2011 Chevrolet Cruze makes changing oil a breeze

[coolmazda5]

Anyone that's ever done their own oil changes is familiar with the joys (or, ya know, not) of trying to access and then remove the filters on their engines. If you do manage to get it loose, there is the inevitable mess of oil dripping down your arm as you spin the filter off.

When the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze goes on sale later this year, both engines for the first time will feature a cartridge type filter that can be removed from above with almost no muss or fuss. Cartridge filters are basically just the internal paper element from traditional filters and they drop into a housing that's integrated into the cylinder block. GM has been using the same type of filter on the 2.0, 2.2 and 2.4-liter Ecotec engines for several years.

Besides being easier to change and tidier, they are also more environmentally friendly. There is less material from the filter itself to dispose of or recycle and any oil that spills with old-fashion filters often ends up in the local water supply. Also, having the cover with its seal on the top of the filter makes it far less prone to leaks that mess up your driveway. All hail the cartridge filter!

[Autoblog]

 

[coolmazda5]

Nice... hello, Mazda?

 

[BlackCherry06]

Just don't crossthread it, over-torque it or use pipe pliers on it!

 

[JReichle1]

Cartridge filters suck. I do arround 60 oil changes a week and the cartridge filters don't hold up compared to the traditional spin on metal filters. With low quality oils running past the recommended drain intervals the filters start to desintigrate and clog. This is why most hardcore car people convert over to the spin on design.

Not to mention the extra cost for the customer. Arround $2.50-$12 extra just for the filter. Pretty soon you will only be able to use gm oil in your engine if you want to keep your warranty. The new gm dexos oil will be factory fill on most all nw gm vehicles. So starts the beginning of the end...

 

[mikeyb]

BMWs and Minis use the same setup. That plastic cap will get stirpped. I see it all the time on BMWs.

 

[prof15]

VWs also use the cartige oil filter but if I am not wrong they are still at the bottom of the engine not at the top like the new gm design.

 

[Mallard]

Actually this has already been on the GM Ecotec engines for a long time. I guess this press release is just to say that they're carrying over the design to the new, smaller 1.4L.

 

[JReichle1]

1.4? Sounds weak...

 

[prof15]

well thats probably the appropriate engine for a small car like the cruze. But probably 1.8 or 2.0 would have been better.

 

[Kymerik]

uh yeah my VW Golf TDI has a top engine cartidge style oil filter and sorry, but i've had no problems with my filters, changed the oil 3 times, and all 3 times my MANN filters still seem to be holding their own

 

[prof15]

uh yeah my VW Golf TDI has a top engine cartidge style oil filter and sorry, but i've had no problems with my filters, changed the oil 3 times, and all 3 times my MANN filters still seem to be holding their own

so in what year they started using the oil filter in the top? because my sister's 01 Jetta vr6 have it on the bottom front porting of the engine.

 

[genericuser]

sometimes I wish my miata had an oil filter in a not-retarded place.

 

[Kymerik]

so in what year they started using the oil filter in the top? because my sister's 01 Jetta vr6 have it on the bottom front porting of the engine.

Must be a diesel thing

 

[chiefmg]

Speed6 (and I think the N/A 2.3 as well) have a cartridge filter located on the bottom of the engine. Mazda thoughtfully put a drain plug on the bottom of the housing cap so you won't get messy. Still, the cap is plastic and I can see where some ham-handed person could easily break it.

As for filters on top, my first gen RX-7 is like that. In fact with headers I don't have to get under the car at all to change my oil. Poke a couple of holes in the top of the filter to let it drain while the pan is draining and voila! The RX-8 also has its filter on top, but it's a much bigger pain to get at.

 

[just_B]

I'm kinda surprised they made this an "article" lol, top mount cartridge filters have been around for more than just awhile. And I have only ever seen one MINI with a cartridge cap issue and it was on just way too tight, couldn't get it off, or even budge lmao.

Cheap aftmkt filters can't compare to OEM ones when it comes to quality and life span in cartridge filters, so if you see alot of aftmkt ones I can understand why you'd think they're junk, but compared to regular filters, with normal regularly used cars, a cartridge filter is more efficient.

 

[Rockin03mp5]

1.4? Sounds weak...

i believe the 1.4 is the turbo engine.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123772911

not too bad.