How-To Change Your Oil & Cabin Filter on a 2019 Corvette ZR1

After running your ZR1 hard on the track, it might need an oil change and more. HorsePower Obsessed shows you how, and what you need.

The ZR1 stands as the ultimate Corvette. The top-tier ride brings all the power and performance to the table, leaving nothing but would-be challengers in the dust. Some, like the original ZR-1, set the standard for what a Corvette could be. Others, like the 2019 ZR1, serve as a final send-off to a generation (and, in this case, an entire legacy).

Maintaining that legacy’s oil and cabin air filter shouldn’t be too hard to do. The easiest way, of course, is to let someone else do it. However, if you’ve always wanted to know how to do these things with your 2019 ZR1, Justin of HorsePower Obsessed shows you just that, plus the items you’ll need, all with his own black beauty.

“My ZR1 is a 2019,” said Justin, “which means it requires the new 0-40W oil. This oil is good for the street or the track. It also helps keep the valves clean on your C7 Corvette with direct injection. Even though GM only requires this particular oil for 2019 Corvettes, you can actually use this on any one of your C7 Corvette models.”

The oil also costs a pretty penny, with 12 quarts on Amazon coming out to $100. With a full oil change, you’ll be using 9.5 quarts to get the job done. Justin also has the proper PF64 oil filter, some Techron by Chevron injector cleaner to, well, clean the injectors, and a Fram cabin air filter to replace the stock unit, which hadn’t been changed since new.

“Under the car, guys, we have two different drain plugs,” said Justin. “This is the ZR1, so we have the dry sump system […] Pretty much a no-brainer. If you’ve done an oil change before, you know the general process. If you haven’t drained one before with a dry sump system, make sure you crack both of these loose, and let everything drain out.”

Speaking of draining out, the Techron needs to go into a nearly empty tank. Then, it’s a matter of hitting up your gas station for some of that high-octane goodness. And of course, dropping in the oil is a cinch with a handy funnel designed to lock into the OEM cap screw. A fairly easy process overall. As easy as changing the cabin air filter, in fact.

“Next, we’re gonna go ahead and get the cabin air filter installed,” said Justin. “This is kind of something you’re gonna wanna do when doing an oil change. In order to do this the easiest way possible, you have to disconnect some of these hard lines right here to really give yourself enough room to get the new filter in.”

Despite living in the ZR1 for two years, though, the OEM filter isn’t too bad. Yet, the new one with activated charcoal will do plenty to keep out those particles of brake dust and burnt rubber. Just pop some clips up, pull out the filter door, pull out the filter, then reverse the process. All in all, nothing too hard to do if you have the time and tools.

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