Small oil change tip

[WyrTwister]

Changed the oil on the 2015 1.8l automatic Sonic yesterday afternoon .

After going through the chore of rounding up the correct ratchets & sockets , where is my drain pan ? Quick trip to buy another .

Removed the drain plug & filter / plastic filter " cap ". Re-installed the filter / plastic filter " cap " . Oil finished draining , re-install the drain plug .

Asked Wifey to hunt up a funnel for me . Started re-filling the engine from a 5 qt jug of the second line Mobil 5W-30 full synthetic . With most of the 5 quarts in the engine & funnel still in place , asked Wifey to start the engine .

Engine ran rough & soon died . Checked the oil lever & added a little more . Removed the funnel & re-installed the oil filler cap . Engine restart , engine off , checked oil level . Oil level good .

Only , this time , the engine ran normally . What was different ? ( I figured it out , can you? )

I think the engine holds 4.8 quarts . The remaining oil in the container , I save up and use in my oil can . Seems to work well , but can not tell if it works better than conventional oil , in that application .

God bless
Wyr

 

[2014 Blue RS]

Vacuum

 

[Papasonic]

With the filler cap off, the PCV system now has a giant vacuum leak, upsetting the AF ratio: Thus causing engine to run rough and possibly stall. You can actually hear the air entering the open filler opening with the cap removed. Do this long enough, and the check engine lamp will illuminate.

 

[Llia]

I agree, the oil cap.
Also I read in a different thread that you should turn the engine with the coil pack disconnected to circulate oil before you run the motor.

 

[nickalltogether]

I agree, the oil cap.
Also I read in a different thread that you should turn the engine with the coil pack disconnected to circulate oil before you run the motor.

Maybe on a fresh engine build. I couldn't see any value in doing that for an oil change personally.