C5 Oil Change
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 46
Likes: 32
C5 Oil Change
So I bought this Vette way back in late-October and I feel like I made a silly & possibly big mistake. When I bought this Vette, it had close to 4k Miles since it's last oil change, which isn't terrible..but the last oil change was in October of 2017 and I made the mistake of not changing the oil before storing it for the winter ( Started driving it again in March ). The car runs perfectly fine, no problems starting up and in a few days I'm going in for an oil change. I haven't put a whole lot of miles on it since I've gotten it, I'd say about 300-400ish. Anyway, is there anything I could be worried about for this car going over 3 years without an oil change even though about 4k miles since it's last oil change? I do plan on changing it at least once a year but I feel like an idiot for not taking care of this right when I got it.
There is a slight shake when the car idles but from what I've gathered, that's actually quite normal for this car, but apparently this could have something to do with needing an oil change.
There is a slight shake when the car idles but from what I've gathered, that's actually quite normal for this car, but apparently this could have something to do with needing an oil change.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
nope nothing to worry about.....just change the oil and dont sweat it.
its really the miles and cold weather starts that screw with oil. at 4k the oil is just fine the years don't add any value to the equation but its not the kiss of death. dont use any cleaners or try and flush the system just use mobil 1 and change it every year or 3-5k , if you feel really bad then do twice this year say at 2k but theres no reason to do this.
for the slight idle vibrations get some BG44k power enhancer off ebay its a fuel injection cleaner and is good stuff you just add it to tankful of gas.....use it in all your cars. its the best cleaner fuel additive out there but it will cost you $15 a pop and well worth it.
its really the miles and cold weather starts that screw with oil. at 4k the oil is just fine the years don't add any value to the equation but its not the kiss of death. dont use any cleaners or try and flush the system just use mobil 1 and change it every year or 3-5k , if you feel really bad then do twice this year say at 2k but theres no reason to do this.
for the slight idle vibrations get some BG44k power enhancer off ebay its a fuel injection cleaner and is good stuff you just add it to tankful of gas.....use it in all your cars. its the best cleaner fuel additive out there but it will cost you $15 a pop and well worth it.
Last edited by bobs77vet; Apr 6, 2021 at 09:51 PM.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 3,929
From: Philadelphia PA (Birthplace of the USA, UNESCO World Heritage City)
Slight shake at idle could be worn motor mounts. Especially if the RPMs are steady at idle and there are no error codes on the car's computer. When you turn you engine off and the RPMs come down to zero, do you feel the motor shaking the car even moreso in the engine bay?
If it's a motor mount issue, you can spray/soak the new ones in 303 protectant and/or dilelectric silicone grease before you install them, to make the rubber last longer.
If it's a motor mount issue, you can spray/soak the new ones in 303 protectant and/or dilelectric silicone grease before you install them, to make the rubber last longer.
Last edited by ArmchairArchitect; Apr 7, 2021 at 11:59 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 116
Likes: 54
From: Colorado Springs
I am like you. I received my Black '98 Coupe as a gift from my brother in Feb of 2020 (just before COVID). Due to his back surgery, he had not been able to drive the car for a couple years and it sat in his garage unused.
Quotation from Corvette mechanic at the local Chevrolet Dealership:
'Unfortunately, the toughest issue with setting so long with used oil is the deterioration in the seals. The acidic byproducts of combustion in the oil slowly weaken the gaskets and seals. Regular driving with the engine and oil up to temperature 'boil off' these acids. Many Corvette owners don't use these cars as daily drivers, so we see a lot of gasket and seal deterioration and subsequent leaks.'
With that advice, I have been slowly and systematically replacing gaskets and seals at the source of my oil and transmission fluid leak spots.
The mechanic's advice also: 'If you put the car away and don't drive it in the winter, have the oil changed just before you put it away.'
Quotation from Corvette mechanic at the local Chevrolet Dealership:
'Unfortunately, the toughest issue with setting so long with used oil is the deterioration in the seals. The acidic byproducts of combustion in the oil slowly weaken the gaskets and seals. Regular driving with the engine and oil up to temperature 'boil off' these acids. Many Corvette owners don't use these cars as daily drivers, so we see a lot of gasket and seal deterioration and subsequent leaks.'
With that advice, I have been slowly and systematically replacing gaskets and seals at the source of my oil and transmission fluid leak spots.
The mechanic's advice also: 'If you put the car away and don't drive it in the winter, have the oil changed just before you put it away.'
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 46
Likes: 32
Slight shake at idle could be worn motor mounts. Especially if the RPMs are steady at idle and there are no error codes on the car's computer. When you turn you engine off and the RPMs come down to zero, do you feel the motor shaking the car even moreso in the engine bay?
If it's a motor mount issue, you can spray/soak the new ones in 303 protectant and/or dilelectric silicone grease before you install them, to make the rubber last longer.
If it's a motor mount issue, you can spray/soak the new ones in 303 protectant and/or dilelectric silicone grease before you install them, to make the rubber last longer.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 46
Likes: 32
I am like you. I received my Black '98 Coupe as a gift from my brother in Feb of 2020 (just before COVID). Due to his back surgery, he had not been able to drive the car for a couple years and it sat in his garage unused.
Quotation from Corvette mechanic at the local Chevrolet Dealership:
'Unfortunately, the toughest issue with setting so long with used oil is the deterioration in the seals. The acidic byproducts of combustion in the oil slowly weaken the gaskets and seals. Regular driving with the engine and oil up to temperature 'boil off' these acids. Many Corvette owners don't use these cars as daily drivers, so we see a lot of gasket and seal deterioration and subsequent leaks.'
With that advice, I have been slowly and systematically replacing gaskets and seals at the source of my oil and transmission fluid leak spots.
The mechanic's advice also: 'If you put the car away and don't drive it in the winter, have the oil changed just before you put it away.'
Quotation from Corvette mechanic at the local Chevrolet Dealership:
'Unfortunately, the toughest issue with setting so long with used oil is the deterioration in the seals. The acidic byproducts of combustion in the oil slowly weaken the gaskets and seals. Regular driving with the engine and oil up to temperature 'boil off' these acids. Many Corvette owners don't use these cars as daily drivers, so we see a lot of gasket and seal deterioration and subsequent leaks.'
With that advice, I have been slowly and systematically replacing gaskets and seals at the source of my oil and transmission fluid leak spots.
The mechanic's advice also: 'If you put the car away and don't drive it in the winter, have the oil changed just before you put it away.'
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 289
Likes: 64
From: Edinburgh, Scotland
Can this metal clip be tightened? The clamp on to the throttle body has a regular screw to tighten but the metal clamp at the other end of the rubber bellow doesn’t. Mine seems a bit loose here too so seems quite likely to be leaking in a bit of air. I couldn’t even work out how it unclipped but it didn’t look like it’d tighten even if I removed it.