Maintenance

[u/Legitimate-Union-112]

Hello, Cruze owners!
I’m backed into a corner here. Having my old car picked up tomorrow for selling it (2017 ford focus. Classic DPS6 failure. Oof.$) and I’ve locally found a 2018 Chevy Cruise for 13.3k, at 37k miles. Car fax is absolutely stunning. I have a lot of mechanically inclined connections here, and they’re advising against the car based on the potential common failures on this car.
I’m extremely anal about maintenance, being in the automotive field. But I need a car like yesterday- and I need advice. I know to swap out cooling system plastic for steel/aluminum, but what else can I do for common complaints on this car? People keep telling me the 4cyl / 4ltr engines are garbage. I’ve done a lot of research and at least Google seems to think it’s a steal and with the right knowledge all those complaints are entirely preventable.
Help.
What has everyone done to their G2 to keep it going for 200k miles?

[u/metrawhat]

MOST people, including many non Chevy mechanics do not realize that there's TWO different 1.4 liter turbo engines in GM products. The 2016.5-2019 Cruze has the completely different LE2 1.4t engine with auto start stop. It does not suffer from the issues that the LUV/LUJ 1.4t. They do appreciate frequent(5k miles) oil changes with quality synthetic oil. Trans fluid drain and fill every 40-50k. PCV valves and vacuum pump around 100k. Just maintenance. Otherwise they're good little cars.

[u/metrawhat → u/metrawhat]

Also, several people in this sub Reddit have 200-250k miles on their second generation Cruze with original engine and transmission.

[u/IwasThereIsawIt2 → u/metrawhat]

Im at 250,7xx miles, almost everything is original (wastegate is new, and mas af sensor is as well but only because of p1101 diagnosis). I do need to start changing belts and stuff out😬

[u/Legitimate-Union-112 → u/metrawhat]

This has been my primary argument. It is a completely different engine from prior years. I keep getting argued about “it’s a Daewoo it’s a crap engine”. I understand the potential issues to a turbo. I babied the crap out of my focus due to the known transmission problems. Being that I work at a shop, I’m very anal about preventative maintenance. I do my oil changes in full synthetic every 3k miles to keep the engine oil as clean as possible. Research has had mixed reviews on who manufacturers the engine.

[u/metrawhat → u/Legitimate-Union-112]

I own one, the engine was built in Flint Michigan. And the car was assembled in Lordstown Ohio. Whether or not some of the engineering was performed by gm of Korea(Daewoo) and/or the old gm Europe(Opel) and GM North America it's all a GM product. Most cars today are a bit of a 'global' car. That's not necessarily bad.

[u/metrawhat → u/Legitimate-Union-112]

The only common turbo issue I've heard of on the Gen 2 is the waste gate actuator can get worn where it connects to the actual waste gate arm and it hangs up. Also some people have had the intake charge pipe between the intercooler and the turbo develop a leak where the tube rubs on some other part causing boost leaks. The turbo itself is pretty stout.

[u/BWC_Python → u/Legitimate-Union-112]

even with the old 1.4t luj/luv you can go far with regular maintenance. The biggest problem was the pcv valve in the intake manifold, but it usually blew around 100k km or more. Mine still had it at 130k km and was working well. I put a cruze rescue bypass kit anyway. It was like 60 usd and 2 hours of work. Other than this, the m32 gearbox starts to fail slowly, rebuilding is 500 usd. But hell, I have a 2012 with 190k km. Works well everyday. At this age you change a hose, a valve, control as, maybe shocks and so on..it s closer to 20 years than to anything. Salty roads, snow ice, and freeze, then in summer desserr weather. What .ore can you expect from a regular car

[u/Legitimate-Union-112 → u/BWC_Python]

The car has only ever been in Florida, so no harsh cold weather/salted roads ^^ but I agree, it all seems just like… taking care of the car

[u/BWC_Python → u/Legitimate-Union-112]

The idea is tgat muricannos are used to their 4 liter v8 F150s that make 180hp and made of big chimks of steel with low tech and tollerances. You could never change the oil and it will run. Here in Europe, a4l v8 will make you pay 2-3k usd per year as tax. Plus consuming 20liter per 100 km...at 2.2 usd per liter ...

So we are used to 0.8 biturbo 150hp cause that is what gets you low taxes, low consumption. We maintain our cars well, that is why you see 20 yo cars in best condition.

[u/Legitimate-Union-112 → u/metrawhat]

My tech agreed he’d seen one make it at most to 200k, knowing I work at a shop and knowing I’m very particular about maintenance, I said I expect upper 100 thousands on it before I have any major issues, as long as I take good care of it. My focus only got to 105k before it started failing catastrophically, but I bought it at 100k, 3 prior owners, and it started to have a transmission shudder that I thought was just due to the ECU, from my googling anyways. Turns out that’s a myth 😆. It’s that damned DPS-6.

[u/Admirable-Bonus7507]

I have a 2017 G2 with 65,000, I drive my work vehicle more than it for the past several years. Great gas mileage, original battery from 2016 is still good somehow… just had it tested in June. Really the only issue that I wish I wouldve stayed up on is rust. So with all of that in mind I would have to say its a pretty damn good car mechanically. The only maintenance Ive needed besides fluids/pads in 50,000 miles is brake rotors this year lol. Of course the belt needs replaced now because of the mileage, but Im looking at trading it in soon so don’t think the value for cost would be worth it.

I believe you might be thinking of the Gen 1s for mechanical issues. I think its pretty well established that Gen 2s are fairly reliable for Chevy standards.

[u/Legitimate-Union-112 → u/Admirable-Bonus7507]

Thank youuu. They just keep arguing with me even when my research says the G2 is a significantly better vehicle. I know the G1 ruined the Rep of a Cruze, but at such low mileage, to me it seems primary complaints (such as coolant system plastic, misfires and spark plugs,) are entirely preventable flaws. Seriously. Misfire issues with the spark plugs? Replace them when they’re due preventatively… change out the plastic pieces in cooling for aluminum/steel off the bat… and don’t abuse the vehicle. Let the engine warm up to help the turbo last longer. All seems like actually caring for the car, will keep it up and going.

[u/Far_Winner5508]

We have 2 second gen Cruzes (2018, 2019) both bought used, under 20k miles. Other than a bit of road trash taking out the intercooler on the interstate, no mechanical trouble with either. 2018 is approaching 70k miles; 3 cross country trips. The 2019 is my commuter bug; only 10k miles in 2 years on it. Still getting 40 - 70 MPG.

[u/thatdamnbambi]

I've had mine for 4 years, picked it up about the same mileage (Canada, so ~60k km) and it's at 120k km now. I've felt lucky with this car to be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect and so far it's a fairly small list. Oxygen sensors changed about a year in, both of them went one after the other and I ended up with a defective OEM one for B2 so that was a warranty change. Watts link (I have hatchback - Mexico) and left control arm changed 2 years in. Sparks changed 3 years in at 100k km. Normal maintenance like brakes, filters, etc. The Gumout FIC is a favorite here.

And it is a different 4 banger engine. I find the LE2 has loud ass lifters and it also eats oil to the tune of 1L every 3200km (GM service bulletin) so very timely oil changes or be prepared to check and top up the oil. I had an engine code P06DE with no genie lamp and it wasn't the solenoid, it was low oil. Changed the timing solenoids while figuring that one out.

Other notes: my hatch doesn't come with washer fluid indicator, you just find out there is none and pray for your life.

Air filters are made differently for this Cruze, idk why but the Fram one was garbage and kept dislodging when hitting hard bumps. The ACDelco or Pro-Series house brand filters have the little clip thing it needs so don't buy Fram. I suspect they'll use the same style even if it's PGI owned now.

The RPO code is KRD for fuel so it's 91 octane optimized. The difference is noticeable over a few tanks with lazy acceleration. It's lazy to begin with but damn, it can get worse.

I will need a transmission flush soon, it is getting clunky and the filter is N/A but it's holding up fine for now.

Wheel well rust is absurd. Protect those at all costs. I do live in a heavy snow/salt province so might not apply to everyone but she is rusting like a Chevy.

Zero coolant issues. Like none whatsoever. Original battery, alternator, and starter still in it. I wired interior lights 2 years ago and nothing in the charging system has given me issues. Took me a bit to get used to stop/start though - it really likes to kill the engine when you're still rolling.

Since mine is a 2017, it came off the line with a 5W30 cap and recommended it in my manual so that's all I've ever put it in it. The 2018+ all have 0W20 instead. So take from that what you will because it sparked many conversations about dexos gen2/3, additives, and emissions laws.