Greetings from the moon !

17092 Views 39 Replies 19 Participants Last post by JeffBazell, Oct 10, 2016

CruzeEcoBlueTopaz

Discussion Starter · Sep 21, 2014 (Edited)

After 242k miles I have recently arrived on the moon, it only took 30 months driving an avg of 60mph. I have averaged approximately 48.8 mpg during my adventure. The main reason of this post is to update my repair list after a few insignificant leaks along the way. All of these repairs have been very minor. 　

30k a/c not cold ( recharge ) - warranty
100k oil pan reseal (oil leak ) - warranty
105k valve cover ( air leak )
180k valve cover ( air leak )
185k water pump ( coolant leak )
190k purge valve ( emissions )
235k overflow hose ( coolant leak )
240k front crankshaft seal ( oil leak )
　

This is a list of replacements I dont consider repairs. The water pump was still working and not leaking, the oil drain thread was stripped, and the oil pan required a reseal after 15k miles for an unknown reason.

205k water pump replaced ( noise ) - warranty - unnecessary - still working
220k oil pan replaced ( stripped plug thread ) - improper use
235k oil pan reseal ( oil leak ) - warranty - improper install

After repairing the recent crankshaft seal leak I cleaned the engine one last time before winter.

Link to a bigger picture. http://www.cruzetalk.com/forum/memb...4225-oil-leaks-picture111986-clean-engine.jpg
I will upload better pictures with more light Sunday afternoon

I must say my confidence is at an all time high. I have recently inspected this engine thoroughly from top to bottom, front to back, and I am genuinely impressed at how well this compact and efficient engine is holding up. With the exception of the oil at the TB there are currently no other leaks to report.

I have a good feeling about this cruze.
　

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NYCruze2012

· #21 · Oct 9, 2014

raffmanlt said:
Awesome!!! But how did you get such high avg mpg? That's higher than the rated highway only.

Well everyone knows there is no atmosphere in space so of course resistance goes down and your mpg goes up! LOL!

Reactions: 2

jandree22

· #22 · Oct 9, 2014 (Edited)

raffmanlt said:
Awesome!!! But how did you get such high avg mpg? That's higher than the rated highway only.

CEBT can certainly correct me, but I believe nearly all of his driving is rural highway at around 50-55mph. I myself can hit 50mpg on certain short trip routes of ~20 miles according to my calibrated UltraGauge in my Eco. I drive mostly city and I'm just a few under the highway rating for lifetime. The Eco 6MT is a mpg machine.

NYCruze2012 said:
Well everyone knows there is no atmosphere in space so of course resistance goes down and your mpg goes up! LOL!

Breathing be damned, it's all bout those MPGs! :grin:

For anyone interested in this sort of thing, this is a to-scale shot of what CEBT just accomplished.

Keep in mind how insignificantly small of a spec the Cruze is on that pretty blue marble. For the 15' long Cruze to be visible as 1 pixel on a 20" HD 1920x1080 computer monitor, this image cropped at the outside edges of the Earth and Moon would have to be over 14 miles wide. Really. I did the math.

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Blue Angel

· #23 · Oct 9, 2014

I'll take your word for it. BUT, who uses a 20" monitor anymore? Mines 21.5

Reactions: 3

obermd

· #24 · Oct 9, 2014

Blue Angel said:
I'll take your word for it. BUT, who uses a 20" monitor anymore? Mines 21.5

You guys and your small monitors. Two 24 inch 1920x1200 monitors on my desktop.

Reactions: 3

Mick

· #25 · Oct 9, 2014

Blue Angel said:
I'll take your word for it. BUT, who uses a 20" monitor anymore? Mines 21.5

I find my 22" widescreen monitor is too wide for everyday tasks. Too much empty space and resizing Windows gets annoying. Would rather have 2 regular screens.

Reactions: 1

brian v

· #26 · Oct 9, 2014

I got you all beat I got a Tablet that floats , have'nt you heard there is no atmosphere on the moon .

CruzeEcoBlueTopaz

Discussion Starter · #27 · Oct 22, 2014

jandree22 said:
So, engine looks beautiful and all... but where's the odometer pic?

Just reached 250k today and to celebrate im replacing the spark plugs after 70k miles.

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Robby

· #28 · Oct 22, 2014

CruzeEcoBlueTopaz said:
Just reached 250k today and to celebrate im replacing the spark plugs after 70k miles.

Wow!

Your Cruze has circumnavigated the globe 10 times!

Yep......you're my hero......there was a time only diesel engines would see that kind of miles travelled.

Rob

Reactions: 1

brian v

· #29 · Oct 22, 2014

What impresses me most is Mountain Miles without a rearview mirror !

TDCruze

· #30 · Oct 27, 2014

Very Impressive!!!

Both the miles and the mileage.
Bought the diesel hoping for a solid motor that would last lots of miles, but you have shown the gas engines are also very reliable!

Reactions: 1

iggy

· #31 · Oct 28, 2014 (Edited)

Everyone's dying to know( or at least I am ), what your maintenance habits are, paticularly with regard to the brand/type of oil you use and how often you change it????

I'm also curious what you do , that has you putting over 8000 miles a month on your car?

CruzeEcoBlueTopaz said:
Just reached 250k today and to celebrate im replacing the spark plugs after 70k miles.

CruzeEcoBlueTopaz

Discussion Starter · #32 · Oct 28, 2014 (Edited)

　
This is my first new vehicle so its been sort of an experiment on how to properly maintain a vehicle. Over the past 2 years I have researched car maintenance and feel confident in the future I will have a better understanding on how to properly maintain a vehicle. To answer your question regarding the mileage... im a courier in Idaho driving about 370 miles M-F.

Here is a completed list of all the maintenance.
　

top tier Conoco Phillips 87 non ethanol I fillup everyday.
ACDelco Syn Blend every 6k

40k cabin filter - engine air filter
75k spark plugs - coil pack <-- torn boot during removal
80k cabin - engine air filter
85k oem goodyear fuel max
100k Switched to Mobil1 EP every 6k
110k transmission fluid - 58 oz
115k both oxygen sensors replaced
125k spark plugs - coil pack <-- torn boot during removal
140k coolant flush
140k break fluid flush
140k front end alignment
150k cabin - engine air filter
165k transmission fluid - 64 oz
170k front end alignment
175k oem goodyear fuel max tires
175k clutch fluid flush
180k Switched to top tier Chevron 91 10% ethanol
180k spark plugs
185k serpent belt
205k cabin - engine air filter
210k both oxygen sensors replaced
220k transmission fluid 62 oz
240k tensioner replaced
240k serpent belt
245k oem goodyear fuel max tires
250k spark plugs
250k cabin air filter

This weekend I plan on opening up the rear drums to inspect and clean something I plan on doing more often.
Plans for future maintenance include.... clutch and brake fluid exchange, coolant flush, transmission fluid, new shocks and new brakes.

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iggy

· #33 · Oct 28, 2014

Sounds like you've got a very good handle on maintenance. Certainly can't argue with your results.

I've had a couple cars that made it to the moon, but they weren't 1.4L turbos... My Chrysler Town & Country made it, and if I changed the oil every 10,000 miles I was doing good. Not sure I ever changed the trans fluid, but it did have a shudder just as the torque converter would lockup. But by that point I had over 200K on it, and my mechanic and other research I had done, led me to believe it'd be better to leave well enough alone... Some say that if you let a Chrysler transmission go that long without changing fluid, it'll basically loose it's mind if/when it gets new fluid.

Meanwhile, it's good to know that a 1.4L turbo can go 250,000+ miles with regular maintenance.

70586

· #34 · Oct 30, 2014

Congratulations on hitting the quarter-mil mark! Just curious, because I didn't notice anywhere in the thread, if you've replaced the clutch yet or if not, how the factory clutch is holding out. Sorry if this was mentioned already and I just missed it.

I've been a little apprehensive about long-term life of the clutch, because it feels like I have to constantly ride mine to get going from a stop. Especially if I'm pulling into traffic, I've noticed the eco likes to fall flat on its face in first without slipping the clutch. I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed this? Long-term, I've got an uneasy feeling about it.

jblackburn

· #35 · Oct 30, 2014

leelikescandy said:
Congratulations on hitting the quarter-mil mark! Just curious, because I didn't notice anywhere in the thread, if you've replaced the clutch yet or if not, how the factory clutch is holding out. Sorry if this was mentioned already and I just missed it.

I've been a little apprehensive about long-term life of the clutch, because it feels like I have to constantly ride mine to get going from a stop. Especially if I'm pulling into traffic, I've noticed the eco likes to fall flat on its face in first without slipping the clutch. I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed this? Long-term, I've got an uneasy feeling about it.

Do this! Or re-gap your existing plugs to .028".

http://www.cruzetalk.com/forum/34-1-4l-turbo/21850-hesitation-gone.html

Pickup sucks in stop-and-go traffic on the stock plugs.

CruzeEcoBlueTopaz

Discussion Starter · #36 · Oct 30, 2014

leelikescandy said:
Congratulations on hitting the quarter-mil mark! Just curious, because I didn't notice anywhere in the thread, if you've replaced the clutch yet or if not, how the factory clutch is holding out. Sorry if this was mentioned already and I just missed it.

I've been a little apprehensive about long-term life of the clutch, because it feels like I have to constantly ride mine to get going from a stop. Especially if I'm pulling into traffic, I've noticed the eco likes to fall flat on its face in first without slipping the clutch. I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed this? Long-term, I've got an uneasy feeling about it.

This cruze has 250k miles of which 25k are city and 225k are highway. Obviously the majority of the miles are 6th gear with minimal shifting however I still do average in a year 25k miles of stop and go city driving which is close to the amount an average driver per year. So the clutch and tranmission still do receieve a daily workout.

To answer your question, the clutch is original and still firm. The overall feel of the shifting is still very similar compared to when it was new. I will say the clutch has become easier to cause to slip while accelerating from a stop on a small hill or incline. I think this is a result of wear but mostly my footwork as I tend to accelerate slower then the average stop light racer.

I will say as long as your confident in your abilty and experience to shift, the clutch should last the average driver an average amount of miles : P

Reactions: 1

obermd

· #37 · Oct 30, 2014

CEBT, I thought you had replaced your water pump. Did I misread something along the way?

CruzeEcoBlueTopaz

Discussion Starter · #38 · Oct 30, 2014

On page one I share a list of repairs, page five I share a list of maintenance. Yes I replaced the pump twice although the second time it was replaced was unncessary.

obermd

· #39 · Oct 30, 2014

CruzeEcoBlueTopaz said:
On page one I share a list of repairs, page five I share a list of maintenance. Yes I replaced the pump twice although the second time it was replaced was unncessary.

Brainfart on my part.

JeffBazell

· #40 · Oct 10, 2016

Very encouraging indeed! I'm just approaching 85K miles. My issues were:
30k: Valve cover (air leak)
55k: Valve cover (air leak)
60k: Turbocharger replaced (warranty)
70k: Overflow hose (leak)
80k: Three simultaneous oil leaks (oil pan gasket, front crankshaft seal, 2 camshaft actuator seals) All fixed under powertrain warranty. Inconvenient but thankful for good powertrain warranty. Dealer gave me nice 2016 Cruze loaner for two days.

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