Hi Folks,

Just took my 25 C8 Z51 out of Winter storage. Needed a state inspection. The dealer told me an oil change was due. I've 5680 miles on the car. Thought it was required along with the transmission cartridge filter replacement at 7500 miles. Suddenly a warning message flashed telling me the oil change was due immediately! Was this a dealer created warning? Is it legit? I've an appointment for Thursday to have it changed. Understand the car sat for 4 1/2 months without it being started. The oil change should be free. Correct? Thanks for the advice.

Cardiac Kid

 

Warning isn't dealer caused. The oil life monitor the car has uses a multiple of factors including time, miles, RPM, duration of drive, temperature, etc.

Your case, time is the one that drove your OLM to 0% as it is programmed to hit 0% at the 12 month mark no matter what. 0 miles could be driven, the OLM will hit 0% at the 12 month mark since last reset.

GM dictates the oil to be changed at least once every 12 months. Want to keep the warranty? Maintain it per the manual. Read the manual, get familiar with the maintenance schedule. Don't rely on what facebook says because 90% of those people who post often have wrong info because they just repeat the wrong or outdated info they read there.

Yes the first oil change should be free and with a 2025, it is separated out from the free DCT external filter. So you will still have the free DCT filter change once you get to the miles for the DCT filter change.

 

Thanks for the reply. I'm not using the dealer I purchased the C8 from. Didn't trust their information. This is my first Vette. It is also my first GM product at 81 years young. Better car than I am a driver! Lots of experience in HP autos and I still have my 1977 Lotus Esprit purchased in July of '77.

Cardiac Kid

 

If the car has been off for a while and time passes the on year mark, it may initially show some remaining oil life left - because it takes a short time for the oil life system to catch up - I do not know why but that is what mine did. But your statement "Thought it was required along with the transmission cartridge filter replacement at 7500 miles. " shows that have you have not yet read the maintenance requirements. There are a bunch in there - and you need to look at them. Here is a summary of the key requirements:

engine oil/filter: Change when the oil life system says so, but at least once a year. The OLM will never go beyond 1 year or 7,500 miles, but it can go much less. There is no statement in your manual saying the oil is changed at 7,500 miles.

DCT external canister filter: change between 7,000 and 8,000 miles even if changed earlier, then at 22,500 miles, then every 22,500 miles after that, or 24 hours of track use whichever is first. There is no time on that, and fluid is not changed at the same time.

DCT transmission fluid: Change when the fluid life monitor says so, or 45000 miles, or at least every three years, or 24 hours of track use whichever is first. Your fluid life monitor fails to include the time (the three year requirement) so you must observe that yourself. It means that when you get near three years, your fluid life monitor may show considerable remaining fluid life - ignore it. You must change at least every three years. Fluid and filter are not changed at the same time unless their service interval happen to coincide.


The terms of expiration of the "free" service are different, and not to be confused with the required maintenance schedule.

You have two years to claim your free oil change and there is no mileage constraint on when you can claim it.

You have three years to claim your free DCT filter change, but you must have at least 7000 miles to claim it.