Just do it like any car..........
Oil change procedure
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 46
Likes: 6
From: NY
Oil change procedure
I just took ownership of a 2003 anniversary convertible & have been looking it over. I noticed on the oil pan adjacent to the drain plug was a caution to follow the oil change procedures. What are they? How is changing the oil on this car any different than any other car? I would typically drain the oil when it's warm, leaving the oil filler cap open to equalize the pressure. Once the oil is drained, then I would remove the oil filter. I will be using Molbil 1, 5W-30. Thank you for your comments.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 4
From: North Port Fl
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 16
From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
You might want to read through some of the postings on how best to get your Corvette raised up enough to do the oil change. This is the only thing that is much different then other cars. There are special jacking points on this car.
You really don't have to remove the oil fill cap to drain the oil. The crankcase has other vent sources.
Enjoy your new ride!!! They really are a blast..
You really don't have to remove the oil fill cap to drain the oil. The crankcase has other vent sources.
Enjoy your new ride!!! They really are a blast..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
Before too much longer there will be very few GM dealers left to take a car to for work without a huge wait for appointments. Some owners have found recently that dealers closing down have left them hundreds of miles from another dealer.
Everyone will need to learn how to do things that the dealer used to do for them.
Everyone will need to learn how to do things that the dealer used to do for them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 1
From: Tigertown Ohio
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Dirty oil
I have read a lot about this and the bottom line is that you are leaving a small amount of dirty oil in the pan unless you tip the car forward slightly. I drive up on racing ramps & then jack the rear of the cars so that she tips forward slightly. Not a big deal if you have the jack & stands to make sure the car is stable. Overall it's probably not a big deal but I would rather do that then leave any old oil in the car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 104
From: Des Moines Iowa
I always remove and replace the oil filter 1st........I've found on some engines, that once you loosen the oil filter, a small amount of oil is released into the oil pan area, so that's why I don't drain the oil first.
I also raise the rear of the vette higher than the front, and allow 20+ minutes for complete draining of oil pan.
I also raise the rear of the vette higher than the front, and allow 20+ minutes for complete draining of oil pan.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
Make sure your car is level, if not don't worry about it you just won't get every last drop of old oil out. I run mine up on ramps and then jack the back of the car up until it's level. Once most of it drains out, I jack the back up a little higher than the front to drain out just a little more.
Remove the oil fill cap, pull the dipstick out some, remove the filter then drain the oil pan. I usually walk away from it, drink a cup of coffee and then go back to it.
Fill the oil filter up with oil (should take about 1/2 Qt) and run a thin layer of oil on the rubber seal of the filter. Screw it on until hand-tight. No need to wrench it down but you can give it an extra turn with an oil filter wrench if you want.
Put the drain plug back in and again, no need to over tighten the thing. If you've drained most, if not all of the oil out, it should take 6.5 Qts, per the owners manual. Mine takes this amount but I know it varies for some people. Just have to check and make sure it's full.
Start the car up and re-check. Very simple.
Remove the oil fill cap, pull the dipstick out some, remove the filter then drain the oil pan. I usually walk away from it, drink a cup of coffee and then go back to it.
Fill the oil filter up with oil (should take about 1/2 Qt) and run a thin layer of oil on the rubber seal of the filter. Screw it on until hand-tight. No need to wrench it down but you can give it an extra turn with an oil filter wrench if you want.
Put the drain plug back in and again, no need to over tighten the thing. If you've drained most, if not all of the oil out, it should take 6.5 Qts, per the owners manual. Mine takes this amount but I know it varies for some people. Just have to check and make sure it's full.
Start the car up and re-check. Very simple.
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 186
Likes: 1
From: North Little Rock Arkansas
Had the exact same question when I bought mine a year ago. Got the exact same answer a year ago. I get mine as level as I can and let it drain for a good while...10 minutes or so. Put some oil in a new filter and filler up. Mine takes a little less that 6.5 quarts...so maybe I'm leaving a little in....but I change every 3k miles.
