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2015 Corvette Z06 Oil Should Be Changed in the First 500 Miles. You've Been Warned by Chevy

On specialised forums, Corvette Z06 owners shared quite a few horrow stories about their first miles with the all-American brute. In essence, the Z06's 6.2-liter small-block LT4 engine may blow up, spit some plastic and metal or leak precious engine oil.
2015 Corvette Z06 9 photos
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2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 LT4 V82015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 engineChevrolet LT4 6.2L supercharged V8 engine2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z062015 Chevrolet Corvette Z062015 Chevrolet Corvette Z062015 Chevrolet Corvette Z062015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Fox News reporter Gary Gastelu reviewed the Z06 on the track, ending his day in a puddle of oil for the same reason. As complaints ramped up, the golden bowtie finally came clean about what's what: change your oil before the odometer reads 500 miles (just about 800 kilometers), dammit! That's what none other than Chevrolet advises Corvette owners to do.

I'm sorry, but Ferrari does the break-in procedure for the 458 Italia from the factory. The US-spec Ferrari 458 owner's manual recommends you to take it easy with the loud pedal for about 600 miles (1,000 km). What the owner's manual for Maranello's best doesn't recommend owners is to change their effin engine oil after only 500 miles, like Chevrolet does.

In a rare moment of honesty, Chevrolet Corvette spokesman Monte Doran opened up to the peeps from TTAC, declaring the following: "We now encourage all owners to change their oil at 500 miles to remove possible contaminants created during the engine break-in process." Oh, and fill 'er up with Mobil 1 synthetic.

So Chevy has acknowledged, later than ever, that contaminates in the oil circulate through the engine during the break-in period. With thread shavings from the oil filter and other stuff around, it's no wonder 2015 model year Chevrolet Corvette Z06 owners experienced engine failures with their 650 horsepower brutes. The supercharged bruiser just entered its 2016 model year, which makes us wonder why Chevrolet has kept us waiting so long to offer something as simple as an explanation. Cost-cutting, anyone?

Nevertheless, those of you that just got delivery of your Z06s, please go to your dealership service department before the odo hits 500 miles. If the dealer asks "an additional fee" for the Mobil 1 synthetic goodness, tell him with a serious face to STFU and examine General Motors Global Connect message number G_0000205212 for details on dry sump-equipped Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. Simple as that.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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