Anyone else having fuel issues with their Sonic LTZ's?

[teamjrc]

Hey everyone, Just asking the community if anyone is having fuel mileage and/or fuel smell in cabin issues with their Sonic LTZ's? Don't get me wrong, I love the car, yet I have been back to the dealer about 8 times with warranty stuff. I am trying to figure out if I got a lemon, or if the Sonics are all not doing so well as a whole. Thanks.

I drive a 2012 Sonic ZTZ HB 1.4L 6M

 

[Papasonic]

Fuel economy seems acceptable to me on my 1.4 turbo 6 sp manual LTZ hatch.

I am experiencing an odor during a hot restart; the odor to me smells like crankcase blow-by vapor. It does not smell like fuel, coolant or plastic/adhesive type odors as my service tech claims it to be. If the odor was indeed plastic or adhesive related the odor would be constant and not just when restarting a warm engine. The odor also is noticeable somewhat during slow speed stop & go in traffic. It does not produce an odor traveling at constant speed on the highway. I recently had my vehicle in for service and the service tech obviously read the tech bulletin regarding the plastic/adhesive odor emitting from the HVAC system, and decided that was what the odor I described is. His solution was to inject deodorant into the HVAC box to help eliminate the odor. Now the HVAC output air does have an odor of whatever perfume he added to the system. I recently had one of our Chevrolet customer representatives document this condition for further review. I have yet to identify the origin of the odor. My theory is that under certain conditions the crankcase pressure exceeds design limits and vents to the atmosphere instead of being contained within the emission system. I believe that GM knows that this occurs but doesn't yet have a solution and doesn't believe this to be a legitimate problem.

Although I have had some minor quirks with my Sonic, I still feel it to be a quality product in the automotive B segment category. The issue described in the paragraph above is nothing more than an annoyance; my vehicle runs, drives and looks perfect.

 

[Palmaris]

I don't have that model, but its not something I have experienced or something I have read about on this forum. I would like to think that a fuel smell is very uncommon and signs of a problem.

 

[teamjrc]

reply

Thanks for the feedback. I am losing approx. 120 km/65 mi per tank of gas on top of that smell, yet there are no visual signs of a leak, nor can dealers find the problem. I pretty much run with my engine light off and on constantly. I read somewhere that Sonics can have bad heater cores....but I can't see how that would effect mileage, could cause smell I guess. Sometimes I wish I had an old carburated Honda CR-X again, back when things were less complex

 

[SONIC1.4]

Thanks for the feedback. I am losing approx. 120 km/65 mi per tank of gas on top of that smell, yet there are no visual signs of a leak, nor can dealers find the problem. I pretty much run with my engine light off and on constantly. I read somewhere that Sonics can have bad heater cores....but I can't see how that would effect mileage, could cause smell I guess. Sometimes I wish I had an old carburated Honda CR-X again, back when things were less complex

Is your sonic still pretty new? Mine had a new engine smell when I first got it and it heated up, it smelled chemically and was pretty noticeable. It eventually burned off after a couple months

 

[countrydrivin05]

Fuel economy seems acceptable to me on my 1.4 turbo 6 sp manual LTZ hatch.

I am experiencing an odor during a hot restart; the odor to me smells like crankcase blow-by vapor. It does not smell like fuel, coolant or plastic/adhesive type odors as my service tech claims it to be. If the odor was indeed plastic or adhesive related the odor would be constant and not just when restarting a warm engine. The odor also is noticeable somewhat during slow speed stop & go in traffic. It does not produce an odor traveling at constant speed on the highway. I recently had my vehicle in for service and the service tech obviously read the tech bulletin regarding the plastic/adhesive odor emitting from the HVAC system, and decided that was what the odor I described is. His solution was to inject deodorant into the HVAC box to help eliminate the odor. Now the HVAC output air does have an odor of whatever perfume he added to the system. I recently had one of our Chevrolet customer representatives document this condition for further review. I have yet to identify the origin of the odor. My theory is that under certain conditions the crankcase pressure exceeds design limits and vents to the atmosphere instead of being contained within the emission system. I believe that GM knows that this occurs but doesn't yet have a solution and doesn't believe this to be a legitimate problem.

Although I have had some minor quirks with my Sonic, I still feel it to be a quality product in the automotive B segment category. The issue described in the paragraph above is nothing more than an annoyance; my vehicle runs, drives and looks perfect.

I have also had this since new and I am almost at 21k miles on mine. The smell is really noticeable if you have been driving it and not babying it, if that makes sense.

Apparently the tech who gassed your HVAC didn't smell the odor outside the car because all you have to do is open the hood and walla... the smell is obviously coming from the engine compartment, LOL. But what do we know... right

 

[Papasonic]

I have also had this since new and I am almost at 21k miles on mine. The smell is really noticeable if you have been driving it and not babying it, if that makes sense.

Apparently the tech who gassed your HVAC didn't smell the odor outside the car because all you have to do is open the hood and walla... the smell is obviously coming from the engine compartment, LOL. But what do we know... right

In time an above average tech or engineer will determine the origin of the odor, acknowledge that it actually exists, and provide an explanation and solution. Don't hold your breath! I don't mean because of the odor; because this may take a while to resolve.

 

[teamjrc]

Well I didn't buy the turbocharged 6 speed manual to baby it

The smell in my car is seriously bad news. I have to take it in AGAIN this week. I am running with the engine light on once again now as well.

The dealerships near me are not even stocking Sonics anymore, I have a feeling that if anyone keeps their Sonics for many years, they will potentially be collectors items.....or gone for good. Hopefully OPEL makes a similar car for a while so we can get parts.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

teamjrc,

I am sorry to hear you are having this concern. Please be sure to reach out to GM of Canada at 800-263-3777. They can assist you with working with your dealership. I know multiple trips to the dealership can be frustrating. Be sure to keep us posted.

Erica Tiffany
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[ChrisJ]

Well I didn't buy the turbocharged 6 speed manual to baby it

The smell in my car is seriously bad news. I have to take it in AGAIN this week. I am running with the engine light on once again now as well.

The dealerships near me are not even stocking Sonics anymore, I have a feeling that if anyone keeps their Sonics for many years, they will potentially be collectors items.....or gone for good. Hopefully OPEL makes a similar car for a while so we can get parts.

I don't know how it is in Canada but the Sonic is far from rare in the US. Dealers in NJ have plenty and if I recall they manufactured at least 160K of them between 2012 and 2013.

 

[teamjrc]

I have had my Sonic since May 2012, and I have only seen a few here total (almost none are LTZ or RS models either). I was in Boston this summer and saw a bunch though. Everyone experiences noticing the oddly huge amount of the same car after they get one, but not me with Sonics.....My girlfriend recently bought a Hyundai Sonata, and I see those silly cars everywhere!!! lol

 

[Palmaris]

I agree! I have not seen a single Sonic RS, and very few Sonic Turbo's. They are quite rare around here. My dealership does have a few Sonics on their lot. Sadly one of them is blue but has some weird graphics on it. I don't know who would buy that one!

I always think that I should see more of this car around.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

We're happy to hear that your Sonic is one of a kind in your area! Cheers to uniqueness!

Amber N.
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[rcmn0022]

I agree! I have not seen a single Sonic RS, and very few Sonic Turbo's. They are quite rare around here. My dealership does have a few Sonics on their lot. Sadly one of them is blue but has some weird graphics on it. I don't know who would buy that one!

I always think that I should see more of this car around.

I wanted to get an RS and they searched for a manual one for me. There was one in Quebec, one in Toronto and one in Ottawa. There aren't many of the upper trims here in Canada either.

I got another dealer to try and find a car with the 1.4T and manual and there wasn't anything in the Hamilton area.

 

[teamjrc]

for how much money I have already dumped into this car in repairs, I am considering making it a "Super Sonic" lol. I really like the ones done-up with rims, lowering kits etc....I am also thinking matte black to match my motorcycle. Even with the mechanical issues, I still love the look and feel of the car

 

[chivalryder]

Completely irrelevant, but:

Reminds me of my old 1975 MG. I became worried whenever it DIDN'T smell of fuel while driving.

 

[Aj713]

Smelly sonix

My 2013 rs auto still gets a smell once in a while, but it's only when I run it hard. No check engine lights, no tranny shifting issues, no handling problems. I just hate that it runs so dam hot. I wish there was a way to adjust it, since the thermostat is electric. The bullydog power programmer (40415) and k&n filter just make it more enjoyable to drive with the extra 40 horses and better all around drivability.

 

[qwed94]

Well running it hard makes them run hotter.
But if the OPs car has a CEL. Id take it back for sure. I have seen a few older cars flash the CEL after running real hard mile after mile, and it is usually an O2 code. (makes since because running hard gets the carbon broke up). A new car shouldnt have a huge amount of carbon yet, and "especially" if you drive it hard all the time.

If you are getting a CEL. AND smelling gas. My guess is-you have a problem, or a very rich tune. Sometimes tuning can be great, but if the tune is bad. It can be harmful to you and the engine.

A lean tune can (and usually will) burn the valves and later a hole in the piston.
A rich tune can wash your rings and destroy the CAT, and o2 sensors.

That is why the factory tune is what it is.