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Chevrolet Malibu Oil Changes/Service Questions
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Engine Oil and Oil Filter Replacement
Tools Required
J 44887 Oil Filter Wrench
Removal Procedure
1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle.
2. Place a drain pan under the oil drain plug.
3. Remove the oil pan drain plug. Important: DO NOT use an open end wrench on the hex on top of the oil filter cap.
4. Use a J 44887 to remove the oil filter cap.
5. Remove the oil filter cap with filter.
6. Remove the filter from the cap.
1. Install the filter to the cap.
2. Install the oil filter cap with filter. Notice: Over torquing the oil filter cap may cause damage to the oil filter cap resulting in an oil leak. Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice. Important: DO NOT use an open end wrench on the hex on top of the oil filter cap.
3. Use a J 44887 on the oil filter cap. Tighten the oil filter cap until fully seated. DO NOT exceed 25 N.m (18 lb ft).
4. Install the oil pan drain plug. Tighten the oil pan drain plug to 25 N.m (18 lb ft).
5. Lower the vehicle.
6. Fill the engine with oil. Refer to Fluid and Lubricant Recommendations.
I owned a 2004 Malibu, ran it 44K with EPS and never a problem. I now own a 2009 Pontiac G6 with EPS, so I am not too concerned. From experience I do have 5 yr 50 K bumper to bumper warranty LOL.
Maybe GM buys cheap, but even so the filters are to GMs specs.
Here's a scary statement from GM:
"Engine damage that is the result of an incorrect or improperly installed engine oil filter is not a warrantable claim"
I will look into this filter thing a bit more, thanks, interesting.
I am going to go mostly by GM oil life system, probably will be a year before a change is needed.
some facts.
Transmission flush: $206
Induction service: $154
MAFC:$88.
Are those service necessary, are those prices reasonable???
Thank you very much for your advice.
I bought it in August 2005. In November 2007, I changed rear pads because one of a pair completely worn out while others looked like new. Chevy dealer didn’t explain what was wrong. I strongly suspected that something was wrong. Today, they told me that it needs change again because they are almost worn out. For safety reason I changed them. But they still did not give me a satisfying explanation. They just told me it is normal.
Thank you very much for your advice on this matter.
butch100: I got a 2006 Maxx and found the oil filter but have no clue how easy it
would be for me to change the oil there (I do it myself in my 2.2L Malibus). Did you do it? How easy it is? Will an oil drop pan fit well under the filter letting me to unscrew it? Do I need a wrench or a hand will do it?
No mess at all: changing oil in I4 is a piece of cake and the five
quarts last a lot (about 7,000 miles by the DIC).
really knows if oil A is better than oil B if A and B are both
synthetics. Determining a winner would require a regular chemical
analysis correlated with many cars' driving patterns. Both Mobil and
Castrol advertise their synthetic oils as the best, as do smaller
vendors -- see e.g.
http://www.alternative-energy-resources.net/mobil-1.html
You can't go wrong with Mobil One -- at least, for Malibu.
But you won't go wrong with Castrol's Syntec, either.
Your car will die from something else before it dies from picking
an inferior synthetic oil, if there is any.
2007, I believe.
Consider using a torque wrench; never overtighten the cap -- the
correct torque is printed on the top of the cap (should be 25 N*m = 18
ft*lb.)
I know that the filter is under the engine -- saw it.
Will I be able to unscrew it by hand? Is there enough space under it to use a standard drop pan, without running the car on some props first?
I won't do the oil change till, probably, May, but I'd like to have an idea before I try.
Easy? Hard? Tools needed?
So, first the plug, with a 15mm wrench, then the filter, with a special "filter tool"?
On filter wrench I use the the socket made for filters with 3/8 drive, it's either stamped metal or plastic, any parts place will have them.
You can buy a special tool to remove the cap or you can do what I did. I took a 12-pt. 1 1/16" socket (you can probably use a 6 pt. socket as well) and cut it in half. Works perfectly.
I purchased a fram oil filter, which had an orange o-ring included in the package. I attempted to put that o-ring on top of the threads of the oil filter cap, but when I screwed the cap down the o-ring worked itself out. I just threw it out and screwed on the cap. Did I just do something wrong?
I purchased a fram oil filter, which had an orange o-ring included in the package. I attempted to put that o-ring on top of the threads of the oil filter cap, but when I screwed the cap down the o-ring worked itself out. I just threw it out and screwed on the cap. Did I just do something wrong?
If the old o-ring is not damaged, it can be used over.