Here is a visual I put together that helps me explain the maintenance schedule. It's not hard to understand (mileage or time whatever comes first), but yet some people seem confused. This 'time' chart assumes the car is driven less than 7500 miles a year. {I did not include the engine air filter as that it neither time nor mileage based in the owners manual. I did not include tire rotation schedule here. I did not assume severe service. Stingray LT2 engine.}




updated based on suggestions

 

Thank you. This is handy to have.

 

Very nice!

 

Awesome, thanks for doing/sharing this. Per the manual for my 2020, new engine coolant is also needed every 5 years (along with front lift/brake fluid).

 

I missed it. Thanks. in my 2024 manual its every 6 years or 150k miles. I missed that. Will add it.

 

Its good, but should it mention the "life systems" for engine oil, transmission fluid, and transmission filter? Required maintenance includes paying attention to them, and (with the exception of the transmission filter) the calculation is not based only on mileage or time.

Nowhere does the manual say to change the engine oil every 7,500 miles. It says to change the oil when you get the "change engine oil" message on the DIC, but at least once a year (which is actually included in the engine oil life calculation). Its true that the maximum mileage the oil life system will go before indicating a change is 7,500 miles but it can be less.

The transmission fluid is changed when you get the change transmission fluid on the DIC, or 45000 miles, or at least every three years, whichever is first. According to the manual, the transmission fluid life system calculation is based on a combination of factors which include temperature and miles driven [but not time]. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at which a fluid change is indicated can vary considerably. So, it could be less than 45000 miles (although no one has ever reported that).

There is also a transmission filter life system in later models. The manual says the it is based on the number of miles driven as outlined in the Service and Maintenance section. So it is mileage only as shown in your chart.

And, unfortunately folks are confused because (in part) the requirements are actually confusing - particularly the first DCT filter change. Past experience folks have using tabular maintenance schedules is that the service may be performed at the indicated mileage or less. That is no longer true with the first filter change. It must by changed between 7000-8000 miles even if done earlier.

 

AC Desiccant....
AI Chat says:
"On the Corvette Stingray (C8), the AC desiccant packet is housed inside the condenser assembly. To replace it, the refrigerant must be evacuated, the condenser accessed, and the desiccant bag removed and swapped for a new one."
FWIW I never heard of this maintenance step on a Vette before.

 

As usual, AI is wrong. I'm not exaggerating when I say it is almost always wrong in my experience. In the case of the C8, the "dessicant bag" is inside of the receiver/dryer.
The condensers in front of the car where the air inlets scoops area. I found a reference in the Service Manual to the desiccant cartridge, so it may be seperaterly replaceable, but I could not find a procedure for its replacement in the version of the manual that I have. So its either a cartridge in the receiver drier or the receiver drier itself. But not the condensers;

 

"Its good, but should it mention the "life systems" for engine oil, transmission fluid, and transmission filter? Required maintenance includes paying attention to them, and (with the exception of the transmission filter) the calculation is not based only on mileage or time....."

Good points. Thank you. Yes the 7500 mile is to 'check' engine oil and life per the manual- but the oil life monitor or once a year over ride that. Yes- none of this is meant for people to ignore the 'life' monitors. I think of this list as a minimal and you have to look at both mileage and time. It helps me keep it straight, but agree its not perfect.

 

Understood, and agree. I have a similar hand written list for my use and that is time and miles, and of course I don't write down the "or the xxx life system, whichever is first". Common sense would tell us (most of us) not to ignore the DIC messages. Although we still see confusion - "why am I getting this message even though I have only gone xxx miles..."

 

As far as I can tell this requirement was introduced when GM switched to R1234yf refrigerant. GM is the only manufacturer that I'm aware of that has a scheduled requirement to change the desiccant (other than EVs). Why can other manufacturer's systems go without a desiccant change? To me it seems you would be taking more risk breaking into a properly operating system than just leaving it alone.

 

To add to the confusion, what about...

Every 161 000 km (100,000 mi) . Replace hood and/or body lift support gas struts. Or every 10 years, whichever comes first. See Gas Strut(s) 0 269.

 

Why is it there? Looks like its purpose is to absorb moisture. Since it is a closed system, it would seem that its purpose is just to capture residual moisture - but once captured - its stable. But from reading the manual it can also need to be replaced due to "metal contamination". Perhaps there is some wear debris that might accumulate? I don't believe that the AC receiver drier on my 66 Bonneville has ever been replaced.

 

I think I read the concern is that the desiccant could break down and contaminate the system. Is the metal contamination concern if a component fails? It is routine procedure to change the receiver dryer whenever something in the system fails or it has lost all refrigerant.

My 1980 Toyota pickup (R12) has the original receiver dryer and works fine. I don't think I've ever added refrigerant.

 

Yes, the context of the metal contamination was something failing in the system. It also calls for it if the system is open for 4 hours or more. And it separately also mentions "desiccant bag failure". I just brought it up because it suggests that the desiccant also appears to trap debris, such as metal contamination, if it is present. And I was speculating that over time perhaps there is "normal" debris shedding that can also be trapped in the desiccant cartridge.

I see what you are saying - that the material itself might break down. And it does mention failure of the desiccant.

 

Desiccant... interesting.
Our co-members point out the reason for servicing.

Seems the bag is not serviceable, and is contained in the receiver/ dryer part # 84789220 - price seems to be $29.92.

Wow, not what I would call a do at home project as the freon needs to be evacuated and re-filled.
Oh well 7 years or never

 

I did about the same.

 

I could not find a replacement procedure for either the receiver drier or the desiccant but they are separately from each other. In different places the manual indicate desiccant cartridge and desiccant bag. I found part numbers for the receiver drier, a desiccant kit (which looks lke a bag), and also a Air Conditioning Receiver Drier Desiccant Element listed for the 2024 Corvette.
I'm not going to attempt to explain that, but here they are.

 

Thanks for the chart. I made a couple copies laminated them, and one will be in car and one in the garage

 

Can you edit your 1st post with the most current, updated copy of this chart?