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UPS delivered a 20L jug on Friday from Ebay……$290 delivered to my door = $13.50/quart. Fresh - dated 2/25, and enough to do the initial change here in the next couple weeks + the yearly service this winter. By the third DCT service @ 7,500 miles, a UOA will have some insights.
Did you have any discussion with Motul regarding their group V base stock DCT fluid and seal life/compatibility in switching from the factory fill?
Wondering what you've done to get C8 products to list on Motul's website. I can't seem to get the car to pull up anywhere.
I did my last 2 (15,000 & 18,500 miles) DCT fluid change this winter and will continue to change yearly with my track mileage. I was going to switch to the Valvoline next time... but this is also interesting.
Try a different web browser…..I’ve noticed some sites have issues depending on which browser is used. Mozilla Firefox works with Motul.
I also spoke with Valvoline product support this morning. They sent me the updated Valvoline DCT spec sheet and said that Valvoline lab's have extensively tested their DCT fluid to be compatible with all models of C8 Corvette's + the other listed applications. They said their race development program has worked with several teams that compete with C8 Corvettes and the Tremec DCT transmission......and also Porsche, Ferrari, and Audi.
This lines up with what all the C8 track guys around here say....that Valvoline DCT fluid is among the best specified for this use case, and being cost effective and easily obtainable means changing it yearly (or more often based on number of track hours) is sensible.
Curious why Valvoline doesn't add the C8 Corvette to the list above, given the recommendation in the email shown. Their website allows you to select the C8 DCT fluid but only says "Product fits your 2023 Chevrolet Corvette".
Also gsvette sings the praises of this fluid but further down recommends the Motul brand--was that specific to the E-ray?
Color me confused...appreciate some clarification. My 3-year DCT fluid change is due this October.
Curious why Valvoline doesn't add the C8 Corvette to the list above, given the recommendation in the email shown. Their website allows you to select the C8 DCT fluid but only says "Product fits your 2023 Chevrolet Corvette".
Also gsvette sings the praises of this fluid but further down recommends the Motul brand--was that specific to the E-ray?
Color me confused...appreciate some clarification. My 3-year DCT fluid change is due this October.
Not sure why they don't update the data sheet, but give Valvoline a call, they will not hesitate to recommend their DCT oil for use in C8 and chat about whatever tech you want. Most of the auto-parts web sites have updated product selectors that will display Valvoline DCT for C8.
As far as the Motul DCT High-Torque fluid, I was intrigued after reading about Motul's development work with Emelia Hartford when she was trapping a Stingray @ 147mph. It is a 100% pure synthetic Ester lubricant, is almost immune from heat/viscosity breakdown, and was the #1 recommended DCT fluid by my McMedic for use in my modified McLaren, and Valvoline DCT was also highly recommended if the Motul fluid was not available.
I got a good deal on a couple of Motul 20L jugs @ about $12/qt, so I’m going to try it for one fluid cycle in the ERay. If there is something I don’t like, I’ll go right back to proven Valvoline and use the Motul DCT-HT in my McLaren. Haven’t changed my recommendation at all on using Valvoline DCT in C8 Corvette.
@gsvette Thanks for the reply. Just ordered Valvoline from rockauto.com and an OEM DCT filter.
NP. If you are going to do the HSF procedure, first remove the old DCT filter, cut it apart, and check the level of sparklies/metallic contamination. Then install one of the cheap $15 Amazon DCT filters and use that during the flush.
Then after the HSF is complete, drop the old fluid and Amazon DCT filter, and replace with Valvoline and the OEM Delco filter. No sense in sacrificing a $100 filter for the HSF flush.
Dealer put the Valvoline DCT fluid in this morning. The service tech didn't want to do it since it isn't OEM, but the service manager overrode that. Brought my own OEM filter, however. Still cost nearly $1k for the work...at least I saved $200 on the fluid vs. their price for the GM brand.
Same buttery smooth shifts on the 60 mile ride home.
Had a nice chat with Mike Furman while I was there. He has hundreds of ZR1 orders on his waiting list.
Dealer put the Valvoline DCT fluid in this morning. The service tech didn't want to do it since it isn't OEM, but the service manager overrode that. Brought my own OEM filter, however. Still cost nearly $1k for the work...at least I saved $200 on the fluid vs. their price for the GM brand.
Same buttery smooth shifts on the 60 mile ride home.
Had a nice chat with Mike Furman while I was there. He has hundreds of ZR1 orders on his waiting list.
So this was Criswell Garithersburg then? Who was the service manager that gave the green light?
Dealer put the Valvoline DCT fluid in this morning. The service tech didn't want to do it since it isn't OEM, but the service manager overrode that. Brought my own OEM filter, however. Still cost nearly $1k for the work...at least I saved $200 on the fluid vs. their price for the GM brand.
Same buttery smooth shifts on the 60 mile ride home.
Had a nice chat with Mike Furman while I was there. He has hundreds of ZR1 orders on his waiting list.
It may be of interest to some - I performed the hydraulic system flush and changed my trans oil. I took an oil sample before the HSF and then a second sample after the HSF before draining the unit. I ran the HSF on a new, clean filter. These samples will get a particle count in addition to the normal wear metals. I want to see what the samples show both before and after the HSF. Should be interesting. I'll put the results up here when I get them back.
It takes longer to remove the shear plate/belly pan than to change the fluid and filter. $1,000???????
The invoice lists two labor charges:
1. DCT Drain and Fill - $180.00 (this after I supplied the Valvoline DCT fluid)
2. DCT filter replacement - $675.00 (this after I supplied the GM OEM DCT filter)
The balance were for the "shop supplies" - $69.95 and misc. small fees, and tax.
Total bill was $932.35
I got the Valvoline DCT fluid from rockauto.com - <$7.00/qt if you buy in 6-packs. I got two and the dealer used 10 qts. OEM DCT filter was $113.
I will add that the car sounds slightly different - a sort of higher pitch from the transmission? Due to a difference in viscosity, perhaps? Or it's my imagination.
The initial drive immediately after the service was all highway miles (around 60). Then two days ago a more aggressive drive for over an hour that included both highway and 2-lane curvy roads. I never listen to the radio so am highly attuned to how the engine/transmission sounds. But ambient temps were high and therefore the A/C was running, which may have affected what I was hearing. Engine coolant temps exceeded 205 a few times.
1. DCT Drain and Fill - $180.00 (this after I supplied the Valvoline DCT fluid)
2. DCT filter replacement - $675.00 (this after I supplied the GM OEM DCT filter)
$180 to unscrew a drain plug and a fill plug?
WOW, just WOW, the filter is under a cover with four bolts that take one minute to remove all of them combined. Pull the filter down, push the new one into place, replace the O-ring on the cover and put four bolts back in. $675 when YOU supplied the filter? Your *** is ringing like the liberty bell over that one.
The labor for both these are first to remove and reinstall the shear plate and second time to run the secondary procedures of the flush and leak test. As noted once the shear plate is off the drain and fill and the filter replacement are not time consuming and a good portion of the filter replacement requires running the DCT through the gears and checking fluid level which is needed for the drain and fill too.
So split the charges however the dealer want's either put the time under the D&F or filter, doesn't matter. But together $1k is flat crazy for basically labor time.
Originally Posted by Phil1098
$180 to unscrew a drain plug and a fill plug?
WOW, just WOW, the filter is under a cover with four bolts that take one minute to remove all of them combined. Pull the filter down, push the new one into place, replace the O-ring on the cover and put four bolts back in. $675 when YOU supplied the filter? Your *** is ringing like the liberty bell over that one.
WOW, just WOW, the filter is under a cover with four bolts that take one minute to remove all of them combined. Pull the filter down, push the new one into place, replace the O-ring on the cover and put four bolts back in. $675 when YOU supplied the filter? Your *** is ringing like the liberty bell over that one.
Not bothered at all by the cost...it's expected that maintenance will be more pricey at some dealerships vs. others. Also it's good for another 3 years now.
So no, my a$$ isn't "ringing"...whatever you meant by that.
The labor for both these are first to remove and reinstall the shear plate and second time to run the secondary procedures of the flush and leak test. As noted once the shear plate is off the drain and fill and the filter replacement are not time consuming and a good portion of the filter replacement requires running the DCT through the gears and checking fluid level which is needed for the drain and fill too.
I went through this with my Cadillac and the known issue of the thermostat on a 3.6 LGX. They quoted me $1,300 to change the thermostat and another $1,100 to change the temp sensor that is one inch away that require the thermostat housing to be removed to change. (adds 5 minutes to the thermostat job). I said, you're quoting the sensor like it's the ONLY thing that's being done, you don't need to remove the intake and thermostat housing again. She said, that's how we do it. So I bought $95 of GM parts, and did it myself and saved the $2,400. Stupid dealer. .
I went through this with my Cadillac and the known issue of the thermostat on a 3.6 LGX. They quoted me $1,300 to change the thermostat and another $1,100 to change the temp sensor that is one inch away that require the thermostat housing to be removed to change. (adds 5 minutes to the thermostat job). I said, you're quoting the sensor like it's the ONLY thing that's being done, you don't need to remove the intake and thermostat housing again. She said, that's how we do it. So I bought $95 of GM parts, and did it myself and saved the $2,400. Stupid dealer. .
