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2008 Chevrolet Corvette

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 Corvette.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2008 Chevrolet Corvette, identified as a passenger car in its overview, is equipped with a six‑quart oil capacity and calls for 5W‑30 API oil. Its model‑year record shows 588 total owner complaints — the peak of a complaint history that ranges from eight in 1992 to this high point in 2008 — and no recalls have been issued. This concentration of grievances in the fuel and propulsion system marks the 2008 edition as the most problematic year in the Corvette’s longitudinal reliability record.

Model year2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2008

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 90 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12690386. Note the factory cabin air filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 90 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeFRONT P245/40ZR18; REAR P285/35ZR19OEM · verified

Wheel / rim8.5, 10 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12690386
Engine air filter	15776148
Spark plug	12571165 alt 12680072
Front wiper blades	10306887 alt 10306888
Serpentine belt	12636225 alt 12585476
Thermostat	12600171 alt 12570307
Cabin air filter	15861929 discontinued

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	174.8 in
Overall width	72.4 in
Overall height	49.2 in
Wheelbase	104.7 in
Curb weight	3199 lb
Track (front / rear)	61.8 / 61 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	52/48

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Corvette of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

3.4–4.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 3.40 sec — 2008 Z06 Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2008	Z06 Coupe 7.0L V8	3.40 sec	11.70 sec	505 hp	RWD
2008	Z06 Coupe 7.0L V8	3.80 sec	11.90 sec	505 hp	RWD
2008	Z51 Coupe 6.2L V8	4.00 sec	12.40 sec	430 hp	RWD
2008	Z51 Coupe 6.2L V8	4.10 sec	12.50 sec	430 hp	RWD
2008	Z51 Coupe 6.2L V8	4.30 sec	12.60 sec	430 hp	RWD
2008	Convertible 6.2L V8	4.50 sec	12.80 sec	430 hp	RWD
2008	Z51 Coupe 6.2L V8	4.50 sec	12.80 sec	430 hp	RWD
2007	Z06 Coupe 7.0L V8	3.60 sec	11.80 sec	505 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	6.7
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.9 qt
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	9.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	151 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.037-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.10 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	5.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	90
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	85

Service checks

Pressure Test	18, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Pressure Test	18, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-60
RPM	43-45 @ Idle rpm

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	125.
Torque to Knuckle	125.
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.26 in / 1.024 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.26 in / 1.024 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	1.205 in / 0.98 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

installation, 240 ft. lbs., step 2: remove bolt, step 3: install new bolt, 37 ft. lbs., step 4: 230

240 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

installation, 111 ft. lbs, step 2: 360 degrees, step 3: 59 ft. lbs., step 4: 200

111 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head or head bolt bosses · M11 Bolts:

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	70 degrees; M8 Bolts:	70 degrees
1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

3.7 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.4

3.7 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

6.6 ft. lbs., step 2: 15

6.6 ft. lbs

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

3.7 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.4

3.7 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

6.6 ft. lbs., step 2: 15

6.6 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 mi	Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

In the 2008 Corvette, complaints spiked to 588—its highest level of the decade—while recalls were zero, a notable contrast to earlier years where recalls were common (e.g., 1997 had 4, 2005 had 6). The trend shows a sharp rise from 2005 (536 complaints) to 2008, followed by a dramatic drop in 2009 (152 complaints) and a continued decline through 2014. This peak in 2008 suggests that the model year sits at the apex of a cycle of growing issues that were largely addressed or subsided in subsequent years. The top complaint areas for 2008—Fuel/Propulsion System (355), Engine (33), Exterior Lighting (28), and Power Train (24)—indicate that most concerns were technical rather than safety‑related, with only 15 crash and 3 fire complaints. Given the high complaint count and lack of recalls that year, a 2008 Corvette may carry more risk than later years that saw fewer issues; therefore, it is a less favorable year to buy unless a buyer is willing to address the specific propulsion and engine concerns.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

1029

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

588

Owner complaints

15 involved a crash · 3 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07’08’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 588 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel/Propulsion System355

Engine33

Exterior Lighting28

Power Train24

Fuel System, Gasoline19

Air Bags19

Unknown Or Other14

Electrical System11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1029 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
13598	2025-09-09	Unknown Or Other	New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
PIC5650M	2025-08-06	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Corvette. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 90 battery Vehicles taking 6 qt Engine oil filter 12690386 Engine air filter 15776148 Spark plug 12571165 Front wiper blades 10306887

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 Corvette take?

6 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 Corvette have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.