We previously covered what’s needed to prepare the new mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette C8 for a day at the track, going over the recommended checklist of items to keep the Bow Tie brand sports car in tip-top condition while clipping off the apexes. Part of that checklist includes the recommendation that owners add an extra two quarts of fluid to the C8 Corvette transmission. GM says it isn’t necessary to remove the extra fluid after the track day is over.
Naturally, this lead to some follow-up questions – for example, we wanted to know why GM doesn’t simply add those two quarts of fluid on the assembly line.
To find out, we reached out to GM for an answer. According to the automaker, the reasoning behind the decision is multifaceted, with the lower factory C8 Corvette transmission fluid level reducing overall mass, fluid cost, and transmission spin losses for the majority of customers that do not track their cars. What’s more, the lower transmission fluid level also results in slight improved fuel economy on the road.
This makes sense when looking at the numbers. For example, each quart of C8 Corvette transmission fluid currently costs $42.90, which means adding about $100 to every 2020 Corvette produced if GM added the extra fluid at the factory. If GM builds 20,000 units of the new Corvette for the 2020 model year, that means an extra $2 million just in transmission fluid, which isn’t even required for those owners that don’t track their vehicles.
General Motors recommends that any transmission level set or change be performed at a dealer, and that the C8 Corvette transmission fluid and filter should be changed after every 24 hours of track driving. As a reminder, the C8 Corvette is equipped with the all-new M1L eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and uses specialized ACDelco Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) Fluid-FFL-4 fluid.
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Comments
The only thing I got from this story is that a quart of trans fluid for this car costs almost $43.00. Must be made of gold dust and unicorn horn.
And changed after 24 hours on the track. At presumed top speed, continuously, that’s less than 4,500 miles. How many $43 quarts does it hold??
According to the service info the overhaul capacity of that trans is 11.62 qts (13.62 track use). There was not a spec for the capacity of a drain and fill. It will be less than 11 qts though, but expensive no matter what, lol
Over $600 in fluid-only for a complete fill, exclusive of labor. That’s 1% of the MSRP of the whole car!
Also, I just looked up the maintenance schedule. The trans fluid is supposed to be changed every 3 years! Here is what the owners manual states…
“When the CHANGE TRANSMISSION FLUID SOON message displays, change the fluid and filter within the next 1 000 km (600 mi). Failure to change the transmission fluid at required intervals can lead to reduced transmission performance. The transmission fluid must be changed at least every three years and the Fluid Life System must be reset. Your dealer has trained service technicians who will change the fluid and reset the system. If the system is ever reset accidentally, the fluid must be changed at 72 000 km (45,000 mi) since the last fluid change.”
Maybe in three years from now, the price of the fluid will come down to about 25 or 30 bucks per quart, as other petroleum companies bring out their versions of the fluid. About 40 years ago, when Mobil1 first came on the market, it was somewhere between $15 and $20 a quart, but after a while, Penzoil and Quaker State and others released their versions of synthetic oil, and now synth quarts can be purchased for well under $10 a quart. And, remember, the $600 cost is GMs current estimated price for a fluid change at your local Chevy dealer. In three years from now, I might expect Mobil1 oil change shops, and others to start offering that service for much less. Hell, you never know, but even Walmart is doing oil changes these days, so maybe it’ll be offering trans fluid changes of C8s, too, for $250-$300, LOL!
Seriously, though, It’s good that the C8 has a ‘nag’ pop-up dash message screen that tells the owner the percentage of life remaining in the trans fluid, as the car is being driven, as is done for the oil life. It would be a rude awakening for a potential buyer of a three-year-old C8 lease turn-in to unknowingly find out they’re on the hook for an unexpected additional 200 to 400 dollars, or more, for a trans fluid change, along with a potential $4K to $5K, or more, in new, special for the Corvette, tires, shocks, brakes, etc., to bring that C8 purchase into tip-top shape.
Pennzoil, Quaker State, et al are not going to rush out and develop their own fluid for this transmission as long as it’s limited to use in Corvettes only – not a large enough market to justify the development costs, marketing, etc.
Well, that’s what people said about Mobil1. when it first came out. “Too expensive,” and “”Only for sports cars!.” yet just about anyone who is serious about their performance vehicle is likely to use synth oil. “They’ also said that about the use of turbochargers in vehicles. Now, they’re everywhere!. It’s not likely that anyone other than Corvette engineers have any real-world experience with this trans fluid, at the time. But it is possible that it could be used in transmissions of all vehicles, in the future. And I never said the petroleum companies are going to “rush out and develop their own fluid, ” right away, But give a handful of companies several years, with some research, to investigate its potential use in other transmissions, I am sure there will be some alternatives on the market, especially when there is an opportunity to make a buck off of it. And also understand that GM is not an oil company. They likely worked with one or more petroleum or chemical companies to develop such fluid, and may have an marketing agreement with the actual OEM maker for GM to offer it as an exclusive ACDelco product for a certain, specified time period, before the actual development company may be able to offer its own branded version of the fluid, which will be submitted to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) as a formula for trans fluid. But being a more specialized product, at least at this time, it is, understandably, likely to be more expensive than a quart of, say, Dexron II equivalent, trans fluid.
This new Vette has lost most of its “Value” proposition that made the Corvette America’s Sports Car.
The labor charge to add the 2 quarts of fluid is $600.00. It seems that the rear panels must be removed. I have seen the actual invoice for adding the 2 quarts at a dealership. The total was close to $700.00.
Have the dealership service center top off your tranny for the track and your car has just been identified as a tracked car.
“You have a warranty issue?, sorry I see here that you track your car…”
I think you better add those two quarts on the sly.
And this is where keeping the vette with the engine in the front, GM slushbox in the rear shows it’s potential. I would have preferred updating the c7 with AWD. Price of making an exotic.
You can get the transmission fluid for less than $26.00 per quart now. If you track your car you should be able to add fluid to it….
The factory isn’t paying $42.90/quart….
since when does tracking a Corvette void the warranty? Not where I live.
He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Tracking the car doesn’t void the warranty.
I was mistaken, I had a service manger say my leaking mag shocks would not be covered because I tracked my car. Now I realize the service manager was wrong. The warranty actual says driving over curbs, racing or participating in timed events. The owners manual states; ” Participating in track events or other competitive driving without following the instructions provided may affect the vehicle warranty.”
That’s a lot of wiggle room for a dealership to try to avoid covering repairs.
It’s hard to say
I prefer to do my own work and maintenance on my cars. Presently have two corvettes, one is a C8.
Was wondering if anyone knows the correct procedure to check the transmission fluid level on the C8.
I do not plan to track, and live in the flatlands (Texas)…so while I do intend to drive the car in a spirited manner, will not be adding the extra two quarts of fluid.
I’m assuming checking the C8 trans fluid level is going to be similar to the procedure for the C7 8 speed automatic.
Thanks
I have watched the videos on YT about adding the 2 qts of trans oil. The whole concept of taking apart all those tight fitting pieces just to add trans oil is mind boggling. Yes, I understand that exotics need specialized equipment and even removing an entire engine just to do oil changes, but a Corvette is sold as a value ,mass produced car. Obviously, zero thought was given to something as simple as adding trans fluid. Regardless of dollar amount, I would not want even the most careful tech taking apart all of that rear end stuff unless there was a major problematic repair ! Also, it seems that the factory trans oil level was done solely for gas mileage. So, you get to drive sensible in your killer looking hot rod but don’t go pushing it with factory oil levels? Sure. Barnum and Bailey still alive and well in the 21st century.