Rough idle during a long trip

[bentmol]

I have a 2014 Sonic hatchback with the 1.8-liter engine, with 90,000 km on the odometer. I bought this car new in 2013 and have maintained it scrupulously. My Sonic has never failed me on the road - until recently. While on a leisurely road trip from Ontario to Virginia, the engine started to miss occasionally at low RPMs. While at stoplights, the engine idled somewhat roughly. So, I had to extend my stay in Strasburg, PA, while praying that a local garage would be able to fix my car within a few days. Keim Chevrolet did fix my vehicle in 2 days, so I was able to continue my trip to VA and back home to Ontario. The problem was that the valve cover gasket had started leaking, so 2 spark plugs were covered in oil; in addition, the ignition coil was failing, according to the dealership's mechanics. My return trip was uneventful - thankfully.

According to AI, the Sonic 1.8-liter engine is known for its valve cover oil leaks. Is this true? Also, should one replace the plastic valve cover with an aftermarket aluminum one, to prevent any re-occurrence of oil leaks?

What other engine or transmission problems can I expect on long trips? How can I anticipate and prevent them?

 

[wildgeese2076]

I had same issue with my 2014 1.8 manual @ 90,000 miles. The silicon gasket failed, not the cover. Unforunately, you can't just buy the gasket, it comes with the cover. The PCV valve is also part of the cover and that should be replaced periodicaly anyway. the repair was easy and the parts (Cover, NGK coil pack, and a tube of RTV) was @150.00.

The other main issue is constant coolant leaks (T-Stat housing, nipple on overflow tank, oil cooler, and water pump are the main culprits. There are metal aftermarket T-stat, and I put in an ASIN (Toyota) water pump. I also got tired of worring about the leaks and tore the front end off the car off and replaced the entire cooling system @100K. 2 days of work & @$550.00 in parts That certainly was overkill lol. Anyway, frequent collent checks are advised, and it is propably a good idea to replace your coolant as it is now 12 years old if you haven't done that already.

You should also change out your transmission and brake fluid if that hasn't been done.

The 1.8 engine is very durable and will last a very long time if doesn't overheat due to lack of coolant. The fact that Chevey did not put in temperature guage makes monitoring your coolant level even more important. You can get ODB aftermarket devices that will display temps.

I have had no issues withn my manual transmission. From what I understand the auto is reliable. Just change the fluid every 50,000 miles.

 

[bentmol]

I had same issue with my 2014 1.8 manual @ 90,000 miles. The silicon gasket failed, not the cover. Unforunately, you can't just buy the gasket, it comes with the cover. The PCV valve is also part of the cover and that should be replaced periodicaly anyway. the repair was easy and the parts (Cover, NGK coil pack, and a tube of RTV) was @150.00.

The other main issue is constant coolant leaks (T-Stat housing, nipple on overflow tank, oil cooler, and water pump are the main culprits. There are metal aftermarket T-stat, and I put in an ASIN (Toyota) water pump. I also got tired of worring about the leaks and tore the front end off the car off and replaced the entire cooling system @100K. 2 days of work & @$550.00 in parts That certainly was overkill lol. Anyway, frequent collent checks are advised, and it is propably a good idea to replace your coolant as it is now 12 years old if you haven't done that already.

You should also change out your transmission and brake fluid if that hasn't been done.

The 1.8 engine is very durable and will last a very long time if doesn't overheat due to lack of coolant. The fact that Chevey did not put in temperature guage makes monitoring your coolant level even more important. You can get ODB aftermarket devices that will display temps.

I have had no issues withn my manual transmission. From what I understand the auto is reliable. Just change the fluid every 50,000 miles.

Thank you. The transmission fluid was replaced last year. I will start checking periodically for coolant leaks and consider installing a coolant temperature gauge.