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Maybe I've missed the thread, but is there any consensus on what recommended maintenance is essential (oil changes) and which may be more idealistic? I took my '16 C7 Z51 in for an oil change at 11,000 miles and the dealer advisor told me I should get the brake fluid replaced (just due to age) and the same with the differential fluid. He said each was about $119. Of course I want to take good care of my car, but I don't need to make the dealer rich by replacing perfectly good fluids.
I opted for the differential - and fortunately the advisor couldn't reach me before the service department closed. Turns out that it would have cost $498 (not $119) because it was "special Corvette fluid". Which further makes me take a skeptical look at all of these "recommendations."
I'd be curious to know if there's a consensus on things like using the Mobil 1 versus Dextrose. What about replacing brake fluid at 11,000 miles - seems nuts to me. I realize these are expensive machines, but I also think the service advisor "saw me coming."
The brake fluid is understandable because its hydroscopic meaning it absorbs moisture so mileage doesn't matter. That's a fancy differential. I would go by the recommended interval. I go by the oil life monitor which means yearly oil changes.
My brake fluid was remarkably brown when I did my first flush at about 3 1/2 years, so the 3 year recommendation really should be followed. I have never seen that sort of color in brake fluid in any previous vehicle (this is my first vette) in such a short time. I don't track or drive crazy so only potential cause I can come up with is the constant exposure to high underhood temps and the proximity of the driver side header. When I checked the fluid after driving for awhile after the flush the reservoir was too hot to touch... so I checked it with an IR thermometer and saw temps as high as 186F... that was after parking and with the hood up so temps likely get higher underway, especially sitting in traffic.
The brake fluid is understandable because its hydroscopic meaning it absorbs moisture so mileage doesn't matter. That's a fancy differential. I would go by the recommended interval. I go by the oil life monitor which means yearly oil changes.
do what the manual says. The dealership will tell you just about anything to make a buck sadly. You could check the brake fluid with a moisture tester if wanted confirmation but 3 years is about as long as I'd leave it in there regardless of mileage.
I run all Mobil 1 fluids (oil, tranny & diff) in my Z51 mainly because they are available at the local auto parts store and meet GM specifications.
There is nothing special about the diff fluid, its your standard 75W-90 synthetic stuff. The OLM will tell you when an oil change is required... and yes time is a factor not just mileage.
The C7 Vette in neither the first nor the only vehicle to ever have fluids. How have you treated those you've owned (apart from any vehicles you may have raced)? I see no reason to treat your Vette differently IF exclusively a street conveyance. But, you be the judge.
Buy 3 quarts of GM 10-4034 from amazon for $60 and do the diff yourself. Very easy to do. I do them at 2,000 miles to get the junk out, then you can vary depending on what you do with the car from there. There is nothing special there about that fluid.
That dealer is either stupid or corrupt and either way I'd stay far away from them...
My dealer changed out my rear diff fluid about a month ago and I think I paid about $130. OP - do you have the eLSD differential? On the eLSD there is the regular differential fluid change, and a seperate eLSD clutch reservoir. That $498 fluid change may have been for changing out the fluid for the eLSD clutch pack and does require DEXRON-VI ATF. That system needs to be bled when performing service on it, so it isn't as simple as the rear diff fluid change. These are two different things. Regardless, I still think $498 is a bit high unless it is for doing both.. Also, unless you track the car a lot, you should not have to perform the eLSD service as routine maintenance.
Last edited by Null Pointer; Aug 9, 2019 at 09:18 PM.
When I got my diff done they tried charging me double ($240.00) the advertised price (119.00) since the tech had to use 2 of the flush packs. Not my problem and they removed the additional charge. I'm wondering if something similar happened to you and they are being shady about it. I would dispute that charge to no end.
I had my servicing dealer perform service flush and fill rear differential after my first track event back in 2017.Total charge was $187.70 for my '16 Z51
parts - 86.25
Labor 101.45
I had my servicing dealer perform service flush and fill rear differential after my first track event back in 2017.Total charge was $187.70 for my '16 Z51
parts - 86.25
Labor 101.45
That is about what I pay for the same service on my 15 Z06. I have the dealer change it after each 24 hours of track use just as the OM recommends.
You didn’t buy a Camry. Blow the dust out of your wallet and take care of it. God forbid anyone make money servicing it. How did you make money to buy it?
Thanks for posting the table, Elmer, but can you also post the time intervals? It that in the footnotes? For instance isn't coolant 5 years Or.... Brake fluid 3 years or... etc. Most of us hit the time limits before the miles. I can also just look in the manual...
Originally Posted by eboggs_jkvl
2014 Maintenance Service Intervals I have the eLSD
Maybe I've missed the thread, but is there any consensus on what recommended maintenance is essential (oil changes) and which may be more idealistic? I took my '16 C7 Z51 in for an oil change at 11,000 miles and the dealer advisor told me I should get the brake fluid replaced (just due to age) and the same with the differential fluid. He said each was about $119. Of course I want to take good care of my car, but I don't need to make the dealer rich by replacing perfectly good fluids.
I opted for the differential - and fortunately the advisor couldn't reach me before the service department closed. Turns out that it would have cost $498 (not $119) because it was "special Corvette fluid". Which further makes me take a skeptical look at all of these "recommendations."
I'd be curious to know if there's a consensus on things like using the Mobil 1 versus Dextrose. What about replacing brake fluid at 11,000 miles - seems nuts to me. I realize these are expensive machines, but I also think the service advisor "saw me coming."
Consensus is use OEM stuff except if you're tracking, use Motul or Castrol dot 4 brake fluid. Some have gone to other brands for trans and have come back to oem due to results.
Thanks for posting the table, Elmer, but can you also post the time intervals? It that in the footnotes? For instance isn't coolant 5 years Or.... Brake fluid 3 years or... etc. Most of us hit the time limits before the miles. I can also just look in the manual...
Check my original post again. I added page 2 for the less ambitious folks on the forum.
My 19 Stingray says to replace break fluid every three years ( I do not have the mileage noted down) and rear axle fluid every 45K miles.
My 2017 manual says every five years, but 2014-18 cars were equipped with DOT3 that is less hydroscopic than DOT4, which is the spec for 2019. That said, I'm going to change mine at around three years, as at 2½ years it's already getting a bit dark and I've never seen such an extended recommendation of five years before. Does anyone have a trick to purge the ABS when changing fluid?
Consensus on maintenance
do what the manual says. The dealership will tell you just about anything to make a buck sadly. You could check the brake fluid with a moisture tester if wanted confirmation but 3 years is about as long as I'd leave it in there regardless of mileage.
