Changing your Sonic's oil.

[Llia]

I was missing my shield. Maybe lucky I guess.
Had to double check fluid capacities. I drained almost 7 quarts. Used car ramps to give me plenty of clearance. I didn't have a torque wrench but snug so far hasnt leaked

 

[SmoothSonic]

Well, I did my first oil change by myself today. Decided I wasn't going to pay the dealer $100+ to do a full synthetic oil change and tire rotation. It took me about 2 hours to get it all done, but I am pretty sure I can make it faster next time! I used 4.2 quarts of Pennzoil platinum and an ac delco oil filter for my 2014 1.4 Turbo Sonic. It feels good to have saved so much money by doing it myself. Only worry now is if the dealership will honor the power train warranty if I ever need it!

I changed mine for the first time today (after having had free oil changes with the warranties) using full synthetic. Mine is Mobil 1 dexos certified. I think that they'll honor the warranty as long as you use a dexos certified oil and an AC delco (OEM) filter, which is what I used.
I also found that I needed to add at least 4.2 quarts while checking the dipstick.

 

[SmoothSonic]

They want $5 plus shipping for an o-ring. An o-ring! I was hoping someone would have one laying around that could measure it. I can do it during my next oil change, but then I won't be able to go and buy it...

I learned that my local dealership wanted to charge over $3 for 1 o-ring. So I ordered 3 for just over $3 plus $1.99 shipping at RockAuto.com.

But I didn't replace my existing one with my recent oil change since some people in here have gotten by without changing theirs. Maybe I'll replace it once every 2 oil changes or if it leaks.

 

[SmoothSonic]

Used car ramps to give me plenty of clearance. I didn't have a torque wrench but snug so far hasnt leaked

I did the same. One time I tried lifting the car with a jack, but ended up with ramps that work perfectly. I bought them at Walmart. I decided that it would be fine if I simply snugged the plug with a regular socket wrench as well... Hasn't leaked either.

 

[RMinNJ]

Hand snug on the oil bolt us fine. My pan actually says 14newton meters on it...about what 11 ft lbs which is nothing. Even has an arrow say which way to turn it.
My dealer did not understand my anger when I told them I measured 50 ft lbs before the bolt stripped...that they put on. Tech swore this time..new bolt and 14 nm. I'll see when I go to change the oil next. .. it seems impossible to mess up but they did.

 

[2014 Blue RS]

Pump your oil out and don't touch that drain plug again.

 

[$ub$onic]

If you strip out the 10mm, check out the Trox drain plugs that came factory on some


I switched my turbo over to it, so much nicer then the 10mm

Plus running amsoil SS I only got to piss with it every 15k miles so that's nice

 

[MarkS]

Put in a Fumoto.

The last oil change was a freebie at the dealer (traded one pint of blood) and they couldn't figure out how to work it. Once I showed them, all the technicians came to play with it.

 

[SmoothSonic]

Put in a Fumoto.



The last oil change was a freebie at the dealer (traded one pint of blood) and they couldn't figure out how to work it. Once I showed them, all the technicians came to play with it.

That's a great idea. Does it void the warranty?

 

[sonic daddy]

If you strip out the 10mm, check out the Trox drain plugs that came factory on some


I switched my turbo over to it, so much nicer then the 10mm

Plus running amsoil SS I only got to piss with it every 15k miles so that's nice

Wish had saw this sooner we just had to deal with a stripped out 10 mm thanks to a Wall Mart oil change.

 

[MarkS]

That's a great idea. Does it void the warranty?

The dealer offers a lifetime warranty on the engine, but no one questioned the drain plug. They all thought it was a great idea, suggesting that it should be standard. The service writer went back to his computer to see if one was available for his Ford Expedition. (Don't ask why an employee of a Chevy dealer drives a Ford.)

 

[minitrucking02]

oldertech- A hinged door approach of some sort is a good idea, I'll ponder that and see what I can do. I like the belly pan too, good for aero ... but I don't think missing a 3x5 card piece would be a deal breaker either. Even if I do nothing removing it literally is a 60-90 second affair. The only concern I have are the little dinky 2 torx screws giving out after multiple removals.

I mean in theory the oil will drain out of the little hole on it, but it just seems messy/ghetto :\

IMO the biggest "pain" about changing this cars oil is the really low clearance. I have a very low profile jack, and still it wasnt enough. FWIW I use this jack on my slammed Mustang and my old slammed SC400 and never had an issue, if that tells you how low the clearance is up front. If those race ramps will give you the clearance to get up there without jacking, please let us know!

Also as an FYI the front air dam/splitter/whatever is REALLY flimsy so be careful with it or you'll damage it.

I bought car ramps for my first oil change.
... stock RS is too low for the ramps FML.

 

[2014 Blue RS]

Started with ramps also. But then, Pela oil pump!

 

[Sonic in Pahrump Nevada]

My first oil change

2016 Sonic /auto transmission. I was prepared to deal with the cover under the drain plug. I guess Chevy ditched that PIA cause mine has a fully exposed oil pan. Also I can not remember having a plug on the bottom of the pan on a vehicle. I was a pleasure watching the old oil shoot straight down into my catch basin. I have 2 Yamaha FZR 600 motorcycles and 2 Chevy pick ups and all of them shoot the oil sideways. Which means you have to position the catch basin far enough away to not miss the it. And changing the filter from the top was too smooth. I can't wait to change the transmission oil.

 

[Hawkdsl]

FYI all. 4 planks of 2X4's.. one cut long, and one cut 4 inches shorter, and stacked
will give you more then enough room to reach the oil drain; looks like this:

_____________
_____________________

poor mans ramps.. just for oil change though... not safe for anything serious.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Welcome to the family Sonic in Pahrump Nevada!! I lived in Pahrump for a year from 2004-2005. It was very nice coming from L.A. We have a group in Vegas and maybe we can meet up.

:banana:

 

[Sonic in Pahrump Nevada]

I just noticed your reply. Actually I mainly live in Vegas but for insurance and registration purposes I use my Pahrump address. Also I was burnt out on commuting to Vegas. Back in 1995 I would step on the gas after passing Tropicana. No street lights back then on 160.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

When I moved to Vegas there was pretty much nothing on 160 until the Silverton. That was in 2003.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Bruce_Lee]

Great details, Cheers!

 

[cuartz7o]

Just did my first oil change ever, many thanks for the tutorial it helped tremendously!

Sent from my SM-G925T using Tapatalk