C8 Oil Changes Easy

[John]

Easy accessible fill from the top.



Easy accessible oil filter underneath. Thank you CorvetteBlogger.

Chevrolet Makes It Relatively Easy For You to Change the Motor Oil in the 2020 Corvette




Did you know a routine oil change in a McLaren F1 costs about $8,000 and annual maintenance costs are estimated to be roughly $30,000 every year? Or that the rubber fuel cell service every five years requires the powertrain to be removed?

That’s why some folks were probably hesitant when Chevrolet announced that it was changing the legendary Corvette to a mid-engine format – like the McLaren – for the 2020 model year.

Oh, no, how will we ever afford maintenance on a mid-engine Stingray, some moaned.



No worries, did you really think the company that gave you plenty of luggage space in the front and back at a starting MSRP of less than $60,000 would really make a Corvette that is ultra-expensive to maintain?

In fact, Torque News recently showed a photo of the bottom of a C8 Corvette that apparently reveals a cutout for the oil filter and possibly the drain plug, design factors that should make it a breeze for all the do-it-yourself oil changers out there.

It’s a good thing that cutout is there, too, since the underbelly of the slick new Stingray is coated with plenty of aero panels that minimize drag and air turbulence.

Of course, one advantage that the McLaren F1 does have over the Corvette is its ridiculous resale value. The last one of about 106 built from 1992 to 1998 sold for $11 million – definitely making those high maintenance costs worth it.

Still, it’s nice knowing that for average Joes like us, just changing the oil in our new mid-engine Corvette won’t send us to bankruptcy court.

https://www.corvetteblogger.com/2019...2020-corvette/

[Teamzr1]

Being this is a dry sump oil system

Where is the oil drain plugs located and if easy access to them ?

Hope this system is better that the most screwup people have done since the C6s is improper oil fills for the dry sump system it had

As example a shop I work with got in a 2016 Camaro SS, owner claimed signs of oil loss and engine did not function well
Turns out even with the oil loss ( sparkplugs, O2 sensors and CATs were oil soaked/clogged up) still had 1 quart overfilled

[Mobius]

Being this is a dry sump oil system

Where is the oil drain plugs located and if easy access to them ?

If the filter has an easy-access cutout, the motor oi drain plug(s) should also.

In fact, the engine block drain plug may be accessible (from the filter cutout shown) after the filter has been removed.

Hope this system is better that the most screwup people have done since the C6s is improper oil fills for the dry sump system it had

We've all heard the overfill stories, caused by dealership service techs who don't know the differences between a Stingray/Z51/Z06 for oil fill amounts...

Word on the street is that the C8 oil level will be checked with a warm engine while idling - like is done with many current Ferraris.

As long as the service tech knows this (fingers crossed) it should make for a accurate oil level measurement.

[Meldoon]

I don’t think the plug in the bottom of the engine will drain the oil tank. There would need be a separate plug in the bottom of the tank, or, it could be pumped (vacuumed) out.

[Mobius]

I don’t think the plug in the bottom of the engine will drain the oil tank.

Agreed, my bet is there will likely be a 2nd plug specific to the dry sump tank.

[meyerweb]

In fact, the engine block drain plug may be accessible (from the filter cutout shown) after the filter has been removed.

Sure hope I can drain the oil before removing the filter. Otherwise that's going to be one messy job.

[ZORA 69]

Everytime I hear the stories of how expensive it is to do simple maintenance like an oil change on an exotic car , the first thing that comes to mind is poor engineering of that car. I am not impressed with these crazy exotics. If something as simple as an oil change costs $8,000 what else was a poor design in the car.

[Teamzr1]

If the filter has an easy-access cutout, the motor oi drain plug(s) should also.

In fact, the engine block drain plug may be accessible (from the filter cutout shown) after the filter has been removed.



We've all heard the overfill stories, caused by dealership service techs who don't know the differences between a Stingray/Z51/Z06 for oil fill amounts...

Word on the street is that the C8 oil level will be checked with a warm engine while idling - like is done with many current Ferraris.

As long as the service tech knows this (fingers crossed) it should make for a accurate oil level measurement.

One problem is most do not know there is 2 oil drain plugs and only removes one so some oil is not drained out and then put in the full volume
of oil so now overfilled

[meyerweb]

Everytime I hear the stories of how expensive it is to do simple maintenance like an oil change on an exotic car , the first thing that comes to mind is poor engineering of that car. I am not impressed with these crazy exotics. If something as simple as an oil change costs $8,000 what else was a poor design in the car.

Yes, but the McLaren F1 was essentially a race car made usable on the street. It was sold in extremely limited quantities and never intended as a practical daily driver. The engineering emphasis was on maximizing performance in relatively livable street car, not on practicality. It was pushing the limits of technology and engineering at the time. And it's owners certainly could afford the oil change.

If the expense were the same for something like a Ferrari 488, which is intended as a relatively practical street car, I would agree with you 100%.

[Mobius]

Sure hope I can drain the oil before removing the filter. Otherwise that's going to be one messy job.

C8 Tip: Just loosen the filter until oil begins to flow down the sides of the filter and into your oil drain pan.
After a several minutes* the oil will have drained completely, and you'll be able to remove the filter without mess.


*If it takes longer, treat yourself to a refreshing beverage - you deserve it.

[gunkk]

Pro tip: use a Stahlbus valve for the oil drain plug.

Zero mess, and makes collecting samples for Blackstone et. al. a breeze!

[John]

Excellent. Thank you.

[meyerweb]

Pro tip: use a Stahlbus valve for the oil drain plug.

Zero mess, and makes collecting samples for Blackstone et. al. a breeze!

Still need to drain the oil the regular way at least once.

[Milliwatt Rob]

I am not sure how the oil draining will work on the LT2. Unlike the LT1, in the LT2 oil is pumped back to the tank from three areas in the engine, not just one. So does that mean three drain plugs on the engine itself?

[C7Redneck]

I started taking my own oil, 0w40 ESP, to the dealer for my Z51. This last oil change I gave them 13 qts. They returned 4 and one with a little in the bottle. So less than 9 qts for a car that takes 9.8.

Their official response was was that the mechanic insists he drained both plugs and put the proper amount in.

My point is if you supply the oil you save their markup and know how much was used!