About Jim Holsbeck Expertise I can answer most questions on Chevrolet vehicles up to 1996, or before the ODBII.
Experience I have been working on cars since I was eight, when I started handing my dad wrenches. I did my first complete rebuild at 14, and my first restoration at 16. When it comes to Chevy, if I don't know the answer off the top of my head, I can find it out fairly quickly. (My entire family is a bunch of gear heads.)
Education/Credentials 4 year machinist degree, with a 2 year mechanical drafting.
Question I apologize if you are not the correct person to ask these questions of. If you are the wrong person can you forward my questions to the correct person? I have a 2008 Corvette on order. My questions are:
1. Given the progress in auto paint and clear coats, is it even recommended anymore to use car wax on new cars? What should I apply to my new Corvette to keep the paint looking new? Is there something other than standard car wax that I should use?
2. My 2008 Corvette Coupe on order will have the Dual Mode Exhaust option. This option causes straight thru exhaust to occur at about 3,500 rpms.
I was planning to disconnect the fuse to the Dual Mode Exhaust system so that the butterfly valves are open all of the time. Straight thru exhaust from idle on up.
A. Should I have any concerns about doing this?
B. Does having the valves open all of the time cause any risk of damage to my engine?
C. Would having the valves open all of the time cause me to lose any engine power?
D. Would having the valves open all of the time cause me to lose any gas mileage?
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Roc Rinaldi
Answer Roc,
I can answer these questions for you. Even with the technological advances in engineering the clear coat on new cars, there is still a need to use something on the surface to repel the every day dirt and grime that comes with normal driving. I would reccomend something like a McGuiar's light wax, but just about anything that doesn't have a lot of grit in it is good, as long as it says on the bottle it is safe for clear coat use. I think the best way to go with a brand new car though is to try a spray wax that you just spray on and wipe off. Just remember as with all waxes, don't do it in direct sunlight or when the surface is warm to the touch or it will streak. A good spray wax with UV protection will bead water and stave off the beating the sun gives the paint, while keeping it looking new.
As for the DME on the car, first I will tell you that disconnecting the fuse may cause the check engine, or another warning light to come on, and as sophisticated as the control systems are on the Vette, it will store a code in the computer. If something were to ever happen to the car, and it required warranty work, that may void some or all of the factory warranty on the system, and could even extend to the control unit it's self. That said, if I understand what I've heard about this system correctly, it is designed to allow the motor to breathe more freely at high RPM and be slightly more restrictive at low. With that come a whole array of sensors that input data to tell the computer to run more fuel or to lean out if needed, as well as a host of other things to make the system run more efficient. I would expect worse fuel mileage at lower RPM, and about the same at higher. You would probably get slightly more power at the low end, but I would bet it wouldn't be enough to even feel "seat-of-the-pants". Corvettes are designed to be a sprts car, and are designed to operate very well from the factory. My best advice would be to not pull the fuse, because I think any power gain would be more than offset by reduced fuel economy at low end. Congragulations on your purchase, and If there is anything I can answer for you in the future, don't hesitate to ask, hope I was of some help. Good Luck!
