Does Your C5 Corvette Require a Tune UP? (My take & what to do INSTEAD!)

[@mokeozinga7290]

I've never actually lubricated the weather stripping, but I have treated and cleaned mine several times since buying the car. I had a bottle of the Chemical Guys vinyl, plastic and rubber cleaner and, I'll tell you what, that stuff is pretty versatile in many different automotive areas. At least it helps prevent the guaranteed leaks we C5 owners know.

[@TacticalEagle29]

Would love to see a similar video for the C6! Call me lazy but I very much appreciate having all the data in one place so I don't have to reference the manual

[@Fndio98]

About to go look at an ‘02 with 70k miles. This channel has helped me finally pull the trigger, thank you sir!!!

[@Toys4Life]

Great to hear!

[@wendells28]

Add a fuel filter replacement in there around 50,000 miles. Maybe a fuel system cleaning if you're so inclined. Like brake fluid, a power steering fluid change at 10 years, 100,000 miles!

[@Toys4Life]

Not a good time to have a late 2003/2004. Fuel filter is in the tank (;-(

[@wendells28]

Another step to encourage owners to utilize the local strealership's service department🤬

[@papagigo1]

Fuel is filtered 6 times before it gets to your car.

[@bigbenisdaman]

MAF, clean the maf when you check air filter but only with maf cleaner. Also, thanks for the reminder, I ain't lubed my weatherstripping this year yet!

[@kenwoodall837]

Great video, thanks. I love your editing. I finally picked up a 01 C5 after watching your videos for the last year. It only has 33k on it and it's in great shape, although it does have an automatic transmission ( insert gasping crowd noise ). I'm going to commute with it 8 months of the year here in Oregon so the auto is actually kinda nice. It does have the 3.15 rear gear so that helps. It is bone stock and I love it so far😊

[@markhagopian3257]

I love my automatic with the 3.15 rear end. I plain old didn’t want a manual. I’m old. Have bad legs. And just wanna drive and chill.

[@Toys4Life]

That's awesome! I make fun of the automatics (a little bit) but at the end of the day whatever works for the owners primary intended use is what's best! Enjoy!!

[@haydenrichardp3712]

Lubed my window seals yesterday. I learned this on my first Vette , a C3.

[@castlegarage6969]

Will silicone dielectric grease work

[@stephenpowell6001]

@@castlegarage6969 Yes, dielectric grease is the only lubricant to use on rubber weatherstripping. But make sure you clean it good, first.

[@castlegarage6969]

@stephenpowell6001 yep did mine looks better

[@ForeverDownByLaw]

One thing I would add to do yearly is blow out the radiator fins with compressed air. The radiator has a tendency to get plugged up with road debris and grass/bugs. Re: the plugs, on my 99, the tip of the original plugs had a small disc on the electrode, which on a few had either burned off or fell off. My car only had 27000 miles on it when this happened and it was causing pinging either from preignition or detonation. A change of plugs solved the issue. On the earlier cars it may be worth changing them out for a more modern plug.

[@MadMatt-bs3xv]

I was born in 1982. To me a tune up consists of spark plugs, ignition wires, fuel filter, and pcv valve. That’s the cars I’m used to.

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you 👍

[@skeetermccleeter]

I was born in 1983 and would add distributor rotor and cap as well.

[@DIYKAI]

04 C5 83k replaced plugs with AC Delco check them every 50k. MSD coils and wires. Aftermarket CAI clean and oil when dirty. Power steering was done at 83k first time with Delco fluid and it is silent now. Same with trans and diff about every 50K USE TECHRON additive every 4th fill up in a 03-04 to protect the internal filter and pump

[@iansouch]

I spray my weather stripping with silicone oil😊

[@GregorioLonewolf]

Actually the L98 in the C4's still had a cap & rotor, points & condenser. Good video. Yes, I silicone the door, hood, trunk hinges and the weather stripping as well. Since I'm old and my 1st car being a 1965 Chevelle SS 2 door and a muscle car lover what you say about the regular intervals of L-O-F, radiator flushes, Plugs, wires etc was ingrained in my psyche very much.

[@Toys4Life]

Are you sure, I could have swore those had HEI distributors with electronic ignition?

[@GregorioLonewolf]

@@Toys4Life Yes, they do and HEI.

[@MrFcwright]

We used a match book to set the points back in a galaxy far far away 😂

[@Toys4Life]

Hey, in a pinch it did the trick! 😜

[@nabqrules]

When I bought mine (It was a project so I accounted for this) fuel filter was full of brown gas, oil pressure sender was bad, spark plugs were worn to the nub, MAF was bad (Thank you HP Tuners), balancer was failing, and the manual trans/diff fluids were dark brown. Do your maintenance please!

[@CorkVanDenHandel]

Still have my dwell/tach and timing light. Can't remember when I last used them!

[@JDAV75]

I’m 22. What I think of when I hear tune up is filters (oil air fuel), oil change, plugs/coils, accessory belts, coolant flush/top off if it’s not dirty. Might be missing a thing or two. Basically all preventative maintenance items lol

[@johnsmith-dm2tq]

this is a great video for me, i am 48 and when i was 20 i built a datsun 240 with the 350 conversions because i couldn't afford the corvette i wanted. well 305 from an auction police car. sense than i have done nothing automotive and now i am interested in c5 vetts and everything i used to know is mmmm not enough.

[@jeffn2166]

I found a 2003, 50th anniversary, with 24k miles. Looks brand new. My question is, what things wear out with time as opposed to use?

[@Toys4Life]

super low miles - make sure it didn't sit a few years and develop nasty old gas. Rodents? Paint - if it sat outside in sun. Nothing a good comprehensive inspection and test drive cannot overcome.

[@williamgoswick4392]

I found a C5 with 60k original miles garage kept, on a lift and covered. It's a black convertible. Looks showroom and runs like new. I paid 6k for it. The old man really didn't know what it was worth. I don't feel like I took advantage because he agreed to the price

[@darrenbuttery3527]

My 2000 C5 has 158,000 miles and counting. It still runs perfectly other than the EBCM module not working 80% of the time. I never knew GM said manual transmission fluid never needs to be changed. I am planning to have mine changed whenever I need to replace the clutch and who knows when that will be since it also is still working perfectly.

[@curtisfenderson847]

I like your knowledge about the C5 & C6 thinking about getting one in the future

[@Toys4Life]

I can help with that!! (;-) kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXKqpWh8ZpiJnrc

[@HEBEJEBE]

Almost 26. I consider a tune up to be coil packs, plug wires, plugs, injectors, an air filter, and maybe fluids that are due or unknown. Though I did actually have a carbureted 87 camaro mt5 that I swapped from a 305 a 350(I was a stupid kid so my Grandpa did half the work). It was my first car so I had it from 17-19ish. Selling that was the biggest mistake of my life(went for only 1k too ;-;). I STILL want another one and I want it carbureted. So for me, it just depends on the specific car. If it's old and carbureted, I pretty much think the same thing, but replace coil packs with a distributor, and injectors with a carb rebuild. Edit: and for cars with distributors and carbs, play with the fuel mixture screws and the distributor until it "sounds right". Really miss that.

[@domkirk4408]

Thanks for the great video. You are one of the guys who inspired me to get a C5 and your videos already helped me a ton! Saturday I´m going to take a look at the first one. So the question is, would you strictly look away from automatics or would you enjoy one too?

[@Toys4Life]

Manual or Auto is a personal choice. Lots of urban driving - auto is a bit more appealing. Weekends and or rural- manual is more fun IMO. Also - the auto with the performance rear gear (not the 2.73) is much more spirited.

[@domkirk4408]

@@Toys4Life I´m from Germany, I have a lot of urban driving and Autobahn going on. The vette I´ll be seeing tomorrow is an automatic, but it is very appealing to me because its first hand owned until now. All manual vettes I had seen, were already tampered with, what has me a bit worried about their condition.

[@Toys4Life]

If Urban translates into lots of stop and go driving, that does make the auto more appealing generally speaking. Good luck to you, exciting!! Let me know how it works out 😉

[@domkirk4408]

@@Toys4Life So, there is an update. Next week I´m gonna pick up my 2002 C5. Its a millenium yellow manual. Already sits on big rims and has long tube headers, racing cat back, and b&b mufflers. I´m very excited to say the least!

[@Toys4Life]

That's awesome, congrats!

[@BillUssery-z5o]

Thanks!

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you, sir! Much appreciated!

[@BillUssery-z5o]

I m 76 I go back to those days condenser points n plugs on 283, 327, 396 66 Chevelle SS

[@thomaspovlich]

bought my 2003 c5 special edition corvette with 4600 original miles in december 2023. the car now has 8500 miles on the odometer. i always warm the engine to 180 degrees before pushing over 55 mph. i don't abuse the car by flooring the accelerator from a dead stop. i drive at high speed on the interstate where traffic allows. the car runs well with no hesitation. because the car is now 22 years old, (original owner registered in november of 2002 ), should the spark plugs be replaced?

[@bartongalambos3869]

Love your instructional videos. When I look at HP Tuners, they show a part that plugs into the OBDII. I don't see the hardware you show on your video. Is the scanner now just a obd2 plug in?

[@Toys4Life]

Correct, all HP tuner versions plug into the OBD2 port. The shot on the fender was just for the video. Thanks for the kind words!

[@victorjohnson2093]

Great Footage 😊

[@Trevayne4]

Always watch your videos! Any particular time to change diff fluid and fuel filter?

[@Toys4Life]

Per the owner's manual, no. In fact the fuel filter on the 2004 is inside the fuel tank... If you drive aggressively, I would probably change both at around 50,000 mi or 10 years.

[@paulkeplinger3565]

Yep, is the fuel filter in the gas tank?

[@GillesRobert-e5j]

What about the cabin air filter how often should you change it,. Is the cabin air filter on a C5 located under the clove compartment or under the hood in the passenger side; What is the part no and brand name to use to replace it.

[@Toys4Life]

No serviceable cabin filter in C5.

[@leonlawrencez28]

Im looking to replace the coils, plug wires and plugs as preventative measures. Im at almost 80,000 miles on my 2001 C5.

[@Toys4Life]

I wouldn't replace the coils. GMs are pretty durable.

[@leonlawrencez28]

@@Toys4Life I have Acdelco iridium plugs but I don't have wires or coils yet. So you think if I bought MSD coils and wires I would do more harm than good? I have long tube headers and downpipes but I haven't installed them yet. I also planned on buying the LSX intake over time? I can't tell if my 2001 has the same intake as the C5 ZO6 or not.

[@joshuajones8505]

I silicone lube my weather stripping. I don't use the "tune up" phrase. But if I heard someone say it, I'd think they meant Spark plugs, wires, and fuel filter.

[@jeffmcmillan2813]

Thanks to you! Luv all your vids. Have 03 50th convert w 65000 km canada. Recently dev a lifter click....maybe just gunk? In the lifter rod? Can I use Trans fluid to clear gunk....oil is currently clean at 75%

[@Toys4Life]

Best way is to replace the lifter if it's ticking, otherwise you can try ATF or Rislone.

[@patrickkeschl596]

Fun Fact: I bought my 1999 C5 with 80,000 miles for under 20,000 dollars in 2010 when it was about an 11 year old car. Fast Forward to today. I cant find an 11 year old C7 corvette for under 35,000 dollars (most of them are still in the 40,000 dollar range). I am looking to “upgrade” to a C7. C7’s really maintained their resale value. Not to mention, its hard to find one with high miles. I dont want to spend more than 30,000 on a used C7 corvette. I will be waiting a little while longer.

[@Toys4Life]

Interestingly, I don't think they're selling now because the c8s have really dropped in price. I personally believe when the c8s were going for a hundred grand that kept the c7s price up but now you can get a decent use CA for 60k. Time will tell

[@paulkeplinger3565]

thnx PCV vale also

[@Maxreverse]

Excellent video. Thanks.

[@Toys4Life]

Glad you liked it!

[@Android25K]

When I do hear Tune Up, I imagine someone with a Dyno and a laptop connected to the car

[@Toys4Life]

My guess is you are 30 or younger (:-)

[@HotRod-wv4vm]

Thanks for the video

[@Toys4Life]

You bet

[@paulkeplinger3565]

You have a separate channel for the supercharged 3.8 Fiero?

[@Toys4Life]

I do not - Do you think I should do that?

[@mdhcpa]

Leaded gas substantially contributed to the rapid corrosion of mild steel exhaust parts.

[@Toys4Life]

That's the first time I've heard that, you're saying lead is corrosive?

[@mdhcpa]

@Toys4Life it's called "galvanic corrosion". Lead itself is not corrosive. The combination of lead, mild steel and water increases the rate of corrosion.

[@dedstroke2]

So I purchased a C5 with 50k plus miles. When I bought the car I did all the usual maintenance plus additional as I wanted to have a clean starting point for all maintenance. But I wanted to have the automatic transmission fluid and filter changed by a local privately owned transmission shop or the dealer. Well I happened to be at the dealer and asked them what it would cost to change the trans filter and fluid. The service advisor said I'd be better off just having the trans fluid flushed because they have to drop the exhaust to change the filter. Subsequent to that I've read various opinions pro and con about changing the trans fluid too soon. Your opinion on just flushing the fluid as opposed to a fluid and filter change? Thanks. Love your videos.

[@salvadordeleon9393]

I used to work in a small family dealership. In our experience, a fluid change is better as you dont want to flush out any clutch material that the transmission might be using. But since its at 50k, a flush would probably be okay, its usually the higher mileage cars we say fluid change only

[@dedstroke2]

@@salvadordeleon9393 Thank you. Appreciate any opinions offered. All the best.

[@robertmcsorley4001]

Never heard anything about dropping exhaust pipes to replace transmission filter. Had mine done 3 years ago.

[@racerd9669]

You have to remember, you cannot wear out oil. It is the contaminants in the oil require you to change your oil. Short trips are the very worst on your oil, not getting the oil up to running temp. will leave water in the oil. So it is always a good idea to drive you Corvette on the highway and boil out the water once and awhile. Unless you have an oil temp gauge in your your oil pan, you have no idea how long it takes to get your oil above 180 degs.

[@Toys4Life]

Agreed 👍 I do believe you can wear out the additive package in addition to the items you mentioned.

[@racerd9669]

@@Toys4Life True, but you cannot add to the additive package. The blending of additives is much more comprehensive than that.

[@toddhartmayer8327]

Since tires are offset. Ok to rotate side to side?

[@Toys4Life]

I've done it in the past with modern tires with no issues, provided they're not directional tires. It's possible some manufacturers may suggest you don't.

[@papagigo1]

Why ??

[@Toys4Life]

each side won't wear identically, so changing them will wear them slightly different. Might get a few more miles out of the tires that way by using all of the rubber or at least more of it.

[@scoutdogfsr]

Love my 2023 zr2, 2022 Traverse, 2004 z06. None of those will last as long as my 1944 jeep MB though . In 50 years the Jeep will still be around but the other 3 cars will be Chinese soup cans

[@Toys4Life]

Sad but likely true.

[@davidncw4613]

Hmmmm my C4 has a carb...!;-).

[@Toys4Life]

Tell me you ditched the cross ram deal?

[@davidncw4613]

@@Toys4Life ummmm ya gosh.... have you ever drivin one? I was sooo disappointed. like anything from the mid 80's it was terrible. 4+3 had to go too. Lv the car (Z51) Richmond gear built a really nice 6 speed for it. Did a nice little 4 bolt 880 roller build. These days, if I did it again the LS would be my pick. Would love to get someone to make the Melrose long tube LS swap headers.

[@raggdoll1977]

who took in their cars every 8-10 k for a tune up? What world are you from????

[@joekoenig9587]

Being a 76 year young guy, and having cars with points, condenser, rotor, carburetor etc… I did that for a couple of decades. Every 10,000 miles I changed all that stuff. I’m fairly sure you are too young, or you wouldn’t be asking that question. 😉

[@Toys4Life]

Back in the day they did.

[@paulkeplinger3565]

valve

[@Toys4Life]

adjustable valves! YES!