Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-7
A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑14.
B. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑9.
C. Engine Electric Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling
System on page 10‑15.
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑9. E. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System on page 10‑15.
F. Brake/Clutch Fluid Reservoir. See Brakes on page 10‑22 and
Hydraulic Clutch on page 10‑13.
G. Battery on page 10‑25. H. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑21.
I. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑34.
Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-9
A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑14.
B. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑9.
C. Engine Electric Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling
System on page 10‑15.
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑9.
E. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System on page 10‑15.
F. Brake/Clutch Fluid Reservoir. See Brakes on page 10‑22 and
Hydraulic Clutch on page 10‑13.
G. Battery on page 10‑25.
H. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑34.
I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑21.Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.Always use engine oil approved
to the proper specification and of
the proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
.Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
.Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System on page 10‑12.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
If the engine oil pressure light
comes on, check the engine oil level
right away. The oil pressure light is
on the instrument panel cluster. See
Engine Oil Pressure Light on
page 5‑19. Check the engine oil
level regularly; this is an added
reminder.
Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
10-10 Vehicle Care
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine
oil level at each fuel fill. In order to
get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must
be on level ground. The engine oil
dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6for the location of the
engine oil dipstick.
1. If the engine has been running recently, turn off the engine and
allow several minutes for the oil
to drain back into the oil pan.
Checking the oil level too soon
after engine shutoff will not
provide an accurate oil level
reading.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or cloth,
then push it back in all the way.
Remove it again, keeping the
tip down, and check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the MIN
(minimum) mark on the dipstick, add
1 L (1 qt) of the recommended oil
and then recheck the level. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil” in
this section for an explanation of
what kind of oil to use. For engine
oil crankcase capacity, see
Capacities and Specifications on
page 12‑2. Notice:
Do not add too much oil.
Oil levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful
to the engine. If you find that you
have an oil level above the
operating range, i.e., the engine
has so much oil that the oil level
gets above the upper mark that
shows the proper operating
range, the engine could be
damaged. You should drain out
the excess oil or limit driving of
the vehicle and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess amount of oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑6 for the location of the
engine oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when through.
