Cruze 1.4 T experiences?

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Originally Posted By: pandus13
Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
Has anyone here had any experience with the diesel model? To just look at the spec's it appears to be a good idea for a commuter.

i thought we had 2 posters post some longer reviews of the model they bought from brand new...
Sciphi? help, pretty please?


I bought my Cruze Eco manual with 7 miles on it. 142k miles later, it's been a very good car. The trouble spots on it have been the multiple water pumps and a few plastic bits on the cooling system. Those are typical 1.4T issues, and very well documented. The water pump is a cheap and easy DIY replacement. Besides that, it's been pretty reliable. It's also been a fun to drive car that sips gas, even with a set of non-LRR tires on it.

I sprang for a Trifecta tune on this car a few months after getting it home. No issues to report. It needs 93 octane, so I haven't experienced any of the warm-weather drivability issues on lower octane. It runs the same cold weather or warm weather thanks to the tune and premium gas.

My use for it has been as a solo commuter box, two-person road-trip car, and dog hauler. The backseat has been reported as okay for longer trips by folks about 5'8" and of average weight. It fits a child seat okay. Best advice to anybody is to test it if the backseat might be a deal-breaker. I've had people in the backseat maybe a dozen times in 5 years of owning the car, so it's not an issue for me.

Ride has been just fine on my Eco. It's not too firm, it's not too soft, it's just right. The car also handles very well, and takes a lot to get out of shape. I have managed, but that took a racetrack, LRR tires, and ham-fisting a sharp corner. It's a predictable car in the snow. Steering feel is sadly lacking. Steering response is great, and the rest of the chassis is pretty clear about what's occurring.

As other folks have mentioned, it's a quiet car for its time and class. It also feels substantial. The doors close with a "thunk", the controls are pretty solidly built, and the surfaces that get touched are easy on the hands.

After 5 years with mine, I'd recommend it to others.
 
10mm for oil ... 11mm for ATF ...74k so far and all I have done is these fluids ...
I rent them too - plenty SK and other cheap cars noisier than these ...
 
Thanks to all the replies so far. In regards to needing above 87 octane how hot? 85F+? What is the rpm at 70mph for the auto non eco?
 
I sell a ton a valve covers (integral PCV), turbos, and a stupid conduit-looking PCV pipe thing for these, mostly under warranty/special coverage. I usually stock about 2 turbos and ideally 4 valve covers. Also water outlets and the hose to the reservoir from the water outlet. About 2-3 of each kept in stock.

They don't seem to be bad cars otherwise, but I sell those parts like candy.
 
I don't know what exactly goes wrong, but it's PCV system related and the usual complaint is "check engine light on." A lot of the cars are under warranty, and I think there is a special coverage campaign (extended warranty on that part) for it. I haven't paid much attention to the details, but I can find out more info on it tomorrow. Over the last month we had trouble getting them from GM, then the part number changed, and now I have 3-4 in stock again.
 
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
I don't know what exactly goes wrong, but it's PCV system related and the usual complaint is "check engine light on." A lot of the cars are under warranty, and I think there is a special coverage campaign (extended warranty on that part) for it. I haven't paid much attention to the details, but I can find out more info on it tomorrow. Over the last month we had trouble getting them from GM, then the part number changed, and now I have 3-4 in stock again.


Ok, doesn't look like there is a bulletin or campaign, most of the cars are just under warranty.

Apparently the PCV assembly built into the cover can leak, resulting in lean codes and other DTCs.
 
My daughters 2012 Cruze 1.4 has 41k on it and the only issue so far was a bad valve in the intake, covered under warranty along with the valve cover. One other thing was the coil went south and I got another one for $90 and that fixed the issue. Otherwise a great little car.

I have a 2014 Cruze diesel and love it. More power than the 1.4 and sips fuel. I average 47.8mpg and have gotten as high as 55.2mpg on a trip.
 
The valve cover issue has been resolved with a new part number. The turbo issues can be avoided with full synthetic oil changed every 5,000 miles.
 
I had 2011 with a 1.4T. Hot weather absolutely killed the power, unless you run premium in it. Water pump started leaking at 70k miles, replaced under warranty, in fact they had a recall for that I believe.
 
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
I sell a ton a valve covers (integral PCV), turbos, and a stupid conduit-looking PCV pipe thing for these, mostly under warranty/special coverage. I usually stock about 2 turbos and ideally 4 valve covers. Also water outlets and the hose to the reservoir from the water outlet. About 2-3 of each kept in stock.

They don't seem to be bad cars otherwise, but I sell those parts like candy.


Yeah, the PCV system failures are known issues. Mine hasn't needed a valve cover or PCV hose yet at 142k miles, but I'm ready for it in case it does. It did have the oil changed with full synthetic every 7500 miles since brand new, though.

The water outlet and hose to the reservoir tank go bad after 3 water pump replacements, LOL! Both of those leaked on mine starting when the third pump went. Thankfully, when the pump is out they're a fairly easy swap with the right tools. A good set of hose clamp pliers or the cable hose clamp tool is a necessity.

Something to watch out for is a leaking heater core hose coming off the back of the water pump. The techs are brutal on that hose when they R&R a water pump under warranty, and it doesn't hold up to repeated applications of hose clamp pliers and man-beast removal. Mine leaked for a good long while until I saw it when replacing the water pump for the 4th time. Some 5/8" (IIRC) heater hose and a new fitting fixed it. Any leaks will kill a new water pump quickly on this car.

There is an extended warranty campaign for certain VIN ranges on the water pump. I got a letter stating 10 years/150k miles for mine. My car had two water pumps replaced under that warranty, so it was a better deal for me than a recall.

Originally Posted By: 2James1
Thanks to all the replies so far. In regards to needing above 87 octane how hot? 85F+? What is the rpm at 70mph for the auto non eco?


Pretty much when you'd switch on the A/C for the season to be comfortable is when a switch to higher octane fuel is warranted. A lot of folks seem to do fine with 89 octane, although in really hot weather 91+ octane seems to work best.
 
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The octane rule regarding need for A/C isn't too far off. I've run quite a few different fuels in my '13 LT (1.4/manual) and can say this: regular runs like [censored] under pretty much any conditions. 89, with or without ethanol, substantially reduces any bad behaviors due to fuel octane regardless of ambient temperature. Below 50 degrees or so the difference (performance and mileage) between plus and premium is negligible - mileage drops as it gets colder, such that the same 500-mile drive in 90 degree summer weather and 10-degree winter weather will be 39-40 MPG vs. 35 or so. On the hot end of the spectrum mine runs satisfactory on plus no matter how hot (at least 100*) but hot weather mileage may improve on premium. Mine has seen 89 octane 95% of its life because if I've ever found a difference between it and premium it was on long trips in warm weather, even then it's not always detectable.

Mine's at 86K and hasn't had a wrench laid to the engine yet. 5000 mi. OCI with Valvoline Synpower and Amsoil synchromesh @ 30K interval in the transmission. Zero oil consumption. Based on slight seeping from the water pump and cam/valve cover seals I'll do them both (with PCV) at 100K, along with struts and any other suspension components that are needed as money allows. Still on the original clutch and brakes. First set of tires lasted 50K, plugs were changed at 10K and 60K (10K was because I didn't get the memo about not re-gapping iridium plugs until after the fact) - replacement interval is 60K and they're really sensitive to worn out or overgapped plugs. Mixed driving mileage in weather above 45-degree daytime highs is 35-37, personal best being something like 300 miles @ 41.9.

The other contributor that said the Cruze is sure-footed and precise to drive is right IMHO - very responsive and stable. Yellow curve speed warning signs can be exceeded by 15 MPH comfortably in my experience and it will go from 70 to the speed limiter (112) in less than 1/2 mile with power for more.
 
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Thank you for your helpful input Alex_V. Very interesting. Thinking if we end up with a Cruze will run Top Tier 89 exclusively. One of the few things I dont like about the 2015 Cruze's is Fog lights seem pretty hard to come by.
 
I have a 2012 Cruze 2LT. Decent car.
Paint is soft, scratches easily. GM's water based paints have improved in color, but not in durability.
Back seat is tight, especially when you have tall people in the front, with the seat all the way back.
Air conditioning is weak, and noisy. 3 is required on even moderate days, and has an annoying whoosh.
4 (max) is unbearably loud, talking or music becomes impossible. Back seats get little or no A/C...

Tires lasted to 30K, even inflated hard, 37 psi. Rims suffered many chips on the edges.
I replaced the 44 psi max 225/50R17's with 225/55R17 General RT43's, max of 51, inflated to 44...
Ride got a lot stiffer, less sloshy...
 
My Mother in law has a 2013 she bought new, nice looking car. For some reason she had it in at the dealer a lot for warranty work early on. last time it was HVAC related, Nothing driveline related. I'm kinda surprised by this.
 
Originally Posted By: 2James1
Thank you for your helpful input Alex_V. Very interesting. Thinking if we end up with a Cruze will run Top Tier 89 exclusively. One of the few things I dont like about the 2015 Cruze's is Fog lights seem pretty hard to come by.


You'll likely be satisfied with the performance by doing that. The 1.4T's power curve comes up sharply at 1,800 RPM (when the engine management systems, turbo, and VVT all get with it, I suppose) but even in a manual it can be worked around well enough. Pulling/cruising power (torque) is in good supply from about 2,300 up - mine is geared to put 2,500-2,600 RPM at 55 MPH in 5th and 66-67 in 6th. 3K in 6th is 78.

I can't offer any input on the newer style fog lights - don't really care for them in comparison to my RS's round ones.
 
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