diff --git a/api/apps/v1alpha1/common_types.go b/api/apps/v1alpha1/common_types.go
index 00dea3d3..1b5fc126 100644
--- a/api/apps/v1alpha1/common_types.go
+++ b/api/apps/v1alpha1/common_types.go
@@ -32,8 +32,9 @@ type Expose struct {
 type Service struct {
 	Type corev1.ServiceType `json:"type,omitempty"`
 	// override the default service name
-	Name       string `json:"name,omitempty"`
-	OpenAIPort int32  `json:"openaiPort"`
+	Name string `json:"name,omitempty"`
+	// +kubebuilder:default=8000
+	OpenAIPort int32 `json:"openaiPort"`
 }
 
 // Metrics defines attributes to setup metrics collection
diff --git a/api/apps/v1alpha1/nimservice_types.go b/api/apps/v1alpha1/nimservice_types.go
index 9e829465..103d1d45 100644
--- a/api/apps/v1alpha1/nimservice_types.go
+++ b/api/apps/v1alpha1/nimservice_types.go
@@ -285,13 +285,13 @@ func IsProbeEnabled(probe Probe) bool {
 // GetLivenessProbe returns liveness probe for the NIMService container
 func (n *NIMService) GetLivenessProbe() *corev1.Probe {
 	if n.Spec.LivenessProbe.Probe == nil {
-		return GetDefaultLivenessProbe()
+		return n.GetDefaultLivenessProbe()
 	}
 	return n.Spec.LivenessProbe.Probe
 }
 
 // GetDefaultLivenessProbe returns the default liveness probe for the NIMService container
-func GetDefaultLivenessProbe() *corev1.Probe {
+func (n *NIMService) GetDefaultLivenessProbe() *corev1.Probe {
 	probe := corev1.Probe{
 		InitialDelaySeconds: 15,
 		TimeoutSeconds:      1,
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ func GetDefaultLivenessProbe() *corev1.Probe {
 				Path: "/v1/health/live",
 				Port: intstr.IntOrString{
 					Type:   intstr.Type(0),
-					IntVal: 8000,
+					IntVal: n.Spec.Expose.Service.OpenAIPort,
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -315,13 +315,13 @@ func GetDefaultLivenessProbe() *corev1.Probe {
 // GetReadinessProbe returns readiness probe for the NIMService container
 func (n *NIMService) GetReadinessProbe() *corev1.Probe {
 	if n.Spec.ReadinessProbe.Probe == nil {
-		return GetDefaultReadinessProbe()
+		return n.GetDefaultReadinessProbe()
 	}
 	return n.Spec.ReadinessProbe.Probe
 }
 
 // GetDefaultReadinessProbe returns the default readiness probe for the NIMService container
-func GetDefaultReadinessProbe() *corev1.Probe {
+func (n *NIMService) GetDefaultReadinessProbe() *corev1.Probe {
 	probe := corev1.Probe{
 		InitialDelaySeconds: 15,
 		TimeoutSeconds:      1,
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ func GetDefaultReadinessProbe() *corev1.Probe {
 				Path: "/v1/health/ready",
 				Port: intstr.IntOrString{
 					Type:   intstr.Type(0),
-					IntVal: 8000,
+					IntVal: n.Spec.Expose.Service.OpenAIPort,
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -345,13 +345,13 @@ func GetDefaultReadinessProbe() *corev1.Probe {
 // GetStartupProbe returns startup probe for the NIMService container
 func (n *NIMService) GetStartupProbe() *corev1.Probe {
 	if n.Spec.StartupProbe.Probe == nil {
-		return GetDefaultStartupProbe()
+		return n.GetDefaultStartupProbe()
 	}
 	return n.Spec.StartupProbe.Probe
 }
 
 // GetDefaultStartupProbe returns the default startup probe for the NIMService container
-func GetDefaultStartupProbe() *corev1.Probe {
+func (n *NIMService) GetDefaultStartupProbe() *corev1.Probe {
 	probe := corev1.Probe{
 		InitialDelaySeconds: 40,
 		TimeoutSeconds:      1,
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ func GetDefaultStartupProbe() *corev1.Probe {
 				Path: "/v1/health/ready",
 				Port: intstr.IntOrString{
 					Type:   intstr.Type(0),
-					IntVal: 8000,
+					IntVal: n.Spec.Expose.Service.OpenAIPort,
 				},
 			},
 		},
diff --git a/bundle/manifests/apps.nvidia.com_nimpipelines.yaml b/bundle/manifests/apps.nvidia.com_nimpipelines.yaml
index 6be56d44..1db5111d 100644
--- a/bundle/manifests/apps.nvidia.com_nimpipelines.yaml
+++ b/bundle/manifests/apps.nvidia.com_nimpipelines.yaml
@@ -488,6 +488,7 @@ spec:
                                   description: override the default service name
                                   type: string
                                 openaiPort:
+                                  default: 8000
                                   format: int32
                                   type: integer
                                 type:
diff --git a/bundle/manifests/apps.nvidia.com_nimservices.yaml b/bundle/manifests/apps.nvidia.com_nimservices.yaml
index 3d23321f..784786b7 100644
--- a/bundle/manifests/apps.nvidia.com_nimservices.yaml
+++ b/bundle/manifests/apps.nvidia.com_nimservices.yaml
@@ -469,6 +469,7 @@ spec:
                         description: override the default service name
                         type: string
                       openaiPort:
+                        default: 8000
                         format: int32
                         type: integer
                       type:
diff --git a/config/crd/bases/apps.nvidia.com_nimpipelines.yaml b/config/crd/bases/apps.nvidia.com_nimpipelines.yaml
index 6be56d44..1db5111d 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/apps.nvidia.com_nimpipelines.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/apps.nvidia.com_nimpipelines.yaml
@@ -488,6 +488,7 @@ spec:
                                   description: override the default service name
                                   type: string
                                 openaiPort:
+                                  default: 8000
                                   format: int32
                                   type: integer
                                 type:
diff --git a/config/crd/bases/apps.nvidia.com_nimservices.yaml b/config/crd/bases/apps.nvidia.com_nimservices.yaml
index 3d23321f..784786b7 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/apps.nvidia.com_nimservices.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/apps.nvidia.com_nimservices.yaml
@@ -469,6 +469,7 @@ spec:
                         description: override the default service name
                         type: string
                       openaiPort:
+                        default: 8000
                         format: int32
                         type: integer
                       type:
diff --git a/deployments/helm/k8s-nim-operator/crds/apps.nvidia.com_nimpipelines.yaml b/deployments/helm/k8s-nim-operator/crds/apps.nvidia.com_nimpipelines.yaml
index 6be56d44..1db5111d 100644
--- a/deployments/helm/k8s-nim-operator/crds/apps.nvidia.com_nimpipelines.yaml
+++ b/deployments/helm/k8s-nim-operator/crds/apps.nvidia.com_nimpipelines.yaml
@@ -488,6 +488,7 @@ spec:
                                   description: override the default service name
                                   type: string
                                 openaiPort:
+                                  default: 8000
                                   format: int32
                                   type: integer
                                 type:
diff --git a/deployments/helm/k8s-nim-operator/crds/apps.nvidia.com_nimservices.yaml b/deployments/helm/k8s-nim-operator/crds/apps.nvidia.com_nimservices.yaml
index 3d23321f..784786b7 100644
--- a/deployments/helm/k8s-nim-operator/crds/apps.nvidia.com_nimservices.yaml
+++ b/deployments/helm/k8s-nim-operator/crds/apps.nvidia.com_nimservices.yaml
@@ -469,6 +469,7 @@ spec:
                         description: override the default service name
                         type: string
                       openaiPort:
+                        default: 8000
                         format: int32
                         type: integer
                       type:
diff --git a/internal/controller/platform/standalone/nimservice_test.go b/internal/controller/platform/standalone/nimservice_test.go
index ce149881..884788ad 100644
--- a/internal/controller/platform/standalone/nimservice_test.go
+++ b/internal/controller/platform/standalone/nimservice_test.go
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ var _ = Describe("NIMServiceReconciler for a standalone platform", func() {
 						ProbeHandler: corev1.ProbeHandler{
 							HTTPGet: &corev1.HTTPGetAction{
 								Path: "/ready",
-								Port: intstr.IntOrString{IntVal: 8080},
+								Port: intstr.IntOrString{IntVal: 8000},
 							},
 						},
 					},
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ var _ = Describe("NIMServiceReconciler for a standalone platform", func() {
 						ProbeHandler: corev1.ProbeHandler{
 							HTTPGet: &corev1.HTTPGetAction{
 								Path: "/live",
-								Port: intstr.IntOrString{IntVal: 8080},
+								Port: intstr.IntOrString{IntVal: 8000},
 							},
 						},
 					},
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ var _ = Describe("NIMServiceReconciler for a standalone platform", func() {
 						ProbeHandler: corev1.ProbeHandler{
 							HTTPGet: &corev1.HTTPGetAction{
 								Path: "/start",
-								Port: intstr.IntOrString{IntVal: 8080},
+								Port: intstr.IntOrString{IntVal: 8000},
 							},
 						},
 					},