Another oil change Question ?
05-22-2018, 11:47 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Another oil change Question ?
Just did my first oil and filter 2008 C6 /AT and Z51 Option. BTW 6 Quarts with filter to the full mark on the stick. I Purchased the car from a dealer and I'm not going to say which dealer. The oil filter came off IMO way to easy. Just used my hand an it was very loose. The drain plug is another story. It was so tight so I decided to put a torque wrench on it with 13MM socket.
It came loose @ 85 Foot pounds. Now is this done for a reason or is this just another way or the dealer to sell you an oil pan job. As far as I know it's only about 18-20 foot pounds. It did come off lucky with no damage. Is it really that hard to have a car's oil change performed the proper way. My other car is a Chevy as well and came with free maintenance for two years. The only place the car was every worked on or serviced was the dealer it came from brand new. It also had a very tight oil drain plug. So rather than mess with it so I used an oil evacuator. So my question is this done for a reason. Over tightened drain plugs in a cast aluminum oil pan ? Something so simple can cause such a problem. Anyway other than a tight drain plug the C6 is one of the easiest oil change I've ever done.
It came loose @ 85 Foot pounds. Now is this done for a reason or is this just another way or the dealer to sell you an oil pan job. As far as I know it's only about 18-20 foot pounds. It did come off lucky with no damage. Is it really that hard to have a car's oil change performed the proper way. My other car is a Chevy as well and came with free maintenance for two years. The only place the car was every worked on or serviced was the dealer it came from brand new. It also had a very tight oil drain plug. So rather than mess with it so I used an oil evacuator. So my question is this done for a reason. Over tightened drain plugs in a cast aluminum oil pan ? Something so simple can cause such a problem. Anyway other than a tight drain plug the C6 is one of the easiest oil change I've ever done.
05-23-2018, 12:00 AM
#2
Le Mans Master
Just did my first oil and filter 2008 C6 /AT and Z51 Option. BTW 6 Quarts with filter to the full mark on the stick. I Purchased the car from a dealer and I'm not going to say which dealer. The oil filter came off IMO way to easy. Just used my hand an it was very loose. The drain plug is another story. It was so tight so I decided to put a torque wrench on it with 13MM socket.
It came loose @ 85 Foot pounds. Now is this done for a reason or is this just another way or the dealer to sell you an oil pan job. As far as I know it's only about 18-20 foot pounds. It did come off lucky with no damage. Is it really that hard to have a car's oil change performed the proper way. My other car is a Chevy as well and came with free maintenance for two years. The only place the car was every worked on or serviced was the dealer it came from brand new. It also had a very tight oil drain plug. So rather than mess with it so I used an oil evacuator. So my question is this done for a reason. Over tightened drain plugs in a cast aluminum oil pan ? Something so simple can cause such a problem. Anyway other than a tight drain plug the C6 is one of the easiest oil change I've ever done.
It came loose @ 85 Foot pounds. Now is this done for a reason or is this just another way or the dealer to sell you an oil pan job. As far as I know it's only about 18-20 foot pounds. It did come off lucky with no damage. Is it really that hard to have a car's oil change performed the proper way. My other car is a Chevy as well and came with free maintenance for two years. The only place the car was every worked on or serviced was the dealer it came from brand new. It also had a very tight oil drain plug. So rather than mess with it so I used an oil evacuator. So my question is this done for a reason. Over tightened drain plugs in a cast aluminum oil pan ? Something so simple can cause such a problem. Anyway other than a tight drain plug the C6 is one of the easiest oil change I've ever done.
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jeffs64 (05-23-2018)
05-23-2018, 12:33 AM
#3
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Engine Oil with Filter 6.2 LV8 Engine 5.5 qt 5.2 L 6.2 LV8 Engine with extended oil cooler 6.0 qt 5.7 L This is from my owners manual. My car has factory external engine oil cooler. Anyway my question was about the drain plug. 
Last edited by jeffs64; 05-23-2018 at 12:34 AM.
05-23-2018, 03:34 AM
#4
Race Director
I use 6 quarts in my 10' GS A6. Most times mechanics tighten the drain plug too tight, simply loosen it when you change your oil, and don't put it back on so tight. The oil pan goes through many heat cycles when we drive, so yes the drain plug could get tighter in the pan.
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jeffs64 (05-23-2018)
05-23-2018, 06:41 AM
#5
Le Mans Master
Except, after the initial factory fill, 1/2 qt of oil stays in the cooler and lines and does not drain. So, you really now have 6 1/2 qts. What you read in the manual was a "capacity" spec.
If you look at the layout of the cooler and lines, you'll notice the level of the cooler and the U-shape of the lines as they rise to the oil pan creates a trap similar to a P-trap.
I removed my Z-51 cooler with an empty oil pan and spilled that 1/2 qt all over the floor, only after I released the lines at the pan and was surprised by the spill.
85 ftlbs is ridiculously tight, almost as tight as a wheel lug nut. But, not surprising coming from a dealer's back room. As a kid, I worked for a year in a Chevy dealership as an apprentice Tech before going back to school. I know what goes on in that back room and why my car(s) never go back there when I own them.
Last edited by BlindSpot; 05-23-2018 at 07:47 AM.
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jeffs64 (05-23-2018)
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jeffs64 (05-24-2018)
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jeffs64 (05-24-2018)
05-24-2018, 01:29 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
I think I was not clear about situation. The Corvette's oil was Changed / Serviced from the dealer I purchased it from. The oil life in DIC said 60% when I picked up the car. When it went down to 50% I changed the oil and filter. Napa Gold part # 7060 And 6 Quarts of Mobil 1 5w30. The other Chevy was brand new and had Two free oil changes that came with the purchase. This car uses a special oil that is very hard to find here locally. It's Dexos2. 5w30 and holds 4.5L of this oil with filter. To have this oil change done the only place in Reno area that even has this oil is the dealer. They charge $175.00 to change the oil and filter. It cost $100.00 just to purchase the oil and filter. So I let them do the two free ones. I finally found the special engine here in town and in stock so I did my first oil change in that car as well and found the over tighten oil drain plug. I never did get it loose. Technically still under warranty. But I do not want them to every touch any of my car's ever again.
05-24-2018, 01:30 PM
#10
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Except, after the initial factory fill, 1/2 qt of oil stays in the cooler and lines and does not drain. So, you really now have 6 1/2 qts. What you read in the manual was a "capacity" spec.
If you look at the layout of the cooler and lines, you'll notice the level of the cooler and the U-shape of the lines as they rise to the oil pan creates a trap similar to a P-trap.
I removed my Z-51 cooler with an empty oil pan and spilled that 1/2 qt all over the floor, only after I released the lines at the pan and was surprised by the spill.
85 ftlbs is ridiculously tight, almost as tight as a wheel lug nut. But, not surprising coming from a dealer's back room. As a kid, I worked for a year in a Chevy dealership as an apprentice Tech before going back to school. I know what goes on in that back room and why my car(s) never go back there when I own them.
If you look at the layout of the cooler and lines, you'll notice the level of the cooler and the U-shape of the lines as they rise to the oil pan creates a trap similar to a P-trap.
I removed my Z-51 cooler with an empty oil pan and spilled that 1/2 qt all over the floor, only after I released the lines at the pan and was surprised by the spill.
85 ftlbs is ridiculously tight, almost as tight as a wheel lug nut. But, not surprising coming from a dealer's back room. As a kid, I worked for a year in a Chevy dealership as an apprentice Tech before going back to school. I know what goes on in that back room and why my car(s) never go back there when I own them.
05-24-2018, 01:54 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Sep 2014
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When I bought my 2011 GS in 2014 I took it to the local dealer for an inspection, recalls, oil & filter, alignment etc just to check things over, all good. Didn't know any better at that point. 
The next oil change (myself) I made the mistake of draining my oil first then attempting the filter, shorten up the story here after some 3 hours and 3 different oil filter wrenches I had to put the old oil back in and drive to the dealer to remove the filter
They did it for free of course but boy I was steamed, even the oil tech (
) admitted it was WAY TOO TIGHT!!!!!
So never again, at least for a few more years till Im too old to do it
NSF
The next oil change (myself) I made the mistake of draining my oil first then attempting the filter, shorten up the story here after some 3 hours and 3 different oil filter wrenches I had to put the old oil back in and drive to the dealer to remove the filter
They did it for free of course but boy I was steamed, even the oil tech (
) admitted it was WAY TOO TIGHT!!!!!So never again, at least for a few more years till Im too old to do it
NSF
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jeffs64 (05-24-2018)
05-24-2018, 02:05 PM
#12
Race Director
Member Since: Mar 2010
Location: T-Town WA
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2016 C6 of Year Finalist
05-24-2018, 04:26 PM
#14
Race Director
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Location: T-Town WA
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2016 C6 of Year Finalist
05-24-2018, 04:54 PM
#15
Le Mans Master
When I bought my 2011 GS in 2014 I took it to the local dealer for an inspection, recalls, oil & filter, alignment etc just to check things over, all good. Didn't know any better at that point.
The next oil change (myself) I made the mistake of draining my oil first then attempting the filter, shorten up the story here after some 3 hours and 3 different oil filter wrenches I had to put the old oil back in and drive to the dealer to remove the filter
They did it for free of course but boy I was steamed, even the oil tech () admitted it was WAY TOO TIGHT!!!!!
So never again, at least for a few more years till Im too old to do it
NSF
The next oil change (myself) I made the mistake of draining my oil first then attempting the filter, shorten up the story here after some 3 hours and 3 different oil filter wrenches I had to put the old oil back in and drive to the dealer to remove the filter
They did it for free of course but boy I was steamed, even the oil tech (
) admitted it was WAY TOO TIGHT!!!!!So never again, at least for a few more years till Im too old to do it
NSF
Bobby,
I know it's too late, but the next time the filter won't come off, just take the largest screw driver you have, drive it completely through the filter and now you have a large T-Wrench with lots of leverage. I've had to do a few like that in the past. Filter is going in the garbage anyway, so....
05-24-2018, 05:30 PM
#16
Pro
Auto parts store or even Walmart and look at the name brand motor oil‘s that are the right viscosity for your car you will find that most are Dexos2. it is usually on a small label either in the lower front corner of the bottle or someplace on the back
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jeffs64 (05-24-2018)
05-24-2018, 09:41 PM
#17
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Also forgot to say gray label say's "For Gasoline Engines only" so can't use it
Last edited by jeffs64; 05-24-2018 at 10:02 PM.
05-24-2018, 09:58 PM
#19
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Bobby,
I know it's too late, but the next time the filter won't come off, just take the largest screw driver you have, drive it completely through the filter and now you have a large T-Wrench with lots of leverage. I've had to do a few like that in the past. Filter is going in the garbage anyway, so....
I know it's too late, but the next time the filter won't come off, just take the largest screw driver you have, drive it completely through the filter and now you have a large T-Wrench with lots of leverage. I've had to do a few like that in the past. Filter is going in the garbage anyway, so....
05-24-2018, 10:54 PM
#20
Le Mans Master
I think I was not clear about situation. The Corvette's oil was Changed / Serviced from the dealer I purchased it from. The oil life in DIC said 60% when I picked up the car. When it went down to 50% I changed the oil and filter. Napa Gold part # 7060 And 6 Quarts of Mobil 1 5w30. The other Chevy was brand new and had Two free oil changes that came with the purchase. This car uses a special oil that is very hard to find here locally. It's Dexos2. 5w30 and holds 4.5L of this oil with filter. To have this oil change done the only place in Reno area that even has this oil is the dealer. They charge $175.00 to change the oil and filter. It cost $100.00 just to purchase the oil and filter. So I let them do the two free ones. I finally found the special engine here in town and in stock so I did my first oil change in that car as well and found the over tighten oil drain plug. I never did get it loose. Technically still under warranty. But I do not want them to every touch any of my car's ever again.