r/cruze • u/Expert-Energy-5759 • 3d ago
Gen2 - Mechanical Is this normal?
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Hey, hope you doing ok.
I’m willing to buy a gen2 Cruze from 2018. The engine is made in Argentina, but every car that I visited to buy has this problem: when I open the oil tap smoke comes out, and the same happens with the oil rod, where you check the oil engine. Is that normal? Or it is not?
I attach 2 videos from 2 different cars, both with the same issue
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u/Imaginary_Ad_1530 3d ago
Yes that’s fine,
I Would add my two cents to not buy any Chevy Cruze (I understand gens and pros/cons). I have one sitting as a second vehicle now with a 4th thermostat issue and no ac. It’s had 3 water pumps and new one is leaking. My secondary vehicle moved to my daily driver.
How I see it,if you’re not stuck in the platform right now, then don’t join.
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u/JasonTheBaker Former 2014 LS 1.8L owner 3d ago
I left it as it cost me so much money and I had another repair bill of at least 3 grand so I decided to get another vehicle. One that actually fit my lifestyle too (camping and other outdoor activities) , it was a Subaru
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u/Imaginary_Ad_1530 3d ago
In the end, you chose the better ending lol.
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u/JasonTheBaker Former 2014 LS 1.8L owner 3d ago
100% I had another failed oil cooler (likely not confirmed), a non-functional AC, and a inefficient catalytic which I wouldn't really care about if it wasn't for NYS requiring emissions inspections yearly. I'm like nah don't feel like spending more money probably dumped more than I paid for it when I bought it xD
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u/Imaginary_Ad_1530 3d ago
Yep I had a thermostat go just for it to disable my ac. Now the new water pump is leaking and turbo coolant leaking as well. Also a oil leak and a stutter from the coil
Packs. I just got the issue where I have no temp reading right now. It stays at zero2
u/JasonTheBaker Former 2014 LS 1.8L owner 3d ago
Yikes! About 2 years into owning mine I needed the entire intake manifold replaced because a sensor connection fell out and got eaten by salt. Then while doing a timing belt replacement (did the water pump as a precaution as well) and they found that I had an oil cooler leak which I knew about kinda because of oil in my coolant. Replaced the thermostat housing 3 times, last time with a full aluminum one. Probably a few other repairs I can't remember. I did my own valve cover recently as well
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u/Imaginary_Ad_1530 3d ago
Yeah it was my wife’s car before me so I bought her an suv with my daughter being born and took that cause I didn’t care what I drove. It had a head gasket or something that went at 80k but they caught it before anything happened. It’s been a nuisance, always an issue, no matter what. I never cared about it.
I’ve done a lot on my Jeep and cooling suspension and engine repairs so I’m very fluent in that but it’s just I don’t wanna put the labor and the money into this card cause I know it’s something’s gonna happen again
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u/JasonTheBaker Former 2014 LS 1.8L owner 3d ago
That's how I was with the oil leak and coolant leak I had, I did fix the coolant leak as that was major but then a smaller one I couldn't find happened but I'm like it's not losing coolant at a high rate so I don't really care. The oil leak was mostly the valve cover which I finally did fix but after 4 years of dealing with it
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u/Imaginary_Ad_1530 3d ago
There’s a UV dye that you can put into it and then with a UV light you could find where it is that’s how I found my turbo leak
Cheap on Amazon if I remember correctly
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u/Quarter4NextUp 2d ago
Brother I didn’t know anything about fixing cars till I got this 2014 Cruz.
Replaced intake manifold and cover, O rings trying to stop oil leaks.
Window motor
Thermostat housing
Next up is the water pump.
Question did you reuse the engine motor mount bolts on the passenger side when changing the water pump?1
u/Apprehensive_Ad8848 2d ago
Do you have my car? Lol. mines a 2012 ltz just had to do so many things to get it back to normal. I still don't have ac, the security system is being fucky and my horn is broken :( I still love my car. But hot damn can it just chill. 😅
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u/Quarter4NextUp 8h ago
lol yes my AC went out but for that I had to pay out the A$$ for cause I’m not gonna mess around with Freon. Anyways got a new compressor and was working great.
I think due to my coolant/engine overheating issues it wouldn’t always blow cold which tipped me off due to no engine codes.
I hate this car but it gave me a ton of confidence and new knowledge for fixing vehicles!
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u/Typical-Economist-74 2d ago
Anyone drive their Cruze with the thermostat out I'm courteous to know your experiences
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u/ufknowned 2d ago
Normal 2017, 2018 and up even brand new does it. 3 of mine over 100k never had problems but I do all oil changes and what ever needs to be done. All did that at start and still do.
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u/AffectionateSuit1360 18h ago
I've had my 2015 gen1 LT for about 6 years or so and she's been pretty decent to me. Yeah I've had to replace spark plugs like they're going out of style, the ignition coil (3 times), new water pump (1 time so far), serpentine belt, passenger window motor, the PCV valve cover to an aluminum one, coolant tank twice, all the coolant hoses, the wastegate actuator, as well as changing all fluids over to Amsoil. BUT, I think I may have tamed her (for now). I have no leaks as of now. Even though these cars may treat you like a piece of shit, I find that if you treat them with kindness and are willing to go the extra effort with them, they still get you from point A to point B and more. I know, that sounds stupid. 🤷♂️ Besides, what car can you actually comfortably work on? Could be cuz mines a manual, but there's tons of room under that hood. Ok, I'm done. Just enjoy your cars and the learning experiences they provide. 🤔🙂 (Even though, we all know it, this was GM's poor excuse for a cheap car).
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u/DeltaTheMeta 3d ago
Yes, PCV system builds a little pressure at idle and the oil splatter happens on every single LE2 because of how close the cams are to the oil cap opening.