Topic: Test Drive: 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel

[Autos_Editor]

The first affordable diesel car from GM in 27 years offers impressive performance and fuel economy but the engine's a bit noisy.

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[tpl]

IIRC diesel exhaust fluid freezes at about -7C.    I want to know what happens when a Cruze diesel is left for a weekend on the prairies at -35C.   Does the DEF tank rupture? or is it expandable soft plastic?    Is there a  auxiliary tank that can be heated quickly to clean the exhaust in those first minutes of cold running?

Inquiring minds...

[pcsp]

My head was spinning after the first page of numbers: mpg vs L/100 km., Imperial vs US gallon, NRC vs EPA, city/highway/combined, optimistic estimates vs real life, boxers vs briefs. Sometimes following the KISS rule can work just fine. In any event kudos to GM for bringing this gem to NA. Is it a more sensible buying purchase than a Cruze Eco for $4000 less? Probably not. Should we have expected somewhat better fuel economy? Probably so. Could we have hoped for a manual transmission? We did.

The significance of this vehicle will hopefully be that it provides meaningful competition to VW and may indeed cause other manufacturers to consider multiple vehicle offerings with the diesel option (sorry Mazda - we're sick of waiting for you to meet the regulations).

Regarding the diesel clatter, I, for one, would wear this badge proudly. Eliminating all signs it is a diesel motor would essentially null the character defining attributes of this excellent powertrain option. Now, GM, let's see if the 2.0L turbodiesel can be added to a wide variety of other offerings - Malibu, Impala, Equinox, Trax, Corvette 

[Weels]

GM's mainstream offerings have always left me underwhelmed.  The one exception is the Cruze.
If you recall the compact comparison from May 2012, the Cruze won (and GM slappies jaws dropped onto their keyboards), I was part of that comparison, and picked the Cruze #1.  The interior, fabric dash and all, the ride/handing balance and quality feel are all nailed.

My only real complaint of that car was it felt slightly underpowered (1.4T), the diesel addresses that issue and then some.  I love that little diesel, clatter and all.  The torque is simply addictive.
I didn't find it overly noisy inside, you can hear the engine working, but I like being able to hear the engine doing it's thing.

I also took part in a recent and soon to be published mega compact comparison... take a guess at which was my # 1 pick.

[dirtyjeffer]

when Graeme Fletcher tested the Cruze diesel on MotoringTV a couple of months ago, he loved it too.

[redman]

I applaud GM on re introducing a diesel to the N/A passenger market. Surprised on the interior quality as it dramatically supersedes it's exterior.
The big fail for me is city mpg and the fact an exhaust additive is required to meet new emissions standards unlike competitors like VW.

[libraman]

Nothing against diesels (Where are you '86 Turbo diesel Jetta?) but for me what would make the most sense is the Cruze Eco in manual. Cheaper out the door and better suited to my driving (less than 20,000 km/year).

We used to put furnace oil in the diesel. Is that now prohibited? If so, how would you get caught?

[dirtyjeffer]

Nothing against diesels (Where are you '86 Turbo diesel Jetta?) but for me what would make the most sense is the Cruze Eco in manual. Cheaper out the door and better suited to my driving (less than 20,000 km/year).

We used to put furnace oil in the diesel. Is that now prohibited? If so, how would you get caught?

you can't run that stuff on new Clean Diesel engines...this isn't the 80s any more.

[Fobroader]

Nothing against diesels (Where are you '86 Turbo diesel Jetta?) but for me what would make the most sense is the Cruze Eco in manual. Cheaper out the door and better suited to my driving (less than 20,000 km/year).

We used to put furnace oil in the diesel. Is that now prohibited? If so, how would you get caught?

you can't run that stuff on new Clean Diesel engines...this isn't the 80s any more.

Yeah, the older engines would run on anything, lamp oil, cooking oil....these new one are very picky.

IIRC diesel exhaust fluid freezes at about -7C.    I want to know what happens when a Cruze diesel is left for a weekend on the prairies at -35C.   Does the DEF tank rupture? or is it expandable soft plastic?    Is there a  auxiliary tank that can be heated quickly to clean the exhaust in those first minutes of cold running?

Inquiring minds...

All my buddies have the horse/pig pee tank on their trucks....no problems with freezing yet.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The tanks are designed to allow the fluid to freeze. On start up, the fluid is heated. In order to meet EPA standards, the fluid has to be available within a pretty short period of time.

[nlm]

We used to put furnace oil in the diesel. Is that now prohibited? If so, how would you get caught?

If you could run this in your car furnace diesel is dyed. But I doubt cops check passenger cars for dyed diesel if you're not in the rural area or coming/going from a bona fide farm operation.

[WRX_Pilot]

Some reviews say the transmission is slow and unresponsive while this one says it does a fine job?  So which is it?

[tpl]

The tanks are designed to allow the fluid to freeze. On start up, the fluid is heated. In order to meet EPA standards, the fluid has to be available within a pretty short period of time.

I figured it had to have something like that.

[Noto]

The significance of this vehicle will hopefully be that it provides meaningful competition to VW and may indeed cause other manufacturers to consider multiple vehicle offerings with the diesel option (sorry Mazda - we're sick of waiting for you to meet the regulations).

  Unfortunately, when it fails to sell well, others will not follow-suit.

VW already started a new niche and that accordingly started the other manufacturers to consider diesel.

[PJ]

I think it would sell a lot better if the diesel were available in the mid level trim package.  I think the price (compared to other Cruze versions) will keep people from even looking at it.  Then GM will cancel it and give the usual BS ..." there just isn't a North American market for diesels.  "

[Snowman]

The tanks are designed to allow the fluid to freeze. On start up, the fluid is heated. In order to meet EPA standards, the fluid has to be available within a pretty short period of time.

Can it be heated? with the block heater?

[mixmanmash]

The tanks are designed to allow the fluid to freeze. On start up, the fluid is heated. In order to meet EPA standards, the fluid has to be available within a pretty short period of time.

Can it be heated? with the block heater?

I'm sure you could rig something up to heat it.  But I wouldn't bother as the built in heater will warm it up fairly quickly after the engine starts.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The tanks are designed to allow the fluid to freeze. On start up, the fluid is heated. In order to meet EPA standards, the fluid has to be available within a pretty short period of time.

Can it be heated? with the block heater?

I'm sure you could rig something up to heat it.  But I wouldn't bother as the built in heater will warm it up fairly quickly after the engine starts.

It's some kind of composite tank. Like you said, someone could rig something up, but I wouldn't bother with it. It doesn't take much fluid to treat the exhaust, so there's not much point in keeping the whole volume as a liquid.

[Bubba]

I like the look of the Cruze and thought the 1.4T I drove a couple years ago had good power.  The diesel would be on the radar for my next car if my drive to work was longer than 4.7 km. 

[Guy]

We tested commercial diesel engines with DEF below -40C in Northern Quebec with no issue, and yes some were left outside overnight.  For the fuel, these engines need Ultra low sulphur fuel, otherwise the diesel particulate filters (DPF) will plug up with a tank. Ultra Low sulphur is all you can find at the pump these days. I have no idea if furnace oil is Ultra low Suphur these days.

Don't ask me why I know..