Chevy Cruze & the. . .Oil Filter?

Admit it: The last time you thought about your oil filter was. . .just about this side of never.

But in point of fact, things like oil filters—and we're not just talking about the gusher in the Gulf—need to be considered. So the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze engines—the Ecotec 1.4L turbo and 1.8L four-cylinder engines—don't use the classic oil filter that is unscrewed and then tossed (sure, it can be recycled, but that means a rather tedious disassembly process), but a cartridge-style oil filter which is easier to recycle and service compared to the conventional steel canister-style oil filters.

The housing for the cartridge-style filter is part of the engine and reused for the life of the engine. It never needs replacing. The housing also has a screw-on replaceable cap that eliminates the conventional canister-to-engine mating surface that is a potential source of leaks.

While this may be not much in the way of a consideration, the bottom line is that it is a good feature, so if you're at all interested in the Cruze, it is another reason why it might be a beneficial car. Even though you, personally, will never unscrew one of those filters.