I looking for some guidance from this knowledgeable group. I'm considering buying a used 2014 Corvette that, when bought new, didn't have it's first oil change until 3 1/2 years later... at just over 2,000 miles. I'm concerned about that length of time, with low mileage, with the break-in oil.

FWIW... while I haven't had a Vette for a while (C5 bought new with NCM Delivery), this would make my 10th... so not new to Corvettes.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

Not ideal, but also not a deal-breaker in my mind. Give it a fresh oil change and never let it cross your mind again

 

Hmm, strange for someone to have it that long and not change oil.

First my September 2013 built 2014 Z51 never had that 500 mile change because the GM Bulletin stating to do it, did not come out until 13 months after I got mine! If the 2014 you are looking at is a wet sump it never was supposed to be changed for a year.

Second there is no such thing as "break-in oil." That ended years ago for all but racing engines etc.

That 500 mile change had to do with the "possibility" of oil foam forming with the "first oil fill" because of silicon from curing engine seals "if" the engine was run at sustained high speed! That oil foam "might" go into the air intake and "possibly" drip from the air filter. Doubt that 2014 was operated at sustained high speed! (Words in Bold Quotes are GMs.)

Not ideal but would not make it a deal breaker IF the car was never abused.

 

Thank you both for your input!! I REALLY appreciate it! …. OKAY... not a deal breaker.

Steve

 

May not be a deal breaker but it does indicate the car wasn't maintained properly according to the OM. Originally there was no 500 mile oil change on the C7. They added it after the afore mentioned issues caused some engine failures. However, the OM says to change it once per year no matter how many miles and the C7 OLM decreases the percentage based on time as well as usage. What other things weren't done properly on this garage queen? What small failure wasn't taken into the dealer to have fixed under warranty? Based on the 3.5 year comment it sure sounds like the car is out of warranty except for the Powertrain portion. The 3/36 B2B is important since it covers all the other stuff outside of the PT which usually fails more often due to infant mortality failures.

This car is basically a new car with a history of neglected maintenance and without a warranty. One of the reasons I avoid low mile garage queens. Usually the owner asks too high of a price for a poorly maintained vehicle. The time worn I don't trust the dealership answer a lot of these owners give is just BS.

I am not recommending you pass up the purchase because the car could be fine, however, the price has to be correct to make up for the risk you are assuming. You wouldn't go into the dealership and pay more money for them to sell you a new car without a warranty.

Bill

 

With only 2000 miles on the car I can't think of any other maintenance items that would have needed to be done.

Also, do we even know for sure that no other oil changes were done? Perhaps the original owner changed the oil himself every year and only had one oil change done at the dealer and that's the only one showing up in the history.

 

This is a very good point, as there are many among us who simply want techs touching their cars as little as possible, even to change the oil. I'm of that persuasion, but have reluctantly relented on the free oil changes. I don't like the idea of a 3½-YO car running on its original oil, which would tend to make me avoid it, but if it looks good otherwise I would try to locate the original owner and inquire.

 

Bought it!....drove it home... 1,300 miles.... love it!! A 2014 with 2,400 miles.... runs better now after I ran it 1,300 miles going home....Z51, MRC, NNP, 3LT... did I mention I love it! It's my 10 Vette but haven't had one for about 5 years... a few interesting cars in between but came back to a Vette... the C7 is amazing.

 

^^^

Cognates. Welcome back to a Vette. Now's the time to consider your 1st mod! Suggest you'll want to change to ceramic pads or you'll be cleaning the dust every 100 to 200 miles! It will not only look bad, in my case the OEM high performance brake pads (which come on the Z51) was pitting my black wheels.

Ths is a PDF of my install of ceramic pads on my 2014 Z51 and my Grand Spot. Lots of pics. Easy to do: http://netwelding.com/Ceramic_Pads.pdf

 

Changing the oil would be my choice for first mod.

 

I buy only used cars now and I first thing I do when I get them is change the oil to Mobil 1.

I don't care what paperwork they have or sticker on the windshield, I only trust myself and establish my own baseline because.......people lie, the dealers lie, carfax is as worthless as toilet paper after Mexican food. I go with reality that I can see in front of me every time.

Hope it works out for you.

 

If the oil wasn't changed for 3 1/2 years, I suspect the powertrain warranty may also be toast for the engine portion.