It makes no sense to me. If it were an RPM restriction (say below 3000 RPM), I would understand, but an MPH restriction of 55 mph or less could suggest not to use 6th gear for the first 500 miles.
2. When I received the vehicle, the oil level was too high. Is this common? I would think that the factory has the technology to precisely add oil to the correct level. If the factory added the correct amount of oil, why would anyone else add more oil to a vehicle with 4 miles on the odometer?
3. As long as I have to drain some oil, should I proceed with an oil change because the vehicle build date was May 2004? The vehicle currently has less than 25 miles on it, and I was wondering if there's any downside to such an early oil change, such as the initial fill at the factory is with some special oil for breakin purposes. If there are no special properties to the initial factory oil, I certainly don't mind paying for this early oil change to remove the more than 4 month old oil from the engine.
1. The owner's manual states "Keep your speed at 55 mph or less for the first 500 miles." What is the purpose of this restriction? It makes no sense to me. If it were an RPM restriction (say below 3000 RPM), I would understand, but an MPH restriction of 55 mph or less could suggest not to use 6th gear for the first 500 miles.
2. When I received the vehicle, the oil level was too high. Is this common? I would think that the factory has the technology to precisely add oil to the correct level. If the factory added the correct amount of oil, why would anyone else add more oil to a vehicle with 4 miles on the odometer?
3. As long as I have to drain some oil, should I proceed with an oil change because the vehicle build date was May 2004? The vehicle currently has less than 25 miles on it, and I was wondering if there's any downside to such an early oil change, such as the initial fill at the factory is with some special oil for breakin purposes. If there are no special properties to the initial factory oil, I certainly don't mind paying for this early oil change to remove the more than 4 month old oil from the engine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,372
Likes: 227
From: N Cal
I just bought a Z16 as well. My breakin was keeping the RPMS below 3000 and I did not worry about the speed, just the tach. I did run it up to 4000 RPMS a few times as I approched 3-400 miles.
Interesting fact about the oil...the GM reccommendation if you race the car is to add an additional quart. I belive that GM put 7 quarts in from the factory and when I changed mine at 600 miles, thats what I put back in.
I would put 5-600 miles on before the the first oil and filter change, then install the magnetic drain plug as well.
A great quote I heard yesterday.. "The base Corvette is a sports car, the Z06 is a race car!!!"
Enjoy!
Interesting fact about the oil...the GM reccommendation if you race the car is to add an additional quart. I belive that GM put 7 quarts in from the factory and when I changed mine at 600 miles, thats what I put back in.
I would put 5-600 miles on before the the first oil and filter change, then install the magnetic drain plug as well.
A great quote I heard yesterday.. "The base Corvette is a sports car, the Z06 is a race car!!!"
Enjoy!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,732
Likes: 1
From: www.Z16.org Western NY
Personally I think the 55 limit is to protect you if you are a 1'st time vette driver. It allows you to get comfortable with the car before jumping on it and finding out it is scary fast. 
Wouldn't worry a bit about the oil.
Wouldn't worry a bit about the oil.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 438
Likes: 0
From: Nesconset (LI) NY
Best I can figure from everything I have heard is there was no special "break-in" oil used for the C5's as they come with standard Mobil1 oil from the factory.
The 55MPH is probably more of a legal statement because thats the max speed limit on most roads in the US I would imagine. Everyone I asked said that the 55MPH thing on breakin is long a thing of the past, particularly with the synthetic oil. If anything it relates to other drivetrain components and not the engine. Just make sure you are varying the RPMs over the first 500 miles.
For what its worth, I did my first oil change at 1500 miles. There will always be an equal number of people that take the differing opinions. If you know for a fact the build date was May 2004, your probably safe with the oil that came with the car, but no harm would be done by changing if it makes you feel more comfortable.
Congrats on the New Z !
The 55MPH is probably more of a legal statement because thats the max speed limit on most roads in the US I would imagine. Everyone I asked said that the 55MPH thing on breakin is long a thing of the past, particularly with the synthetic oil. If anything it relates to other drivetrain components and not the engine. Just make sure you are varying the RPMs over the first 500 miles.
For what its worth, I did my first oil change at 1500 miles. There will always be an equal number of people that take the differing opinions. If you know for a fact the build date was May 2004, your probably safe with the oil that came with the car, but no harm would be done by changing if it makes you feel more comfortable.
Congrats on the New Z !
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: Cherry Hill NJ
The 55 mph recommendation for the first 500 miles is not a legal thing. That's crazy. Almost all new cars of any make give the same recommendation, and they say avoid hard accelleration and stops during the same period. My Jeep Cherokee and Land Rover both said the same thing. It's a brand new engine; and there are mechanical reasons why you want it to properly engage for the first few hundred miles. If you don't trust the recommendation, then do what you want but don't whine about poor gas mileage later!
Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 609
Likes: 23
From: Austin TX
The MPH recommendation is not for the engine, it's for the drive train. All those metal parts need some time to wear in and mesh up before you start spinning them really fast.
The RPM variation recommendation is for the engine.
The RPM variation recommendation is for the engine.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,141
Likes: 0
From: Huntington IN
Originally Posted by slythetove
The MPH recommendation is not for the engine, it's for the drive train. All those metal parts need some time to wear in and mesh up before you start spinning them really fast.
The RPM variation recommendation is for the engine.
The RPM variation recommendation is for the engine.
But, 500 miles goes by pretty fast. Just play it safe and enjoy it!
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