by "LJ909" (lj909)
Published 10/06/2017 at 12:07
by "LJ909" (lj909)
Published 10/06/2017 at 12:07
No Tags
STARS: 3
So I’m driving to work about 2 weeks ago now in the Sonic. I’m listening to music, drinking my iced coffee, when suddenly I notice a shit load of white smoke coming out the back of the car. Oh shit, I think, I’m burning oil or something. A myriad number of things that could potentially be wrong start running through my head. Then it starts coming from under the hood. There was so much smoke, that people were honking at me. A quick Google Maps search shows there’s a park about a block from me. So I make it to the park so I can see whats wrong. I opened the hood and even more smoke fogs my glasses up. When it clears I see the problem: one of the coolant hoses gave some and splatted coolant over most of the engine, including the hot parts. That smoke I was seeing? Coolant on a hot engine. I could smell it and see where orange residue had been baked into the parts of then engine.
At that moment I decided I wasn’t going to go work that day, so I call both my bosses, tell them whats going on and they say don’t worry about it, see about your car. Cool. Now how am I going to get to a mechanic? I never got AAA because towing wise they are pricey, like most companies. Your first 7 miles are free, $10 bucks every mile after. I was worried about having a ton of smoke coalesce around me as I drive as well. That’s when I noticed that my coolant is pretty much empty as well. As some weird form of luck would have it, my mom just so happened ( and even now I still don’t know what the hell she was doing over there) to be about 2 miles from me. after I called her and told her what was going on ,she comes by and to sit with me while I figure out what to do because that’s the kind of things she does.
After about 20 minutes of sitting there I remembered that, because I was pretty close to work, there was a trusted mechanic with good reviews about 2 miles from my job. My mom tells me she will follow me over there just in case anything else went wrong. So I fill up the car with a little more coolant ( I always keep some in the back), and slowly start to drive over there. I was worried the car would start smoking again because the neighborhood I was in is pretty hilly, like steep. The car could get overworked going up the hills. But luckily it didn’t and the car started smoking again, but this time not as much, a block from the shop.
I get to the shop and the guy checks out my car. 30 minutes later he comes and tells me to come in the back so he can show me whats wrong. He showed me the hose that would need to be replaced and he showed me the main problem: the thermostat housing assembly. Here’s the problem. The brilliant engineers at GM decided it would be a good idea to have the housing assembly be mostly made out of plastic. That’s the main image on this article. Why they thought that a part that could potentially heat up over time and wear with age should be made out of plastic is beyond me but it doesn’t make sense. So my housing assembly cracked, leading to coolant leaking out every time the thermostat opens. Which is why there is baked on coolant all on the engine, and why I had noticed I had to keep putting coolant more frequently as of late.
I replaced the hose and that stopped the smoke and slowed the leaking, but I still have have yet to replace the housing assembly. The problem is finding one for a good price and I want this done asap. The one you see above, an OEM part is $85.55. But I dont want oem. Because on top of that $85, I have to pay another $120 total to get the work done. And I don’t want to pay for a part that could crack again down the line. So I’ve been searching for an aluminium one like this one at Rock Auto:
See? This is how it should have been made. But it wasn’t. Leading to my problem. Now my car does have 140 thousand + miles on it, and thank god this is pretty much the first major thing I have had to repair on it but still its annoying. Locally, none of the chain automotive part stores have them cheaper, and yes I am being a cheapskate. Both O’Reilly’s and Autozone have the part, but its nearly $140 bucks. So hopefully before the day is over I can find the part I need locally cheaper, or its driving slow to work like I have been, or taking the Mustang and waiting a week for the cheaper part to arrive from an online auto site.
"boxrocket" (boxrocket)
10/06/2017 at 12:14, STARS: 4
Top tip: Thermostat housings in the sonic, spark, and crude are all cheap plastic and fail regularly. Keep an extra housing kit (since it includes the thermostat and any gaskets) in the car just-in-case.
Remember, the sonic and spark are both Daewoos in disguise, and should be regarded as such. Disposable appliances made to last just past the warranty period.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
10/06/2017 at 12:19, STARS: 1
Same thing happened last month on my mini. I don’t know what the hell these engineers are thinking. They don’t make aluminum replacements for the N14 unfortunately.
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
10/06/2017 at 12:20, STARS: 3
You’d lose your mind at the number of radiators that have plastic tanks on them.
FWIW it’s not the plastic it’s that GM probably did a shit job. Same thing happened with GM, Melling, and oil pumps.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
10/06/2017 at 12:23, STARS: 3
Mini’s are also designed to last through the warranty period/ lease period and not much longer. )=
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
10/06/2017 at 12:27, STARS: 0
I believe you may be right.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
10/06/2017 at 12:27, STARS: 0
I have a good friend that works as an engineer at BMW NA headquarters. I know I’m right. (=
"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti)
10/06/2017 at 12:28, STARS: 1
BMW put plastic oil filter housings on some of their N20 engines. BMW issued a recall on then when they started cracking. Thankfull mine has a metal one.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
10/06/2017 at 12:30, STARS: 1
I know he is just doing his job, but they are going to be hemorrhaging customers soon methinks.
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
10/06/2017 at 12:32, STARS: 3
“Why build engines with good parts when you can just maximize profits instead?”
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
10/06/2017 at 12:36, STARS: 1
Unfortunately, it’s been that way for a while. Most of BMW and Mini’s clients opt for a lease, and this is what the vehicles are designed for. The target design life is a 36mo lease and to pass a CPO inspection so the vehicle can be sold. Beyond that, it’s out of warranty (if not shortly will be) and out of their hair.
They’re beautiful cars, and though I’ve not had the pleasure of driving a BMW or a Mini, owning one comes at a cost. Not many customers are willing to shell out $40-90k or sign a lease on a design that’s 7 years old, so the cars get redesigned and updated frequently. High R&D costs for cutting edge features are usually comped with saving money where they can. It’s why BMW builds such nice motors with timing chains but uses plastic for the guides. Cost savings, and when it fails, it won’t be under warranty.
"diplodicus" (diplodicus)
10/06/2017 at 12:37, STARS: 0
I’m pretty sure its the accountants that are pushing that. Plastic injection molding is more cost effective vs aluminum casting + machining.
"LJ909" (lj909)
10/06/2017 at 12:43, STARS: 0
Yea I had seen some thing son the fourms with the same issues with the 1.8 and 1.4, meaning the last gen Cruze has the same problems as well.
Remember, the sonic and spark are both Daewoos in disguise, and should be regarded as such. Disposable appliances made to last just past the warranty period.
Sigh.. I know sadly. It helps that they are at least American built. But Korean engineered. Not even good Korean (ie Hyundai/Kia).
"LJ909" (lj909)
10/06/2017 at 12:46, STARS: 2
BMW is notorious for making internals out of plastic. German engineering isnt as genius as you think.
"Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner" (gavinharter30)
10/06/2017 at 12:46, STARS: 0
Absolutely hate thermostats. Especially in minis. Take a minute and look one up and also look how far down it is in a mini engine
"Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast" (danimalk)
10/06/2017 at 12:46, STARS: 1
As a fellow Sonic owner I will be taking a look at all my coolant hoses and thermostat housing this weekend.
I think you’ve told me before, but do you have the 1.8 or the 1.4?
"LJ909" (lj909)
10/06/2017 at 12:48, STARS: 0
Thats stupid as hell. Might as well have a plastic oil pan.
"LJ909" (lj909)
10/06/2017 at 12:51, STARS: 0
I just saw. Its deep. And looks awkward as hell to get to.
"Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner" (gavinharter30)
10/06/2017 at 12:54, STARS: 1
Very awkward. Took a good hour and a half to take ours off
"LJ909" (lj909)
10/06/2017 at 12:59, STARS: 0
Hopefully you can find cheap one. But I have the 1.8.
"So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky" (badams109)
10/06/2017 at 13:06, STARS: 3
Thermoplastic thermostat housings are common across all manufacturers. FCA, GM, Ford, BMW all use them. Metal is better sure but plastic is lighter and cheaper (most of the time). I’m actually surprised there is an option for an AL one in the aftermarket. Good luck getting the part you need.
"Little Black Coupe Turned Silver" (littleblackcoupe)
10/06/2017 at 13:06, STARS: 0
I had a 2012 Sonic 1.4T. I loved that little car, but it would go through coolant like crazy. Three dealers and even a letter from Chevy and no one would fix it. I dumped it as soon as the warranty was done, sadly.
"LJ909" (lj909)
10/06/2017 at 13:08, STARS: 0
Thanks. Im glad there is an AL option. It doesnt make sense paying over$200 with parts and labor for something thats going to happen again down the line.
"Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast" (danimalk)
10/06/2017 at 13:10, STARS: 0
Cool. Do you know if they are the same part# between the 1.4 and 1.8?
Coolant levels have seemed fine for the ~2.5 yrs 25k miles I’ve had it, but I’ll be keeping a closer eye on them!
"LJ909" (lj909)
10/06/2017 at 13:13, STARS: 0
Yea they are good little cars. I would go so far as to say best in class. But I’m with you. Im looking to get rid of mine the beginning of the year.
"LJ909" (lj909)
10/06/2017 at 13:19, STARS: 0
From what I saw on Rock Auto, they look like they are the same, but I could be wrong though. Might wanna check around.
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
10/06/2017 at 13:23, STARS: 1
The engineers are thinking, “Building this out of aluminum would be ideal, but building it out of plastic will still meet our durability criteria and will cost what someone higher up the chain told me it needs to cost.”
"So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky" (badams109)
10/06/2017 at 13:30, STARS: 2
I mean plastic ages and if you assume it lasts 140,000 miles then maybe even the plastic one lasts as long as the car will. You might try a junk yard if they ever offered the AL one from the factory and then swap over the sensors and thermostat element
"LJ909" (lj909)
10/06/2017 at 13:41, STARS: 0
Oh yea of course. It just irks me that this engine part is mostly plastic.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
10/06/2017 at 13:51, STARS: 1
It surprises me that GM still uses pushrods in their V8s, but use plastic thermostat housings instead of just using their steel ones from the 60's-70's.
"LJ909" (lj909)
10/06/2017 at 13:55, STARS: 0
To keep that sweet sweet service money coming in mostly.
"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti)
10/06/2017 at 14:21, STARS: 1
Funny you mention that, because it does have a plastic oil pan!
"LJ909" (lj909)
10/06/2017 at 14:24, STARS: 0
And its $500 bucks just for the oil pan from what I’ve seen.
"gmporschenut also a fan of hondas" (gmporschenut)
10/06/2017 at 22:38, STARS: 1
Good thing you noticed it.
My buddies x5 had a plastic oil baffle that after 8 years warped, fell off, lfoated around the engine, then wedged between an oil passage in the block starving oil, leading to a warped block.
"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
10/06/2017 at 23:52, STARS: 0
It makes me wonder what the market would be like for aftermarket parts that are higher quality. Surely there’s a bit of money to be made there, no?
"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
10/06/2017 at 23:52, STARS: 1
That’s insanity!
"LJ909" (lj909)
10/07/2017 at 00:25, STARS: 0
Jesus. You have to throw away the whole car at that point.
"gmporschenut also a fan of hondas" (gmporschenut)
10/07/2017 at 00:50, STARS: 1
he was crazy and had them rebuild the engine with a block from a totaled car. I said to scrap it for parts and walk away because if one thing goes on a 135k bmw, something is bound to come up.
"boxrocket" (boxrocket)
10/07/2017 at 07:44, STARS: 1
Well, the sonic is built in Michigan (for NA market, or at least US/Canada, as far as I know), but the spark is made in Mexico for the NA market. Though, technically, that is still [North] America, so I guess you can technically say “American-made” (or, rather, assembled with worldwide-made parts) for anything made in North and South America. There’s probably some folks who wouldn’t like that distinction, though.
"boxrocket" (boxrocket)
10/07/2017 at 07:55, STARS: 0
Both the 1.4 and 1.8 have the same issue, but I don’t remember if it’s the same part. The crude and trax/encore have the same issue. The crude-platform-mate verano shares its 2.4L engine displacement with the malibu/regal and equinox/terrain, and those engines have their own problems.
"Dogapult" (dogapult)
10/12/2017 at 12:38, STARS: 1
Its one of the benefits of aftermarket parts as a whole. Depending on a few factors, the aftermarket does generally create parts that squash a weak point with the original part, so long as you’re not buying the cheapest version.
"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
10/24/2017 at 08:24, STARS: 1
“Hold my beer” - Ford
