Oil Drain Plug

[attrapereves]

Just did the first oil change on my white Sonic. The first thing I noticed was that the oil drain plug takes a Torx wrench. However, my black Sonic (same year and model) took a standard socket.

I believe my white Sonic was made two months after my black Sonic.

Did Chevy change up the drain plug sometime?

 

[$ub$onic]

My 2012 1.8 is a torx.

I think I remember see somewhere that the 1.4 normally uses the hex? I could be wrong.

 

[ColonelPanic]

1.4L is 10mm hex.

First I've heard of the 1.8L not having the torx, what size is that one?

 

[attrapereves]

1.4L is 10mm hex.

First I've heard of the 1.8L not having the torx, what size is that one?

It's been a while since I changed the black hatch oil, but if I remember correctly, it was 10mm (as is most every other car I've had). The white hatch has a size 40 Torx.

Weird...

 

[Luv2xlr8]

10mm hex on my 1.8 2012.

 

[$ub$onic]

Maybe it's a manual vs auto?

 

[attrapereves]

Maybe it's a manual vs auto?

That's what I'm thinking at this point.

 

[Luv2xlr8]

Well I've got the 2012 1.8 auto sedan. Maybe they had a worker that was a bit liquired up when working on the assembly line that one night.

 

[$ub$onic]

Well I've got the 2012 1.8 auto sedan. Maybe they a worker that was a bit liquired up when working on the assembly line that one night.

The manual vs auto thing seems to be the only thing that makes sense at this point

 

[sdgdf]

Just changed my oil, '12 1.4t 6-speed and it had a 10mm hex.

 

[Blue hedgehog]

'13 1.4t with an automatic. 10mm hex

 

[KartRacer]

13 1.4 manual 10 mm hex.
Theory shot

 

[trollbait]

It could simply be they ran out of one bolt, and someone made an executive decision to keep the line running.

 

[attrapereves]

It would be interesting to know if the automatic 1.4L has the same plug as the manual. Maybe it's not an engine thing, but a transmission thing?

 

[Z71]

Mine has a torx drain plug and an O ring seal. That O ring seal is something like $ 3.50 from the dealer, which is ridiculous. Any cheaper source for this seal? I like to replace them every oil change.

I will probably replace that torx drain plug with an aftermarket plug from NAPA. I like hex head drain plugs. Both my Impala and Silverado have a 15 mm hex head drain plug for the oil pan.

 

[River_Rat]

Why not get an o-ring at napa while you're getting the drain plug?

 

[ChrisJ]

IMO 15mm is way too big for an oil drain plug. The 10mm keeps shops from over torquing the plug. Seems like many people don't realize it's just a drain plug and not a head bolt.

If you want a cheap source of quality o-rings I'd go with Mcmaster carr. You can probably get a bag of 10 or 50 neoprene o-rings from them for a good price.

 

[SonicBoy24]

2012 1.8 6speed auto - 10mm

 

[Italianjoe1]

Torx plugs are far more positive and lower profile/weight than a 10mm but that doesn't explain why they use them at the factory as they are probably more expensive. FWIW the 10mm head plug also uses the same o-ring so that's not really gonna solve anything. I wanna say my sonic has the regular hex but all the rental cars I see at work (sonics and cruzes with both engines) all have the 10mm as well from my recollection. The transmission drain plug is a torx though...

 

[Italianjoe1]

IMO 15mm is way too big for an oil drain plug. The 10mm keeps shops from over torquing the plug. Seems like many people don't realize it's just a drain plug and not a head bolt.

Problem with that is they install it and over-torque, rounding it off half way in the process. Then when you go to remove it with a big ass bar because it's way too tight, you finish it off. I've had to remove several of them for other guys at work because of that. I've also had to drill and extract allen/torx recessed plugs though, most oil techs are just retards and don't understand that the <20lb torque requirement is more than enough to seal. They figure if they make it extra tight it won't leak.