what did you do to your Sonic today?

[SuperSonic15]

Today I did the lettering on my new winter tires, how do they look?

https://ibb.co/jZwcGmH

Looks good! Keep going around the tire tho. More HP

 

[Ricekila]

Today I did the lettering on my new winter tires, how do they look?

https://ibb.co/jZwcGmH

What rims ?

 

[akapvblo]

What rims ?

Stock rims from the premier trim. Just put 215 on tires instead of stock 205.

 

[Ricekila]

Stock rims from the premier trim. Just put 215 on tires instead of stock 205.

I like-em --- I'm fussy --- if my hatch was any other color -- I'd start throwing money at it :sadbanana:

 

[Bl4d3]

I painted my wheels over the last 2 days.

Rims had a lot of curb rash, factory paint was peelings, etc.

Used Liqui Moly Wheel and Mag cleaner. Best auto cleaning product I've ever used.

Sanded rough spots down using 120 paper, added body filler in all the deep scratches and sanded that down some more. Then went over everything with a 400 grit paper to get rid of the 120 grit scratches.

Laid down 3 coats of white primer and let that dry over night. Sanded the primer down to a smooth finish with 600 grit paper then put 3 coats down of gun metal base coat with 10min spaces between each coat.
Let the final coat cure for 30min and then did 3 coats of gloss clear with 20 minute spaces between each coat.

Sanded the centre cap edges down with 400 grit paper, masked up the emblem and then 2 coats primer, 2 base and 2 clear.

I'm quite happy with the result

 

[Bl4d3]

I painted my wheels over the last 2 days.

Rims had a lot of curb rash, factory paint was peelings, etc.

Used Liqui Moly Wheel and Mag cleaner. Best auto cleaning product I've ever used.

Sanded rough spots down using 120 paper, added body filler in all the deep scratches and sanded that down some more. Then went over everything with a 400 grit paper to get rid of the 120 grit scratches.

Laid down 3 coats of white primer and let that dry over night. Sanded the primer down to a smooth finish with 600 grit paper then put 3 coats down of gun metal base coat with 10min spaces between each coat.
Let the final coat cure for 30min and then did 3 coats of gloss clear with 20 minute spaces between each coat.

Sanded the centre cap edges down with 400 grit paper, masked up the emblem and then 2 coats primer, 2 base and 2 clear.

I'm quite happy with the result

 

[Bl4d3]

Just to add, that wheel job was done in April.
Had tyres fitted 2 weeks ago and the tyre shop managed to damage all 4 rims at all 5 lug nuts. Guy just smashed the tool into the wheel every single time.

I got them to pay to have the rims resprayed professionally because I was not about to spend another weekend spraying my rims

 

[Bl4d3]

The Thermostat issue you had bothers me a bit. What happened and in what way was it in terrible shape? I realize they are not traditional thermostats. Is it an easy assembly to install? Would you recommend somebody with a new to me 4 year old Sonic keep one in stock for quick turnaround? I have a 2016 LT Hatchback with1.8L Automatic.

Straight up only saw your response now.

So the thermostat housing is the original that came on the car. Failed at about 9 years old. Its a plastic unit and the plastic had deteriorated horribly.
I replaced it with a full metal unit that I got on Amazon : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07M68CNCN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Was a direct replacement and came with everything I needed except gaskets. Nothing a bit of gasket RTV couldn't solve though.

Its been running perfectly fine since October with no faults or leaks.

During the same period, my valve cover gasket sprung a leak and was leaking slowly onto the exhaust heat shield. Ordered a new part and installed.

Also, the right hand engine mount went, ordered and replaced myself. Just needed to get a deep socket though.

The car has been running great since though

 

[SoCalRs]

Just to add, that wheel job was done in April.
Had tyres fitted 2 weeks ago and the tyre shop managed to damage all 4 rims at all 5 lug nuts. Guy just smashed the tool into the wheel every single time.

I got them to pay to have the rims resprayed professionally because I was not about to spend another weekend spraying my rims

You have alot of patience ...came out good

 

[SoCalRs]

Today i installed a Chevy volt thermostat 179 degree opening temp on my 13 sonic RS the stock one is 221 opening temp I had some parts starting to deteriorating under the hood seen a vid on you tube with part numbers etc .
I live in a hot climate the winters are 50 degrees spring low to high 70"s summer mid 80 to 100 my temp would get to 213 in a drive thru and constantly run at 204 to 210 or so one summer it went to 219 thats alot of Hot on plastic parts something gonna give . Now it runs 180 driving 185 /190 in traffic stop and go in drive thru 203 max they have this motor to run between 204 and 213 great for the trans fluid going through the lower radiator core at 220 degrees ...

 

[SoCalRs]

I also put some harbor freight safari lights on my roof basket and painted one wheel after midnight Camaro ZL1 wheel or the one on the rear .

 

[Thrasher2019RS]

Today i installed a Chevy volt thermostat 179 degree opening temp on my 13 sonic RS the stock one is 221 opening temp I had some parts starting to deteriorating under the hood seen a vid on you tube with part numbers etc .
I live in a hot climate the winters are 50 degrees spring low to high 70"s summer mid 80 to 100 my temp would get to 213 in a drive thru and constantly run at 204 to 210 or so one summer it went to 219 thats alot of Hot on plastic parts something gonna give . Now it runs 180 driving 185 /190 in traffic stop and go in drive thru 203 max they have this motor to run between 204 and 213 great for the trans fluid going through the lower radiator core at 220 degrees ...

Oh snap, I gotta do this... I see 215-ish constantly on summer days, and I've peaked at 225 in a Chick-fil-A drivethru in the shade during a heat wave a month or so ago. Living in the deep south, plus being in an area that has historically higher temps than the surrounding piedmont and foothills, gotta do something.

Thanks!

 

[Ricekila]

I painted my wheels over the last 2 days.

Rims had a lot of curb rash, factory paint was peelings, etc.

Used Liqui Moly Wheel and Mag cleaner. Best auto cleaning product I've ever used.

Sanded rough spots down using 120 paper, added body filler in all the deep scratches and sanded that down some more. Then went over everything with a 400 grit paper to get rid of the 120 grit scratches.

Laid down 3 coats of white primer and let that dry over night. Sanded the primer down to a smooth finish with 600 grit paper then put 3 coats down of gun metal base coat with 10min spaces between each coat.
Let the final coat cure for 30min and then did 3 coats of gloss clear with 20 minute spaces between each coat.

Sanded the centre cap edges down with 400 grit paper, masked up the emblem and then 2 coats primer, 2 base and 2 clear.

I'm quite happy with the result

Now ya-gots me thinking about painting mine -- matt black ?

 

[AERSUPERSTAR]

Cruisin

 

[Ricekila]

CruisinView attachment 15167

104 -- did you drive over a cliff ? --- LOL

I was waiting till I put on a fresh timing belt which I did last month -- maybe after the hurricane weather passes --- "I'll see whats she can do" --- LOL

It ain't my vette so I isn't expecting much --- now where did I see that cliff ?

 

[AERSUPERSTAR]

104 -- did you drive over a cliff ? --- LOL

I was waiting till I put on a fresh timing belt which I did last month -- maybe after the hurricane weather passes --- "I'll see whats she can do" --- LOL

It ain't my vette so I isn't expecting much --- now where did I see that cliff ?

Nah I blew my old motor up last year for the 1.8 and it has the 2016 1.8 with 18,000 an intake and exhaust but soon to hopefully be turbo once I can get the 1.6 exhaust\turbo manifold

 

[AERSUPERSTAR]

104 -- did you drive over a cliff ? --- LOL

I was waiting till I put on a fresh timing belt which I did last month -- maybe after the hurricane weather passes --- "I'll see whats she can do" --- LOL

It ain't my vette so I isn't expecting much --- now where did I see that cliff ?

Also I’ve got another if I can find it where I was 116 or 119 with just a universal intake kit I put together

 

[AERSUPERSTAR]

104 -- did you drive over a cliff ? --- LOL

I was waiting till I put on a fresh timing belt which I did last month -- maybe after the hurricane weather passes --- "I'll see whats she can do" --- LOL

It ain't my vette so I isn't expecting much --- now where did I see that cliff ?

I’ve got two Sonics both have that bumper I’m not gonna really do much with the 1.4 other then use the piping I’m hoping for intercooler and such for the 1.8 turbo build so that one of prolly let go of cheaper as it’s not my daily. The second is the bumper I’m wanting for my orange one

 

[Bl4d3]

This was a tough one.

Decided to take on the oil cooler yesterday.
Parts needed was a complete replacement oil cooler bought on Amazon, 5L of 5W30 oil and some anti freeze.
Needed some special tools as well, mainly an oxygen sensor socket and an E-Torx set.

Getting the heatshield and exhaust manifold out is such a pain. There's just enough space so its do-able.

Got the old unit out and looks like the previous owner attempted a repair by using RTV gasket maker rather than just replacing the gaskets. Thats what caused the leak.

Fitted the new unit with new o-rings on all fittings because if those leak, its stripping everything down again to get there, so might as well replace it now.

Reassembled everything, dropped 5L of oil (1.32 gallons), ran coolant flush to get any oil out the system, drained and topped up with coolant.

Engine is running fine so far

 

[Bl4d3]

Ordered a Metra dash kit, an Atoto F7 SE radio and a flush mount USB cable from Amazon. Will probably be here in a week or 2 as I'm in South Africa.