Black plate (37,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-37
Notice:This vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under the
vehicle warranty.
Some gasolines that are
not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant
where you buy gasoline whether the
fuel contains MMT. We recommend
against the use of such gasolines.
Fuels containing MMT can reduce
spark plug life and affect emission
control system performance. The
malfunction indicator lamp might
turn on. If this occurs, return to your
dealer for service.Filling the Tank
{WARNING
Fuel vapor burns violently and a
fuel fire can cause bad injuries.
To help avoid injuries to you and
others, read and follow all the
instructions on the fuel pump
island. Turn off the engine when
refueling. Do not smoke near fuel
or when refueling the vehicle. Do
not use cellular phones. Keep
sparks, flames, and smoking
materials away from fuel. Do not
leave the fuel pump unattended
when refueling the vehicle. This is
against the law in some places.
Do not re-enter the vehicle while
pumping fuel. Keep children away
from the fuel pump; never let
children pump fuel.
The tethered fuel cap is located
behind a hinged fuel door on the
passenger side of the vehicle. To remove the fuel cap, turn it
slowly counterclockwise. The fuel
cap has a spring in it; if the cap is
released too soon, it will spring back
to the right.
{WARNING
Fuel can spray out on you if you
open the fuel cap too quickly.
If you spill fuel and then
something ignites it, you could be
badly burned. This spray can
happen if the tank is nearly full,
and is more likely in hot weather.
Open the fuel cap slowly and wait
for any hiss noise to stop. Then
unscrew the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not
top off or overfill the tank. Wait a
few seconds after you have finished
pumping before removing the
nozzle. Clean fuel from painted
surfaces as soon as possible. See
“Washing the Vehicle” inExterior
Care on page 10‑80.
Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
Service and Maintenance 11-15
Maintenance Replacement Parts
Replacement parts identified below by name, part number, or specification can be obtained from your dealer.
Maintenance Replacement Parts
PartGM Part Number ACDelco Part Number
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 96950990—
Engine Oil Filter 93185674PF2257G
Passenger Compartment Air Filter 13271190CF181
Spark Plugs 5558096141–120
Wiper Blades Driver Side –65.0 cm (25.6 in) 95228809—
Passenger Side –38.0 cm (15.0 in) 95228810—
Rear –26.5 cm (10.4 in) 95016702—
Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
Technical Data 12-3
Engine Specifications
EngineVIN CodeTransmission Spark Plug Gap
1.4L L4 BManual 0.7 mm (0.028 in)
1.8L L4 HAutomatic and Manual 0.7 mm (0.028 in)
Engine Drive Belt Routing
1.4L L4 Engine
1.8L L4 Engine (with Air
Conditioning)1.8L L4 Engine (without Air Conditioning)
