2016.5-2017 Piston Failures-Any updates from GM?
41 - 60 of 128 Posts
I've read at least one report of number 3 being damaged along with #1. What's the next cylinder to fire after number one fires?
1 3 4 2
Joined
·
123 Posts
After reading both of the articles in the link, I still didn't see an answer as to why almost all of the reports I hear about regarding piston cracking is the #1 cylinder piston.
Why? You previously said,
My wife thought the same thing, but decided against it. If you're willing to spend the thousands of dollars extra that it might cost you over the life of the car to buy premium, the cylinder head cracking problem might not even be an issue. Of course, premium might be cheaper where you live, but where I live it just went to over $4 a gallon today.
If you have a problem, maybe it'll happen prior to 60k miles, in which case it'll be under warranty. Even if you have spends thousands to replace the engine later on, it'll still be less of a hit than you might take selling it right now.
If your piston does crack and you have to take it to Chevy service, you might want to put the original muffler on though.
Joined
·
88 Posts
Yes I am aware I did say that. I really love this car, trust me I do. It's just this piston issue that I'm really worried about, but to be honest since I bought this car brand new, it's a better and cheaper option since I'm the only owner. I do run premium on every fill up, regardless. Shell or BP. How easy is it to misfire and caused a cracked piston? I also only drive in L6 mode, which disables auto stop. I mean how much can I do? I'm definitely going to use Amosoil next oil change, I've heard that's the best option.
Joined
·
137 Posts
Well I got my first free oil change / tire rotation at the dealership yesterday. Talked briefly to the the Service Manager. He kind of poo poo’d the cracked piston problems and said they really hadn’t seen any. That was the kind of answer I expected but he did hesitate in replying to my question and his body language indicated to me “WTH are you asking me that question for?” As for oil they use 100% synthetic, he didn’t know the actual brand as it has a GM part number and said 87 octane was fine for the gas. So every thing is beautiful according to “Mr. Murphy”
Anyway for me it’s:
93 Octane (Costco price in NJ today $2.79 for 87 and $3.05 for 93.
Drive in L6 ALL THE TIME
No “WOT” driving.
Question for our group:
Does anyone have a good estimate on the magnitude of the number engine failures?
(If there are 75,000 2017 Cruzes out there - 10% failure rate would be 7,500 cars with a major engine failure. 1% would only be 750 cars.
I haven't heard any ancedotal reports of anyone doing what you are doing having that problem yet, so you are probably going to be fine. If you do have the problem doing all that, you'll be the first I've heard about.
Depending on the size of the dealership and the market where they are located, he probably hasn't seen any. My local dealer hasn't seen any either, at least in the gen 2 versions, but they're in a small market.
As of this moment the local station is 3.159 for regular, 3.999 for premium. The nearest Costco is a 2 hr drive, even if you had a membership.
As far as WOT driving, the local interstate has an onramp so short that if you don't floor it you will be driving on the break down lane for awhile hoping to eventually get in between the line of semi's going 70 mph in the right lane. Vehicles in the left lanes typically are going 10-20 mph faster.
Great question. The only people that would know would be Chevrolet, and they aren't saying. They also know the reason for it I'm betting, but they won't publically release that either. So that means people on forums are just left speculating and in some cases worrying.
Joined
·
88 Posts
Here is a really funny and informative video explaining gas. It touches on preignition which is what is causing this! So it explains what it is and how higher octane helps! Give it a look.
https://youtu.be/wq6nRe2Lku0
https://youtu.be/wq6nRe2Lku0
Joined
·
137 Posts
The dealership is one of the largest in NJ. It was his hesitation and looks in answering my question that led me to believe he has seen some, how many, who knows? But, like you said only Chevrolet knows for sure and they aren’t saying. Filled up today at Costco $2.93 for 93 Octane which was .12 cents cheaper then yesterday! Don’t know how that happened. I should have said “No WOT - Racing”. There is a on ramp here to Route 3 going into NY that you better put the pedal to the metal or get run over. The on ramp is very short and there are a lot of drivers who use the right lane to pass.. I will continue to use 93 octane and drive in L6 and really not worry about cracking a piston until after the warranty runs out.Depending on the size of the dealership and the market where they are located, he probably hasn't seen any. My local dealer hasn't seen any either, at least in the gen 2 versions, but they're in a small market.
As of this moment the local station is 3.159 for regular, 3.999 for premium. The nearest Costco is a 2 hr drive, even if you had a membership.
As far as WOT driving, the local interstate has an onramp so short that if you don't floor it you will be driving on the break down lane for awhile hoping to eventually get in between the line of semi's going 70 mph in the right lane. Vehicles in the left lanes typically are going 10-20 mph faster.
Great question. The only people that would know would be Chevrolet, and they aren't saying. They also know the reason for it I'm betting, but they won't publically release that either. So that means people on forums are just left speculating and in some cases worrying.
Joined
·
919 Posts
amen!
Joined
·
10 Posts
Or my favorite is the ones driving at best 1-2mph over the posted speed limit in the left-most lane with NO ONE in the middle/to the right and refusing to move over. So then you have a line of cars coming up behind them, getting over to the middle/right to pass, then moving back to the left. This weaving back and forth by the way is what causes accidents and traffic.......:banghead:
Joined
·
137 Posts
So true. The “slower” traffic KEEP RIGHT. would be a lot less weaving and having to pass on the right if they did that.
Anyway for me it’s:
93 Octane (Costco price in NJ today $2.79 for 87 and $3.05 for 93.
Drive in L6 ALL THE TIME
No “WOT” driving.
"As of this moment the local station is 3.159 for regular, 3.999 for premium. The nearest Costco is a 2 hr drive, even if you had a membership.
As far as WOT driving, the local interstate has an onramp so short that if you don't floor it you will be driving on the break down lane for awhile hoping to eventually get in between the line of semi's going 70 mph in the right lane. Vehicles in the left lanes typically are going 10-20 mph faster."
at the Baton Rouge Costco .. premium was $2.749 when I left a couple of days ago
I replace more engines (or pistons) in the Malibu with the 1.5l than the Cruze. I can tell you that there is an updated set of pistons. GM is not 100% sure on the exact reason for failure just yet. So far they are leaning towards too lean of a fuel mixture combined with the higher heat that the 1.4 and 1.5 engines generates. The pistons crack in the ringlands and there is always a significant amount of carbon build up. My advice and what I am gonna do.....injector cleaner and top engine cleaner. High pressure fuel injection seems to produce alot of carbon build up. Then a new engine before warranty expires!!!!
And as a GM tech for as long as I can remember, we are not too worried if you have a "tune" in your car, think about that for a minute. Tunes are usually in a performance style car such as a Vette or CTS-V. The Cruze is not in our radar for tunes and the like.
And as a GM tech for as long as I can remember, we are not too worried if you have a "tune" in your car, think about that for a minute. Tunes are usually in a performance style car such as a Vette or CTS-V. The Cruze is not in our radar for tunes and the like.
41 - 60 of 128 Posts
