CHEVROLET MALIBU 2009 7.G Owners Manual

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while it is in the
vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the fuel vapor. You can be
badly burned and the vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others:
Dispense fuel only into approved containers.
Do not ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed, or on
any surface other than the ground.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

Bring the ll nozzle in contact with the inside
of the ll opening before operating the nozzle.
Contact should be maintained until the lling
is complete.
Do not smoke while pumping fuel.
Do not use a cellular phone while
pumping fuel.
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Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing, and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a re. These include liquids like fuel, oil,
coolant, brake uid, windshield washer and other
uids, and plastic or rubber. You or others could
be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill things
that will burn onto a hot engine.
Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:
1. Pull the hood release
handle with this symbol
on it. It is located
inside the vehicle to
the left of the steering
column.
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2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and push the
secondary hood release handle toward the driver
side of the vehicle.3. Lift the hood.
4. After the hood is slightly lifted, it will continue to
open to the full position. Before closing the hood,
be sure all the ller caps are on properly. Lower the
hood until the lifting force of the strut is reduced,
then release the hood to latch fully. Check to make
sure the hood is closed and repeat the process
if necessary.
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Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood on the 2.4L L4 engine, this is what you see:
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A. SeeEngine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-26.
B. Engine Cooling Fan. SeeCooling System on
page 5-28.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-21.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “Checking
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on page 5-21.
E. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-29.F. Pressure Cap. SeeCooling System on page 5-28.
G. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 5-39.
H. SeeBattery on page 5-42.
I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-38.
J. SeeEngine Compartment Fuse Block on
page 5-102.
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When you open the hood on the 3.5L V6 engine, this is what you see:
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A. SeeEngine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-26.
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-36.
C. Engine Cooling Fan. SeeCooling System on
page 5-28.
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-21.
E. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-21.
F. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-29.G. Pressure Cap. SeeCooling System on page 5-28.
H. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 5-39.
I. Automatic Transmission Fluid Cap/Dipstick (Out of
View). SeeAutomatic Transmission Fluid on
page 5-28.
J. SeeBattery on page 5-42.
K. SeeEngine Compartment Fuse Block on
page 5-102.
L. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-38.
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When you open the hood on the 3.6L V6 engine, this is what you see:
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A. SeeEngine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-26.
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-36.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-21.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-21.
E. Electric Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View).
SeeCooling System on page 5-28.
F. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-29.
G. Pressure Cap. SeeCooling System on page 5-28.
H. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 5-39.
I. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick (Out of View).
See “Checking the Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transmission Fluid on page 5-28.
J. SeeBattery on page 5-42.
K. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeEngine Compartment
Fuse Block on page 5-102.
L. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-38.Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil level at each
fuel ll. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-16
for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes
to drain back into the oil pan. If this is not done,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. Pull the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down and check the level.
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When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the MIN mark for the L4 engine or
below the cross-hatched area at the tip of the dipstick
for the V6 engine, add at least one quart/liter of the
recommended oil. This section explains what kind of oil
to use. For engine oil crankcase capacity, seeCapacities
and Specifications on page 5-108.Notice:Do not add too much oil. If the engine
has so much oil that the oil level gets above the
upper mark that shows the proper operating range,
the engine could be damaged.
SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-16
for the location of the
engine oil ll cap.
Add enough oil to put the level somewhere in the proper
operating range. Push the dipstick all the way back in
when through. L4 Engine
V6 Engine
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