2015 Chevy Trax

[MrHorspwer]

People ask the "How reliable are modern small displacent turbo engines?" question like the turbo adds some sort of voodoo.

It has 140hp. Even at 1.4L, that's not exactly a highly strung engine. Simply having a smaller displacement doesn't make an engine any less "beefy" when compared to a similar, larger displacement engine.

Unless the reliability question is directly related to the turbo, which is really the only source of a couple additional components, there is no reason it would be any less reliable. Comparing the turbo gasser to a turbo diesel is a valid comparison if your only comparing that single component: the turbo. To which the answer is: Modern turbochargers are pretty reliable.

 

[sciphi]

GM stole Saab's gas turbo know-how and tech. Saab gas turbo engines were notoriously long-lived. Plus their first real foray into mass-producing lower-displacement turbo direct-injected 4's in the US was the LNF 2.0 turbo. Those engines held up fine despite getting regularly thrashed and modded to power levels much higher than factory. I'm not too concerned about GM's turbo engine longevity due to their generally excellent pedigrees.

The 1.4T under discussion here is port-injected, and has been out since late 2010. It's made it into about 750,000 cars in N. America. It does have some well-known quirks that GM has been pretty good about addressing. Overall it's proven to be a reliable powerplant. Time will tell how it fares as it gets more years on it. Parts are cheap, plentiful, and the knowledge base for these engines will be around for many years to come.

 

[pbm]

The 1.4T engine in my (recently traded in) Cruze was very nice and quite peppy for it's size.

If GM had been able to fix the terrible coolant odor and loss issue I would still be driving it. The Cruze turbo was a nice car but GM doesn't stand behind it...

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: ls1mike
Well, have you seen the bottom end on Diesel as compared to a gasser? I think that is what people think about when they says stuff like that.

I am not saying forced induction gas motors are bad. I have had a bunch of Turbo Dodges that ran forever, plus my supercharged cars. I trust them just fine, I have been eyeing a new Regal GS. I know I just got the Grand Prix, but I would park it and save it for my son.


The bottom end on the Ecoboosts (and I'm sure the GM stuff as well) is quite stout. They borrowed a lot of tech from the Diesel and racing folks.

It's not "take this 1.4, slap a turbo on it and call it a day". GM did engineering on them to make them stand up to the power levels they make.

Ford and GM have well over 2 million turbos out since, what 2009 and they seem to be holding up just fine. I'd not worry about an engine from either standing the test of time.

 

[Silverado12]

Last time I checked the price of a replacement turbo for the 1.4, it was around 600 bucks. Not too shabby and it looks like it's DIY do-able.

 

[pbm]

It's not "take this 1.4, slap a turbo on it and call it a day". GM did engineering on them to make them stand up to the power levels they make.

That's exactly what GM did with their early 80's diesels....they took a gasser and made it a diesel and they were junk.....I guess they learned from that.

 

[c502cid]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: c502cid
The sister vehicle Buick Encore runs 18" wheels while this has 16's. I wonder if Cruze or Sonic wheels are the same?


Congrats on the car, but why would you want to waste money on 18" wheels? I'd go with something with a bit more sidewall and low-cost, high quality tire options..

Good luck with it.


Missed my point, I should have been more clear. I want to run 16" wheels, just need to find another set so that made the Encores 18's a no go.

 

[c502cid]

Originally Posted By: ls1mike
What color is it?


very red. GM calls it Ruby Red Metallic.

 

[c502cid]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Originally Posted By: Chris Meutsch
GM people....fill us in on that smaller engine/turbo combo.

It seems like manufacturers keep going with turbo's in the last few years. Will that be good long-term?


Same 1.4T/6T40 as in the Cruze, Sonic, and Encore. Very good engine, decent transmission. Run a synthetic 5w-30 and change it regularly, and it should have no issues. The 1.4T in my Cruze has been a reliable powerplant. GM did a good job of sizing the turbo for daily drivability, and in tuning the powertrain to minimize turbo lag. It is a bit of a dog in the summer on 87 octane, and perks right up when fueled with 89 or higher when the temperature is above about 60*F.

Bolt pattern is 5x105, same as a Cruze or Sonic. Any 16"-18" Sonic/Cruze/Encore wheel should bolt right up and clear the brakes.



Thanks, I'll search ebay for some with TPMS sensors already on there. I appreciate the info.

 

[c502cid]

Noticed 37,500 miles spark plug change intervals in the manual. Not quite as bad as my Dodge Ram 5.7 which requires them every 30,000 miles (x16!) but I wonder why need for replacement that quick. Google is my friend to that answer I'm sure.

 

[Joe1]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Its an Aveo/Sonic CUV,I'm surprised they lowered the "status" of Buick by offering the Encore (a former Renault label).Of course Buick did offer the Monza clone "Starfire" in 1975,and the senior compact "Special" in 1961..


Thanks

now I am having flashbacks to the 1980 Monza I had....by far and away the most unreliable and worst car I ever owned.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: c502cid
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: c502cid
The sister vehicle Buick Encore runs 18" wheels while this has 16's. I wonder if Cruze or Sonic wheels are the same?


Congrats on the car, but why would you want to waste money on 18" wheels? I'd go with something with a bit more sidewall and low-cost, high quality tire options..

Good luck with it.


Missed my point, I should have been more clear. I want to run 16" wheels, just need to find another set so that made the Encores 18's a no go.


Yes I did...

Is there a Trax forum? I know on the other model-specific forums I go on, lots of people look to sell their OE wheels cheap so they can pick up something else...

 

[c502cid]

I'm sure one forum will pop up sooner or later if there isnt already. I'm researching Cruze and Sonic wheel size/offsets now. I'll find something.

 

[MrHorspwer]

Originally Posted By: c502cid
Noticed 37,500 miles spark plug change intervals in the manual. Not quite as bad as my Dodge Ram 5.7 which requires them every 30,000 miles (x16!) but I wonder why need for replacement that quick. Google is my friend to that answer I'm sure.


Where did you get this number?

I'm looking in the owner's information and I'm seeing 60,000 miles for spark plug replacement.

 

[eljefino]

It's possible the plug changes are more frequent in some foreign country with a slightly different owners manual.

 

[c502cid]

I'll have to look again when I get home (I travel for a living). I'd love it to be 60k. I looked under both normal and severe service and it was the same. However, the owners manual was very very crude paper, not the normal glossy you get from a car company. It looked more like a generic manual then anything else. Had a service schedule for a 1.8l Trax which isnt available in the US as far as I know.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: c502cid
Noticed 37,500 miles spark plug change intervals in the manual. Not quite as bad as my Dodge Ram 5.7 which requires them every 30,000 miles (x16!) but I wonder why need for replacement that quick. Google is my friend to that answer I'm sure.


That's a lot shorter than the listed interval for my Cruze. Where is the engine assembled? OEM for my car were NGK double iridium plugs rated to last 100k miles.

Check the plug gaps. They should be 0.028". They might be off. That was an issue for the Michigan-assembled 1.4T's.

 

[threeputtpar]

Forced induction gas engines are typically shorter change intervals for spark plugs, because of the higher pressures they don't tolerate gap erosion like a N/A engine would.

My Audi states 40k on plugs, and that's with double plats. I run basic NGK V-grooves and change them when I get my first misfires, usually around 15-20k miles. They are simple to change, and it's more cost effective than 40k on double plats. Plus, I run one step colder because I am running 16psi compared to stock of 9psi.

 

[sciphi]

I replaced the plugs on my Cruze at 60k miles. They easily could have made it to 100k miles. There was no change in performance or fuel economy between the new plugs or the old ones. The plugs are silly easy to change on the 1.4T once the proper-size Torx bit (T30 IIRC) is located.

 

[c502cid]

Checked the owners manual, its 37,500 miles or 60,000 kilometers for spark plug replacement. I put a set of studded arctic claw txi tires on it today, she is ready for winter.