Changing your Sonic's oil.

[dvn]

Did my first oil change today... bought mobil1 5w30 and a wix filter.

Jacked the car up and....

...no belly pan

Changed it in like 30 mins when I thought it would be an hour ordeal.

The belly pan adds about 2 minutes to the job.

 

[LoneRider]

I changed mine today and it was easier than the OP made it out to be. I didn't have a splash guard where the drain plug was, in fact, the only splash guard I saw was under the radiator. I didn't need a special tool to remove the oil filter cap, since I didn't have a 24mm wrench, I used a 1/2" drive 15/16 socket with extension and it fit rather well.

This was one of the most pleasant cars I've ever had to change the oil on. Had no mess to cleanup other than used rags, garbage, and tools. No more oil running down my arm when changing the filter! And 4 quarts of oil was just right, no need for the .2

 

[T-BONE]

So its either ramps or a two jack raise for an oil change. This is getting complicated. Still informative. Im sure by the time I am ready to change mine, y'all will have this so detailed its down pact!

actually you can avoid the two jack need as follows. Drive up onto two boards that are 1-2" thick. stop. jack car with extra clearance. just remember to keep the boards where they are when you lower the car.

 

[T-BONE]

The belly pan adds about 2 minutes to the job.

My Spyder also has a belly pan ( we call them diapers). Easy to drain oil but you have to take it off to access the filter. Many folks just leave them off. Once you get used to pulling them its a trivial exercise.

 

[LTZ ICE]

Agree!! Wix is an outstanding filter.

 

[MartyH]

The belly pan adds about 2 minutes to the job.

Yep, I bought the belly pan since my 2013 1.4 hatchback didn't come with one. It is absolutely no big deal to pull it off for an oil change.

Roll the car up on ramps, remove the front two bolts from the belly pan, loosen the other 2 or 3 (they're keyholed) and off comes the pan. Drain the oil, spin off the oil filter cover, replace oil filter, tighten oil filter housing cover and put 4 quarts of Dexos1 compliant oil in the engine. Place bellypan back in place, replace the two bolts and tighten all. Back the car off the ramps. Check and add oil as needed until full. If this takes you more than 30 minutes even without trying to be quick, you're just not organized.

 

[Fry]

So, was going to change my oil this weekend, but other things came up and stalled that activity out. I believe, however, I have everything I need. I've got a 2T floor jack and some 3 ton jack stands. Having never jacked a car up or changed the oil on a car, I'm going to have a friend come over who knows what he's doing to guide me through the first go round. Jacking the car up and supporting it are the things I'm most unsure of, mainly because I see an obvious risk to someone who is inexperienced (ie, me). I feel like this is something that should have been taught to me years ago. Of course, that's why I'm going through all this trouble.

Btw, are the lift points in the Sonic's manual? I looked through but didn't notice them.

 

[oldertech]

I just use ramps from advance auto. Drive up, change. No sweat.

 

[Kuntryboy865]

Can someone point me to a filter that will work with the sonic?

 

[sx sonic]

Can someone point me to a filter that will work with the sonic?

Try the dealership!

I run a Hastings filter # LF642 that I get from Fisher Auto/Federated Auto.

Most auto stores can pull up the correct filter/s on the computer in 2 minutes. A few others leave the research to you and set a book out by the filters that you can dig thru and find various filters that will work.

Edit: I found this thru google. Those part numbers should work at any auto store as long as they carry that brand of filter.

Link 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC Oil Filter

It also looks like the 1.4t and 1.8 use the same filters.

 

[Kuntryboy865]

Try the dealership!

I run a Hastings filter # LF642 that I get from Fisher Auto/Federated Auto.

Most auto stores can pull up the correct filter/s on the computer in 2 minutes. A few others leave the research to you and set a book out by the filters that you can dig thru and find various filters that will work.

Edit: I found this thru google. Those part numbers should work at any auto store as long as they carry that brand of filter.

Link 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC Oil Filter

It also looks like the 1.4t and 1.8 use the same filters.

Cool thanks, its getting soon time to do my second oil change so just trying to figure out what to use, thanks for the useful help.

I see its an actual filter, it doesn't use the traditional can filter type? I guess you just unscrew the top remove the old filter and put a new one on? No unscrewing the filter?

 

[Scotiez]

Cool thanks, its getting soon time to do my second oil change so just trying to figure out what to use, thanks for the useful help.

I see its an actual filter, it doesn't use the traditional can filter type? I guess you just unscrew the top remove the old filter and put a new one on? No unscrewing the filter?

Be sure to wrap a rag around the canister before unscrewing it to catch the oil that will drip out. Other wise it will drip onto your exhaust manifold and stink like hell before it burns all off.

 

[sx sonic]

Cool thanks, its getting soon time to do my second oil change so just trying to figure out what to use, thanks for the useful help.

I see its an actual filter, it doesn't use the traditional can filter type? I guess you just unscrew the top remove the old filter and put a new one on? No unscrewing the filter?

No problem.
Yes it is an element style filter vs the more traditional canister/spin on filter.

It's located just to the right of the engine under the black flexible charge tube. You'll need a 24mm socket to remove the cap for the filter.

For a mess free filter change unscrew but don't remove the filter cap. Then drain the oil pan, once you're done under the car pull out the now drained filter and cap. Throw on the new filter and o-ring, put everything back in, and check the oil.

 

[Shinrin]

Be sure to remove or at least loosen the oil filter first. When you remove the filter the oil runs back into the oil pan.

 

[Fry]

Thanks to some nice ramps and a baby-free morning over the weekend, I finally changed the oil on my Sonic. It took longer than it should have, but that's how it goes when you're doing something you've never done before based on posts from the interwebs.

Working on the car is a big reason for buying it, so I'm glad I got an early start on it.

opcorn:

 

[klb1.8]

Change on my rs is easy only sorta challenge is moving the charge cool air hose out of the way for the filter. Im just glad theres no cover under the oil drain to move

 

[LTZ ICE]

Remember guys, the OEM filter-AC/Delco, was engineered with very high standards. GM would not sacrifice their warranty by using a cheap product. Depending on the part, in many cases the manufacturer’s original stuff is the best choice.

 

[$ub$onic]

I used a stp filter last time and I was not impressed. ( closest one I could find) I will stick with oem

 

[Luv2xlr8]

Just did my oil change for my 7th time and it seems this is the easiest car that I've owned to do an oil change.

 

[poncho167]

Remember guys, the OEM filter-AC/Delco, was engineered with very high standards. GM would not sacrifice their warranty by using a cheap product. Depending on the part, in many cases the manufacturer’s original stuff is the best choice.

AC Delco have consistently been rated the best in performance and durability. I have seen laboratory studies by independent analysis that showed AC Delco to be better than anything with Wix a great performer as well. AC Delco filters are also made for several auto manufactures. Fram oil filters past history was that the filter media would disintegrate faster and would let all of the trapped oil debris back into the engine oil.