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Chevrolet Malibu Routine Care & Maintenance
e2helper: this is a repeat question from a couple of months ago. I have changed my oil for 25 years now. When I did the 'Bu at 1000 miles, I could not possibly put in 5 quarts of oil as it says to do on page 5-95 (capacities and specifications). Someone on this forum recently said that the capacity was 4.5, but the manual is clear: 5quarts for the 3.5 liter engine. I put in 4 (maybe a few ounces more) the last time. Any reason you can see for the discrepancy? I always change the filter at the same time, and I let them both drain at the same time so there is no back pressure to hold oil in. It is odd that at the top of page 5-95, it says: "the following APPROXIMATE capacities....." Did the writers of this manual take a stab at the capacities??
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The 2.2 L4 is 5 quarts and the 3.5L V6 is 4 quarts.
The 2.2 L4 is 5 quarts and the 3.5L V6 is 4 quarts.
Thanks for clearing that up ! I had to put in 5 quarts to bring my oil up to the level shown on my Ecotec dipstick. It had me worried at the time. Strange that the smaller engine takes more oil. Easiest oil and filter change I've ever done.
Thank you for sharing your "real world" experience on this.
GM, by the way, is denying that the manual is wrong. Their customer relations guy told me a half quart remains in the engine during an oil change. He called this "residue."
It's sure easy to change the oil on this car! I've been doing my own for 30 years and this is almost as easy as my '66 Buick--just lower ground clearance!
thanks
The Ecotec takes 5qts. The 2004 manual is wrong. I don't know what the 2006 manual says. I buy a 5qt jug of oil and just pour it in. This will bring it up to the correct level. By the way, the Ecotec has the worst dipstick I have ever seen. It's very difficult to see the oil level on it.
The oil filter housing is next to the composite (black) intake manifold on the right hand side. It has a black plastic cover. Using the 32mm socket remove the cover and you will see that the filter cartridge comes out with it. Unclip the cartridge and clip on the new one. Lubricate the small O ring at the bottom of the filter with engine oil. Screw the cover back on. Tighten the cover to NO MORE than 16lb ft. I use a torque wrench.
I have never liked Fram filters but luckily because you can see the construction of the cartridge, I have compared it to an AC Delco and see no difference. Also, this particular Fram is made in the United Kingdom and seems to be of high quality. The Fram that fits the Ecotec is CH9018 and I buy it from Wal-Mart.
Draining the old oil is also easy. Without jacking the car up I reach in from in front of the passenger side front wheel and easily reach the drain plug. Just remember that the oil pan of the Ecotec is aluminum so don't overtighten the drainplug although it has a very long thread and should be pretty robust.
Hope this helps. Let me know how it goes.
I have a 01 Malibu and I was trying to change my instrument cluster. I have an American car and I live in Canada, so I would like to swap my speedometer to the km/h in larger numbers...because it's hard to see the little numbers underneath. Is this at all possible? I have a friend that works on cars that is going to help me, but he's unsure about a malibu. Thanks for your help.
Dip stick! Try it, you'll like it. LOL... :-)
I just got a 05 LS with 30000 km on it (about 19000 miles). Everything seems ok, but i did notice that the temp dipslayed on the temp gauge is at the halfway mark. it may go hairline up of down during driving.
So I was wondering what is normal operating range fro these cars ? On all cars I owned before it stayed a bit below halfway.
Thanks a lot,
Yury
For these couple of days I have driven the car it seems to be at halfway or hair below in light traffic, and halfway or hair above in stop and go.
What's the engine on Maxx LT, is it the same 3.5 V6 ?
ok so my problem is lol i have a 1997 chevy malibu. and my shifter knob gets stuck from time to time. like when i go to start it in the morining i can't get the shifter out of park to move the car. i was told about this when i bought it but didnt think much of it at the time. but now its been 2 days and i cant get it going and am curoius as wat would cause this problem
all comments appriciative
I can not find the dipstick in my 2006 Malibu LT.
So, How can we Check and change tansmission fluid for 2006 Malibu LT? Just drop the pan, drain the fluid and replace the filter? If so, How much fluid should we refill?
Thanks.
I have a 2005 Maxx and after almost 3 years now it is approaching 30,000 miles. There is no dip-stick to check the transmission oil, so you can not easily check the condition of the transmission oil. Does GM put the long-life transmission fluid in Maxx? Is 30,000 mile about the right time to do a transmission fluid and filter change? I think it will replace 5 Qt out of the 6.9Qt of the fluid. :confuse: If I drive 50% on highway miles, would that put less strain on the transmission fluid? :confuse:
I just did my 04 Malibu at 30K, just before warranty expired. It will take 7.5 qts for pan drop and filter change.
I am not aware of GM using long life fluid in the Malibu or Maxx, cost too much.
I had my local mechanic due the same thing..pan drop and filter replace...and he only replaced 4 quarts....your 7.5 replacement now has me concerned Im running it with low trans fluid......
IMPORTANT... On the 4T45E in the Malibu and Maxx the fill cap needs to be off to check fluid level, the cap is not the same as the older 4T45E units.
Fluid check procedure
Start the engine and allow the engine to idle until the transmission fluid temperature has reached the value specified. Depress the brake pedal and move the shift lever through the gear ranges, pausing a few seconds in each range. Return the shift lever to the PARK range. Raise the vehicle on a hoist. The vehicle must be level, with the engine running and the shift lever in the PARK range. Caution The engine must be running when the transmission fluid fill plug is removed, or excessive fluid loss will occur. Transmission fluid may be hot. Since the actual fluid level is unknown, stand clear when removing the fill plug. Have a container ready to capture any lost fluid. Do not turn the engine off with the fill plug removed, as you can be injured by hot transmission fluid being expelled out of the oil fill opening.
Remove the transmission plug.
The transmission fluid may darken with normal use and does not always indicate contamination or oxidation.
Transmission fluid (At least 104°F) 5-10 minutes at idle will give correct temp.
Does the fluid have a burnt odor or a dark brown color?Check the fluid level. The fluid level should be even with the bottom of the threaded plug hole.Is the fluid level low?
Add DEXRON® III automatic transmission fluid in increments of 0.5L until the fluid drains from the plug hole.
Install plug before stopping engine or fluid will spill out of plug hole.
Pan drop and filter change 7.5 qts
Check plug is just to the right of the passenger side axle housing , 11 mm plug, can't miss it, only one there.
Hoist is optional, just needs to be level and plug accessible.
So far comparing two years of owning the camry to the malibu, i've had 1 warranty claim on the camry vs 3 on the malibu and the malibu had a brake change in at 29,000 miles and the camry's brakes are still at 75%
first brake change at 64K..and about due for another one now...other than than...100k service....fluids, belts, plugs, wires, tires, battery, oil and wipers is all I had to do to mine....
Any info would be helpful.
TIA