Changing your Sonic's oil.

[TheRook]

Nice writeup gimp!

 

[thebook92]

One thing I've noticed with other Ecotec motors is that when you pull the oil filter, any excess oil in the canister drains back into the pan (I've been a lube tech for the past four years, so it's safe to say I've done an oil change or two ). I'm not sure if the 1.4L does that, but considering that I know the 1.8, 2.2, and 2.4 motors do, it's a reasonable assumption to say they do. If I were to do this, I'd leave the drain plug out until after I put the new filter back in, that way the oil that's still in there gets drained out. But I'm paranoid about my oil changes, so some may not bother.

 

[TannerJorud]

Is anyone going to bother with the 4.2 quarts or is a gallon o' oil good? Just wondering if I should bother buying an extra quart, using a 1/4 of it, and saving the rest. I plan on changing out the break-in oil at 1500 miles and replacing with AMSOIL 5w-30.

 

[Gimpster]

4Q has my car right at the full line, but YMMV of course

 

[runtz52]

Forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is a captive o-ring? Ive never heard of that before and a google search yielded no answers

 

[Gimpster]

Perhaps it wasnt the right term, but it means an oring that rests in a groove. So like on the oil drain plug there is a machined/cast recess for the oring to rest in.

 

[runtz52]

Perhaps it wasnt the right term, but it means an oring that rests in a groove. So like on the oil drain plug there is a machined/cast recess for the oring to rest in.

Ahh gotcha, that makes things clearer

 

[corprimo]

My 1.4 Sonic is 3 weeks old, got 1100 miles and I'm going to do a break in oil change - put in Amsoil. I put the car up on ramps just now, and there is no belly pan under the engine. Crankcase drain is totally exposed. Did they change the design or am I missing a piece of my new car?

 

[dvn]

My 1.4 Sonic is 3 weeks old, got 1100 miles and I'm going to do a break in oil change - put in Amsoil. I put the car up on ramps just now, and there is no belly pan under the engine. Crankcase drain is totally exposed. Did they change the design or am I missing a piece of my new car?

Hmmmm, interesting. Mine is 4 weeks old. I better go take a look under mine!

 

[Gimpster]

Uhhh wow... I hope they didn't drop the pan! I thought it was nice to see GM worrying so much about aero on a cheap car.

My 1.4 Sonic is 3 weeks old, got 1100 miles and I'm going to do a break in oil change - put in Amsoil. I put the car up on ramps just now, and there is no belly pan under the engine. Crankcase drain is totally exposed. Did they change the design or am I missing a piece of my new car?

 

[corprimo]

I stopped by the dealer this afternoon and at least one of the Sonic's on their lot had the pan under the engine. I'll head over there tomorrow and have them order it (and fasteners). Weird... Anyone else missing that piece of plastic under the engine?

 

[runtz52]

I was told sonics built after Jan 1 12 don't have the belly pan, mine was built in Feb 12 and doesn't have it so this seems to be true. I'm curious to see when others missing the pan were built

 

[xtremek]

Mine doesn't have a belly pan either. I contacted the Sonic warranty engineer to see if they dropped the pan or not, but he's on vacation. I'm going to start a thread and I'll post his answer there.

 

[Crashbombs]

I just bought mine around a week ago, I have no idea when it was built If someone could link me to a vin decoder that would be nice.

With that said I do not have a belly tray either. I wonder if it helps or hurts fuel economy at all. I would think it would be nice just for added protection.

 

[SSpeckerwood]

can anyone post some pictures of what it looks like to have a belly pan and then some of what its like to not have one??

 

[corprimo]

First post in this thread shows the belly pan on the car and removed.

 

[runtz52]

I just bought mine around a week ago, I have no idea when it was built If someone could link me to a vin decoder that would be nice.

With that said I do not have a belly tray either. I wonder if it helps or hurts fuel economy at all. I would think it would be nice just for added protection.

When u open the driver door there is a tag in the lower right corner that has the build date on it

 

[Crashbombs]

Thanks Runtz52.

Just went out and looked build date was 2/12

 

[SSpeckerwood]

First post in this thread shows the belly pan on the car and removed.

thanks. for some reason they weren't showing up on my work computer yesterday. today they are though. lol.

 

[LS1notFOUND]

nice job on the write up, except pulling the coil pack plug would still cycle the injectors right? dumps fuel in which is worse if enough does get into the motor. Maybe pull the ignition fuse/relay but since your filter isnt full anyway and its not sitting long enough for every ounce of oil to drip off every part, seems over kill.