Oil change
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 6
Likes: 2
Oil change
Hi, I’m new to the forum and bought a 2016 C7 Z51 with a dry sump. Went to get oil changed and it is $325 plus tax Canadian. They quoted $25 a litre for oil, plus filter plus labour! Does that seem right?
How hard is it to do it yourself? Is it like changing the oil on any other vehicle?
I am in Western Canada.
Thanks
How hard is it to do it yourself? Is it like changing the oil on any other vehicle?
I am in Western Canada.
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 1,856
From: St. Louis Metro East IL
Do not overfill. Add 9 qt or 8.5 liters and then check the oil. Note that dry sump engines have a specific oil level check procedure - warm up the engine until oil temp is 175 F or more, then wait 5 - 10 minutes and check. 5 W30 Mobil 1 with Dexos label is OK for 2016. If you are racing the car consider 0W40 Mobil1 Dexos oil.
There are a bunch of YouTube videos on C7 oil change to check out.
Download your owner's manual in PDF format. The links for various years are in C7 General | Sticky Threads along with a lot of useful information.
Ron
There are a bunch of YouTube videos on C7 oil change to check out.
Download your owner's manual in PDF format. The links for various years are in C7 General | Sticky Threads along with a lot of useful information.
Ron
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 12,250
Likes: 4,741
From: SE WI
Sooo easy to do yourself once you have the tools (jacking pucks, floor jack, jack stands, oil filter wrench, wheel chocks). Been doing mine for years. I do it for under $60 US. I buy 2 x 5-quart bottles of Mobil 1 5w-30 Dexos1 at Walmart for $50. I always end up using only 9.75 quarts to get the perfect level. An ACDelco PF64 OEM filter for less than $10. I enjoy doing my own oil changes. Come back here to ask any questions.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 1,856
From: St. Louis Metro East IL
0W40 Dexos was introduced around 2018 if I recall correctly. 5W30 Dexos is the oil listed in all owner's manuals before that with a different recommendation for racing and ZR-1. Even the 2018 / 2019 say 5W30 is OK. The 0w40 Supercar Dexos is much more expensive. If you drive in very cold weather the 0wx may have value to you - also all season tires.
Please download the 2016 owner's manual.
Ron
Please download the 2016 owner's manual.
Ron
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Race Director
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From: Grapevine Tx
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5,452
Likes: 2,168
From: Loveland
All the references to use 5W-30 are OLD. GM has changed the recommended oil and for more reasons than just racing. The 2019 manual has the latest recommendation and they have also published a service bulletin. 0W-40 has the best of both worlds,,,,, good cold start viscosity and good full temp running. Amazon has it.
From the manual,,,,, "Viscosity Grade: Use SAE 0W-40 viscosity grade engine oil. When selecting an oil of the appropriate viscosity grade, it is recommended to select an oil of the correct specification".
If you need to save $10 to $15 5W-30 would be your next best.
Good info:
https://www.corvette-web-central.com...l-upgrade.html
From the manual,,,,, "Viscosity Grade: Use SAE 0W-40 viscosity grade engine oil. When selecting an oil of the appropriate viscosity grade, it is recommended to select an oil of the correct specification".
If you need to save $10 to $15 5W-30 would be your next best.
Good info:
https://www.corvette-web-central.com...l-upgrade.html
Last edited by kodpkd; Apr 25, 2025 at 10:01 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 360
From: Iowa
All the references to use 5W-30 are OLD. GM has changed the recommended oil and for more reasons than just racing. The 2019 manual has the latest recommendation and they have also published a service bulletin. 0W-40 has the best of both worlds,,,,, good cold start viscosity and good full temp running. Amazon has it.
From the manual,,,,, "Viscosity Grade: Use SAE 0W-40 viscosity grade engine oil. When selecting an oil of the appropriate viscosity grade, it is recommended to select an oil of the correct specification".
If you need to save $10 to $15 5W-30 would be your next best.
https://www.amazon.com/Mobil-Superca...55&sr=8-7&th=1
Good info:
https://www.corvette-web-central.com...l-upgrade.html
From the manual,,,,, "Viscosity Grade: Use SAE 0W-40 viscosity grade engine oil. When selecting an oil of the appropriate viscosity grade, it is recommended to select an oil of the correct specification".
If you need to save $10 to $15 5W-30 would be your next best.
https://www.amazon.com/Mobil-Superca...55&sr=8-7&th=1
Good info:
https://www.corvette-web-central.com...l-upgrade.html
So much confusion in that post. I thought Mobil 1 was full synthetic. The stuff I've been buying says full synthetic on the bottle. Is that not true?
https://i5.walmartimages.com/seo/Mob...0&odnBg=FFFFFF
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5,452
Likes: 2,168
From: Loveland
There are many types of Mobile 1 oil. The change is from 5W-30 to Mobile 1 0W-40 "Supercar" oil. Did you read the, Corvette-web-central, article? Every thing GM said about the correct oil, changed in 2019. "ESP" was the original name of the oil, it is now called "Supercar" oil.
When they say, "the switch back to Mobil 1" they are talking about the 0W-40 oil.
The page I sent you was updated in 2025, so it is the latest change to oil recommendations.
When they say, "the switch back to Mobil 1" they are talking about the 0W-40 oil.
The page I sent you was updated in 2025, so it is the latest change to oil recommendations.
Last edited by kodpkd; Apr 25, 2025 at 01:13 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,222
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
All the references to use 5W-30 are OLD. GM has changed the recommended oil and for more reasons than just racing. The 2019 manual has the latest recommendation and they have also published a service bulletin. 0W-40 has the best of both worlds,,,,, good cold start viscosity and good full temp running. Amazon has it.
From the manual,,,,, "Viscosity Grade: Use SAE 0W-40 viscosity grade engine oil. When selecting an oil of the appropriate viscosity grade, it is recommended to select an oil of the correct specification".
If you need to save $10 to $15 5W-30 would be your next best.
https://www.amazon.com/Mobil-Superca...55&sr=8-7&th=1
Good info:
https://www.corvette-web-central.com...l-upgrade.html
From the manual,,,,, "Viscosity Grade: Use SAE 0W-40 viscosity grade engine oil. When selecting an oil of the appropriate viscosity grade, it is recommended to select an oil of the correct specification".
If you need to save $10 to $15 5W-30 would be your next best.
https://www.amazon.com/Mobil-Superca...55&sr=8-7&th=1
Good info:
https://www.corvette-web-central.com...l-upgrade.html
BUT, do you NEED it??
In most cases, NO.
Sure, I can afford the EXTRA $45/50 (NOT $10-15), but for me, it's a waste of money. Kind of like buying some super duper race car tires that will wear out in -10k miles and cost $$$, if you only drive on dry/warm days down to the donut shop. No real value here.
Reading above, GM actually used a synthetic blend at some point. If that was ok, don't you think that a modern 5w-30 dextros rated oil will work just fine?
And, unless you do the change yourself, how do you know what you actually got? Many dealers and shops use off brands bulk oils, etc.
I also don't buy Hoka shoes, just because the cool kids wear them
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5,452
Likes: 2,168
From: Loveland
You can use any oil you want. I chose to listen to the latest recommendations from those who made the car. If it's worth it to you, to save a few bucks, by all means, go cheap. $46 vs $59 for 6 Qt's=$13
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 11,249
Likes: 2,073
From: Grapevine Tx
2018 C3 of Year Finalist
2016 C3 of the Year Finalist
5W30 will work just fine in a C7 that isn't tracked.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5,452
Likes: 2,168
From: Loveland
What about the quote direct from the current C7 manual?
"Viscosity Grade: Use SAE 0W-40 viscosity grade engine oil. When selecting an oil of the appropriate viscosity grade, it is recommended to select an oil of the correct specification".
It does say,,,, If you can't get 0W-40 you can use 5W-30. Not what I would call a glowing recommendation.
"Viscosity Grade: Use SAE 0W-40 viscosity grade engine oil. When selecting an oil of the appropriate viscosity grade, it is recommended to select an oil of the correct specification".
It does say,,,, If you can't get 0W-40 you can use 5W-30. Not what I would call a glowing recommendation.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,432
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
0W-40 10 quarts $129.90
5W-30 10 quarts $75.98
$53.92 is the difference or a 71% increase in cost. So, at the risk of being impudent, let me ask "What exactly is it I get that is worth that much of an increase in cost?". Is it close to 71% increase in anything or am I saying "If there is any bit of "better" and it involves a Corvette, cost doesn't matter?".
Last edited by aklim; Apr 25, 2025 at 09:46 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,222
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
I wonder how so many turbo charged 4 bangers in full size cars and trucks that work many times harder than your average Corvette, survive with crap oil from Walmart or Jiffy Lube????
Last edited by Sayfoo; Apr 25, 2025 at 10:02 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 2,786
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From: Phoenix, Arizona
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Motor Oil in Oils and Fluids - Walmart.com