Fluid Maintenance
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From: Lovettsville VA
Fluid Maintenance
Bought my '04 6 speed new 4 years ago. It's only got about 8K miles and has no problems. Never touched any fluid except engine oil. What is the best advice about doing a complete fluid change on this car - brakes, coolant, trans, power steering, the whole deal? Thanks, Bob
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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With that mileage and only 4 years old I wouldn't do anything. My 02 with 10,000 miles has me thinking about probably changing the anti freeze but nothing else.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 538
Likes: 0
From: Edmond Ok
Ox (Bob)
Engine oil every year or when the DIC says to, coolant every 5 years. The rest should be fine as long as long as it is moisture free.
Except you don't drive it enough.
Post again when you get to 50K miles.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
You're just about due now, for new coolant and brake fluid. I don't see any need to change the other fluids, at only 8K miles.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
I change out the brake fluid in the reservoir each time I wash the car. It keeps the fluid fresh, clean and water free.
The coolant should be changed in the spring as it is 5 years.
The rest are fine.
The coolant should be changed in the spring as it is 5 years.
The rest are fine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 104
From: Des Moines Iowa
Brake fluild change / flush is recommended every two (2) years, and the same goes for the clutch fluid. (It absorbs water over time) Some folks like to change out the differential and transmission fluid more early than late, since the initial break-in often leaves more metalic deposits in the fluild than other wise will be there with same miles after initial break-in. If coolant looks good, you're probably good for at least another year. Wouldn't hurt to suck out old power steering fluid and replace, for same reasons as differential and transmission.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
While some think I am crazy, I change coolant, diff, trans every 25K, oil every 5K, brake fluid every 2 yrs or so. I drive my car about 14K miles per year..........and have had no problems in 80K miles.
Age and lack of driving are the biggest enemies that cause fluids to break down.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
I already had to change the master cylinder on my 04, so I flushed the lines until clean fluid came out while I was at it.
I don't even let Dexcool go the full 5 years. I try to change mine every 2 to 3 years.
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From: Lovettsville VA
Post Script
Took the car in yesterday to a well known, local, Chevy dealer who is recognized for high quality Corvette service. I decided to have all the fluids done. Reason being is that I have several sports cars and I honestly don't have the time to put the miles on them that they need. In order to maintain the value of the cars, and to provide points of reference for potential future buyers, I like to have the cars professionally maintained once in a while to provide an "official" record of mileage/date. Usually, I like doing all this sort of stuff myself, but it's already damn cold here in Virginia, and my fat old 61 year old butt hates getting up and down a million times while various oils and fluids drip on my face. Anyway, FYI, the final tab for complete fluid service (engine oil, trans, diff, clutch, coolant, brakes NOT power steering) was....TADA....$824 total tab. (They didn't fill the windshield resevoir!)
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 319
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From: Macomb Michigan
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Since new, 99 coupe 6mm 100,000 miles --- Mobil 1, 10 W 30, Delco UPF 44 Filter - Techron once a year - Coolant 5 years with Distilled water and Dex - Cool - Tranny and Differential - 50,000 miles - Mobil 1 Synthetic. Replaced the original serpetine belt at 44,000 miles. Replaced the two belts at 99,000. Original rotors and pads replaced with O.E.M. parts at 99,000 miles. Just installed the second set of Michelin PS2 tires. There are some people out there who don't believe these #'s but they are honest. Agreed the brakes were worn and were ready, BUT they were still servicable. Same for the tires. Looks and drives like the day I drove it off the Haul-a-way. Between the wife or the car, I take the car. I hope she don't see this or I may not need the car. That's my 2 cts.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 178
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From: Erie CO
Took the car in yesterday to a well known, local, Chevy dealer who is recognized for high quality Corvette service. I decided to have all the fluids done. Reason being is that I have several sports cars and I honestly don't have the time to put the miles on them that they need. In order to maintain the value of the cars, and to provide points of reference for potential future buyers, I like to have the cars professionally maintained once in a while to provide an "official" record of mileage/date. Usually, I like doing all this sort of stuff myself, but it's already damn cold here in Virginia, and my fat old 61 year old butt hates getting up and down a million times while various oils and fluids drip on my face. Anyway, FYI, the final tab for complete fluid service (engine oil, trans, diff, clutch, coolant, brakes NOT power steering) was....TADA....$824 total tab. (They didn't fill the windshield resevoir!)
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
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Took the car in yesterday to a well known, local, Chevy dealer who is recognized for high quality Corvette service. I decided to have all the fluids done. Reason being is that I have several sports cars and I honestly don't have the time to put the miles on them that they need. In order to maintain the value of the cars, and to provide points of reference for potential future buyers, I like to have the cars professionally maintained once in a while to provide an "official" record of mileage/date. Usually, I like doing all this sort of stuff myself, but it's already damn cold here in Virginia, and my fat old 61 year old butt hates getting up and down a million times while various oils and fluids drip on my face. Anyway, FYI, the final tab for complete fluid service (engine oil, trans, diff, clutch, coolant, brakes NOT power steering) was....TADA....$824 total tab. (They didn't fill the windshield resevoir!)