Some observations here.
I have a 2013 Cruze with the same 1.4L Turbo engine shown here. It has 13,000 miles. I drained the factory fill (AC-Delco Syn-blend) @ 4261 miles, refilled with QSUD 5W-30, changed at 0% OLM + 9 miles @ 11923 miles, refilling with Mobil 1 OW-30 this time.
The 2011-2012 Cruze OLM calibration, per knowledgeable posters that have Cruzes such as Sciphi, could go to at least 12000 miles before 0% OLM, so is it possible that the owner was literally following the OLM, which obviously is way out to lunch with a turbocharged engine, on the factory syn-blend?
It's been discussed that this engine destroys the factory oil, but this may be a GM OLM calibration/warranty issue, although I'm guessing that the engine went 1-2K miles past 0% as 12,000 miles would be under ideal conditions, 55-65mph, never shut it off type of driving, etc.
Mine seems to go no further under ideal conditions than 100 miles/1% and with any cold starts, (admittedly rare here in Tucson, since I only had one 30 degree start this "winter" here), the OLM clicks down quicker, averaging around 7500 miles for me per OLM cycle with the 2013 calibration.
Moral of the story, for the 2011-2012 models with the long OLM calibration, a full synthetic, such as QSUD, PP, PU, or M1 is a necessity, and/or changing the oil with say 30% left on the OLM.
It is fascinating and interesting to look at the engine teardown and cleanup. Neat stuff. I recently had the Ecotec vanity cover off and saw the Delphi spark plug protector panel, as I was investigating what was involved in changing the plugs, which in the turbo model is only 60,000 miles even with the iridium plugs.
Gary