Changing your Sonic's oil.

[Conner06]

Just changed mine with Mobil 1 extended performance full synthetic oil took about 20 minutes

 

[Hdmanny]

How about a Fumoto valve with the hose option connected to a small pump to suck the oil out right into a jug. That way you would not have to use an oil pan, just reach under the car to open the valve.

 

[attrapereves]

How long do you let your oil drain?

I loosen the oil fill cap, remove the pan plug, let it drain, then change the filter. All of this takes about 20 minutes. When I go under to screw the plug back in, there is still a little bit of oil dripping, but nothing significant. I usually drain around 4.0 - 4.5qt.

I refill using a little less than 5qt, but for some reason the dip stick always appears past the full mark. I make sure to warm up the engine, then let it sit for a minute before checking.

 

[Hdmanny]

The 1.8 engine takes 4.8 quarts only unless I am mistaken. I think the 1.4 takes 4 quarts only. That is a lot of oil, my 2.3 and 5.0 Fords used to take 5 quarts.

 

[Nuhgets]

The 1.4T takes 4.5qts (4qts showed just below full on dipstick). I run Mobil1 Synthetic; $22.99 at Walmart for the 5qt jug in comparison to $9.99 1qt bottles at Pepboys.

According to the Sonic owners manual, you're supposed to change the oil every 7500 miles... I do it every 5000, but even then I'm still kinda sketchy on it. I check it after every 1000 miles or so just to keep my nerves down.

 

[Eric Smit]

I change my oil once a month regardless of miles.

 

[Kuntryboy865]

I change mine every 3k

Sent from my SCH-S720C using Tapatalk 2

 

[davecerv]

Hey guys so I had planned to change my sonics oil today but then as I was about to get to the drain plug I realized I forgot to get a oil filter....UGHHHHH. I'm freaking out because I've been busy and I normally do the change at 20% but I'm at 13% now. I have time this Thursday to do it so...it will probably be at 11% by then. Is it extremely bad that the % is that low? I'm freaking out. This definitely won't happen again.
I'm at 22,800something miles and this would be the third oil change.
Oil looks good it's not black.

 

[$ub$onic]

Na, your fine. Your engine is not going to explode or anything.

 

[muniorbust]

Yep, you can relax.
Even after code 82 comes on you have 600 miles.

I changed mine once so far at 2% oil life remaining, intentionally.

In my opinion changing it with oil life remaining is like draining your gas and throwing it out before filling up at every gas stop.

That being said, I was getting nervous about it as my oil life approached 0%. But let's face it, that's all psychological from the years of oil businesses/commercials/hearsay telling us 3000 miles. Chevy, and more specifically, your car's computer, knows best in this case.

From the manual:

When the system has calculated
that oil life has been diminished, it
indicates that an oil change is
necessary. A Code 82 (change
engine oil soon) DIC message
comes on. See Vehicle Messages
on page 5‑25. Change the oil as
soon as possible within the next
1 000 km (600 mi). It is possible that,
if driving under the best conditions,
the oil life system might indicate that
an oil change is not necessary for
up to a year. The engine oil and
filter must be changed at least once
a year and, at this time, the system
must be reset

 

[Hdmanny]

The oil life system was designed with regular oil and if you use full synthetic oil you should be even safer not change your oil too soon. The dealers and quick lube places love for people to change their oil every 3k miles, they make more money and shows they are not honest.

 

[Eric Smit]

bahahahahahaha.

I change my oil once a month, regardless of mileage, some months going only 1,000 miles between changes.

every engine I've ever had ran fine.

 

[$ub$onic]

bahahahahahaha.

I change my oil once a month, regardless of mileage, some months going only 1,000 miles between changes.

every engine I've ever had ran fine.

I change mine every 5k. No exceptions

 

[Eric Smit]

I change mine every 5k. No exceptions

I bet you use amsoil too.







hahahahahahahahahahaha.

 

[davecerv]

Thanks for the replies guys! Makes me feel better about the situation.
And yes I use full synthetic Mobil 1 5W-30
I've been doing in between 6k-7k for oil changes.
I drive a lot of highway btw

 

[$ub$onic]

I bet you use amsoil too.







hahahahahahahahahahaha.

Na piss on that stuff. Royal purple all the way.

 

[nzasian88]

How many people here actually use "dexos approved" oil? It sounds like some bull**** way to restrict you to using specific oils which cost more.... My only concern would be the warranty implications however.

 

[$ub$onic]

Using a non dexos oil will void your warranty. I have been dexos free for 5k hard miles now. Running royal purple hps 5w-30. Engine seems to love it. I do wanna run a oil test when I drain it though.

 

[mitdr774]

I switch between Mobil 1 and Penzoil Platinum Plus depending on which one happens to be on sale at Meijer when I need oil. Both are Dexos 1 certified. I am sure that both are the same formula as they were before Dexos certification.

 

[Hdmanny]

I was curious as to why we could not use 5w20 since it is lighter and should improve gas mileage. I understand that is why Ford recommends it for their newer cars. I know that the thicker the oil the quiter the engine will seem, could tha be why they only recommend 5w30 for our cars?