Cruze 1.4 Trifecta Tune

"Hooker" (Hooker) 07/29/2016 at 22:00 • Filed to: None

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I’m new to tuning. So new, I’ve never done it before. Jayhawk Jake has some experience with this, however, I’d like to know how these tunes have held up. Are they truly transparent like they say? Warranty void? Worth the investment? Thoughts?

Jayhawk Jake > Hooker 07/29/2016 at 22:07

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I had it for about 30,000 miles, never had a tune related problem and never had warranty issues. I've seen people with them for a lot more miles than I had too. Go check out the sonic owners forum and see if anyone is having issues

Hooker > Jayhawk Jake 07/29/2016 at 22:47

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Jake, buddy, you’re my hero. And first in! Also, I drove a 2.3 ecoboost Mustang the other day. I may have to pay down more on the Cruze to get one of those. It’s a great balance.

Under_Score > Hooker 07/29/2016 at 23:33

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I remember encountering someone on the Internet a few years back who was obsessed with GM and always talked about the great fuel efficiency of Trifecta tunes.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Hooker 09/06/2016 at 14:03

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I just saw this. Did you ever end up getting the Trifecta? I have had my Cruze tuned for like 80k miles and it’s been a blast.

I recently had to take it in for warranty work and I decided to flash it back to stock just in case they decided to test drive it to try and recreate the problem. It was a painless process and nobody at the dealership said a word to me. I can verify the software Trifecta uses doesn’t increase the “flash count”, which is one of the dead giveaways that a car has been tuned.

Hooker > Snuze: Needs another Swede 09/06/2016 at 15:55

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This is what I wanted. I haven’t done it yet. Still weighing whether or not just to pay it down and buy a turbo 4 Camaro. Base model, I know but it’s fun enough for me. However, I still have the itch. It’s good to know yours has been good to you. Do you notice the power difference? Does it actually help with fuel economy? Regular or top tier gas?

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Hooker 09/06/2016 at 16:04

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I got the 91/93 octane tune, which adds like 40HP and 50 ft-lbs. I think they have an 87 Octane tune but the performance benefit is minimal, I think less than 10 HP. That said, the mileage increase offsets a lot of the cost of the high octane fuel. In fact even a stock Cruze benefits from more octane, those little 1.4's are pushed hard as it is with 9.5:1 compression and 14lbs of boost on 87 octane. If I recall right, when my car was stock, I averaged 32 mpg mixed driving on 87 octane. Switching to 93 I picked up 2 mpg consistently. With the tune and 93 octane I see 36.5 mpg consistently. On long highway stretches I’m able to pull over 40, and that’s in a loaded car, rolling 70+ down the highway.

The power difference is really noticeable, especially since I went back to stock. As I said I’m having some issues that I’m trying to get the dealer to fix under warranty so I flashed back to stock - I think the wastegate has gone bad, it’s a known issue even with bone stock 2011-12 Cruzes, and it requires the entire turbo unit to be replaced. So just to save any potential hassle I flashed back to stock, and I have to say its kind of sad to drive now.

Hooker > Snuze: Needs another Swede 09/06/2016 at 16:10

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Yeah, I have been running 93 ever since my car completely left me hanging trying to pull out in traffic in front of a semi. I pushed the throttle to the floor, it geared down and fell completely flat. This was from a stop. It scared the shit out of me and I started looking up why. It was 99+ degrees outside and those little turbos do not like the heat. The engine management system takes a dump to “protect” the motor and robs you of valuable power. I switched to 93 based on a Motor Trend (I think?) article and have been a lot better off ever since. Runs smoother, quieter, more power, better fuel efficiency. So I’m already taking that hit.

Keep me posted on the goings on with that issue and the dealership experience if you don’t mine. I sadly don’t get to check here often. But I’ll try to keep track of your posts. I know, #stalkeralert

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Hooker 09/06/2016 at 16:19

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Well I got a CEL a few weeks ago with the P0299 code, which is “turbo underboost condition”, so I knew it was the turbo. I flahsed back to stock, then it started making weird noises and threw the CEL again, so I took it do the dealer last week. Turns out it hadn’t thrown the P0299 again, it was throwing new codes, and needed a new cam cover/PCV valve (it’s integrated as one unit).

I got the car back Friday morning, and Saturday it started throwing the CEL intermittently with the P0299 code. I need to call the dealer and see what they want to do since the CEL won’t stay lit. But the code is logged in the computer, so that should be good enough to get them to look at it. I’m also going to have them check my cam actuators for the VVT and thermostat housing this time. I’ve heard the cam actuators can go bad, and my car loses a lot of coolant regularly, and I’ve heard the usual culprit is the thermostat housing.

Hooker > Snuze: Needs another Swede 09/06/2016 at 17:05

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What year is yours? I heard coolant loss was an early production run problem but may have been resolved in the later ones (Think, 14 model year and up?) Maybe?

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Hooker 09/07/2016 at 08:58

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Mine is an early 2012 car. I think the things I’ve experienced are the biggest issues: PCV valve/cam cover, Turbo wastegate, coolant loss. I know the PCV and Turbo issues were resolved for MY 13. Not sure about the coolant, but I can ask the dealership.

Hooker > Snuze: Needs another Swede 09/07/2016 at 09:03

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I am curious for sure. I know I have had a lot of water pumps replaced at the dealership here over the years. But those were in early cars.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Hooker 09/07/2016 at 09:22

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Last night I called and scheduled a service appointment for tomorrow, so we shall see what they say.