[OUGrad05]

A few weeks ago I picked up a 2012 CPO Cruze ECO with the manual trans. So far so good, it's pretty quiet inside, rides reasonably well and is great for my 42 mile each way commute.

I did have a couple questions.

What oil change intervals are you guys using? The oil life monitor is on track to put more than 10k on the current oil, that makes me very nervous, especially on a turbo car. I might be able to stomach 7500 miles but man, 10k? are you guys really going that long?

Also, my MPG readout that I reset with the trip computer is WAY off from my realized mileage. I had an indicated 39.8 last tank and an actual 35.6, that's a pretty big spread, perhaps I need to adjust my driving some?

Any thoughts/tips to a new owner?

 

[obermd]

When was the oil last changed? If you don't know change it immediately with a full synthetic Dexos-1 oil. I use the semi-synthetic AC Delco oil that GM uses but I know when every single oil change was done as I'm the original owner. In your case, don't assume that oil changes were done or that they were done with Dexos-1 oil, which is why I recommend a full synthetic oil. I try to change my oil and rotate/balance the tires every 5000 miles. After your next oil change, don't let your oil life monitor drop below roughly 40% (semi-synthetic) or 25% (full synthetic). There are multiple threads here on the best oil to use. Use the search feature to find them.

For fuel economy - the DIC is optimistic so I'm not surprised. You need to track your fuel usage from tank to tank. Get a fuelly or ecomodder account to do this. Also take a look at the stickied threads in the Fuel Economy forum and the 814 mile thread in my sig for fuel economy tips. Don't read my entire thread - scan it for links to other threads on fuel economy. Finally, how fast are you driving? 35.6 MPG is what I would expect around 90 MPH in my 2012 ECO MT. If you describe your daily commute we might be able to help you improve that average MPG.

Welcome to CruzeTalk and congrats on what I think is the best stick shift highway car in the country.

 

[blk88verde]

Welcome and congrats on your ECO! With regard to oil change - you are right 10k is way too many miles. I would say if you knew you had a full synthetic oil you could go 6500 to 7500 miles. The Dexos 1 semi synthetic is shot by 4000 to 5000 miles.

 

[OUGrad05]

Oil was changed by the dealer I bought it from, I have the service records, it was done at 25,800 miles and I bought it with 26,200 on the ODO.

 

[OUGrad05]

When was the oil last changed? If you don't know change it immediately with a full synthetic Dexos-1 oil. I use the semi-synthetic AC Delco oil that GM uses but I know when every single oil change was done as I'm the original owner. In your case, don't assume that oil changes were done or that they were done with Dexos-1 oil, which is why I recommend a full synthetic oil. I try to change my oil and rotate/balance the tires every 5000 miles. After your next oil change, don't let your oil life monitor drop below roughly 40% (semi-synthetic) or 25% (full synthetic). There are multiple threads here on the best oil to use. Use the search feature to find them.

For fuel economy - the DIC is optimistic so I'm not surprised. You need to track your fuel usage from tank to tank. Get a fuelly or ecomodder account to do this. Also take a look at the stickied threads in the Fuel Economy forum and the 814 mile thread in my sig for fuel economy tips. Don't read my entire thread - scan it for links to other threads on fuel economy. Finally, how fast are you driving? 35.6 MPG is what I would expect around 90 MPH in my 2012 ECO MT. If you describe your daily commute we might be able to help you improve that average MPG.

Welcome to CruzeTalk and congrats on what I think is the best stick shift highway car in the country.

I do track every tank and plan to run full synthetic

Issue is with the "Maintenance" program GM has, I can't get the oil changed until the oil life monitor tells me to? But I suppose I could do it myself or have a local place do it when the tires get rotated and just not reset the light, that'd work out to probably every other change being free

I just got fuelly, should have been using it a long time ago, I've been tracking MPG in excel for 8 years lol.

Daily commute is a mix of city and highway. First 8 miles I would describe as light city, 35-45mph stop sign/lights every mile, then a stretch of about 1 mile where there's 5 or so lights, I may or may not hit them green. Rest of the time is spent driving between 70 and 75 mph, majority at 75. There is some uphill/downhill on that, but they're pretty gradual, this is Oklahoma afterall...

 

[trevor_geiger]

Welcome to the forums and congrats on your Cruze! Post pictures when you can.

 

[weimerrj]

My '12 is off a consistent 10% as well.

Change the oil when you feel like it; I do mine when it hits 20% remaining.

Slow your speed down to 65 or below and your fuel economy will skyrocket - you're not in the turbo in 6th gear at those speeds. I tanked 48.6 MPG driving mostly 55-60. Even at 65-70 I was getting 43-45 MPG between Virginia Beach and D.C.

 

[OUGrad05]

My '12 is off a consistent 10% as well.

Change the oil when you feel like it; I do mine when it hits 20% remaining.

Slow your speed down to 65 or below and your fuel economy will skyrocket - you're not in the turbo in 6th gear at those speeds. I tanked 48.6 MPG driving mostly 55-60. Even at 65-70 I was getting 43-45 MPG between Virginia Beach and D.C.

Woudl rather have a 45 minute drive vs a 55 min drive

I'll tolerate the lower fuel economy, not a big deal, just surprised at how far off it was from the indicated.

 

[OUGrad05]

 

[Blue Angel]

I do track every tank and plan to run full synthetic

Issue is with the "Maintenance" program GM has, I can't get the oil changed until the oil life monitor tells me to? But I suppose I could do it myself or have a local place do it when the tires get rotated and just not reset the light, that'd work out to probably every other change being free

Sounds like a good plan. If you are going to do that and only put 5000 miles on an oil change you may get away with a Dexos1 blended semi-synthetic, but there are good arguments for the added high heat stability of full synthetics where turbochargers are concerned. Maybe your dealer would work with you on this and allow you to change out your oil a little more frequently if you paid the percentage of the oil change interval you were "discarding"? Just a thought.

I am currently running Mobil1 5W-30 and plan to change it out at 20-25% left on the OLM. After that I plan to run Mobil1 0W-30 year round. Both oils are Dexos1 approved, both grades are recommended in the Cruze owner's manual, and both oils have very similar HTHSV (High Temperature High Shear Viscosity), 3.1 for the 5W-30 and 3.0 for the 0W-30. The 0W-30 will flow better than the 5W-30 at low temperatures and should offer better cold start protection as well as the potential for a small fuel savings.

Welcome to the forum and enjoy the new Cruze!

 

[obermd]

Try aiming your upshifts to finish at 1400 RPM and downshifts at 1600 RPM. This will keep the turbo out of acceleration and also keep the car in DFCO (Deceleration Fuel Cut-Off) during deceleration.

 

[boraz]

mamoru

 

[OUGrad05]

mamoru

:hsugh:

 

[OUGrad05]

Sounds like a good plan. If you are going to do that and only put 5000 miles on an oil change you may get away with a Dexos1 blended semi-synthetic, but there are good arguments for the added high heat stability of full synthetics where turbochargers are concerned. Maybe your dealer would work with you on this and allow you to change out your oil a little more frequently if you paid the percentage of the oil change interval you were "discarding"? Just a thought.

I am currently running Mobil1 5W-30 and plan to change it out at 20-25% left on the OLM. After that I plan to run Mobil1 0W-30 year round. Both oils are Dexos1 approved, both grades are recommended in the Cruze owner's manual, and both oils have very similar HTHSV (High Temperature High Shear Viscosity), 3.1 for the 5W-30 and 3.0 for the 0W-30. The 0W-30 will flow better than the 5W-30 at low temperatures and should offer better cold start protection as well as the potential for a small fuel savings.

Welcome to the forum and enjoy the new Cruze!

I will stick with Mobil1 then.

And I'll only go full synthetic.

 

[Blue Angel]

I will stick with Mobil1 then.
And I'll only go full synthetic.

There are other oils that are Dexos1 approved, no need to stick with Mobil1. Here's the list:

http://www.gmdexos.com/licensedbrands/dexos1licensedbrands.html

The reason I chose originally to go with Mobil1 5W-30 is that it is available on sale at Canadian Tire stores for a "reasonable" price, and I just happened to be using it in another vehicle as well. Oil prices in the US are SOOO much lower than they are here in Canada that price isn't even much of a concern... regular price on a 5L jug of synthetic up here is around $50! State-side it's usually about half as much.

The reason I'm choosing Mobil1 0W-30 is because it's the only 0W-30 that's Dexos1 approved. If you're planning to stick with 5W-30 there are lots of full synthetic oils on the list to choose from.

 

[Chevy Customer Care]

OUGrad05,

Congratulations on your purchase and great pictures! If you have questions in regards to your warranty or dealership, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Erica Tiffany
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[Merc6]

There are other oils that are Dexos1 approved, no need to stick with Mobil1. Here's the list:

GM dexos information center

The reason I chose originally to go with Mobil1 5W-30 is that it is available on sale at Canadian Tire stores for a "reasonable" price, and I just happened to be using it in another vehicle as well. Oil prices in the US are SOOO much lower than they are here in Canada that price isn't even much of a concern... regular price on a 5L jug of synthetic up here is around $50! State-side it's usually about half as much.

The reason I'm choosing Mobil1 0W-30 is because it's the only 0W-30 that's Dexos1 approved. If you're planning to stick with 5W-30 there are lots of full synthetic oils on the list to choose from.

I've only stuck with it because I have already used it on previous vehicles and it had Dexos all over the bottle for less confrontation when I go for dealer changes. Pretty sure they wouldn't care if I walked in with the correct weight of Amsoil but I like smooth non confrontational dealer visits.

Try aiming your upshifts to finish at 1400 RPM and downshifts at 1600 RPM. This will keep the turbo out of acceleration and also keep the car in DFCO (Deceleration Fuel Cut-Off) during deceleration.

I just tried the 1400 are you up shifting 1400 even in 1st gear? Down at 1600 w/o brakes is that in a more rural plenty of time to stop not so stoplight to stoplight grid situation?

 

[2012 Blue Eco Cruzer]

Hello, I really like all the posts on oil changes and mpg threads. This month I bought a used 2012 Chevy Cruze Eco 1.4L Turbo 6 Spd Man with 25 K on it, my first true chevy, I owned Geo before. So I want to read everything on getting more MPG. I got my tires up to 45 PSI and I noticed less throttle to continue set speed. So I hope save some gas too. Jim

 

[Merc6]

Hello, I really like all the posts on oil changes and mpg threads. This month I bought a used 2012 Chevy Cruze Eco 1.4L Turbo 6 Spd Man with 25 K on it, my first true chevy, I owned Geo before. So I want to read everything on getting more MPG. I got my tires up to 45 PSI and I noticed less throttle to continue set speed. So I hope save some gas too. Jim

Welcome, since then we kinda went away from Mobil 1. Search up on the other brand out there that meet Dexos 1 requirements.

Here is a good place to go for mpg>

Fuel Economy

 

[Blue Angel]

Welcome 2012BEC!

You're in the right place, lots of info in here WRT oil changes and MPG. I even have a thread on Used Oil Analysis for the 1.4T.

Glad to have you on board, and enjoy your Eco!