2014 chevy cruz diesel

[3930dave]

I'm real interested to see how the new Honda DI engines hold up. They stayed port injection for a long time in order to work out the oil dilution and EGR hurdles. They don't use EGR on the DI 4 cylinders at all, and the jury is out on the oil dilution. They are some torquey, fuel efficient little suckers though.

From my spotty recent data gatherings, it appears that the oil dilution issue has rolled back some of the gains in extending oil change intervals that have been made in the last 20 years. Incremental gain in (initial, if not 20,000 miles out) MPG, balanced against more frequent oil changes needed - I'm not sure if that's a good trade.

Torque ? Always makes me smile, unless it means early replacement of a major drivetrain component !

Rgds, D.

 

[Peacock]

From my spotty recent data gatherings, it appears that the oil dilution issue has rolled back some of the gains in extending oil change intervals that have been made in the last 20 years. Incremental gain in (initial, if not 20,000 miles out) MPG, balanced against more frequent oil changes needed - I'm not sure if that's a good trade.

Torque ? Always makes me smile, unless it means early replacement of a major drivetrain component !

Rgds, D.

So far over on BITOG forums the new Honda DI engines have had really positive used oil analysis.

 

[3930dave]

The TDI, in my mind, is VW's best engine. We rented a 2.5 gas one once to drive back from Columbus to Charlottesville after taking a rental truck over. Didn't like the 2.5 at all. Never driven the 2.0 liter turbo gas one, but it has no where near the torque.

The TDI goes up the WVa mountains as though they're not there. Maintains cruise control speed up every one in 6th gear. My Tacoma pickup required 3rd gear on two of those mountains and, of course, would not maintain cruise speed.

It's like driving a VW with 2 cylinder thirst. Absolutely love it.

I second the motion of one responder who wants to see a small pickup with a 2.0 liter turbo diesel in it. Our old 1996 Tacoma with a VW TDI in it would be a wonder performer and would yield 50 mpg, as it was only 3,000 # (250 less than a Jetta). (Have a sorry 2005 Tacoma now; it's the one that won't make it up those WVa mountains other than 3rd gear; the older Tacoma would squirt right up the mountains and still yield 30 mpg.)

I see many hard core commuters running tDI's in Central Ontario. People end up driving them for many years, and MEGA miles. I've test driven some 400k km ones, after they've been repaired at my buddy's shop (he just needed a test pilot, who didn't demand a lot of extra pay ).

Many of these high mileage tDI's have had some/most of the basic mechanical stuff taken care of, but they were by no stretch pampered hanger queens. With that in mind, I have to say I was definitely impressed with how tight and solid the chassis felt, even with a lot of hard miles on them.

The EPA et al has done a good job of demonizing diesels, and getting the USA taxes yanked up on diesel fuel. Effective social engineering - that move alone reduces the potential customer base significantly, as this thread has demonstrated.

To engage the small % of the USA popluation that is already driving tDI's, GM better come with, and keep up, it's A game on this Cruze diesel.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

So far over on BITOG forums the new Honda DI engines have had really positive used oil analysis.

Good to hear that somebody may have finally found the right approach :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.

 

[newbury]

A problem - to me - with the TDI is the engine noise.
Shortly after we picked up our '09 JSW TDI we drove it down about 3 hours to see family. I was extremely disappointed with the engine noise.

The next morning when I came out and fired it up FINALLY I heard the sound of a cold diesel warming up! Just like my '88 Ford 7.3. Then as I was stilled parked a Ford 7.3 pulled around me and as he left so did the noise I missed the noise of a diesel warming up in the morning.

So a problem to me is that the TDI doesn't have any engine noise to speak of.

The Cruze looks like a nice car, if they had come out with a station wagon version in 2008 I probably would have bought one. But to me a diesel engine is a waste in a "small about town" car. I routinely travel about a 900 mile trip twice a month. And whether I go in my F350 7.3 dually or my TDI the vehicle is loaded to the brim. My dually sucks fuel about three times what the TDI does. But it's got about 4 times the carrying capacity, and I use it.

I couldn't imagine trying to get myself and SWMBO with all the tools I carry back and forth in a Cruze sedan.

/edit - I just read that the Cruze's peak torque is at 2,600 RPM. Is that right? While the 2014 TDI is at 1750. Reminds me of the difference between the Kubota B and BX. At 2600 RPM I'm doing about 85 plus (I've got oversized wheels).

/edit - I checked the Cruze website - 2600 is the peak torque.
Compare Compact Cars: 2014 Chevy Cruze | Chevrolet
How fast is that puppy going at 2600?

 

[Pieter78]

It would be nice to have a small midsize diesel pick up like the VW Amarok TDI in the US. It sound like they say it will cost to much to import. Take a look at this YOUTUBE video.

 

[3930dave]

A problem - to me - with the TDI is the engine noise.
Shortly after we picked up our '09 JSW TDI we drove it down about 3 hours to see family. I was extremely disappointed with the engine noise.

The next morning when I came out and fired it up FINALLY I heard the sound of a cold diesel warming up! Just like my '88 Ford 7.3. Then as I was stilled parked a Ford 7.3 pulled around me and as he left so did the noise I missed the noise of a diesel warming up in the morning.

So a problem to me is that the TDI doesn't have any engine noise to speak of.

The Cruze looks like a nice car, if they had come out with a station wagon version in 2008 I probably would have bought one. But to me a diesel engine is a waste in a "small about town" car. I routinely travel about a 900 mile trip twice a month. And whether I go in my F350 7.3 dually or my TDI the vehicle is loaded to the brim. My dually sucks fuel about three times what the TDI does. But it's got about 4 times the carrying capacity, and I use it.

I couldn't imagine trying to get myself and SWMBO with all the tools I carry back and forth in a Cruze sedan.

/edit - I just read that the Cruze's peak torque is at 2,600 RPM. Is that right? While the 2014 TDI is at 1750. Reminds me of the difference between the Kubota B and BX. At 2600 RPM I'm doing about 85 plus (I've got oversized wheels).

/edit - I checked the Cruze website - 2600 is the peak torque.
Compare Compact Cars: 2014 Chevy Cruze | Chevrolet
How fast is that puppy going at 2600?

You had me going... for a coupla seconds at least

Like you, I drive a 7.3 - to do that you either have to be totally deaf, or like the sound of a diesel :thumbsup:

Your point about loading up the tdi wagon is a good one. Many folks understand and concede the point that diesels (in trucks) excel for hauling heavy often, even if they aren't lining up to buy one in the USA.

Car usage - if you have a tiny, light gas engined car, and the 90# wife only carries an extra pair of yoga pants in it to go to Pilates, then gas mileage can be reasonable if driven gently.

Loading up a car for a long drive, you really gain the benefit of diesel torque. Even a 250# salesman, with a car constantly loaded with samples etc, will see the benefit. Granted, if the company pays for the fuel, the sales guy won't care. I notice Wurth here puts their guys in the field with tdi's.

To some extent in this thread, but I've also read it many times in others, plenty of tDI owners do NOT baby the throttle, as these diesels don't degrade their mileage performance to the extent gas motors do when driven hard.

I've always viewed oil changes as critical on any IC engine. Recent diesel technology changes have made the oil type and OCI very critical, but the same can be said for GDI motors.

Keep enjoying the tdi, know you will.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

It would be nice to have a small midsize diesel pick up like the VW Amarok TDI in the US. It sound like they say it will cost to much to import. Take a look at this YOUTUBE video.

Thanks for the vid Pieter. VW engineered some very sophisticated 4wd drivetrains a long time ago, that is a great example of a modern one in action.

In Canada, we get the Touareg, with the 3.0 TDI. Great vehicle, and I esp. like that the engine has a cam chain.

Looks like a similar platform for the Amarok. Given the appetite in Canada/USA for high end trucks (and the lack of diesel competition here), if VW could figure out how to get the Amarok into this market, they would not be able to keep up with demand.

Rgds, D.

 

[Pieter78]

Thanks for the vid Pieter. VW engineered some very sophisticated 4wd drivetrains a long time ago, that is a great example of a modern one in action.

In Canada, we get the Touareg, with the 3.0 TDI. Great vehicle, and I esp. like that the engine has a cam chain.

Looks like a similar platform for the Amarok. Given the appetite in Canada/USA for high end trucks (and the lack of diesel competition here), if VW could figure out how to get the Amarok into this market, they would not be able to keep up with demand.

Rgds, D.

3930dave.

We get the 3.0 TDI in the Touareg and the Audi Q7 and Audi A8. I had been told that VW/Audi cannot make the Diesels fast enough. I had read an article that stated that if VW bring the Amarok to the US it will have to sell for at least in the $40 000 and they will not be able to compete against Ford and GM.......

 

[3930dave]

3930dave.

We get the 3.0 TDI in the Touareg and the Audi Q7 and Audi A8. I had been told that VW/Audi cannot make the Diesels fast enough. I had read an article that stated that if VW bring the Amarok to the US it will have to sell for at least in the $40 000 and they will not be able to compete against Ford and GM.......

Excellent engine. Fantastic fuel mileage, AND tremendous torque...... oh yeah, it's a diesel after all It's cam is chain driven; the one thing that bothers me on the smaller tdi's is that they have timing belts.

Touareg's here start at just under $50k. Agreed, it is a bit of a nice product because of the price, but even so, I see enough of them around the Greater Toronto area.

Would the Amorak get bought as a low end fleet vehicle, for an 18 y/o to drive to construction sites. Obviously not, unless he was the Presidents son.

As a niche product, the Amorak would do very well here.

1) Over the years, Ford has sold a ridiculous # of Harley Davidson pickup trucks. If I think of the # of HarleyD pickups I see on the road, and add to that the # of King Ranch versions I regularly see, I can only conclude that there is plenty of customer money available in the high end truck market.

2) If fuel prices stay high (and esp. if the abusive USA taxes on diesel are corrected), people here are going to see the value of having a diesel in a platform like the Amorak. And yes, I get that it can be easier to get people here to spend money on bling, than function, but brutal fuel prices have that Pain vs. Less Pain learning loop built in.....

My personal budget would only go as far as the new diesel global Ford Ranger, if we ever get it here. But, I do believe that the Amorak would do well here, as a niche offering.

Rgds, D.