[obermd]

The engine in the 2017 Cruze runs just fine on 87 octane. I don't know where you're located so if you have 85 octane available, avoid it. I'd use the severe service schedule even though your driving patterns fall into the normal service schedule.

 

[obermd]

Trade it in for a Bolt EV.

Or don't...Until GM makes an EV that isn't ugly as fcuk.(and there is sufficient EV infrastructure and vehicle tech to allow trips that exceed battery capacity not take triple or more time than in an internal combustion vehicle.)

The Bolt will meet OP's commuting needs, even in the dead of winter. If you have a spot where you can install a 50 amp 220v circuit you can fully charge the Bolt in 10.5 hours. Based on OP's IP address, the charging infrastructure for the Bolt is well in-place, especially for a Bolt with the DCFC (Direct Current Fast Charge) option. An EV may also reduce OP's commute time because of the State laws giving EVs access to the HOV lanes. If concerned about recharging, a Volt will have the same HOV access but it won't be a pure EV. The Volt will save OP about one and a third gallons of gas each day on the commute (assuming no charging at work) and avoid concerns about insufficient charging infrastructure. In either case, if OP were to do this, I'd recommend taking delivery prior to March 31 to be able to claim the full $7,500 Federal Tax credit. GM hit the 200,000 EV sales point in December so the phase out of the tax credit begins on April 1.

Enough aside - OP asked about maintenance on their Cruze. After looking up OP's location based on IP address I would definitely recommend the severe service schedule due to high probability of considerable stop and go traffic. Also, based on the Gen 2 oil related engine failures I would change my oil every 5,000 miles or when the OLM says to change it, whichever comes first.

 

[obermd]

I suppose I'll give the premium gas a try, then! Here in CA the premium is 91, I've never even seen 93 around actually.

Thank you all for your comments and input! I truly appreciate your knowledgeable insight and advice!

Before jumping to premium, give mid-grade a shot first. You may discover it provides sufficient improvement to cover the extra pump cost that you don't need to go to premium. The current generation of the GM Ecotec engines was designed from the ground up for 87 octane.

 

[obermd]

It's a commuter beater that's going to rack up 45k a year. Who cares what it looks like? And depending on other vehicles the household owns, a BEV isn't a bad purchase for a commuter car when there are other gasoline/diesel vehicles in the household for long-distance trips. This person has the opportunity to entirely eliminate their reliance on fossil fuel for their ultra-commute and reap substantial savings.

While true (my Volt has saved me and estimated $2,400 over the first 35K miles of ownership relative to the 2012 ECO MT it replaced), your recommendation is only valid if OP already has another ICE vehicle for long haul travel. Otherwise you're having to buy two vehicles.

 

[obermd]

There's no savings to be reaped, definitely not substantial ones


I know very few people who would consider a $30k+ car a beater.
I know no one who would purchase a $30k+ car they thought was ugly just because it was for their commute.
If I'm buying a $30k+ vehicle it's going to be my only vehicle.


A Bolt with no options except for the DC charge option is $38,245. Tax credit drops to $3750 April 1. So $34,495. Home charger is easily $1000+ installed in my area, so $35,500. A Cruze LS w/convenience package is $20,995, less $1,500 rebate puts you at $19,495.
A $15,500 difference.

45,000 miles at 35mpg =1285.7gallons annually.
1285.7 gallons @ $2.75/gal =$3535.71
$3535.71 x 5years = $17678.57
$17678.57-$15500=$2178.57 more for Cruze....So far.

45,000miles x 5(yrs)= 225,000miles
225,000m / (28kwh/100miles)= 63,000kwh. 63,300kwh @ $.12/kwh=$7.560
Chargepoint says $1.18/50miles for a public Chargepoint useage. Or $5,310
We'll split the difference...$6,435
$6435-$2178=$4,257 more to purchase and power a Bolt than buy and fuel a Cruze.
30 oil changes = $1500
5 air filters = $200
5 trans flush= $1250
4 spark plug service= $500
Total= $3450 (the remaining maintenances are either same or more money on Bolt, well ignore them for this though as the point is made.)

Bolt still Over $800 more. Even after 225,000 and assuming equal cost for non scheduled maintenance and breakdowns.

So best case scenario its a wash, and you essentially just financed thousands more than you needed to.

Reasonably good analysis on the money side. On the convenience side not having to stop every few days (in OP's case two or three) for gas is incredibly liberating. Also don't forget the time it takes for routine fluid changes. The only routine maintenance the Bolt has is as follows:

Tire rotation & balance - every 5K miles (same as the Cruze)
Battery and High Voltage Electronics coolant (two Dexcool based systems) - every 150K miles
Electric Drive fluid replacement - every 150K miles (severe service is 45K miles - same as the Cruze, but unlike the Cruze, the stop and go traffic OP deals with isn't considered severe service in and EV)
Cabin air filter - every 24 months (same as the Cruze)
Brake fluid replacement - every 3 years (same as the Cruze)

The electric drive fluid is the same ATF fluid used in the Cruze and the brakes use DOT3 brake fluid. Although the Bolt has two coolant systems because the temperature ranges for the battery and the electronics are different, the total amount of DexCool needed is a little over 2 quarts. The coolant pressure caps are marked 5 PSI because the battery and electronics are kept around 70F for the electronics and 90F for the battery.

So the question is, are the time savings worth your estimated $800 to OP.

 

[obermd]

Theyll run, but they don't run super well on 87. Jerky acceleration and missing power, just like the first gen 1.4.

I tried a few tanks of 89 briefly and felt my car was still missing power above 5000 ft. The next fillup with 91 and it was back to it's normal self.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Makes me wonder if I should try mid-grade or premium in my Volt on my next road trip. It's the same generation engine as the Gen 2 Cruze.

 

[obermd]

You can try it but I'm not sure what kind of returns you'll get on that change. The last time I checked the volt doesn't have the gasoline motor generating kinetic energy for the wheels. What it does is generate electricity to power the electric engine. This may have changed in later generations.

I have a Gen2 Volt. Once the main traction battery is "exhausted", the engine drives the car directly when cruising on the highway. The computer will pull in electric to supplement gas, or in the case of a long descent, turn off the fuel injectors and use just electric to drive the car. Turns out you can't beat the Laws of Thermodynamics and it's actually more efficient to drive the car directly from the gas engine than it is to power a generator and then drive the car from the second generator.

 

[obermd]

The liberation from fuel stops....Eh, when I stopped commuting in my 16mpg Silverado and switches to a 42mpg Cruze I didn't notice any feeling of liberation from only having to fill tank once a week as opposed three times. Additionally, if I have to stop for a snack and leg stretch, fueling is a perfect reason and isn't something I would skip even if I could.
And while it was a silly commercial, "range anxiety" is a real thing. I hate when my employer sends me on road trips in a Bolt. I dont like being beholden to charging stations that could charge for 4hours to make sure I can make a 2 hour drive.

I have a Volt specifically because of the road trip recharge issues with a BEV (no gas engine). I absolutely agree stopping for gas on a road trip serves to refuel the car as well as give me a short break to stretch.

As for the liberation from fuel stops, for my daily driving I'll go weeks without stopping for gas. I invariably take longer trips that take me out of EV range so I do have to stop for gas more frequently that I would if I never took those trips. The Volt can go 360 days between gas stops. It takes me a few seconds to plug and unplug my car at home and the car charges while I sleep or do other things.

 

[obermd]

Just curious - what is the impact of the Volt on your monthly power bill ($)? We have electric heat and our power bill is stupid high.

Unfortunately very hard to tell because our electric company replaced our meters the month before I bought my Volt and everybody's electric bills went up by 20-30 dollars a month. My bill has gone up about 40 dollars a month since the meter change. However, I estimated it's about $45 a month if I do all my charging at home. But since I do half my charging at work for free the actual impact on my electric bill has been no more than $25 a month. I estimated the $45 impact by monitoring my KWh usage in the Volt, adding 10% for charging losses, and then multiplying by the 12.31 cents per KWh. That said, when I included maintenance and tire wear I was paying over $120 per month to commute in my Cruze. In my Volt it's slightly less than $40 per month, which includes the $900 I just spent on tires. My commute hasn't changed.

I haven't stopped for gas since Sep 30, driving 4,700 miles and burning a little less than 6.5 gallons of gas.

The other day I pulled up my vehicle operating costs sheet for the Cruze and compared them to the Volt. In the first 35K miles the Volt has been $2,400 cheaper to operate.

 

[obermd]

Electricity costs depend on where you live and who you can buy from, but 12¢ per kWh is high. That's HIGH. Where I live it's 5¢ per kWh with my city's electricity aggregation program that I didn't opt out of because the rates are about as low as you can get.

The national average is 12.8 cents per KWh. Those living on the east coast from Virginia and north pay up to 30 cents per KWh, which at today's gas prices puts EVs on par with ICE vehicles for per-mile costs.