C5 maintenance
Discussion
Up for 50K service now and think I will get my local garage to do the sevrice rather than traipse all the way back to Frosts at Worthing. Checking the manual there is little to do unless something is defective. But in checking I noted that the spark plugs should be replaced at 40K if not platinun tipped. I thought that that all C5s had platinum tipped plugs, ie I thought they all were changed at 100K. Frosts did not chnage them at 40K service.
If I pull one will it be obvious whether it is platinum or not?
Has anyone changed them, if so what did you fit?
If I pull one will it be obvious whether it is platinum or not?
Has anyone changed them, if so what did you fit?
yellowshark454 said:
If I pull one will it be obvious whether it is platinum or not?
I don't know if you can tell if its *platinum* by looking at them, but here's a list of the codes (ringed around the plug) for ACDelco plugs; this may help!
---
Mfg_Part_No Sku Short_Desc
R46SZ 1051531 R46SX AC. RES. PLUG
R45XLS6 1025286 AC SPARK PLUG
R45XLS 1159468 AC SPARK PLUG
R45TSX 1047330 AC SPARK PLUG
R45TS 151450 AC SPARK PLUG
R45T 151436 AC SPARK PLUG
R45S 151467 R46S AC RES. PLUG
R45LTS6 8451657 AC SPARK PLUG
R45 151405 AC SPARK PLUG
R44XLS6 8032230 AC SPARK PLUG
R44XLS 151555 AC SPARK PLUG
R44TX 1013162 AC SPARK PLUG
R44TSX 1069408 AC SPARK PLUG
R44TS8 1142475 AC SPARK PLUG
R44TS 151786 AC SPARK PLUG
R44T 151850 AC SPARK PLUG
R44LTSM6 8993854 AC RESISTOR PLUG
R44LTSM 8128098 AC SPARK PLUG
R44LTS6 1211715 AC SPARK PLUG
R44LTS 1237704 AC SPARK PLUG
R43XLS 151579 AC SPARK PLUG
R43TSK 8993885 AC RESISTOR PLUG
R43TS6 1013148 AC SPARK PLUG
R43TS 1137590 AC SPARK PLUG
R43T 8032223 AC SPARK PLUG
R43S 8782889 R44S AC RES. PLUG
R43 151393 AC SPARK PLUG
R42XLS 1199857 AC SPARK PLUG
R42TS 1137583 AC SPARK PLUG
R42T 8032173 AC SPARK PLUG
R42LTSM 8451688 AC SPARK PLUG
R42LTS 1176005 AC SPARK PLUG
FR5LS 8451769 AC SPARK PLUG
FR4LSJ 8993904 AC RESISTOR PLUG
CR45TS 8451790 AC SPARK PLUG
CR44TS 8993861 AC RESISTOR PLUG
CR43TSM 8993878 AC RESISTOR PLUG
CR43TS 8032197 AC SPARK PLUG
CR42TS 8993892 AC RESISTOR PLUG
41-952 8993911 AC PLATINUM PLUG
41-950 8993928 AC PLATINUM PLUG
41-948 8993935 AC PLATINUM PLUG
41-943 8993942 AC PLATINUM PLUG
41-942 8993959 AC PLATINUM PLUG
41-940 8993966 AC PLATINUM PLUG
41-932 8993980 AC PLATINUM PLUG
41-928 8993997 AC PLATINUM PLUG
41-921 8994002 AC PLATINUM PLUG
41-919 8994019 AC PLATINUM PLUG
41-913 8994026 AC PLATINUM PLUG
41-908 8994033 AC PLATINUM PLUG
41-906 8994040 AC PLATINUM PLUG
41-904 8994064 AC PLATINUM PLUG
41-902 8994071 AC PLATINUM PLUG
41-628 8994088 AC RESISTOR PLUG
41-627 8994095 AC RESISTOR PLUG
41-606 8994107 AC RESISTOR PLUG
41-602 8994114 AC RESISTOR PLUG
41-601 8529437 AC SPARK PLUG
>> Edited by c4koh on Wednesday 17th November 21:49
They should be platinum. My Camaros plugs have never been changed and they're about 72000 miles now. However, I do have a set of Bosch Platinum +4's which I'm going to fit when I get round to it.
I don't know about the Vette but the Z28 and the GM axle generally requires exactly what they recommend and it has to be the GM additive....which isn't cheap.
I don't know about the Vette but the Z28 and the GM axle generally requires exactly what they recommend and it has to be the GM additive....which isn't cheap.
Lus1fer said:
...
I don't know about the Vette but the Z28 and the GM axle generally requires exactly what they recommend and it has to be the GM additive....which isn't cheap.
Thanks. 2 points. You use the word "additive", is this the "lubricant" as I would call it? The Corvette manual speciifically says a "friction modifier" should NOT be added, I take this term to mean an additive but I have never heard this term before.
If I have to use the GM oil/additive is there anywhere in the UK I can get it?
c4koh said:
If I pull one will it be obvious whether it is platinum or not?
I don't know if you can tell if its *platinum* by looking at them, but here's a list of the codes (ringed around the plug) for ACDelco plugs; this may help!
---
>> Edited by c4koh on Wednesday 17th November 21:49
Err, I rather suspect it will help!! Thanks
Whoaaa
Confusion in my brain. The GM maintenance schedule, under 10,000 mile interval, says " Locking differential oil change",. I did not pay any attention to the word "locking" I guess I always assumed the C5 had a limited slip diff and just did not correlate the two phrases. The Lubricant section at the rear of the manual has 2 references, one to a Locking differential and the other to a Limited slip differential.
So what have I got and how do I find out. I do not recall ordering any option on this when I purchased the car and I do not recall any option being offered.
And
I cannot see anywhere in the maintenance schedule any reference to changing the lubricant on a limited slip diff. If this is what I have, when is the lubricant meant to be changed.
And
When I bought the car I recall there being a statement somewhere that the first major service on a C5 was at 100,00 miles. But my GM maintenance book makes no reference to this. The cycles are 10k, 20K and 40K plus spark plugs at 100K or 40K depending on tip, auto trans and filter change at 100K, coolant change 150K. Is my manual missing something??
Confusion in my brain. The GM maintenance schedule, under 10,000 mile interval, says " Locking differential oil change",. I did not pay any attention to the word "locking" I guess I always assumed the C5 had a limited slip diff and just did not correlate the two phrases. The Lubricant section at the rear of the manual has 2 references, one to a Locking differential and the other to a Limited slip differential.
So what have I got and how do I find out. I do not recall ordering any option on this when I purchased the car and I do not recall any option being offered.
And
I cannot see anywhere in the maintenance schedule any reference to changing the lubricant on a limited slip diff. If this is what I have, when is the lubricant meant to be changed.
And
When I bought the car I recall there being a statement somewhere that the first major service on a C5 was at 100,00 miles. But my GM maintenance book makes no reference to this. The cycles are 10k, 20K and 40K plus spark plugs at 100K or 40K depending on tip, auto trans and filter change at 100K, coolant change 150K. Is my manual missing something??
If in doubt, I'd ring Claremont Corvette who are incredibly helpful and Bauer Millett who should know (in theory). Alternatively, I'd post it on www.CorvetteForum.com as they'll certainly know.
Sorted, partly at least
Called Claremont and spoke to Rodney.
Never change the diff oil.
But the manual says you do and wots this locked vs ltd slip thing
Hmn I'll go and talk to Tom
While you are at it I cannot find anything on changing gearbox oil.
That doesnt get changed either.....
TOM- all C5s have a ltd slip and yes you need to change the oil and yes should use the GM product and yes I just happen to have some.
So deal done. But I forgot to ask Tom about the gearbox and based on Rodneys accuracy on the diff, who knows.
Called Claremont and spoke to Rodney.
Never change the diff oil.
But the manual says you do and wots this locked vs ltd slip thing
Hmn I'll go and talk to Tom
While you are at it I cannot find anything on changing gearbox oil.
That doesnt get changed either.....
TOM- all C5s have a ltd slip and yes you need to change the oil and yes should use the GM product and yes I just happen to have some.
So deal done. But I forgot to ask Tom about the gearbox and based on Rodneys accuracy on the diff, who knows.
Sorted, partly at least
Called Claremont and spoke to Rodney.
Never change the diff oil.
But the manual says you do and wots this locked vs ltd slip thing
Hmn I'll go and talk to Tom
While you are at it I cannot find anything on changing gearbox oil.
That doesnt get changed either.....
TOM- all C5s have a ltd slip and yes you need to change the oil and yes should use the GM product and yes I just happen to have some.
So deal done. But I forgot to ask Tom about the gearbox and based on Rodneys accuracy on the diff, who knows.
Called Claremont and spoke to Rodney.
Never change the diff oil.
But the manual says you do and wots this locked vs ltd slip thing
Hmn I'll go and talk to Tom
While you are at it I cannot find anything on changing gearbox oil.
That doesnt get changed either.....
TOM- all C5s have a ltd slip and yes you need to change the oil and yes should use the GM product and yes I just happen to have some.
So deal done. But I forgot to ask Tom about the gearbox and based on Rodneys accuracy on the diff, who knows.
Sorted, partly at least
Called Claremont and spoke to Rodney.
Never change the diff oil.
But the manual says you do and wots this locked vs ltd slip thing
Hmn I'll go and talk to Tom
While you are at it I cannot find anything on changing gearbox oil.
That doesnt get changed either.....
TOM- all C5s have a ltd slip and yes you need to change the oil and yes should use the GM product and yes I just happen to have some.
So deal done. But I forgot to ask Tom about the gearbox and based on Rodneys accuracy on the diff, who knows.
Called Claremont and spoke to Rodney.
Never change the diff oil.
But the manual says you do and wots this locked vs ltd slip thing
Hmn I'll go and talk to Tom
While you are at it I cannot find anything on changing gearbox oil.
That doesnt get changed either.....
TOM- all C5s have a ltd slip and yes you need to change the oil and yes should use the GM product and yes I just happen to have some.
So deal done. But I forgot to ask Tom about the gearbox and based on Rodneys accuracy on the diff, who knows.
Platinum coated spark plugs are standard on the C5 and they are supposed to last 100,000 miles, but from what I've read on other forums it's best not to leave them in untouched for the duration. About every 40-50,000 miles (that'll be me next year) pull them out and inspect their condition. It stops them seizing into place. If you put plugs other than platinum tipped in they'll work just fine but you'll have to replace them more frequently.
For diff oil, if I remember correctly it gets replaced once at the first 10,000 mile service and never again. I put some Redline 75W90 in mine at about 20,000 and have had no problems. It is suitable for limited slip differentials as fitted as standard to the C5. You do not need to use any slip modification additives with this oil.
For gearbox oil use Redline D4ATF in the manual and automatic gearboxes, do not use the MT90. MT90 is only really of use in racing/track day only cars, its too obstructive when cold for use in street-driven cars. Been there done that ! You don't have to replace gearbox oil if you don't want to, when I drained my original gearbox oil at 20,000 miles it was clear as a bell and showed no signs of problems at all. I only really changed as a precaution against track use last year.
For diff oil, if I remember correctly it gets replaced once at the first 10,000 mile service and never again. I put some Redline 75W90 in mine at about 20,000 and have had no problems. It is suitable for limited slip differentials as fitted as standard to the C5. You do not need to use any slip modification additives with this oil.
For gearbox oil use Redline D4ATF in the manual and automatic gearboxes, do not use the MT90. MT90 is only really of use in racing/track day only cars, its too obstructive when cold for use in street-driven cars. Been there done that ! You don't have to replace gearbox oil if you don't want to, when I drained my original gearbox oil at 20,000 miles it was clear as a bell and showed no signs of problems at all. I only really changed as a precaution against track use last year.
OK all, I don't know how many of you were aware of this, here is my post to an American list this evening which explains it...
"OK thanks for that Hib, and some of the other responses folks. There is an element here I think of country differences. In the UK you tend to get a workshop manual (which you would refer to as the Service manual) and a maintenance booklet. The latter tells you what needs to be done at each service and the agent stamps to prove servicing etc, whereas the works manual tells you how to do things.
I was looking at the official GM maintenance booklet that came with my documentation pack with a UK Corvette, not an imported variety. This is what I have used for warranty servicing and this has been carried out by a Corvette dealership at the intervals in the booklet specified at every 10,000 miles.
I had assumed, perhaps naively, that everything was OK, as I was never told by the garage that a service was not required at that point. Now, paying more attention to the booklet following your post I see that it does not actually say Corvette anywhere; it is titled passenger car and light duty trucks (hence the reference to locked differentials!!).
I have very recently acquired the 3 volume manual, so recently that I have not looked at much of it, let alone read it cover to cover and because of my first point, I naturally (for me) gravitated to the maintenance booklet for the service schedule, not the Service manual. A quick delve shows me that indeed the service schedule info is there and that it is significantly different to that shown in the maintenance booklet - which is crazy because the Service Manual is not available in the UK. It is clear that I have had the car serviced more frequently than was necessary, which is OK for the car but pisses me of as I have presumably been conned by the garage. I doubt that Cadillac Europe change servicing schedules from the USA schedule, or maybe they do. Once I have substantiated my facts I will be writing to them with no intent of patting them on the back.
To close, I now have the right information, with options on lubricants kindly supplied by the list members, so I will retire with a glass of wine, read through the Service manual stuff and get on with it!! Thanks"
No idea what you guys have been doing but I have had my vette serviced each 10K miles which is wrong, albeit that is what is in the documentation supplied with my Vette. The service interval is 15k miles (except for a 50K for auto boxes_. In the service manual there is no recommendation to change rear axle oil. But as I have just purchased some from Claremont who said it was part of the schedule, and I have done 50K (now not due a service!!), a change probably will not do it any harm.
For a manual box the only maintenance prior to 100K is oil change as and when, and air cleaner filter every 30K miles. At 100K you have to get the wallet out for spark plugs although I suspect most of us will do that earlier. At no point in the schdule is there any recommndation to change gearbox or diff oils, except for utos which have a gearbox oil chnage every 50K.
I have to say I feel uncomfortble about the gear and axle oils, am I being old fashioned?
"OK thanks for that Hib, and some of the other responses folks. There is an element here I think of country differences. In the UK you tend to get a workshop manual (which you would refer to as the Service manual) and a maintenance booklet. The latter tells you what needs to be done at each service and the agent stamps to prove servicing etc, whereas the works manual tells you how to do things.
I was looking at the official GM maintenance booklet that came with my documentation pack with a UK Corvette, not an imported variety. This is what I have used for warranty servicing and this has been carried out by a Corvette dealership at the intervals in the booklet specified at every 10,000 miles.
I had assumed, perhaps naively, that everything was OK, as I was never told by the garage that a service was not required at that point. Now, paying more attention to the booklet following your post I see that it does not actually say Corvette anywhere; it is titled passenger car and light duty trucks (hence the reference to locked differentials!!).
I have very recently acquired the 3 volume manual, so recently that I have not looked at much of it, let alone read it cover to cover and because of my first point, I naturally (for me) gravitated to the maintenance booklet for the service schedule, not the Service manual. A quick delve shows me that indeed the service schedule info is there and that it is significantly different to that shown in the maintenance booklet - which is crazy because the Service Manual is not available in the UK. It is clear that I have had the car serviced more frequently than was necessary, which is OK for the car but pisses me of as I have presumably been conned by the garage. I doubt that Cadillac Europe change servicing schedules from the USA schedule, or maybe they do. Once I have substantiated my facts I will be writing to them with no intent of patting them on the back.
To close, I now have the right information, with options on lubricants kindly supplied by the list members, so I will retire with a glass of wine, read through the Service manual stuff and get on with it!! Thanks"
No idea what you guys have been doing but I have had my vette serviced each 10K miles which is wrong, albeit that is what is in the documentation supplied with my Vette. The service interval is 15k miles (except for a 50K for auto boxes_. In the service manual there is no recommendation to change rear axle oil. But as I have just purchased some from Claremont who said it was part of the schedule, and I have done 50K (now not due a service!!), a change probably will not do it any harm.
For a manual box the only maintenance prior to 100K is oil change as and when, and air cleaner filter every 30K miles. At 100K you have to get the wallet out for spark plugs although I suspect most of us will do that earlier. At no point in the schdule is there any recommndation to change gearbox or diff oils, except for utos which have a gearbox oil chnage every 50K.
I have to say I feel uncomfortble about the gear and axle oils, am I being old fashioned?
mickcorvette580 said:
Hi Richard I have seen these threads about service C5's and wondered why your service maintenance record was with Cadillac Europe just beeing nosey.
Hi Mick - it's in German so they are transferring the stamps etc to an English version. Hopefully it should make more sense to me then!!!
Hello all,
With a relatively aged (compared to you C5 guys) '86 C4, I'm probably not qualified to be talking in such high flying circles! But I'll put my 2p worth in anyways.
DIff oil - I bought the GM kit for mine (er, still to put it in though...) it consists of a couple of bottles of the axle lubricant and a bottle of LSD additive.
Gearboxes - well, with autos there is a definite need to keep changing the oil on a relatively regular basis (and filter) - obviously it builds up with friction material off the clutches and bands, as well as getting burnt if you give you car some grief! Although if you've an old transmission or haven't changed the oil since the Cuban Missile Crisis then I have heard that putting new oil in can start the tranny slipping! Think you'd still be well advised to change the oil for new though...
Plugs - I had bad experiences with the Bosch plugs, so would advise against them. Okay, it was in a Skoda 1300 that was tuned, but the Bosch plugs are quite a 'cold' plug (the 4 electrodes transfer a lot of heat back to the surrounding head) which may not be what is specc'd for your engine. I'm not convinced by the quality either. Nor by Champion, I've known of a few cases (myself included) where the insulator comes away from the threaded body of the plug - it starts rattling in and out with the piston stroke. Okay, it's rare but I wouldn't want to trash an engine for the sake of it. I'd go AC or NGK on the plugs...
Oil changes/servicing, oaky, I'm doing all my own servicing on my cars (due to age and value I, er, don't need dealer service stamps...) but oil is a cheap and easy thing to change. I didn't even trust VW saying my Corrado's service interval was 10k miles. Change the oil and filter at 6000... it's much more likely to give your engine that bit more life! Especially for a Corvette, which with some of us not covering many miles in a year could mean three years + between oil changes if using GM intervals!
Right, I'll finish my un-informed speech and be off then!
Francis.
With a relatively aged (compared to you C5 guys) '86 C4, I'm probably not qualified to be talking in such high flying circles! But I'll put my 2p worth in anyways.
DIff oil - I bought the GM kit for mine (er, still to put it in though...) it consists of a couple of bottles of the axle lubricant and a bottle of LSD additive.
Gearboxes - well, with autos there is a definite need to keep changing the oil on a relatively regular basis (and filter) - obviously it builds up with friction material off the clutches and bands, as well as getting burnt if you give you car some grief! Although if you've an old transmission or haven't changed the oil since the Cuban Missile Crisis then I have heard that putting new oil in can start the tranny slipping! Think you'd still be well advised to change the oil for new though...
Plugs - I had bad experiences with the Bosch plugs, so would advise against them. Okay, it was in a Skoda 1300 that was tuned, but the Bosch plugs are quite a 'cold' plug (the 4 electrodes transfer a lot of heat back to the surrounding head) which may not be what is specc'd for your engine. I'm not convinced by the quality either. Nor by Champion, I've known of a few cases (myself included) where the insulator comes away from the threaded body of the plug - it starts rattling in and out with the piston stroke. Okay, it's rare but I wouldn't want to trash an engine for the sake of it. I'd go AC or NGK on the plugs...
Oil changes/servicing, oaky, I'm doing all my own servicing on my cars (due to age and value I, er, don't need dealer service stamps...) but oil is a cheap and easy thing to change. I didn't even trust VW saying my Corrado's service interval was 10k miles. Change the oil and filter at 6000... it's much more likely to give your engine that bit more life! Especially for a Corvette, which with some of us not covering many miles in a year could mean three years + between oil changes if using GM intervals!
Right, I'll finish my un-informed speech and be off then!
Francis.
May be old fashioned but I think there's still value in having those dealer stamps when it comes time to sell an expensive car. Do the intermediate oil changes myself and put the car into the dealer for the services. The Vette independents didn't have any C5 diagnostics or parts last time I looked around, though Jeal say they can do it. Crownhill in Milton Keynes are a bit pricey but do the job and have a commitment to North American GM vehicles. Saves a trip to Manchester.
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