Getting ready to go in for a state inspection and oil change. Coming up on 12 months in service, physical issues limited my use, with 2100 miles and computer says 23% oil life left.

Should I pay for this oil change and wait another year for the free oil and tranny change? Or do both now? Am I correct we have two years to take advantage of that?

 

I just had mine (1 year) yesterday at 2500 miles, and I opted to have the full free service, which includes the engine oil and filter change, transmission filter change (procedure appears to include the Hydraulic System Flush) and fluid top off. The flush is a computer controlled operation of some transmission solenoids to clear them of possible debris, moving it to the filter before the filter is removed and changed. My reasoning was this. Yes, I have two years to get it. At which time I would have 5000 miles, not 7500 - but to get the free one I would have to have done then anyway. And by the time I got to 7500 miles, I would be nearing 3 years - and at that time it calls for a full trans fluid replacement anyway, at my expense. If in the meantime, if I have any actual issue with transmission due to debris, the flush procedure will be covered by the warranty anyway. I just considered it cautious to have it done now at 2500 miles. The Service Writer was happy to do whatever I wanted, and advised that the filter change procedure, should I have it done later by request (not due to an issue) it would be expensive. She even recommended that I wait til either 2 years, or 7500 miles for the trans service. While I opted to have the trans filter service now, I think you could easily and logically conclude waiting until 2 years. There is nothing that requires you to have it done at 1 year if you have less than 7500 miles.

 

I would follow your plan. Pay for the oil change this year, then next year use the complimentary oil change & DCT filter service. You are correct in having 24 months to use it.

 

Yep that is what I did with ~3500 miles last August. Although I only had ~3500 miles I had it done for several reasons:
In fact a poster said GM at a Bash reinforced the logic we used!
sdcnews
"I went to a maintenance seminar at the NCM Bash Guy said it was very important to change the tranny filer at the first service which is free."

MY LOGIC for having the DCT filter change and DCT flush at ~3500 miles last August when after 12 months the OLM showed 5% oil life left, was a precaution.

Because a number of folks had DCT CELs, some went away and others the dealer mention GM said do a flush (not a full DCT fluid replacement a flush.)
Also, as I crawled into the garage managing the gap from driver's mirror tip to wood garage door molding often come to almost a complete stop. For the 1st 500 to 800 miles could feel a slightly jerky motion as the 1st gear clutch was slipping. After that is was perfectly smooth. So IMO the clutch plates were wearing in and creating some debris.

My plan in August 2023 I'll have the 11 quarts of DCT oil replaced, as required, and the DCT filter (which will have about 7000 miles on the one already replaced.) NOT required but IMO better to have a new filter with the new oil. Yep that will be on my dime!

 

When I reach the 1 year mark I should have around 3000-3500 miles on my 2022 C8. I plan to just do the oil change then and pay for it. I will take the free service including the trans filter the following year - unless transmission issues force a service before then. But then, I didn't feel any need to change my oil at 500 miles like so many here have done. You will get arguments both pro and con here. In the end you just have to do what makes the most sense to you.

 

In an above post Andy and I decided to have both engine oil AND DCT filter changed with about your mileage. Several reasons stated:

1. In a recent post sdcnews stated: "I went to a maintenance seminar at the NCM Bash Guy said it was very important to change the tranny filer at the first service which is free."
2. My logic included a number of posters have DCT flush required after getting a CEL. Flushing initial clutch wear etc material is prudent.
3. Also in year 3 you are required to have ALL 11 quarts of DCT fluid changed. Although not required IMO smart to also change the DCT filter with the new fluid.

GM is now agreeing with the logic of having the DCT filter changed with its required DCT flush per the specified filter change procedure at the 1st engine oil change! IMO far more important than changing engine oil early as I had done in my prior 5 Vettes!

 

Got this from Chevy today

New owners and lessees for model year vehicles from 2020-2022. Maintenance visit must occur at Chevrolet dealership within the first year of vehicle delivery. Service visit consists of Mobil 1 oil and filter change/multi-point vehicle inspection. Does not include air filters. See participating dealer for other restrictions and complete details.


Now I’m confuse.
No mention of transmission filter. Is this in addition to the oil change and transmission filter freebie?

Calling the local dealer tomorrow.

 

Pay for the oil change now, and use the free service at the 2 year or 7500 mile point (whichever comes first). GM people have said if you change the DCT filter real early you should change it again ~ 7500 miles, and that service is pretty expensive, so let GM pay for it.

 

^^^
I don't agree and GM at the bash appears to agree with my logic used August 2021 when the OLM required my engine oil changed at ~3500 miles and I had a flush and filter change. Frankly with DCT forum issues it's prudent.

Folks can make up their own mind. BUT IMO worth getting the DCT filter changed with the 1st engine oil change. In my case I will spend some extra money year 3 to replace it again when I have all the DCT fluid changed as required by GM and about 7500 miles on the new filter.

Here is why:

1. In a recent post sdcnews stated: "I went to a maintenance seminar at the NCM Bash Guy said it was very important to change the tranny filer at the first service which is free."
2. My logic included a number of posters had the DCT flush required after getting a CEL. Flushing initial clutch wear etc material is prudent. IMO far more important to have the DCT flushed and filter changed than the engine oil (which in prior 5 Vettes I did change early. Saved that cost and will put in in my 3rd year filter change.)
3. In year 3 I will have ~7500 miles on the filter replaced year 1. You are required to have ALL 11 quarts of DCT fluid changed per note 4 in the Maintenance Tabel. That requires removing the aluminum aero pan to access the oil level drain plug. That is NOT on GM's dime nor are the 11 quarts of fluid and labor to remove the pan, install the 11 quarts. Logical to perform a flush and replace the filter IMO. If you wait to year 2 too replace the filter you will be changing 11 quarts of DCT fluid year 3 and then NOT replacing the filter or emptying the dirty fluid in the filter housing. Although not required IMO smart to also change the DCT filter with the new fluid. The extra labor to install the filter is small compared to the 11 quart fluid change. I will have to pay for the new filter but as I said with new fluid IMO smart to do.

GM is now supporting the logic of having the DCT filter changed with its required DCT flush per the specified filter change procedure at the 1st engine oil change! IMO far more important than changing engine oil early as I had done in my prior 5 Vettes! Need to save money? Save it there!

 

Dealer said GM recommends at first oil change so that’s what I am doing. Thanks for all the help.

 

Not true - GM recommends the first oil change at 7500 miles or 1 year, whichever comes first. They recommend the transmission filter change at 7500 miles (I don't think they put a time/date on it). So if you take your car in because it has been driven a year but only has a few thousand miles on it, you can wait for the next oil change to change the transmission filter and still be following GM recommended procedures. Many here believe you should change it sooner but that is based on their own feelings or experience, not the GM recommendation.

Also, you can get the GM supplied, free service anytime in the first two years - it doesn't have to be the first service. I have bought my last five car brand new and the dealers (three Toyota, 1 Ford, and now the Chevy) all recommended services sooner than the factory recommendations and the prompt for service from the car itself. They get paid for each service. I choose to go by the manufacturer's recommendation. You choose for yourself.

 

^^^^
That was initially but recently at a lecture on C8 maintenance, forum member sdcnews, posted: "I went to a maintenance seminar at the NCM Bash, Guy said it was very important to change the tranny filer at the first service which is free."

Folks can make up their own mind. BUT IMO worth getting the DCT filter changed with the 1st engine oil change. In my case I will spend some extra money year 3 to replace it again when I have all the DCT fluid changed (per note 4 in the Maintenace Table) as required by GM with about 7500 miles on the new filter.

My logic in August 2021 when my OLM said 5% life left, I thought it prudent to change the DCT filter and GM required DCT flush on GM's dime. A number of posters had the DCT flush required after getting a CEL. Flushing initial clutch wear etc material is more important IMO than an early engine oil & filter change I performed in prior 5 Vettes.

In year 3, I will have ~7000 to 7500 miles on the filter replaced year 1 (~10,000 miles overall.) That requires removing the aluminum aero pan to access the oil level drain plug. The 11 quarts of fluid and labor to remove the pan, install the 11 quarts and not paid for my GM. Logical to perform a flush and replace the DCT filter IMO.

If I waited until year two to replace the filter when I had ~7000 miles, year 3 would be replacing 11 quarts of DCT fluid and then NOT replacing the filter or emptying the dirty fluid in the filter housing. The extra labor to install the filter is small compared to the 11 quart fluid change. I will have to pay for the new DCT filter then but IMO smart to do.

 

"I went to a maintenance seminar at the NCM Bash, Guy said it was very important to change the tranny filer at the first service which is free."

With all due respect, this is third hand hearsay, not an official statement from GM. And the reasoning might be in the "at the first service, which is free". As I pointed out, you don't have to take the free service as the first service. I also pointed out that many here believe, as JerryU does, that it should be done at the first service, which is fine. My point is that GM does NOT recommend or require the filter to be changed at a low-mileage first service. As I said, you choose for yourself.

 

don't egg him on. Out of the entire 12 posts of this thread he had already made 4 identical ones. We get it brother Jerry. Do it early and do it often

 

GM did not say you had to wait until 7500 miles. In fact I believe the "semi-official" GM info is logical (BTW, a poster said his tech recently said the same thing,) . When I made my "logical decision" with 3500 miles at my year 1 engine oil change I did so for a number of reasons;

• First, a number of folks have had DCT CELS. Soem went away and the GM advice for others was to do a flush.
• GM admitted Tremec in Michigan where the DCT is assembled (from parts in their Mexican plant and probably others) had some shafts that were not sufficiently cleaned.
• For the 1st ~500 to 800 miles, car was a bit jerky when I was pulling into my garage, which I do at a crawl to control the gap from driver's mirror tip to wood door molding to less than about 2 inches so the passenger side mirror clears with plenty of room. Below about ~4/5 mph the 1st gear clutch MUST slip (or the engine would stall.) After ~1000 miles, as now with 6800 miles (approaching year 2 oil change) it's perfectly smooth. So the multiple clutch disks wore in and left some debris. (Also some other initial part wear, like sift forks sliding on shafts and synchros mating.)
• IF I waited until year 2 when I would have about 7500 miles, at year 3 when I replaced all 11 quarts of DCT fluid (see note 4 in Maintenance table, that is REQUIRED) I'd had a 1 year old filter and whatever "dirty" fluid was left in the filter housing. Although not required I will at year 3 DCT fluid change replace the 1st year new filter after 2 years with about 7000 to 7500 miles. IMO better than leaving "dirty fluid" to mix with all new!

Yep, fluid, fluid change labor and filter will be on my dime!


1st gear outer clutch was a bit jerky when moving at a crawl for the 1st 500 to 800 miles. Multiple clutch plates to wear in causing debris. Perfectly smooth after ~1000 miles!

 

Yep, you're right! I'm like the Energizer Bubby!

I often post NOT for the few Vocal Minority Posters (like myself, about 10 on this Thread) but for the many times that number (~500 in this case) who I call the Silent Majority who just view Threads. Many will not post because of the flak they get!

I often don't expect posters, who often have their mind made up, to change their opinion! BUT for new folks viewing the Thread will repeat the logic. This has been a subject for over a year! Folks still want to save a few dollars, and some don't realize that 3 year change all DCT fluid will cause another decision. As I say, don't care what folks do BUT they need to consider the options.

BTW, they are NOT identical posts, same thought but new words. I do like to write. Just got a nice 1/2 year Royalty Check from CarTech for a book I wrote in 2015! Like that Bunny, still keeps selling!

 

I changed my oil not at the dealer when I put on AFE Track Force exhaust at 2400 miles. The tech told me it was dirty. Glad I did it, still have the GM one and Tranny filter change to do in the future.

 

At my dealer. Doing the whole shebang. Oil, filter, DCT filter and Flush. My tranny was feeling a bit jerky lately so went for the full service.

I’ll pay for the next one myself. It’s a $90,000 car, I can afford it.

 

I invite all the naysayers to watch this weeks "Tech Tuesday" episode on Rick Conti's Youtube vlog. He and the chief Corvette mechanic (Chuck) at his dealership answer viewer questions about Corvettes. This Tuesday they discussed the "first service" which Chuck defined as the one GM pays for that includes the transmission flush and filter replacement, not just an oil change.

On the video Chuck advises to pay for the first oil change if your C8 is low mileage at one year. He said he had talked to GM tech support and they recommend doing the service with the filter change before 7500 miles but as close to 7500 miles as you can get without going over 7500 miles or two years. He said GM doesn't advise changing the filter early at lower mileage.

I don't l know what your feeling are about Rick Conti (many here don't like him) but here is a certified Corvette master mechanic saying (as per GM) to wait until you are close to 7500 miles. You can list all the personal reasons you believe it should be done sooner, but this mechanic says the official GM position is to wait.

 

What does GM pay for? You get one service at the mileage and time of your choosing?