Hi, I am a first time Corvette owner. I have a 2016 LT 2 Z51 convertible with manual transmission. 12, 750 miles are currently on the odometer. I drive my Corvette on weekends or on road trips. Not a daily driver. Always in good weather. From mid Dec to mid April I store my Corvette in my garage. I maintain all my vehicles in excellent condition; mechanically and in appearance; 2002 Pontiac Grand Am GT in near perfect condition. My Corvette has always been maintained at the dealer ( Criswell Thank you Mike Furman) where I purchased my Corvette. My Corvette runs perfectly. Routine oil changes and a new battery( my fault) are the only maintenance I needed done. Last night I was reading a letter to the Tech Nerd in the latest issue of Corvette magazine. The owner wrote the C7 owners manual recommends changing the clutch fluid every three years. I didn't know that. I was very surprised. I took out my owners and yes it recommends:
Cabin Air Filter every 2 years
Engine Air Filter every 4 years
Change Engine Coolant every 5 years
Change Clutch fluid every 3 years
Change Brake fluid every 3 years
Shame on me as I have not had those filters and fluids replaced. Also, I thought those filters and fluids changes would have a longer interval based on my experience with my other GM vehicles. I should have more thoroughly read my owners manual. I thought my dealer's service department would inform me when these filters and fluids needed to be changed when I had them change my oil. I am not blaming them. I am the owner and am responsible for having my Corvette properly serviced per the owners manual.
My questions are:
Doing GM dealerships that sell and maintain a lot of Corvettes usually remind owners when preventative maintenance items need to be accomplished?
Based on my use of my Corvette do you think I should follow exactly the owners manual recommendation? If I drive my Corvette 2000 - 3000 miles a year is changing the clutch & brake fluid every 9000 mile / 3 years excessive?
If you use your C7 as I do when do you change the filters & fluids?

I will be talking to the Criswell Service manger to get his advice. However, I do want to get your advice also.

Thank you

 

The following are my personal recommendations. I usually like to do maintenance before it is due.

Recommend changing the air and cabin filters based on mileage. Changed both at 20,000 miles.

Clutch fluid needs to be changed every 5,000 to 10,000 miles using the Ranger Method. I do mine every 5,000 miles and it stays clean. The fluid can get quit dark and nasty possibly causing clutch pedal issues. A dealer flush is around $400.00.

Brake fluid and coolant changes are based on time as they break down. Follow factory on this.

I changed the differential fluid at 15,000 miles. Should have done it earlier. It was nasty. Plan on changing manual transmission fluid at 25,000 miles.

 

[QUOTE=DrivesWithTwoFeet;1603273263]The following are my personal recommendations. I usually like to do maintenance before it is due.

Recommend changing the air and cabin filters based on mileage. Changed both at 20,000 miles.

Clutch fluid needs to be changed every 5,000 to 10,000 miles using the Ranger Method. I do mine every 5,000 miles and it stays clean. The fluid can get quit dark and nasty possibly causing clutch pedal issues. A dealer flush is around $400.00.

Brake fluid and coolant changes are based on time as they break down. Follow factory on this.

I changed the differential fluid at 15,000 miles. Should have done it earlier. It was nasty. Plan on changing manual transmission fluid at 25,000 miles.[

 

My GS has ~12k miles on the clock and just turned 4YO. Here's what I've done and not done:

• Engine oil: OLM=0%, thus once per year with my low-mileage usage.
• M7 fluid: Changed in the first year to Redline D4 synthetic to improve shift smoothness when cold. Minor improvement seen. Probably won't change it again.
• Cabin Air Filter: Not done yet
• Engine Air Filter: Not done yet
• Change Engine Coolant: Plan on 5-year intervals
• Change Clutch fluid: Ranger Method several times per year by sucking fluid in reservoir with a turkey baster and replacing it one time--no multiple flushing per event like most here. Fluid looks clean when removed each time.
• Change Brake fluid: Using 3-year intervals.
• Rear-end fluid: Changed after three months at 2500 miles. Looked pretty grungy but will follow maintenance schedule from now on, the next being at 45k which will be a while.

 

brake fluid absorbs moisture, thus it will go bad over time even if car never moves an inch.

 

Change your fluids! I recently bought a 2015 Coupe w/ M7(one owner car) with 25,000 miles. After reading many different threads on other’s experiences I decided I needed to heed their advice and change my fluids. The trans and differential fluids were nasty! Coolant, brake & clutch fluids are next. The upside is my M7 shifts slightly better and I have some peace of mind that its done.

 

I changed my coolant at the five year mark - followed factory guidelines.
I have not changed my brake fluid yet. Following the factory guidelines is not a bad idea here. I need to get this done.
I checked my cabin filter twice since I bought the car 2.5 years ago - it looked fine so no change was made.
I change my engine oil once a year due to low mileage put on the car.

 

The previous owner of my car only had the engine oil and filter changed by the Chevy dealer. At least now I’ll have fresh fluids and can now better track my service intervals. My cabin filter was dirty enough to change, engine air filter is on the agenda for this weekend.

 

I have a 2019 Stingray non-Z51 A8 and for normal driving conditions, the maintenance manual doesn't list anything for changing the transmission fluid. For severe driving conditions it lists a 45k mile change interval.

So, what are you guys doing that follow the normal driving maintenance schedule for the transmission fluid changes? I don't track the car, pretty much city driving and occasional road trips. I only have about 8k miles.

JD

 

Wow, all these nasty diff fluid comments. I shouldn’t have to at 7200, but maybe I should since you guys are low mileage too.

 

A lot of comments here about nasty diff fluid! I change my fluids sooner than recommended because it’s cheap insurance. The reason most folks say their diff oil is nasty is because of the SMELL. Even new diff oil smells bad. I changed the differential gear oil in my ‘15 Z51 at 12K on the clock. My differential is wearing in very nicely—that’s the most important piece of information you will get out of changing it early. Don’t send it to the shop—DIY. You will need a flex 3/8 ratchet to open the fill hole, an inexpensive pump and 3 quarts. Zip zip easy peasy. Just take the time to note how much debris is magnetized to the drain plug (your service tech will just wipe & go). Check out the sticky on the CF.

Save the wave,
Kangarew

 

^^^
Just be sure you can remove the fill plug before removing the drain plug. Otherwise...