Overheated Chevy Cruze / Sonic 1.4 Turbo LUV Engine Teardown. Don't Drink Coolant, It'll Lock You Up

[@gkinghsmith9352]

Absolutely love how the oil feed line wraps around the header before hitting the turbo, to insure the line overheats the oil and clogs.

[@david929190]

Probably done to heat the engine oil rapidly from cold because people jump in and go without warning up the engine and the engineers want things lubricated so they don't die early.

[@rosewhite---]

@@david929190 Must have been billions of cars started and driven from cold without serious issues or life shortening. In cold climates its rust that determines a car's life.

[@rosewhite---]

@Yeah Right As a matter of fact I used to clean my engines out by draining half the oil, adding 2 pints paraffin-kerosine and 2 pints water then driving 30 miles around town. Took out all the crap and left everything sparkling. You obviously didn't hear of the Ford no-oil driving test where the two cars ran 70 miles without oil.

[@alouisschafer7212]

@Yeah Right yeah and these days oil pumps build full pressure within a second with oils which will flow well even in freezing conditions.

[@gadgetg9479]

The problem is with the stupid auto stop feature that car has that you can not turn off so you are cooking the oil at every traffic light.

[@HawkOnHOG]

I owned a 2014 Cruze, 2016 Malibu, and currently have a 2021 Trailblazer. I commute 50 miles to work, which turns to about 2500 miles a month with non-work related driving. About 95% of my driving is freeways. I change my oil at 7500 miles at the dealership, and get my 30k, 60k, etc heavy maintenance done religiously. I have had absolutely no performance issues with these vehicles. If my driving was more in-town, then I would change the oil at 3-5k, but because it's freeway driving, I extend it more. It's more about being cognizant of the type of driving you do, and keeping up on the maintenance to keep your vehicle in tip top shape. This can be said for pretty much every vehicle on the road, regardless of manufacturer or model. Great video, I love to see tear-downs of all scenarios. :)

[@35RSkyline]

I would never go over 4000 miles on an oil change. Use to i wouldn't go over 3000 but oil today is better. Weather you believe it or not you are damaging your engine by waiting till 7500.

[@Mocaknight]

I use amsoil and my sonic LTZ 1.4 is burning clean and good.

[@johnjohnson9980]

I live us Phoenix AZ. Some summers we get a month where temps don't go below a 100 deg F. What is your peak summer temp. I am talking like 110 deg F six hours a days..

[@johnjohnson9980]

​@@MocaknightI put Royal Purple in ours this summer. Quieted down the engine. But I don't think that is best oil for cold weather.

[@ryn448]

The 1.4 isn't very good. However, I've had zero issues with my 1.8 yet. Other than it's 0-60 time of 3-5 business days.

[@jay1185]

You took the words right out of my mouth. 😂 #LUWLIFE

[@wifelikecow]

Love the little 1.8 (H VIN) in my mother's Cruze. Thing has got the spirit, just not the guts. It does have an odd start issue with a metallic clanging noise (I think it is the starter, or maybe a defective flywheel) and a stuck thermostat. Also, the intake runner adjuster linkage problem, can't forget about that. I'm not even going to talk about the purge valve, that is just a GM car issue in general.

[@ryn448]

@@wifelikecow I have the same issue on cold starts with the rattle. From what I've gathered, it's just kind of how the 1.8 is. I don't wanna Jynx myself, but I've only replaced the purge valve once so far,

[@jay1185]

@@wifelikecow Mine does the clanking as well. I have both size clutches, since I'm not sure on which size is in there. I need to pick up on a flywheel, that's what I assume the clanking is from. My clutch hasn't gone out yet, but they put a new one in it in 2016 when I got her. She's a 2012.

[@wifelikecow]

@@jay1185 My mother is still on her very tired factory clutch-pack. Poor thing needs replacing.

[@dustinlang4327]

Having worked at a Chevy dealership, these engines and the 1.5 in the Malibu were our bread and butter. Cracked pistons, cracked turbos, failing water pumps, leaking oil coolers and so much more. It was almost a rush to greet the customer when a Cruze showed up. Repairs were good money when it was under warranty as well, techs were able to make loads of time on the warranty repairs, and when the customer had an extended warranty, it was even better. Though it always made me sad when someone rolled up with one and it wasn't under some kind of warranty, those were the customers that I really felt for since I know I wouldn't want to sink in 1-7k into a Cruze.

[@soko9984]

Put about that much into my sonic since I bought it new. Valve cover gaskets multiple times along with PCV, turbo, coolant housing, ect… all past warranty 😩. Biggest piece of shit car Chevy ever made😡

[@aidensnow5017]

Yeah I got milked out of a fair bit from all those and more failing on my Cruze. Traded it in for a Mazda 6 and will never be going back to a turbo charged GM product.

[@warriorplutotrent3827]

Since you work at an dealership, how bad is the vacuum pump problem on the 2013-15 Malibu vs the newer body style Malibu?

[@tombowman2154]

I have a diesel Cruz, and I bought the extended warranty. The part that caused the engine failure wasn't covered under warranty. So I had to eat the repairs. Runs fine now, so I'm just going to run it into the ground 😊

[@ILYxIW]

@@soko9984it’s not even a GM engine. It’s made by Opal, it’s poverty spec eurotrash

[@michaelclarke9488]

My 1.4L Cruze was relatively trouble free over 178k miles of use. Plastic cooling system parts were the biggest headache for me. I was good about oil changes and used full synthetic. Never had turbo issues. The PCV system was a weak link but there was an upgrade kit available that eliminated that issue.

[@MrKhabbu]

Do you still drive it

[@michaelclarke9488]

@@MrKhabbu unfortunately not. I was rear ended a couple years ago. The Cruze was totaled.

[@fluxcapacitor05]

Thank God for that cruze PCV kit. Still bring a chuckle to my face knowing a guy was able to fix what overpaid bowtie engineers couldn't with nothing more than plumbing parts from a local hardware store.

[@user-yq8he1hu6m]

Hi! How much does he eat gasoline per 100km?

[@JaysCoolThings]

Just recently had my first major issue after 160k miles, needing a tow. One of the rubber coolant pipes burst while I was on the highway and sprayed coolant all over the engine bay and led to the engine overheating. Luckily it was a cheap fix and they had the part in stock at my local auto part dealer. It's been running great since.

[@romanreyes9086]

I got a 2015 Cruze With 312K Miles. Still runs fine. Maintenance really is everything.

[@piggy310]

Good engineering goes a long way too.

[@themrproamateur]

Got a 2015 Cruze myself, 154k. Valve cover will fail soon but besides that, still runs great

[@jamartin005]

@@themrproamateur 2015 civic si 340k original everything

[@paultrujillo8001]

2015. Cruze. Four turbos, four valve covers, catalytic converter, three coolant reservoirs, oil pan, both front window motors, second intake manifold and crank seal this weekend.

[@romanreyes9086]

I’ve had the Valve Cover Changed, and the Coolant Distributor. Beyond that’s is the normal stuff. Tires, Brakes, Filters, Battery.

[@jclafi]

I have the 1.8L version of the Cruze, about 10 year old by now. I do take care of the maintenance, and so far the car and engine are very good.

[@GLXTCHYY]

i once had the 1.8 version of the sonic and it was my favorite car until i lost her to a jackass who ran a red light

[@TutorialPanda]

1.8 is a good send compared to the turbo 1.4. having had my Cruze since 2017 I would much rather have the 1.8 over the 1.4

[@dspain0214]

Let a 1.4 at normal operating temperature sit turned off for 5 minutes. Loosen the oil filter cap completely, but do not remove. Let it sit there while you drain the oil from the pan. Re-install oil pan plug, and now you can lift the oil filter cap and filter from the engine with no mess.😁 This applies to ALL all makes with a top of engine cartridge type oil filter.

[@Oddman1980]

This is what I used to do with the 2.2 engine in my Saturn Ion.

[@rosewhite---]

Simpler way is to drain the sump then run engine a couple of minutes without oil to pump it all out of the system. It won't hurt and engine to idle a couple of minutes without oil. Ford once did a test on two oils. Filled and ran the cars round a track at good speed. Drained the sumps completely then sent the cars out again. They both drove many miles until the one on the supposedly inferior oil seized up while the other kept on going until it was so sick it had to be shot. The oil companies have brainwashed drivers to believe masses oil oil is essential but in fact just remember all those old loco engineers who had to squirt a few drops of oil into the oiler of the crank pins and con rods before sending the beasts out to do some real work? Same goes for all those old drive pulleys and machines in old machine shops.

[@mikeroshop8913]

@@rosewhite--- you're fucking kidding right? Telling people to run an engine with no oil.....

[@Alex-gw4dx]

@@mikeroshop8913 that's an easy way to break one of many parts that could last a lot longer, old machines were also built with stronger metals zero aluminum, new machines almost all aluminum which warp very fast, sure u can do it, but that chances of not wearing down your.engine is.slim, especially the valve train, i gnared up my vvti camshafts revving it to 4000 rpms merging, only 2,000 miles since oil was changed but was 1 quart low, very fragile aluminum components, if that engine had no.oil and u drove it 10 feet it would be catastrophic,

[@CaptainSpadaro]

I'll have to remember that one.

[@adrienpearson9901]

Love my 2013 Sonic Rs with this engine. Bought it with 106K miles. Now has 147k miles. I change oil every 4k miles with synthetic. I love the gas mileage and pretty fun for a slow car. (6 speed manual) I have drove to florida and back to NY 6 times with it. Does not drink coolant or burn oil. No check engine light. If you take care of an engine, it usually goes well!

[@jakewarner1993]

I love mine, only issues i have noticed is the turbo can sometimes loose boost pressure occasionally if driven for long periods of time, and it does develop minor coolant leaks easily. Not drinking coolant, but just leaks in plastic connector parts and what not, and there"s a coolant hose behind the engine that sits against a rather sharp spot on the block. It slowly wears a pin hole in the hose.

[@j.b.8379]

Nah. These are garbage. You only have 147. Never make it to 180. Sorry

[@coolshipvids]

Love my 2014 Chevy Sonic 1.4 turbo! It had to sit for a year due to unforeseen financial issues. But I had it serviced and with an oil change new battery and spark plugs it runs and drive great! 102k miles

[@DapimpBDSD]

Engine is ok, coolant system is trash

[@jakewarner1993]

@DapimpBDSD my thoughts exactly, I have no complaints with the engine itself. But the coolant system leaks like a faucet and anytime you fix one leak a new one pops up. It's ridiculous

[@MindsMouth]

I had to drive from Central Texas to southern California (1500 miles) in three days. Was doing 80mph for 2-3 hours at a time only stopping for gas and to get some food or drink. Took me 2.5 days and had no issues with anything. A week later I'm driving around Los Angeles doing UberEATS and my check engine light comes on at high rpm, gas mileage went down hill, sputters at low rpm. I think it's the air intake/fuel sensor. Going to change the fuel filter and install new AIC sensor and throw some B12 chemtool into the fuel. Checked the plugs, one has a little oil in it. Had the valve cover gasket and timing belt done a year ago. Solid little engine, I've been keeping up on oil and fluid changes.

[@IamJay02]

Lol

[@johnjohnson9980]

I live us Phoenix AZ. Some summers we get a month where temps don't go below a 100 deg F. What is your peak summer temp. I am talking like 110 deg F six hours a days. Turbos hate heat. Cooler states probably do better. Probably even with regular engines. Get stuck in stop and go. Or half mile line to get in the freeway when it is 110+ deg ( taking 20 minutes). Is a engine killer.

[@zhbvenkhoReload]

Despite many turbo engines having design problems (companies trying to save money on the wrong places), I feel many of the problems could be avoided if people kept their oil cleaner and wouldn't wait on the drive thrus.

[@Wingnut353]

If turbo engines had proper idle bypasses that wouldn't be a problem.

[@alouisschafer7212]

5k Miles oil and Filter changes should be standard on any small turbocharged engine. Especially with the high fuel dilution from direct injection and questionable piston ring designs. Turbodiesels can probably handle longer intervals since they are lower RPM engines with less stress on the components usually. Ive seen eurodiesels run 25k miles without an oil change and nothing bad happened. Just more valvetrain noise and vibration compared to new oil. Other engines would not take that at all.

[@jayss10]

This….. Don’t listen to the damned oil life monitor. Change your oil every 5k with good synthetic oil. Oil is cheap.

[@johnflynn6140]

I own one of these in my sonic 2018 and we love it but I do have to agree 100% with all the statements above we have always done oil every 5k adn should be mandatory but GM says to do it every 10k which is nuts to me on an engine that can run hot because of a turbo but I also hate to say it people tend to drive them like a race car because of it being a turbo car which is also stupid, the thing I find strange is this is the first I have ever heard of anyone not being happy with the 1.4 opel engine and around my parts no one has problems with them

[@alouisschafer7212]

@@johnflynn6140 100% on board with 5k oil changes. I change my oil every 6 months even if I have not yet reached 5k. My engine loves it. With fresh oil the lifters are more quiet and it seems to have less drag aka the engine revs smoother and there seems to be less engine braking while coasting indicating less friction in the engine. If you drive hard and do many wide open throttle pulls I would even recommend 3k mile oil changes.

[@ladin425]

I was working for a rental car company when these cars were new. To be honest, these cars were awesome to drive. The transmission tuning, engine noise, and the torque from the turbo engine really made it enjoyable to drive. The seating position was perfect too. Some cars did come into the shop with blown head gaskets but many cars took the abuse and were returned to chevy after the lease was over.

[@Wingnut353]

A blown head gasket on a practically new rental car... even if it was abused that's trash tier.

[@robertnussberger2028]

I wonder what Chevy did to them. I bet they sold whatever was salvable in parts and threw the shell away. The cars that get rented get abused. They won't have much to sell in terms of steering, engine or transmission. Just interior cosmetics and wires. Just my assumption.

[@Jimster481]

@@Wingnut353 Water feed line or thermostat problems. The plastic housing warps.

[@jaredmusick3872]

@@Jimster481 electric thermostat is the biggest killer on these. trax 1.4 thermostat housing and thermostat is a must. they naturally run hotter, and that electric thermostat fails on every one. it’s only a matter of time. And when i monitored the coolant temp sensor via my scan tool, the gauge doesn’t tell you it’s getting hot until it gets to 230. and by that point usually damage is already done. i’ve fought one of these cars for months

[@matts.8342]

@@jaredmusick3872 So you're saying a thermostat housing and thermostat for a 1.4L Chevy Trax will fit my Cruize and I should totally do it to prevent my car from melting down? I have a 2017.

[@rfhh.7763]

I have a 2012 with 200,000 miles. The water pump was replaced at 127,000 under warranty. I replaced the valve cover, pcv valve, at 70,000 myself for about 70 dollars. Shocks and struts at about 140,000. Still runs perfectly. Followed all the factory service recommended intervals. No other issues.

[@cycomikeo8201]

The only issue I have on mine was the cam actuator seals leaking and the pcv valve issue and the water outlet broke. Still a great little engine

[@soaringvulture]

You had warranty repair at 127,000 miles? How did that happen?

[@johns.8220]

Problem-free or almost problem-free Cruze owners are the exception, not the rule. Even the most vociferous Cruze defenders will give you a laundry list of things they have had to fix even on well-maintained vehicles.

[@rfhh.7763]

Warranty was extended on the water pump to 130,000 miles. I have the same thing on a VW, water pump warranty extended to 150,000 or 10 years. Must be from the same supplier.

[@mxbassrockerify]

I just blew my 1.4L up at 290k (it was my own fault tho... poured ambient temp coolant into a hot hot engine) I replaced the valve cover a couple times, coolant neck a couple times, thermostat housing twice. Other than that it ran good up until the main coolant line split.

[@PossesiveGamer]

My father owned a cruze and we loved the vehicle. Engine lasted us up to 99,995 miles then the head gasket blew. My father called the dealership and since he was 5 miles under 100k warranty and had 30 days left as well it got replaced for free. We got lucky but Ik alot of people dont get so lucky. This is the engine that really got me started working on vehicles though as I was constantly helping my father maintain it.

[@DaBuddhaHMz]

As a "proud" owner of a 2013 Cruze LT with one of these awfully designed engines, thank you for this video. It's been fun to watch on my lunch break.

[@wendellgreenidge3362]

If you even read this, thank you for taking the time to take these engines apart. It’s interesting to see what it takes to pull these engines apart and sometimes it helps me know what I’m getting into when I need to tear an engine apart.

[@mased-v2j]

Wow, a blown up 1.4 ecotech with a cracked waste gate seal that is completely unrelated to the failure of the engine... who would have guessed. Thanks GM. And thank you for the great content!

[@williamlogan1775]

12' 1.4 turbo I've had for 10 years. Head gasket went at 190k. Put another engine in, new turbo, new accessories, dorman newer style intake manifold, pcv fix, good tune. Ran fine for last 80k. 270k currently. Got to keep an eye on coolant levels and I don't do boosted launches at 22psi anymore.

[@Venom-2844]

How do i built proof mine

[@The_Superior_Self]

Ive worked on tons of these. For 3,5 years. Here is my take: (Disclaimer: Ive only worked on these in european cars) 1:59 Looks bad I know but they are fine go in and out via impact gun reliably over and over. 2:15 You wouldnt want that thing to be anywhere else. Yes its near the CAT but there is still some good air between those parts. 2:36 Yes if you pull that filter out immediatly you will make a huge mess. Uncrew till you feel the end of the thread, wait, then remove with a cloth. Even if oil spills down its easy to clean. 2:55 Oh thats normal even if the engine doesnt overheat. These rubber pieces can get stuck over time just by normal use. To the point of not being removeable anymore without destroying them. 6:29 Yea those are actuator thingys of sorts. Never got an explaination on how they work. But honestly the most important thing to know is that they notoriously leak oil. 21:53 Oh no E-Torx are pointless. Ive never found myself thinking: Gosh if only this extremely common hexagon screw head was the shape of a flower instead.

[@mikewysko2268]

220,000 miles on my 2017 Cruze RS hatchback. I change the oil on time, use the correct DEXOS oil, follow the recomened maintenance schedule including coolant & transmission fluid changes. More often than not an individuals ego guides them into blaming the car for damages caused by their own complacency.

[@timrisch4540]

Very interesting video. I have a 2012 Sonic with 170K miles with this engine. I have had fairly good luck with this engine. It still runs well getting 40+ mpg on the hwy. There have been problems, but none of the serious ones you described here. For these engines to survive you must maintain them: changing the oil often and NEVER letting the cooling get low overheating the engine. I changed all the cooling hoses and parts after 80K miles/5 years and will do them again soon to ensure that the cooling system never fails. A few other comments: 1) The oil filter housing actually is quite good and easy to work on but does not "..puke[s] oil right down the front of the engine." In my view it is not too close to the exhaust to cause problems. 2) Sticking coil boots are a problem. Unless you were very careful and patient, you could almost never get the boots out whole. Originally, you could not buy the boots separately and you had to buy the entire coil pack ($100+) just to replace a $2 boot for a plug change. Now the boots alone are available aftermarket, As you would say: "ask me how i know." 3) From what I have heard, the oil system in the engine is pretty good. It seems that the cooling system is the real problem in that many problems are caused by overheating. 4) I am not sure it is ever worthwhile rebuilding these engines. It is pretty easy just to replace the whole engine so rebuilding just isn't a value proposition.

[@94XJ]

My sister had a 13 sonic and I had a 14 Cruze. I wound up working with ZZP performance just up the road here and doing some stuff to mine just to make my little econobox a little less boring. It was dialed up to 173whp on e85 with a flex fuel sensor added on to pull the boost down at 50% or less ethanol. I wouldn't call it fast but it most certainly was fun! With a new intake manifold eliminating the PCV failure spot, I had absolutely zero issues even running 21psi of boost with one of those Vermont Tuning enlarged turbos.

[@matth9275]

Engines aren't supposed to burn or use coolant. In 2013 I test drove a Cruz turbo, the Dodge Dart turbo, and the focus. The Cruz by far was the worst, no power and I hated the ergonomics. Space in the trunk was crap. The focus was OK, still a semi small trunk and tight in the back seats, power was OK but of course not turbo. It still seemed to have better power than the Cruz. The Dart was amazing. Plenty of power, handled like it was on rails, tons of room in the car and in the trunk. Amazing car, I traded my dart in 3 years ago on something else but I really liked that car. It had just hit 100k, was going to need timing belt, brakes, and tires and I didn't want to put all that into it. About 5 years ago I was at my buddies shop just shooting the bull and he had a cruz in there. Oil pan gasket was leaking, valve cover gasket was leaking, he said it had like 80k miles. He said they were absolute garbage, I told him about my test drive experience and he wasn't surprised.

[@moparmaniac5206]

I’m sure you get this a lot. Please keep doing these man I love these videos. You don’t have stupid sponsorships at the beginning of the video, you don’t have these long intros talking about off topic stuff. You just show us how this thing works, why it failed and how everything fits together. I’m gonna keep watching this channel until you stop making videos. Rock on man

[@yungprodigy4070]

stupid sponsorships pays bills though

[@JohnDuckIT]

Why are you watching this lmfao your a mopar maniac lmao my buddy got an srt Jeep

[@flame_half]

I like seeing channels I support get sponsorships.

[@stuartwaters3212]

I completely agree with you mate, everything you said was spot on.

[@northernoutdooradventures3883]

Even on a terrible engine, it's incredible how much engineering went into it.

[@adeksadeksinski681]

engineers worked a long time to make this engine fail after warranty

[@soaringvulture]

Maybe a lot of engineering, but not much good engineering. I'm an engineer and I wouldn't have done this.

[@TwoFeetDown92]

@@soaringvulture 2nd gen’s are a lot better. Forged pistons and what not. I have a first gen 2013 and it’s at 130k. I was 16 and haven’t maintained it properly. Transmission started to slip last week and it’s never had the fluid change. I’ve had to replace a water pump and spark plugs… that’s it lol probably should have done more. I bought another Cruze needless to say, hopefully my experience is better since I’m not a dumb kid anymore haha

[@chrisp3139]

@@TwoFeetDown92 You never had an issue with the check valve failing?

[@DrewberTravels]

@@TwoFeetDown92 Is the 2016 a 2nd gen? because mine is trash too...

[@yhnchris63]

As the owner of a cruze it brings me joy seeing you take one apart, thanks

[@markscott5421]

I have a 2016 Cruze it runs well and no problems with it at all...just regular oil changes. Seeing the comments makes me think better keep up the maintenance or there will be trouble....

[@DerPapierfliegernarr]

I've recently rebuilt one of these engines. Unfortunately, all the smaller GM engines have a similar problem in my experience: leaking timing case gaskets (although this one was the last shop's fault). The gasket starts leaking, water gets in the oil, and it overheats. Then usually the head (and in this case even the block) warps. And for some reason I have never seen any of these engines without piston skirt wear. If you can see the wear, it's usually already out of spec. But other than that, it's a decent little engine. A lot better than the 1l 3cyl ecotec

[@WhitefolksT]

Inferior to the GM 122, the LD9 quad cam 2.4L, and the ecotec 2.2L. My 96 Cavalier 2.2L had 265k when it got totaled and never had a major failure. My 2000 Grand Am 2.4L has 176k and it's way more reliable than my dudes 2014 cruze with 96k that has consumed 4 valve covers, a water pump, an intake manifold, etc..I told him sell that mfkr because I'm done working on it.

[@dirkdaring748]

@@WhitefolksT My friend had a 96 Cavalier vert that snapped its timing chain before 80k, despite average maintenance being done to it. It also later had a loud clanking, like what a diesel sounds like, which I think was a collapsed lifter, if iirc. I've heard several Cavaliers with that same diesel-like clanking. But I also hear of higher mileage like yours so (shrugs).

[@jasonmurdoch9936]

It's a joke engine trust me

[@DxWhoopingCrane]

@@WhitefolksT Modern GM small engine are Daewoo(GM Korea). Thats why they suck. 90s/early 2000s gm engines were unremarkable but simple and fairly reliable.

[@Michael_Lorenson]

@@WhitefolksT Yeah, my research says exactly the same about that 1.4L turbo. Such a shame because that Cruze is a very cool little car, otherwise.

[@m.b8257]

You gotta love how General Motors appreciates their customers by making them pay for the absolute junk the produce .

[@garygaarderjr9733]

General Motors don’t make anyone “pay” for anything! You have choices and it’s up to you to do your homework! If you don’t like it, buy something else! It’s that easy.

[@scsi_joe]

"You gotta love how General Motors appreciates their customers by making them pay for the absolute junk the produce" Right, as if every other car maker made absolutely flawless engines throughout their entire history.

[@zachburgett7784]

I love the 1.4 in my Cruz. Great low end power and efficient. Haven’t had a single issue. Then again, I take care of it.

[@Zaudunyani]

my wife and I had his and hers 1.4 turbo Cruzes. Mine ate three turbos, hers ate one. Both ate coolant lines and valve cover gaskets. Mine ate a water pump and a wheel bearing assembly. My manual transmission (ECO) broke internally and had to be welded to keep the car in gear; her automatic transmission failed as we were driving it to trade in on a Civic. I'm a 40 year old man who used to be a mechanic. I took VERY GOOD CARE of these cars and they were both utter dogshit. I'm happy yours isn't, but these cars are notorious for being absolute trash.

[@Forsaken-Orphan]

Why are these so trash?

[@matthewjensen9550]

I took better care of mine than just about anyone else out there with a Cruze. It has been tremendously unreliable. Since then, I’ve started treating it just as any average Cruze owner would and it’s been fine somehow

[@ExSkyCyclePilot]

Get back with us when you've driven 150,000 trouble free miles...

[@ppainterco]

@@ExSkyCyclePilotmy 2012 Sonic has 170k and has had zero mechanical issues. The only issue I ever had was the battery fuse popped and let me sit. I replaced it and the car has been working fine since. Considering what I paid for the Sonic new, it’s reliability, great fuel economy, and residual value, it’s been a great little car.

[@andrew7720]

Hi from the other side of the Atlantic. I have a 2011 Opel Astra J with the same engine. I have 188.000 km (the last 75.000 with LPG), and it still runs great after 11 years. No apparent issues, no loss in power nothing. Although the last month, oil started leaking from the filler cap and even when its closed, you can feel it by hand its a bit loose. Overall very very happy with this engine.

[@ricgunn1439]

Get or make a gasket

[@anthonymorrison2749]

I've had a 2014 Cruze and a 2018 Cruze. The 2014 made it 85,000 miles before a deer totaled the car. Only problem that one ever had was a water pump replacement. Ran the 2018 100,000 miles and never had a single issue with that car. Not a leak. Not a battery. No engine issues whatsoever. I did keep up with the oil changes.

[@markujcich4245]

Excellent choice. Yes, this is an entry-level economy engine. The plastic cooling inlet and thermostats on these engines are known to leak and fail. The car will go into limp mode if it overheats, ( I know, lost coolant because plastic inlet cracked) I got a good deal on used manual Sonic and loved the gas mileage! People rip on this engine but for people like me, they are easy to maintain and parts are easy to get. I sold it with 150K , running great without a check engine light and no oil burning issues....kinda miss it.

[@jairoosunalm]

I got a 2012 with 190k running strong.

[@joebone3151]

Got my encore that might be my problem why uts guzzling coolant. Not as fast as they say in the vud or what I heard but faster then it should. I was planning on modding it to make it more powerful and reliable.

[@joelnrs]

I agree with you on this!

[@hawkdsl]

2015 Sonic. It's a ripper... one of the coolest cars I've ever had. Still got it.. it's the commuter to get to work. One of the few times I felt I got allot of car for the price, which was under 19k new. You can't even get a salesman to talk to you under 35k these days.

[@n10cities]

Thank you so much for this teardown. I have a 2015 Cruze (approx 76,000 miles) that I have had for a year with this engine and I have heard good and bad things about it. To hopefully avoid those bad things, I am going to try to keep this engine maintained to within an inch of its life. The only issue I have had with this car is a faulty negative battery cable that bolts to the chassis. The electrical system would glitch out intermittently (radio turning off and on, wouldn't crank, etc). There apparently was a recall on those, but I went to my O'Reilly's and bought a new cable. Glitchiness resolved.

[@wifelikecow]

there was. I believe you might have been able (providing you have a good stealership) to have gotten that replaced for free...maybe.

[@arc00ta]

One of the best investments you can make on these little guys is a good turbo blanket. I got one from PTP for my Malibu which has the same problems, cost like $150 and its kept my turbo going for 150k now. Took all of 10 minutes to install. Keeping the turbo from heat cycling so fast especially on short trips vastly reduces the rate that the wastegate housing will crack and in turn keeps the coolant and oil inside the turbo where it belongs. Basically, the itty bitty turbo is the achilles heel of this engine, the more stable it is the better.

[@CaptainSpadaro]

@@arc00ta a turbo blanket? Hmmm...

[@arc00ta]

@@CaptainSpadaro Yeah, its easier than exhaust wrap by far. Keeps the underhood temps down a lot too.

[@CaptainSpadaro]

@@arc00ta PTP makes one for 2.0L EcoBoosts...I'll have to give it some thought (though my car is stock).

[@Twitch_Moderator]

I have the 1.8 L in my Sonic and I'm glad that I have that engine. It's a very strong and well built engine. I've had no problems with it so far. 10 years of owning it.

[@James1095]

I bet a lot of it comes down to maintenance. If you take good care of just about any modern engine it will last.

[@gregrowe1168]

The 1.8 is an outstanding engine. Good power in a small car like the Sonic and gets outstanding fuel economy, 40 mpg is possible if you drive relatively conservatively.

[@ricgunn1439]

I have a 1.8 Cruze 2011 150,000km. I believe in the kiss idea. Std, no turbo replaced water pump and coils. But after reading comments I'm lucky, but afraid of long trips now!🤔

[@sevyevgeni6075]

Other than the PCV issues, it's a solid engine. Keep up with the oil changes and it's fine. Had mine for 160k no issues.

[@jean-claudesimard7882]

Me i'm at 220.000 km 2012 turbo and y love it.y run it only with premium fuel 91.and full synthétique oil change at 6.000 km

[@WhatDoesEvilMean]

@@jean-claudesimard7882You use premium fuel in your Sonic? I’ve thought about doing this.

[@thsarethbreaks]

@@jean-claudesimard7882 My mother had a 2012 Eco 1.4T and it was a great little. Only thing she had replace was the water pump. All of the service that was done on it was at the Dealership.

[@jean-claudesimard7882]

@@thsarethbreaks y have 230.000 km.your mather wath is the millage

[@jean-claudesimard7882]

Y run premiym fuel 91 or 94 in québec the price is $2.02

[@chulito240]

They are great motors. Just have to keep an extra eyes on the water pump and plastic thermostat housing and outlet housing. Everytime they have a high overheat episode, heads always go out of spec. I've known people who have always kept an eye on maintenance and never had to open the top end.

[@OfficialParkit]

I just had my sonic blow a hole in the radiator hose,the overheat warning came on I pulled over instantly and turned it off. Hoping for no head damage

[@RED768]

Enjoyed this one. I have a 2012 Cruze with 158k on it. Owned it for 50k miles. Leaks oil around the oil cooler and it drips on the exhaust. Coolant leaks from somewhere and spots the garage floor from time to time. Other than the leaks, runs fine.

[@trustme7660]

I have 2012 164kmiles no issues so far

[@fredischwarzer3549]

Something that'd be interesting to see is an IDI Diesel. Like a 6.2 a 6.5 GM Diesel or a 6.9 or 7.3 Ford IDI Diesel

[@digitalgulby]

What about an olds diesel.

[@keithbrass8350]

Ya he should do heavy equipment engines 😏😳

[@jaredkennedy6576]

I had asked for a 7.3idi previously as well. The Mercedes OM617 is pretty neat too, there's a lot of odd tech in those.

[@mddunlap03]

Should be plenty of cheap 7.3 idi cores with leaking cylinders from people not using scr coolant

[@jaredkennedy6576]

@@mddunlap03 Mine hasn't done that, but it's going to get yarded out in favor of an Isuzu 4HK1 eventually. I wish I had done it already, before the EPA cracked down, it's just about impossible to find a DPF and EGR delete tune for those even though my truck is old enough to be emissions exempt.

[@F632-s4x]

I had a 2012 Cruze with the 1.4 that I traded in last year with 180k miles on it. Almost all the miles were freeway, only issue I had was replacing a split coolant hose at around 120k miles. It was a good little car.

[@wallbanger3]

I had a 2011 Cruze , I had a high speed miss I never could figure out .sold it w 85g

[@johnberry2877]

Good car 😂😂. 180k😂😂😂 my Toyota, and my Honda civics get well over 500k with out ANY problems. GM is a poor man’s trash built by affirmative action hires who get stoned before work !

[@Davo_1991]

you got extremely lucky, i work on these heaps and 98% of them have heaps of coolant leaks or some oil leak.

[@trumpet12345]

@@johnberry2877 yeah tough internet guy? Let us talk about fuel dilution issues with the Civics that keeps up northern folks folks frozen in the winter because they won't heat up? Canada hat a recall on that nice Civic turbo for the same reason. Except it got so cold they couldn't defrost the damn windows. Idiot swearing to a brand.

[@FIREPHILSPENCER]

BS, you probably never owned a car with over 200k or turned a wrench.

[@mikebradford7780]

Love my 2015 Cruze 6sp 126,000 miles. Things break but parts are cheap to replace if you are mechanically inclined. I've replaced the valve cover, intake manifold, water pump, crankshaft seal, waterline fitting that goes to overflow, turbo feed line turbo oil drain line to block, and just today finished the oil cooler rebuild. Yay! It has never left me stranded on the side of the road though.

[@LostForeverr]

Where u bought valve cover ?

[@ricgunn1439]

That's a hell of a lot of repairs

[@amandagiannini3503]

No free lunch when it comes to a engine using forced induction.that being said no real issues with my cruze.there are plenty of upgrades available for 1.4 and for good reason easy to work on and generally reliable.

[@calebmilam8315]

The amount of turbos and coolant hoses and valve covers I’ve replaced on this engine is ridiculous they are truly junk

[@frankjimenez2337]

I can relate 6 turbos on mine plus countless other parts it's a money pitt. But can't get rid of it And heard it from my son. Sentimental values I guess

[@jeremyhare9515]

Must be a gm tech too lol tell you one thing it's not a honda engine lmao

[@christianmarquette7954]

@@frankjimenez2337 this makes zero sense to me. I feel like if you can’t drive your cars new turbo at least 50k+ miles your doing something very wrong. I’ve beat the living hell out of my cruze in my ownership and have experience zero mechanical issues. You just treat your equipment like trash and buy shit cheap garret turbo replacements off Amazon’s🥴

[@Ninjayogiful]

I replace three turbos on mine. Other that that it was a fantastic engine. Except for the valve cover.

[@fivepointeightnate]

I got 188k on my sonic with original Garrett and 135k on my Encore with original turbo. When and if they fail I wouldn't put a Ebay replacement on it. It's actually pretty amazing how long a factory turbo can last these days. I remember when first gen turbo cars would start blowing smoke at about 80k because of turbo seal failures. The only bad thing I can say with these vehicles are fixing water leaks, that's what is blowing them all up from overheating.

[@PlumCrazyRob]

Dang it Eric. THE DAY BEFORE I leave on a regular 500 mile trip to Colorado..in my 1 owner 177k mile Cruze Eco (45mpg, 6 speed manual, Thank you!) I'm just going to say if you are attentive and keep up maintenance it's been a fine car/engine. ALSO...If you can keep up with a driveway full of BMWs, you can make this car go lol. Love ya man!

[@matthewmarsh1971]

Same car, same miles, love my cruze

[@Chrispidwerbecki]

Wanna see a gm 3800. Love those engines!!!! I know it’s a old engine but love to see one!!!

[@christinesommerfeld9815]

I LOVE THE GM 3800! SERIES 2 and 3. 2 of them gave me many hundreds of thousands of miles of whipping the shut out of them and only lost 1 water pump and 2 main coil packs block things( cant remember what it was called, only $150-$200). 25-32 mpg's also.

[@alstacey6767]

My turbo cracked at the waste gate as well, couldn’t build any boost and thus my shiny pile could barely pull itself up onto the ramps I used to work on it, nevermind take the wife and kids down the road. Never again. You’re the man bro, killer video!

[@anthonydroid4299]

I had a 2012 cruze turbo 177K on it with no issues(I bought it new) till unfortunately got bad fuel. Motor didn't run right after that. Traded it in on a brand new 2018 cruze rs turbo 67K. No current issues. Both cars 100% dealer maintained. Both cars had no mods.

[@robm3357]

That looks a lot better built than most. For that much sludge it must have been running extended oil changes. But comparing it to other engines, I think it’s easy to work on and well built.

[@Capydachi]

Don't buy one from a car rental company, I don't know about all of them but I know Hertz (which is also Dollar and Thrifty) are doing 10,000 mile intervals on their oil changes to save money

[@geraldscott4302]

GM (actually the EPA) recommends extended oil changes. It's up to the owner to know better.

[@glenmclendon9209]

@@Capydachi they wont have any oil in the engine after 6k .

[@HemiLyfestyle]

go buy a Chevy with that engine and see how difficult it actually is to work on it 😂

[@stephenbrown7809]

Do 6,000 mile oil changes. The Chevy computer oil life is wrong.

[@azrc3829]

I've owned 3 Sonics. The worst part about these engines is all of the plastic parts attached to it, they tend to break. Mechanically they are very solid though. Also take to aftermarket performance tunes surprisingly well, although the intercooler is too small and you'll have bad times in hot weather...

[@jonesy4588]

agree the plastics parts are a joke

[@MissionaryForMexico]

BINGO! Just like BMW!

[@jeff_9074]

I have a 2019 sonic, in pretty hot weather last week wth the a/c running it sounded like it would run rough while sitting still (in drive or park). First time expirencing it.. is that timing issues in hot weather you're talking about? Haven't expirenced it again though..

[@1967davethewave]

I used to work at a GM dealership in the 90's. The 3.1 V6's had a recall where we would replace the pistons with new units that had coated skirts to help eliminate cold start piston knock. It always surprised me how engines with 60k, 70k, even 80k or more miles would have pristine rod bearings. We didn't replace them, only swapped the old pistons out and reassembled with new gaskets, new oil and filter and antifreeze and they were out the door. And it did quiet them down.

[@TerrySumpter2007]

The 90 Corsica 3.1 would do 130. It would beat nuspeed modded accords by 2 lenghts lol

[@liblib89]

I had about 300k on my 3.1, it knocked when cold but I thought nothing of it, and it was still running when sold. Didn't know there was a recall

[@1967davethewave]

@@TerrySumpter2007 GM had a speed governor on all their front drive cars of 105mph. But it is a nice story.

[@gregrowe1168]

@@1967davethewave I had a 91 Pontiac 6000, I got it up to 110 mph once. Never had any issues with the engine, traded it in at 140k miles and still running great.

[@benjurqunov]

But explain GM denying special homosexual special rights ?

[@goobie2000]

I have 2013 Cruze, with a 1.4L turbo. No issues. Replaced the tires, a battery, normal maintenance. That’s it. So far a very good car.

[@tonywhite5085]

How long have you had yours. I just bout one and now im scared. Lol.

[@goobie2000]

I’ve had the Cruze nine years. Watching this video has made me think about trading it in, sooner than later.

[@jordanposvar3616]

I used to work at chevy. People always used to beat the shit out of their cruzes then complain that theyre junk. Ironically i have one as my commuter, and i take care of it. So far so good.

[@bojned]

NA versions of this engine were quite common in Opel Corsa/Astra... They are not fast by any means, but they are quite simple and reliable. I own a 2015 Corsa with this engine, and there is not much to say about maintenance... The only thing that failed in 7 years was the coil pack (poor design), but it's a 70-80e part held by two bolts.

[@orkoto6057]

Water pump fail at 80K kms but "apart" from that is cool and reliable with 110K kms. Corsa 1.4 90cv NA

[@DotTom]

I have a 2012 Sonic LT. Non turbo version. It’s been very reliable as far as the engine. Knowing what I know professionally about the turbos, I’m glad I bought the cheapest option one.

[@W0RLDSSMALLESTVI0LIN]

The 1.8 is a far superior engine as far as reliability goes

[@fastcoffee9878]

I had a '12 sonic RS with this 1.4. Bought it used and only thing i had go was the water pump which i fixed myself. Otherwise that RS was a great car for its size. I regularly drove some twisty steep grades on freeways but that car just flew. Love this video!

[@lrn_news9171]

Apparently by the end of the 2nd generation of Chevy Cruze these engines actually became quite reliable. Most of the issues came from the 1st gen and early 2nd gen. The 2017-2019 model years have well above average reliability.

[@bernardcooks2918]

Thanks for the teardown! I'm in the process of getting rid of my 2015 Cruze LT 1.4 252,000 miles. Lots of cooling issues with water outlet valve, plastic valve cover etc. Replaced with Compass 2.4L

[@RyanBreaker]

I've had surprisingly good luck with my '14 Sonic with this engine, albeit after taking care of it with regular oil changes and maintenance. Once had a temp sensor failure and the valve cover also needed replacing (another part known to fail on these) at around 90k miles but that's it so far for the engine and just reaching 100k miles now.

[@bryf1215]

Just got my sonic a year ago and at 135k miles I think my head gaskets blown, it’s good engine as long as you take care of it though

[@gregrowe1168]

The non turbo 1.8 is much more reliable though. Basically makes the same amount of power and gets 40 mpg in the Sonic.

[@bryanstebens4619]

Bought mine new in 2013. 185k on my 1.4 luv. It’s done nothing but run great. Been a great little car, I’d definitely buy another. Idk what everyone else is doing to them to destroy them 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@michel1177]

NO BRAINS LIKE BAD MOUTHING THINGS THEY REALLY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT

[@mercedes-amgforlife3237]

Those cam sensors were actually adjuster magnets. They use a magnet to pull on a feeder tube located in the cam bolt to adjust oil feed to the phasers.

[@greecoboost]

Were the phasers set to stun or kill?

[@guywhite1004]

Have one in a Buick Encore. Had to replace the valve cover twice (the EGR is built into it and you have to replace the whole thing). The intake manifold had to be replaced because the check valve for the exhaust gas gives up after about 100k miles - it is plastic, as is the water inlet and outlet with the thermostat housing. Had to replace these as well because the broke from the heat (plastic? Who’d have thought). The problem with the exhaust gas blow by eventually kills the catalytic converter which failed at about 150k miles. The replacement converter is not warrantable for this engine because of the problem with the exhaust gas circuit. You can tell when you have a problem with the EGR because it smells like a hamburger is cooking on top of the engine. Will never have another one, but my wife picked it out. .

[@Glipsnarp]

I have a Sonic RS with the 1.4 Turbo. Tuned for an additional 40ish hp. Big difference. Put 100,000km on it with the tune. Engine was still mint. Sold it back to dealership cause I mucked the subframe on a piece of concrete that kicked up from a catch basin in a parking lot

[@chrishomrichjr3572]

this is the most common engine to come through our shop. Mostly for turbo issues (internal crack develops between the gate and impeller 98% of the time). doesnt matter which manufacturer (honeywell or garret), they all crack in the same place. Second most common issue we see with them is they tend to bust rods. The 1.8L doesnt appear to have the same issues as the 1.4L.

[@matthewmarsh1971]

1.8 has timing belt problems instead. My 1.4 has been bulletproof for 170k so far

[@thadmachia9873]

Watched it again. It's amazing what you can find out by tearing an engine down. Great video!

[@rickyanke9407]

Own 2 of them. 235,000 and 85,000. Valve cover gasket and PVC valve are the weak links, but a very easy (and I'm no mechanic!) driveway replacement. 45+ mpg with the 6 speed manual. I'll be buying another in the upcoming months, great car for the teen.

[@matthewmarsh1971]

Yep. Bought my 2012 eco stick new. 170k on it now. Always more than 40 mpg. Blast to drive.

[@jon2958]

These engines are fine. The supporting addons are not. Water pump, thermostat, water pipe, oil cooler, etc. So while yeah, one of these items could go bad, and screw you on a long drive. However, general routine maintenance and looking over the vehicle will allow these motors to last. My only gripe on these motors is the poor PCV design, unless you modify it, you will be replacing valve covers every 50k(or more).

[@apa182]

I took really REALLY good care of my engine.... It gave me cylinder problems at around 110,000 miles.....I was so happy with my cruze.

[@focus2004able]

I own a 2014 Cruze with the 1.4L turbo engine, it was interesting to watch you tear down the engine and see what they look like inside, I have heard that some aspects of these engines were not well designed, I did have to do a valve cover replacement recently as the PCV valve failed, and had to replace a worn front crankshaft seal and fix a minor hose leak, otherwise no major problems, and it's clocked up almost 183 000 Km (about 113 710 Miles) hopefully it will continue to run trouble free.

[@itz_premium]

Wait for it bud.. if you didn't upgrade your thermostat and water outlet to the metal ones, and you haven't had to replace a water pump yet... Just wait. My 1.4T used to chug coolant.

[@fastbrass4086]

Having one with 190k miles on it I will say the main problem with the engines is the cheap plastic cooling components, I have had multiple coolant leaks that I don’t think the average person would have caught. Cracked coolant fittings, thermostat housing. Over flow bottle ect. The engine it self seems decent other than the coolant leaks. Also had to replace The pcv which is also known to be poorly designed

[@sportshatch]

These are great engines, used in Vauxhall and Opels in Europe. I have rebuilt quite a few. The problems come from the drivers, not the engines. Most of these cars have a temp warning light and no gauge. The light comes on (usually due to a failed water pump) and people ignore it and run them till they stop. You almost always get away with a 5 thou skim of the head. A very strong engine and will take a lot of abuse.

[@Chironex_Fleckeri]

I don't believe they're the exact same engines. Honda couldn't get their 1.5t eco-turbo i4, can't recall the designation. They had plenty of issues of their own, but nothing quite as heinous as this little gremlin of a powerplant.

[@southnyourmind]

That's not the truth at all. My wife stayed up to date with everything on her Cruze. Wouldn't drive it if a light was on, or if it needed something. So basically, she never drove it. No warning lights, but the water pump was leaking. Replaced it, and then had to have it replaced again. Then had to replace the turbo. and then had to replace the turbo again. Supposedly, despite regular maintenance, and taking care of the car, we weren't sitting in it long enough after we parked. The car was terrible.

[@Syncopia]

True, but Europeans have mechanics every 2nd block and at 1/4th the labor rate so they're usually well maintained here.

[@terrenceolivido741]

may be something to do with where they are assembled and the parts they use. i really have not heard that the design is faulty, more the parts used. years ago i had a pinto ( a lot of years ) that had the opel overhead cam engine. that motor made the pinto a pretty great cheap car.

[@Helo735]

Bad News Racing makes performance parts for the 1.4T. I owned a 2016 Chevrolet Trax AWD with the 1.4T from 2400 miles on to 59k miles and I took great care of it. Premium Oil filters, high quality synthetic oil with regular changes, and Premium Fuel. Only issue I ever had was it needed a Catalytic Converter at 54k miles. I'd likely still own it if I hadn't had such a huge need for a pickup truck. Solid car, and as far as I'm concerned, a solid powertrain.

[@ghostrider-be9ek]

11:00 duuuuuuuude !!! safety glasses or cover the part up! That spring wanted OUTTA here. We love your videos and hate to see carnage on YOU, instead of the engines Eric!

[@dps381]

I had a 2013 Cruze Eco manual and meticulously maintained it. I traded it in with about 100k miles 7 years later and the ONLY issue I had with it was the cooling system. Water pump leaks and cracked thermostat housing... Left me overheated and stranded on the side of the road more than once.

[@DxWhoopingCrane]

For some reason the Koreans(this is a Daewoo aka GM korea design engine) love plastic parts for the cooling system. Probably because they love economic efficiency over building top quality products

[@deviouslaw]

@@DxWhoopingCrane The cruzes are daewoos true but the engines are Opel designs. True world cars, kind of interesting all the different contributions from various parts of GM, even if they aren't the best vehicles.

[@brianr1899]

I currently have the same ride with 127,000. 5 water pumps, 2 coolant reservoirs, turbo oil feed line , oil pan gasket two times, throttle body, coolant return hose, and now I'm pretty sure my turbo is cracked. Leaks oil and eats antifreeze daily. Pretty much a engineering disaster compliments of GM. Only positives on that car is that it used to get 40 mpg all day long going 70mph and a really quiet ride. Never again will I buy a GM product after 50 years of their products. Thanks Mary

[@johncooley81]

@@brianr1899 I traded mine in for a Camry my Tahoe will be next.

[@jeremyscott6641]

@Cooley81 just had one as a rental while the cruze was being repaired after an accident, 5.6L per 100km and was a decent ride, I was always a domestic kind of guy but I will be looking at one for my next daily driver.

[@micahfineburg2403]

1.4’s just leak coolant at the temp sensor at the coolant neck near the oil housing at 60k miles. It’s a known problem with neglecting oil changes(so all cruzes/sonics) probably just got ignored for too long and slowly cooked the head gasket.

[@03mm24]

Chevy Trax and Buick Encore also share this shitty engine

[@tammyforbes2101]

I got one in my drive way I wrecked has 190k miles on it and the AC and everything still works. I have no doubt it would have gone 200k miles plus no problem! I gave it one tune up!

[@jayss10]

I have a 2014 with 160,000 miles and its been ok….. The issues I’ve had with it is the oil cooler springing an external leak and the overflow bottle cracking. I’ve also had to replace the intake and valve cover twice. I do all my own work and these parts arent that bad cost wise. In fact i found dealer prices often were cheaper. Its been reliable enough. Now things that have been great on it. Tire wear is awesome on this little car. I just put my 3rd set of tires on. The OE tires lasted 75,000 miles and the replacements lasted another 75,000. Put the first set of brakes on it at 140,000. So i guess you win some and lose some.

[@paulhenryxray]

I had a 2012 Cruze Eco. This was a nice engine in terms of smoothness and fuel economy, but I had way too many issues within 22,000 miles.

[@springfield4522]

So did I until I got T-boned with only 35000 miles. Ran smooth and 42-48 mpg...

[@superdrizzle7342]

@@springfield4522 Wow thats almost what I get in a Prius

[@springfield4522]

@@superdrizzle7342 That was mostly rural driving, not in-town with stoplights every 1/4 mile. My friend has a Prius, he said he does better than that in the city but not that good on the expressway. Oh and I took the Cruze on a road race once, hit 120 mph, but didnt want to try faster and risk being DQ'd.

[@adynathaly3145]

Do you recommend that 1.8 L or the 1.4 L. What's your take on the turbo is it better with turbo or without

[@matthewmarsh1971]

I have 2012 eco since new. 170k now. I loveeeeee the car for many reasons. Pcv is fixed and nothing has leaked in a long time.

[@ChiefLink]

I've seen a ton of these engines come through a couple shops I've worked at in Texas. Primarily, they have overheated or developed coolant/oil leaks from the very filter housing you pointed out. Surprise surprise, putting a rubber gasket on a cooler/warmer block and then shoving it into the head behind the exhaust manifold means it fails prematurely. Similar to the 3.6L Pentastar from Chrysler, all that heat soaking is just too much for those seals. I've also seen a lot of these engines work just fine with proper maintenance, but the design is still questionable. Love the small engines, and there are a ton of interesting small engine designs out there! Keep finding them!

[@matthewsmithers9732]

Where in Texas r u

[@iggynub]

Are there aftermarket remedies? ways of re-routing to avoid this? Forgive my ignorance.

[@ChiefLink]

@@iggynub Not that I know of. The cooler is attached to the block and the coolant lines going to it are steel. There may be minor variations depending on the engine, but that’s generally what I’ve seen. Particularly since the oil cooler is also the filter housing, engineering a better aftermarket solution is quite the task. The best one can do is address leaks quickly to avoid catastrophe, as far as I know.

[@stellingbanjodude]

Working at the dealer, I can honestly say that the engine itself is reliable, we do see a lot of turbo issues, intake manifold and valve covers, and any plastic water outlets. And the occasional head gasket. We see more issues with the 2.2 and 2.4 ecotecs.

[@YanilMiami305]

What do you think about the 2.0 ecotec turbocharged? Is it any good? I had a 2.2 in my 02 cavalier and it hit 260k miles before I got rid of it.

[@stellingbanjodude]

@@YanilMiami305 it’s a fine engine, so long as it’s been maintained. We occasionally see the need for timing chain and associated components and pistons.

[@YanilMiami305]

@@stellingbanjodude yeah any VVT engine is going to brake down if if not taken care of it properly. I asked about the 2.0 turbocharged because I was thinking about buying a cadillac ats with that engine I test drove one and was impressed its a peppy little engine it's kinda loud though at higher RPMs

[@rob7439]

With a couple simple fixes these engines are really reliable. Also you have to take care of it :D Its a forced induction which requires more maintenance.

[@bigwater52]

My 1.4 has a set of zzp rods diamond pistons. And a borg 62/58. 37psi 384wheel! 1.5 years old now, 57k miles hundreds of 1/4 mile runs. Still runs like a champ

[@killerwowmaster]

Watching you take this thing apart was hilarious, you detached the cam gears from the head rather than ripping apart all the timing cover first which is exactly how GM says you're supposed to do it. They have you leave all that stuff in place and just pin the tensioner before you remove the head, its actually a pretty good design. That's why the timing cover gasket has a perforation where the head meets the block, so when you do a head job you can replace just the upper half of that gasket and silicone the corner.

[@javaguru7141]

This is worded really awkwardly. You're saying he didn't disassemble it the way GM intended, right?

[@killerwowmaster]

@@javaguru7141 No, GM tells you to pin the tensioner, pull the cam gears off, then pull the head. He started on the right path but why would you do it that way if you're parting out the engine anyway right?

[@lakewebsterkid]

I would imagine that these engines would actually last a while if you ran synthetic and performed scheduled maintenance on time. Like you said, most Cruze owners won't.

[@famholland469]

Exactly with gas prices last couple years owners can barley afford to drive their cars let alone maintain them however no excuse you van buy brand name full synthetic premium oil at Wal-Mart and just drain old stuff and refill yourself and save the pain of catastrophic engine failure

[@mike9rr]

Thanks for doing this one. A very thoughtful approach. As for your comment on air blockage at the front being a possible cause, that would be high on my list of suspects. I think some of these Cruz models had a feature that used some kind of movable vanes behind the grill to block air flow through to the radiator at highway speeds. The thinking was, I guess, that enough air would still pass through the radiator but from under the car. An aerodynamic advantage would then be gained as a result, at highway speeds, from air moving up over the hood in a more laminar flow. Then, at lower speeds, these vanes would rotate open again, parallel to air flow coming in, and more air would pass directly through the radiator.

[@ADHDsquirl]

Biggest issues with the 1.4t is the valve covers built-in pcv and the turbos crack around the waste gate valve.

[@kare9875]

What you explained was done on the eco models of the Cruze. This is done on hybrids to get better fuel economy. GM was hoping to get 40 miles per gallon on the highway and were quite pleased when they achieved 42. I bought the manual 2011 Cruze Eco March of 2011 and still have it. My sister loved my car and bought one the same year. We have been extremely happy with our cars. My sister had to replace her turbo last year and is now faced with the oil cooler failure. Mine has been fine. She has 55,000 more miles than I do. Knowing what we know now, we would buy them again. As I mentioned, ours have been basically trouble free considering their age.

[@christianrilla3799]

I just came here to say I had a 2011 Cruze with the 1.4 Turbo with 36k miles and spent 4 years hammering the piss out of it before blowing the head gasket at 155k miles. Aside from that the only work it needed was transmission lines at 60k miles, a new cat since it got melted at 120k miles and new water pump at 140k. It was my first car so I was pretty rough on it on a daily basis. When the head gasket blew I let it sit for almost 3 years before selling it to a chevy mechanic and he had it up and running within 8 hours and driving it around as if it didn't sit for 3 years. Honestly was not a bad car, especially since I was young and stupid with it, I always kept up on the service intervals too, which I'm sure helped keep it going.

[@FrankOnDaPhone]

You can actually view the compressor impeller! You just have to undo the bolts on the back side, that band clamp on the exhaust comes off too and you have just the center bearing housing. I know this because I was curious about the size of the compressor wheel…turns out it’s 33mm inducer and a 46 mm exducer. Also I have a 2013 rs 6 speed manual…on stock internals these engines can hold and easy 17 or 18 psi of boost, up to 23 psi if you want to run at diesel rpm’s lol. They don’t burn oil either and the aluminum heads are actually really resistant to warpage.

[@Joshuabryabt-gf6sc]

Thank you to premier auto! I just may be sending y'all a blown hellcat motor, think it would be fun to watch a tear down

[@I_Do_Cars]

Man I’d love to tear into one of those!

[@DCMacGuy]

I own two of them, a 2017 and a 2019. They have both been nearly flawless, but both are impeccably maintained. You hit the nail on the head, that a lot of these cars are owned by people who don’t take care of them. They aren’t robust, but are respectable if cared for.

[@Chris_de_S]

Most car engines should be good for 20 years of over 300 k. A 4 year old Cruze is still new.

[@motormouth2472]

My cousin's Cruze with 1.8 NA has over 170,000 on it and is still running good. It sat for a few years and did have a handful of problems regarding coolant and coils, but the problems have been fixed and its good now. It's not a race horse but it gets the job done.

[@TheHighwinder]

I didn't have any problems with my '13 Cruze, 1.4L Turbo, all I did was regularly change the oil. Had coolant changed when the radiator had a leak, but that was it. 200k miles when I traded it in.

[@169abr]

In the modern era of cars, the Big 3 American companies only really do one engine well, and that’s V8’s. Ford has the Coyote, Ram has the 3 Hemi’s, and Chevy has the 5.3/6.2/6.0. I wouldn’t trust any of the small turbo 4 bangers they’ve come out with, they’ve all been so cheap. I would say the diesels but all the emissions crap chokes them out too much and it’s way harder to delete now.

[@charlesjames1442]

My early Ecoboost 2.0 liter uses Ford’s version of the Mazda L block, which is a stout closed-deck design. The newer 2.0/2.3 L. Ecoboost motors are an open deck design that Ford came out with because open decks are easier and cheaper to cast. That caused problems with the early Focus RS because of high boost and not enough support for the cylinder tops. Mountune now offers an upper block support system for the 2.3 liter that imitates an actual closed deck design. 10 years of my little ST and I’m happy. Most dependable car I’ve owned in 55 years.

[@169abr]

@@charlesjames1442 the focus ST’s seem to be actually a pretty nice platform and fun to drive, I know I’ve seen the 2.0’s get stroked to 2.3 for bigger power EcoBoost builds.

[@sugarnads]

This is not an american engine.

[@169abr]

@@sugarnads it’s in a GM, so I don’t trust it either way.

[@marcharris4176]

3.5 ecoboost has been a proven good engine. Cam phaser issues but not many major engine failures due to it.

[@reign114]

What about a GM 2.2 like in a Chevy Cobalt. and Pontiac G5?

[@jacobrzeszewski6527]

ZZP Performance does a lot of tuning for these 1.4 Turbo engines. Believe it or not they can make some decent dyno numbers.

[@shook0002]

Define “decent dyno numbers” please.

[@knucklebuck3924]

I believe not

[@HappyHarryHardon]

I’ve got one and it’s my 1000hp daily driver. Fer real tho.

[@Slaktrax]

Yeah, but how long is a small highly stressed motor going to last. You can't beat a decent size V6 or V8 that just keeps going with regular oil changes.

[@jacobrzeszewski6527]

@@shook0002 like 200 ish hp stock internals. It’s right around Honda D15 levels of horsepower. I mean, those cars don’t weigh much (especially the Sonic) so it performs similarly to a Fiesta ST. I’m not gonna shill for ZZP, it’s just he mentioned they don’t make aftermarket parts for the LUJ when there’s actually a pretty sizable selection.

[@brad741]

2017 Cruze, Needed a new alternator after 230,000km. Probably because of the start stop straining the battery all the time in traffic.

[@dee-or9zh]

I have had 5 of those engines, from 2012 thru to 2015, zero issues when properly maintained.

[@12799MaDeuce]

I almost bought a Cruze when I wrecked my Cobalt in 2014. Super-thankful that I bought a Civic instead!

[@jamesmedina2062]

what year? I wanted a 2017 Cruze but got a 2017 Civic

[@12799MaDeuce]

@@jamesmedina2062 2015

[@jamesmedina2062]

@@12799MaDeuce Ok good move. 1st gen Cruze had too many issues. How is the Civic?

[@BillLaBrie]

Talk about dodging a bullet…..

[@12799MaDeuce]

@@jamesmedina2062 I absolutely love it. Just about to roll over 95k miles. Keep up on the service and use Honda brakes - for whatever reason, it doesn't like cheap aftermarket brakes. But otherwise, I think it's a wonderfully practical car. Only thing it needs is a manual transmission.

[@dawnpoint]

I had a friend buy a Cruze with this engine. "It only has 43k miles, it'll be reliable," he said. It blew the motor at 46k.

[@mikegreen2229]

Lol nice.

[@exley8100]

Have you done a teardown of a '14+ naturally aspirated mazda 2.5l? Would like to see the skyactiv tech. Exhaust manifold etc...

[@Theadventuresofyalc]

2.0 or 2.5 either of the skyactives would be cool.

[@harrisondavid8607]

All your European viewers will have rolled their eyes at this video. The engine is used across the Opel/Vauxhall range over here. So many issues with it. Timing chain stretches. Tensioner wears out. Head gaskets fail around 60,000 miles. (Heater stops working and you can hear coolant flowing through the matrix on cold start.) It's gutless and needs retiring.

[@robertsewell536]

79,000 on my 2015 RS Sonic. I've had water pump replaced under warranty one time that was 3 years ago. I still do not like how it runs 224 to 230 "Normal' as Chevy told me. I've seen it get to 233.6 is the highest I've ever seen it using the Torque app from ODBII. I paid it off in June got me ZZP intake and ZZP catback. I'm planning on more mods for a bit more power but overall it's been a really good engine. It really does run pretty much like the day I bought it. I did have the water inlet replaced once it started leaking just remembered. Original factory Turbo still putting out 17.5 to 18.0 psi.

[@deanlaman3844]

WOOOOOOOOO. Please find a 3800 series lesabre engine pre 2004

[@michaeljucius9509]

The thermostat housings are known to break. Zz performance has a significantly upgraded design to eliminate that issue. Likely lost coolant due to that.

[@fivepointeightnate]

Yep, also the hoses connected to it should be replaced every 100k also.