Changing your Sonic's oil.
- Thread starter Gimpster
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BriG21
New member
Just did my first oil change. Anybody know what the dealership would have charged? Just curious. Changing the oil was a breeze and because the drain plug is straight down and the filter pulls out from the top it made for a very clean job. Just did an 03 elantra last week and it was messy as hell (horizontal drain plug and oil filter hanging down). I used the recommended oil filter per the manual and Mobil1 5W-30 Dexos. Filter part number is attached in case anyone was wondering (bought on Amazon).
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Just got a new Sonic this weekend so don't have to change the oil yet. But has anyone tried using a Fumoto drain valve on their's yet? I've used them on all my other cars and makes changing oil even easier. I'm just wondering if the location of the drain is recessed or not and if you need to buy the extension for the Fumoto.
Stanley
New member
I'm reading up on this stuff to get ready for my first oil change. I've seen it mentioned several times in this tread that M1 0w-30 Advanced Fuel Economy isn't dexos. M1 site says it is and so does the GM dexos info site. Thoughts on using this over the 5W-30? The manual says not to use higher weight oils, and allows the use of 0w where the temp falls below -20F. Doesn't get that cold here in winter, but was still thinking about it. Thoughts?
See the thing is that for a while there, M1 0w-30 was not actually dexos approved. Only 5w-30 oils were approved for a long time. I don't know when it was officially added to the list, but I think it must have been some time over this past summer. Now it appears that dexos approval has been extended to various weights including 5w-20, 0w-20, and 0w-30. This list was updated on May 17, 2013: GM dexos information center
Two years ago, a cruze owner emailed GM with this question in regards to the turbo engine and got a response from a GM powertrain engineer acknowledging that 0w-30 would be better in cold temperatures but recommended sticking to a dexos approved oil for warranty purposes. Confirmed with GM- no 0W-30 - Bob Is The Oil Guy
Now that M1 0w-30 Advanced Fuel Economy is dexos approved, I expect that many of us will seriously consider making the switch.
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Stanley
New member
Well, bought the 0w-30 M1 and a Wix (couldn't find AC Delco on a Sunday).
This change was a cake walk compared to the Traverse I used to have. That was a nightmare. Had a bit of oil drip from filter which ran right down the exhaust and what I couldn't clean up gave off a wonderful burn smell and some smoke on my test drive.
Still wondering if I screwed up by getting the 0w-30, not to mention the Wix instead of the Delco. I really can't afford to void my warranty.
I did think the bottom of the factory filter looked a bit off. It almost looked like a fabric. The wix had a rubber ring for the seal.
new Wix (note the made in South Korea printing, thought I thought I remember someone saying it was made in the US)
old factory filter
This change was a cake walk compared to the Traverse I used to have. That was a nightmare. Had a bit of oil drip from filter which ran right down the exhaust and what I couldn't clean up gave off a wonderful burn smell and some smoke on my test drive.
Still wondering if I screwed up by getting the 0w-30, not to mention the Wix instead of the Delco. I really can't afford to void my warranty.
I did think the bottom of the factory filter looked a bit off. It almost looked like a fabric. The wix had a rubber ring for the seal.
new Wix (note the made in South Korea printing, thought I thought I remember someone saying it was made in the US)
old factory filter
ColonelPanic
Banned
Wix makes a fine filter, I wouldn't lose sleep over it.
Italianjoe1
Member
The factory Hengst filters are very good, and with the way they build these cartridges now, they are all pretty good to be honest. Poor oil does a ton more damage than a less-than-stellar filter. Regular changes will make any filter suffice, but a poor oil can break down very rapidly compared to a quality synthetic.
I just did mine, 5w-30 Castrol Titanium and a filter from work (I don't actually know who makes the Firestone filters, but our oil is Kendall, which is Tenneco, I'm sure I could find out). Only 1500 miles on the car and as expected everything was spotless. Just my normal habit to not run the first oil very long.
I just did mine, 5w-30 Castrol Titanium and a filter from work (I don't actually know who makes the Firestone filters, but our oil is Kendall, which is Tenneco, I'm sure I could find out). Only 1500 miles on the car and as expected everything was spotless. Just my normal habit to not run the first oil very long.
ChrisJ
Active member
Disagree.
If 0W30 is Dexos approved it is a superior oil to 5w30 at least for those of us who live where it gets cold at times. 0W30 is the same viscosity at operating temperature as 5W30, the difference is as it cools it stays closer to this viscosity (the operating temperature viscosity) than 5w30. Same goes for 10w30 and 20w30. The 30 part is what you care about and the lower the first number the better.
My next changes will most definitely be with 0w30 if I can find it in the 5 quart bottles.
Someone asked what a dealer would charge to change your Sonic's oil and I saw someone said $35. $35 may be for standard Dexos blend oil but I recall a dealer asking $60 to use Mobil 1. Can someone confirm?
ChrisJ
Active member
Well,
I seem to have come up with a problem with 0w30.
Its not available in Mobil 1 extended performance. Now in this case, Mobil 1 10w30 extended performance vs Mobil 1 0w30 may not be equal oils.
Not really sure?
I do like the idea of keeping the oil thinner when cooler, but what is the trade off of not using M1 extended performance?
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Oils/Mobil_1_0W-30.aspx
It is Dexos1 approved now which is nice.
I seem to have come up with a problem with 0w30.
Its not available in Mobil 1 extended performance. Now in this case, Mobil 1 10w30 extended performance vs Mobil 1 0w30 may not be equal oils.
Not really sure?
I do like the idea of keeping the oil thinner when cooler, but what is the trade off of not using M1 extended performance?
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Oils/Mobil_1_0W-30.aspx
It is Dexos1 approved now which is nice.
ChrisJ
Active member
Kind of an odd reaction?
Stanley
New member
Just because its a Dexos blend it still might not be covered. The car specifically requires Dexos 1. There are Dexos 2 blends out there as well.
As you stated correctly, for your driving conditions the 0W-30 is also a good blend. Per owners manual page 10-11 Vehicle Care:
Viscosity Grade
SAE 5W-30 is the best viscosity grade for the vehicle. Do not use other viscosity grade oils such as SAE 10W-30, 10W-40, or 20W-50.
Cold Temperature Operation: In an area of extreme cold, where the temperature falls below −29°C (−20°F), an SAE 0W-30 oil may be used. An oil of this viscosity grade will provide easier cold starting for the engine at extremely low temperatures.
Scotiez
New member
Viscosity Grade
SAE 5W-30 is the best viscosity grade for the vehicle. Do not use other viscosity grade oils such as SAE 10W-30, 10W-40, or 20W-50.
Cold Temperature Operation: In an area of extreme cold, where the temperature falls below −29°C (−20°F), an SAE 0W-30 oil may be used. An oil of this viscosity grade will provide easier cold starting for the engine at extremely low temperatures.
Or you can just use Mobil One 5W30 which is dexos approved and the best viscosity grade oil that is recommended for your car. If any of you have done a test of the oils flow in extremely cold weather Mobil one flows easily at -25 below 0. There really is NO need for 0W30. Living in North Dakota we get some of the coldest weather through out the entire United States except for Alaska. I have not done a flow test on Dexos oil from AC Delco but I have with Mobil one and regular conventional oil of the same grade. Mobil One flows easily at -25, You would think it was summer for how easily it pours, Coventional oil barely flows out of the container. This is one of the reasons they came up with a synthetic oil was for flow ability in cold weather starts. Just thought I would throw in my 2 cents worth and I have had over 30 years of experience on dealing with Oil viscosity through my job and personal life.
SAE 5W-30 is the best viscosity grade for the vehicle. Do not use other viscosity grade oils such as SAE 10W-30, 10W-40, or 20W-50.
Cold Temperature Operation: In an area of extreme cold, where the temperature falls below −29°C (−20°F), an SAE 0W-30 oil may be used. An oil of this viscosity grade will provide easier cold starting for the engine at extremely low temperatures.
Or you can just use Mobil One 5W30 which is dexos approved and the best viscosity grade oil that is recommended for your car. If any of you have done a test of the oils flow in extremely cold weather Mobil one flows easily at -25 below 0. There really is NO need for 0W30. Living in North Dakota we get some of the coldest weather through out the entire United States except for Alaska. I have not done a flow test on Dexos oil from AC Delco but I have with Mobil one and regular conventional oil of the same grade. Mobil One flows easily at -25, You would think it was summer for how easily it pours, Coventional oil barely flows out of the container. This is one of the reasons they came up with a synthetic oil was for flow ability in cold weather starts. Just thought I would throw in my 2 cents worth and I have had over 30 years of experience on dealing with Oil viscosity through my job and personal life.
ChrisJ
Active member
As you can see, even at 40C (104F) the viscosities between 5w30 and 0w30 are already different. The colder you go, the bigger the difference. My point? Even if you see 20F often 0w30 is beneficial and below 0F I think its a no brainer. The reason the owners manual doesn't say to use 0w30 for all applications is a synthetic blend wouldn't cut it and this means increased maintenance costs.
AMSOIL 0W-30 is 57.3 cST @ 40 deg. C, & 11.3 cST @ 100 deg. C
AMSOIL 5W-30 is 59.5 cST @ 40 deg. C, & 11.7 cST @ 100 deg. C
AMSOIL 10W-30 is 66.1 cST @ 40 deg. C, & 11.7 cST @ 100 deg. C
