Maintenance
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: Dutchess County,NY
Maintenance
I have been looking for a 2006 - 2013 C6 with Z51 and preferably 3LT.
I have spoken to a number of folks with cars for sale, mostly 2006 and 2007 with around 13,000 miles. When I ask if they have maintenance records I either get "I bring it to the dealer" or "the car has low miles and I have only done oil changes".
I would expect the following to have been done on a 12 or 13 year old car, even one with low to mid teens mileage?
Thanks.
I have spoken to a number of folks with cars for sale, mostly 2006 and 2007 with around 13,000 miles. When I ask if they have maintenance records I either get "I bring it to the dealer" or "the car has low miles and I have only done oil changes".
I would expect the following to have been done on a 12 or 13 year old car, even one with low to mid teens mileage?
- Annual oil change.
- Brake fluid at least every 5 years.
- One or two coolant changes
- Trans Fluid change, at least once.
- Rear Diff oil changed, at least once.
- Battery changed at least every 4 or 5 years
- At least one set of tires (12 year old tires?)
Thanks.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 116
Likes: 15
I don't know how they stomach $30,000+ depreciation on a car they drive 1000 miles a year. If you want a garage ornament, get a classic that's not going to depreciate!
Anyhow, the only item on that list that would really bother me is oil changes. A bunch of short trips with no time at full operating temperature can turn it to sludge. Gotta steam that water out of there! Tires and battery I would just ask them to knock 1k off the sale price to replace if its not already priced well enough to compensate.
Anyhow, the only item on that list that would really bother me is oil changes. A bunch of short trips with no time at full operating temperature can turn it to sludge. Gotta steam that water out of there! Tires and battery I would just ask them to knock 1k off the sale price to replace if its not already priced well enough to compensate.
Last edited by Oic0; Aug 16, 2019 at 07:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: Dutchess County,NY
Thank You.
I called one lady with a beautiful 2007 1LT, 13,000 miles and she changed the oil twice in 13 years.
Then I found a 2006 with 13,000 miles and he changed oil every 2 or 3 years.
I have ridden Harleys for the past 20 years and average 5000 miles a year but in the years where i rode a little less I still changed the oil at least once a year (engine, trans and primary).
I called one lady with a beautiful 2007 1LT, 13,000 miles and she changed the oil twice in 13 years.
Then I found a 2006 with 13,000 miles and he changed oil every 2 or 3 years.
I have ridden Harleys for the past 20 years and average 5000 miles a year but in the years where i rode a little less I still changed the oil at least once a year (engine, trans and primary).
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11,349
Likes: 2,444
From: Eastern
Those 2 that you spoke about, apparently have no clue about at least oil changes and how often it should be done.
I have a bit more than 13,000 miles on my 2006 (104,000 miles) driving only from April 1 -Nov 1 each season.
I average approx 5-6000 miles per season, but some years, depending on the road trips, it has been as much as 12,000 miles.
This is what I have done in those 13 years. - 2006 3LT with Z51 RPO
Tires- on my 5th set as of this Spring (Michelin PS 4S)
Oil Changes - Minimum once per year (usually before laying up for the winter)
On a few of those occasions, I did 2 oil changes in the high mileage running seasons, the last one being before winter.
Shocks - I'm on my 3rd set - Bilstein B8's this past Spring
Coolant - Hoses Changed the hoses to Silicone at approcx 50K miles, and did a coolant flush and change at that time.
Sway Bar end links - changed at approx 60K miles
Battery - on my 4th - The 2nd battery Yellow Optima only lasted 6 months
Brake pads- At 50 K miles. - Just got an inspection, atill over 1/2 pad remaining on the ceramics.
A6 Transmission. - Will change the fluid and filter before hibernation (no flushing)
Brake Fluid --- Ditto
Rear Differential - changed at 20 K miles but will do again this Fall
I keep all my maintenance, and expenses on an Excel Spreadsheet
I have a bit more than 13,000 miles on my 2006 (104,000 miles) driving only from April 1 -Nov 1 each season.
I average approx 5-6000 miles per season, but some years, depending on the road trips, it has been as much as 12,000 miles.
This is what I have done in those 13 years. - 2006 3LT with Z51 RPO
Tires- on my 5th set as of this Spring (Michelin PS 4S)
Oil Changes - Minimum once per year (usually before laying up for the winter)
On a few of those occasions, I did 2 oil changes in the high mileage running seasons, the last one being before winter.
Shocks - I'm on my 3rd set - Bilstein B8's this past Spring
Coolant - Hoses Changed the hoses to Silicone at approcx 50K miles, and did a coolant flush and change at that time.
Sway Bar end links - changed at approx 60K miles
Battery - on my 4th - The 2nd battery Yellow Optima only lasted 6 months
Brake pads- At 50 K miles. - Just got an inspection, atill over 1/2 pad remaining on the ceramics.
A6 Transmission. - Will change the fluid and filter before hibernation (no flushing)
Brake Fluid --- Ditto
Rear Differential - changed at 20 K miles but will do again this Fall
I keep all my maintenance, and expenses on an Excel Spreadsheet
Last edited by 4SUMERZ; Aug 16, 2019 at 08:04 PM.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 675
Likes: 195
From: Green Oak Township, Michigan
Oil every winter.....Trans filter at 30K with a drain plug welded to the pan. ....6 months later, drain and fill again. Valvoline Max Life synthetic trans fluid. ..5 years on anti-freeze ....30k on the rear end, then maybe at 80k after that. Power steering fluid at 80k,,,,,,or when you change your harmonic balancer.....Not sure about brake fluid, maybe when you change your flexible brake lines to stainless......60k to 70 maybe ??. I guess on that it really depends onj how much you drive., and how much you want to spend. Everyone drives these cars different, warmer states all year long. Here in Michigan, maybe 5 1/2 months. Michigan Corvette owners will change a couple of fluids in the winter just for something to do. .
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,136
Likes: 212
From: Long Island New York
06 bought new, currently 47,000
oil changed annually, at least
3 complete brake fluid flushes, one when converted to Z06 brakes, motul fluid
3 radiator flushes, one when added Dewitts
2 trans flushes, one when rebuilt, A6
2 diff flushes, both within two years of purchase, under warranty
turkey baster flush power steering about every other year. Full bottle of fluid out and in
On third battery at this time
on 4th set of tires
——————————
about due for oil pan gasket and diff gasket changes and fluids of course
Bilstein B8’s go on next week. Will look closely at suspension parts
oil changed annually, at least
3 complete brake fluid flushes, one when converted to Z06 brakes, motul fluid
3 radiator flushes, one when added Dewitts
2 trans flushes, one when rebuilt, A6
2 diff flushes, both within two years of purchase, under warranty
turkey baster flush power steering about every other year. Full bottle of fluid out and in
On third battery at this time
on 4th set of tires
——————————
about due for oil pan gasket and diff gasket changes and fluids of course
Bilstein B8’s go on next week. Will look closely at suspension parts
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,382
Likes: 6,526
From: Melbourne, FL
Is this a question or a complaint? You wont harm anythung by not doing those fluids that often. Likely, they are not pushing the car very hard and old fluids are fine. Most of these fluids are high quality synthetics that truly wont degrade much over that time. Blackstone labs (the guys that co used oil analysis) have consistently shown NO significant degradation in quality synthetic over several years, sitting doesnt matter, time in use (engine hours or miles) do.
I bet over 90% of cars on the road have original trans, brake, diff, and coolant fluids with no issues. I think youre worrying too much.
I bet over 90% of cars on the road have original trans, brake, diff, and coolant fluids with no issues. I think youre worrying too much.
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Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,303
Likes: 347
From: yardley, pa 19067
My 13GS I bought new and what I’ve done in 6 years and 12k miles is: 6 oil changes, new battery, new tires and a coolant flush at the 5 year mark. I don’t see a need for a trans, brake fluid or rear fluid flush.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 8,049
Likes: 330
From: Charlotte NC
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
I do most all of my own work and keep a record in a book of everything that gets done. Things that the dealer or outside mechanic does I have receipts for and they go in the book also. I do this for ME because I have no plans on selling my Toy, it's my DD. I and I emphasize the word I would steer away from what you describe but others may have different opinions. Even an 06 is going to cost you your Good Money to buy. 
Good Luck in your search, my advise would be to get an 08 or newer for the LS3.
Good Luck in your search, my advise would be to get an 08 or newer for the LS3.
Last edited by ls1121; Aug 17, 2019 at 11:17 AM.
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: Dutchess County,NY
Is this a question or a complaint? You wont harm anythung by not doing those fluids that often. Likely, they are not pushing the car very hard and old fluids are fine. Most of these fluids are high quality synthetics that truly wont degrade much over that time. Blackstone labs (the guys that co used oil analysis) have consistently shown NO significant degradation in quality synthetic over several years, sitting doesnt matter, time in use (engine hours or miles) do.
I bet over 90% of cars on the road have original trans, brake, diff, and coolant fluids with no issues. I think youre worrying too much.
I bet over 90% of cars on the road have original trans, brake, diff, and coolant fluids with no issues. I think youre worrying too much.
However for car and motorcycles I care for I would do more (coolant, Brake Fluid, Spark Plugs, Diff and Trans Fluid).
I do most all of my own work and keep a record in a book of everything that gets done. Things that the dealer or outside mechanic does I have receipts for and they go in the book also. I do this for ME because I have no plans on selling my Toy, it's my DD. I and I emphasize the word I would steer away from what you describe but others may have different opinions. Even an 06 is going to cost you your Good Money to buy. Good Luck in your search, my advise would be to get an 08 or newer for the LS3.
Good Luck in your search, my advise would be to get an 08 or newer for the LS3.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,281
Likes: 552
From: Pittsburgh PA
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,010
Likes: 48
From: LONG ISLAND ny
I have 2011 GS VERT, 25k miles , oil and filter every year. Ranger Method clutch fluid every year sometimes twice. At the 5 year mark full coolant change , brake fluid flush and change, M6 trans fluid changed, power steering changed. All new rotors pads and hardware for the brakes , on 2nd set of tires . Changed belts , hoses are all good. I wouldn't want a car that has all original fluids even with low miles, the tires will need to be changed ,and I would really look over all the rubber hoses, belts etc. just my 2 cents.