Heavy duty commuter recommended maintenance?

4180 Views 44 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Ma v e n, Jan 19, 2019

DuckDuckCruze

Discussion Starter · Jan 16, 2019

I've got a 2017 Cruze LT RS...and I also commute 180 miles a day, 5 days a week. That's about 45k miles a year. That being said, I'm not exactly car savvy and my dealer is hit or miss in terms of maintenance recommendations.

I'm at 66k now and I last did a bigger maintenance run at 45k (basic level, transmission fluid change, etc). My manual says to replace the spark plugs at 60k.

If I want this beauty to last until I pay her off (another 4 years and 150k or more miles) should I be preparing for some epic maintenance or just keep steady on timely oil changes and follow the manual?

Thanks in advance for anyone who comments in on this.

Reactions: 1

21 - 40 of 45 Posts

Ma v e n

· #21 · Jan 18, 2019

Barry Allen said:
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.

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.

See less See more

Reactions: 2

jblackburn

· #22 · Jan 18, 2019

obermd said:
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.

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

Reactions: 1

Ma v e n

· #23 · Jan 18, 2019

Only 87 my car ever saw is the 2 or 3 gallons it was built with. 93 since the very first fillip during new car prep with 2 miles on odometer.

91794

· #24 · Jan 18, 2019

Fwiw...

My 2016 sonic with the 1.4T has only used 87 octane, about 30k miles so far... No issues.

From 1984 until today, my GM V8 cars get better flat-highway-cruising mpg with 87 octane than with 91, up to 10% better - with either E0 or E10 gas.

The V8s have way too much torque to use in winter no matter the octane.

For mountain highway driving in warmer temperatures, the extra pep from 89 or 91+ is very nice if one drives a vehicle that can provide it.

obermd

· #25 · Jan 18, 2019

Barry Allen said:
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

· #26 · Jan 18, 2019

Ma v e n said:
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.

See less See more

obermd

· #27 · Jan 18, 2019

jblackburn said:
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.

Ma v e n

· #28 · Jan 18, 2019

Obermd:
I did mention that the maintenance needs I didn't list were the same between the Bolt and the Cruze, this includes the maintenances you list. However, the Bolt doesn't use the same trans fluid as the Cruze, it uses Dexron HP, and the Cruze uses Dexron VI. The fluid is twice as much, but the 1ET uses half as much as the 6T, so it's a wash.

You're mistaken regarding coolant usage as well, the two electronics and battery cooling systems use a total of 11.4qts(10.8L), and require a Dexcool premix. You'll also very likely find getting the cooling systems and trans service on the Bolt to more expensive and less convenient than a Cruze. Fewer places should be trusted to do the work and it will be more expensive.

And if you get into needing EV specific repairs, and component replacements that price gap and service location gap massively widens.

EV are the future, and it's coming. But it's not yet ready for prime.time for the average consumer. It's still very much the time for diehard early adopters who have strong feeling on the need to electrify I and are willing to make notable sacrifices to do so, and the time for those with serious disposable.income to add a unique extra vehicle to the stable.

See less See more

Reactions: 1

Ma v e n

· #29 · Jan 18, 2019

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.

Reactions: 1

Taxman

· #30 · Jan 18, 2019

obermd said:
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.

Hmm, 12.5:1 compression instead of the 10:1 in my Cruze, but no turbo.

Still, 12.5 does sound like the cars we put 97 octane in 50 years ago, doesn't it?

booyakashao

· #31 · Jan 18, 2019

obermd said:
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.

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.

obermd

· #32 · Jan 18, 2019

booyakashao said:
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.

Reactions: 1

jblackburn

· #33 · Jan 18, 2019

obermd said:
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.

Probably fine on 87 without the turbo or high load at low RPM the Cruze prefers to run in. Most naturally aspirated DI engines are above 12:1 these days. Not having to worry about the fuel preigniting since it isn't even in the cylinder until the top of the compression stroke allows that high compression ratio on 87.

I notice 2000-3500 rpm power missing in the Cruze, but top end seems fine.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Reactions: 1

obermd

· #34 · Jan 18, 2019

Ma v e n said:
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.

jblackburn

· #35 · Jan 19, 2019

obermd said:
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.

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.

Barry Allen

· #36 · Jan 19, 2019

Ma v e n said:
@ $.12/kwh

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.

I also have the benefit of free charging at my workplace. If I had a daily round-trip commute of 180 miles my electricity cost would be $0. That's not the same case for everyone, though.

IndyDiesel

· #37 · Jan 19, 2019

My power is about 12 cents to 15 cents per kilowatt. I like the idea of electric but I need something for distance. This month it was 15 cents and I have led lights most everywhere.

Barry Allen

· #38 · Jan 19, 2019

Ma v e n said:
Tax credit drops to $3750 April 1. So $34,495.

There is still a while until 01APR2019 that someone purchasing a new Bolt EV can get the entire $7,500 tax credit. Some people who get the entire $7,500 can’t use all of it because if you aren’t already in a high enough income bracket to owe that much to the IRS, you don’t get it refunded. It’s hit-and-miss for some potential purchasers.

Still, that puts a new Bolt EV at $30,745. That’s the price if you can’t find a Bolt EV without additional discounts. My local Chevy dealership had one on their sales floor for at least 10 months that they couldn’t sell it, so they had it marked down below MSRP. When I was shopping for my Cruze I briefly considered the Bolt EV but I just couldn’t get the math to work because I don’t qualify for the full $7,500 tax credit.

That’s a $11,250 difference if the purchaser qualifies for the entire tax credit available until 31MAR2019.

Five years of fuel makes the price difference -$6,428.57 using your estimated fuel costs. With the services you listed, it’s -$9,878.57.

Using an electricity cost of 5¢ per kWh ($3,165 for 63,300 kWh of electricity if you exclusively charge at home) brings that back to -$6,713.57

Almost $7,000 in savings is substantial. If the purchaser is like me and can charge for free at their workplace, it’s almost $10,000 in savings.

See less See more

Rivergoer

· #39 · Jan 19, 2019

With my long distance “commutes” it’s all about range.

Just did an 800 mile round trip this week in the CTD without refueling and still show over 100 miles DTE.

Diesel’s expensive so the CTD can’t compete w/gassers & hybrids on cost. But not having range-anxiety transiting vast desolate expanses of Arizona desert is totally worth it in my situation.

Reactions: 1

Ma v e n

· #40 · Jan 19, 2019

Barry Allen said:
Ma v e n said:

Tax credit drops to $3750 April 1. So $34,495.

Click to expand...

There is still a while until 01APR2019 that someone purchasing a new Bolt EV can get the entire $7,500 tax credit. Some people who get the entire $7,500 can’t use all of it because if you aren’t already in a high enough income bracket to owe that much to the IRS, you don’t get it refunded. It’s hit-and-miss for some potential purchasers.

Still, that puts a new Bolt EV at $30,745. That’s the price if you can’t find a Bolt EV without additional discounts. My local Chevy dealership had one on their sales floor for at least 10 months that they couldn’t sell it, so they had it marked down below MSRP. When I was shopping for my Cruze I briefly considered the Bolt EV but I just couldn’t get the math to work because I don’t qualify for the full $7,500 tax credit.

That’s a $11,250 difference if the purchaser qualifies for the entire tax credit available until 31MAR2019.

Five years of fuel makes the price difference -$6,428.57 using your estimated fuel costs. With the services you listed, it’s -$9,878.57.

Using an electricity cost of 5¢ per kWh ($3,165 for 63,300 kWh of electricity if you exclusively charge at home) brings that back to -$6,713.57

Almost $7,000 in savings is substantial. If the purchaser is like me and can charge for free at their workplace, it’s almost $10,000 in savings.

There's only a tad more than 2 months til the credit halves,, that's why I went with the lower number, and later this year it halves again, and in a bit over a year it'll be gone. You could get a stripped Bolt, or you may be stuck with a loaded $44k version.
I can go down the street right now and purchase one of probably 10 Cruze LS for $16,500. Or I could get a Premier for less than $25k. My RS Redline Hatch was $19000. $.12/kwh is national average. It may be high, but $2.75 is too, there's 15 states were regular is $2.0X or less, national average is only $2.24 currently. And much of the service bill could EASILY be notably lower. I tried to pick fair numbers in both directions. And an all highway Cruze could potentially beat 35mpg by a notable margin as well.

The point is if you don't have "free" electricity, the Bolt isn't a money saver. One should really question whether free electricity is sustainable or desirable, we didn't even touch on what happens when you brake down 200 miles from the nearest Bolt certified shop...Or the fact that most significant Bolt accidents result in a total loss, or the fact that if you've gotta go out of pocket for EV system repairs that you could be easily dropping $12-15k. And of course it eventually comes back to....I think it's ugly and wouldnt pay for one. Neither would many other people....As evinced by it's sales.

See less See more

21 - 40 of 45 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.