oil level CHEVROLET MALIBU 2011 7.G Owners Manual

Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-25
FUEL RANGE
Press the information button until
FUEL RANGE displays. This mode
shows the remaining distance you
can drive without refueling in either
kilometers (km) or miles (mi). It is
based on fuel economy and the fuel
remaining in the tank.
When the fuel level is low, FUEL
RANGE LOW displays.
The fuel economy data used to
determine fuel range is an average
of recent driving conditions. As your
driving conditions change, this data
is gradually updated. The FUEL
RANGE mode cannot be reset.
MPG (L/100 KM) AVG (Average)
Press the information button until
MPG (L/100 KM) AVG displays. This
mode shows how many liters per
100 kilometers (L/100 km) or miles
per gallon (mpg) your vehicle is
getting based on current and past
driving conditions.To reset the average fuel economy,
press and hold the reset button
while MPG (L/100 KM) AVG is
displayed. Average fuel economy is
then calculated starting from that
point. If the average fuel economy is
not reset, it is continually updated
each time you drive.
MPG (L/100 KM) INST
(Instantaneous)
Press the information button until
MPG (L/100 KM) INST displays. This
mode shows the current fuel
economy at a particular moment
and changes frequently as driving
conditions change. This mode
shows the instantaneous fuel
economy in liters per 100 kilometers
(L/100 km) or miles per gallon
(mpg). Unlike average fuel
economy, this screen cannot be
reset.
AV (Average) SPEED
Press the information button until
AV SPEED displays. This mode
shows the vehicle's average speed
in kilometers per hour (km/h) or
miles per hour (mph).
To reset the average vehicle speed,
press and hold the reset button
while AV SPEED is displayed.
OIL LIFE
Press the information button until
OIL LIFE displays. The engine oil
life system shows an estimate of the
oil's remaining useful life. It shows
100% when the system is reset after
an oil change. It alerts you to
change the oil on a schedule
consistent with your driving
conditions.

Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-27
Brake System Messages
BRAKE FLUID
This message displays, while the
ignition is on, when the brake fluid
level is low. The brake system
warning light on the instrument
panel cluster also comes on. See
Brake System Warning Light
on
page 5‑18for more information.
Have the brake system serviced by
your dealer as soon as possible.
PUSH PARK PEDAL
This message displays if the parking
brake is left engaged. See Parking
Brake
on page 9‑29for more
information.
Cruise Control Messages
CRUISE ENGAGED
This message displays when the
cruise control system is active. See
Cruise Control
on page 9‑34for
more information.
Door Ajar Messages
DOOR AJAR
This message displays if one or
more of the vehicle's doors are not
closed properly. Make sure that the
door(s) are closed completely.
TRUNK AJAR
This message displays when the
trunk is not closed completely.
Make sure that the trunk is closed
completely. See Trunk
on
page 2‑10for more information.
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE OIL SOON
This message displays when the life
of the engine oil has expired and it
should be changed.
When this message is
acknowledged and cleared
from the display, the engine
oil life system must still be reset separately. See
Engine Oil Life
System
on page 10‑12, Engine Oilon page 10‑9, and Scheduled
Maintenanceon page 11‑2for
more information.
Engine Power Messages
ENG (Engine) PWR
(Power) REDUCED
This message displays when the
vehicle's engine power is reduced.
Reduced engine power can affect
the vehicle's ability to accelerate.
If this message is on, but there is no
reduction in performance, proceed
to your destination. The
performance may be reduced the
next time the vehicle is driven. The
vehicle may be driven at a reduced
speed while this message is on, but
acceleration and speed may be
reduced. Anytime this message
stays on, the vehicle should be
taken to your dealer for service as
soon as possible.

Black plate (45,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-45
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns
while trailering could cause the
trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. The vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal so the
trailer will not strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other
objects. Use the turn signal well in
advance and avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
The turn signal indicators on the
instrument panel flash whenever
signaling a turn or lane change.
Properly hooked up, the trailer
lamps also flash, telling other
drivers the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes or stopping.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on
the instrument panel flash for turns
even if the bulbs on the trailer are burned out. Check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might have to be used so
much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Use a lower gear if the transmission
shifts too often.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, engine coolant
boils at a lower temperature than at
normal altitudes. If the engine is
turned off immediately after towing
at high altitude on steep uphill
grades, the vehicle could show
signs similar to engine overheating.
To avoid this, let the engine run
while parked, preferably on level
ground, with the transmission in
P (Park) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating on page 10‑19.
Parking on Hills
{WARNING
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if facing
downhill or into traffic if facing
uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-9
A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filteron
page 10‑14.
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid
on
page 10‑21.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 10‑9.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 10‑9.
E. Electric Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling
System on page 10‑15.
F. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. See Engine Coolant
on
page 10‑16. G. Pressure Cap. See
Cooling
System on page 10‑15.
H. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
under Brakes on page 10‑22.
I. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick (Out of View). See
“Checking the Fluid Level”
under Automatic Transmission
Fluid on page 10‑13.
J. See Battery on page 10‑25.
K. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑31.
L. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluidon
page 10‑22.
Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.Always use engine oil approved
to the proper specification and of
the proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil.”
.Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil.”
.Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System on page 10‑12.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do With
Used Oil.”

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
10-10 Vehicle Care
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine
oil level at each fuel fill. In order to
get an accurate reading, the vehicle
must be on level ground. The
engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow
loop. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview
on page 10‑6for the
location of the engine oil dipstick.
Obtaining an accurate oil level
reading is essential:
1. If the engine has been running recently, turn off the engine and
allow several minutesfor the oil
to drain back into the oil pan.
Checking your oil level too soon
after engine shut off will not
provide an accurate oil level
reading.
2. Pull out 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.
When to Add Engine Oil
L4 Engine
V6 Engine
If the oil is below the MIN
(minimum) mark for the L4 engine or
below the cross‐hatched area at the
tip of the dipstick for the V6 engine,
add one liter/quart of the
recommended oil and then recheck
the level. See “Selecting the Right
Engine Oil” for an explanation of
what kind of oil to use. For engine
oil crankcase capacity, see
Capacities and Specifications
on
page 12‑2. 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.
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑6for the location of the
engine oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when through.
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade:
Specification
Use and ask for engine oils with the
dexos™ certification mark. Oils
meeting the requirements of your
vehicle should have the dexos™
certification mark on the container.

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-11
This certification mark indicates that
the oil has been approved to the
dexos™specification.
Your vehicle was filled at the factory
with dexos™ approved engine oil.
Notice: Use only engine oil that is
approved to the dexos™
specification or an equivalent
engine oil of the appropriate
viscosity grade. Engine oils
approved to the dexos™
specification will show the
dexos™ symbol on the container.
Failure to use the recommended
engine oil or equivalent can result
in engine damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty. If you are
unsure whether your oil is
approved to the dexos™
specification, ask your service
provider. Use of Substitute Engine Oils if
dexos™
is unavailable: In the event
that dexos™ approved engine oil is
not available at an oil change or for
maintaining proper oil level, you
may use substitute engine oil
displaying the API Starburst symbol
and of SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade.
Use of oils that do not meet the
dexos™ specification, however, may
result in reduced performance under
certain circumstances.
Viscosity Grade
SAE 5W-30 is the best viscosity
grade for the vehicle. Do not use
other viscosity oils such as
SAE 10W‐30, 10W‐40, or 20W-50.
Cold Temperature Operation: In an
area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below −29°C
(−20°F), an SAE 0W-30 oil should

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-13
The engine oil and filter must be
changed at least once a year and,
at this time, the system must be
reset. Your dealer has trained
service people who will perform this
work and reset the system. It is also
important to check the oil regularly
over the course of an oil drain
interval and keep it at the proper
level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 miles)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. To reset the
system:
1. Turn the ignition toON/RUN, with the
engine off.
2. Press and hold the DIC INFO and reset buttons, on the left
side of the steering wheel, at the
same time to enter the
personalization menu. The OIL
LIFE RESET message displays.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC)
on page 5‑23and Engine
Oil Messages on page 5‑27. 3. Press and hold the reset button
until the DIC display shows
ACKNOWLEDGED.
4. Turn the key to LOCK/OFF.
The system is reset when the
CHANGE OIL SOON message
is off.
If the CHANGE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not reset. Repeat the
procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to the
dealer and have it repaired as
soon as possible.

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
10-14 Vehicle Care
Change the fluid and filter at the
intervals listed inScheduled
Maintenance
on page 11‑2, and be
sure to use the transmission fluid
listed in Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑6.
Notice: Use of the incorrect
automatic transmission fluid may
damage the vehicle, and the
damages may not be covered by
the vehicle's warranty. Always
use the automatic transmission
fluid listed in Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants
on
page 11‑6.
For the 2.4 L and 3.6 L engines,
the transmission fluid will not reach
the end of the dipstick unless the
transmission is at operating
temperature. If the transmission
fluid level needs to be checked,
please take the vehicle to the
dealer.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
See Engine Compartment Overviewon page 10‑6for the location of the
engine air cleaner/filter.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/filter at the
scheduled maintenance intervals
and replace it at the first oil change
after each 80 000 km (50,000 mi)
interval. See Scheduled
Maintenance
on page 11‑2for
more information. If driving in dusty/
dirty conditions, inspect the filter at
each engine oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/filter,
remove the filter from the vehicle
and lightly shake the filter to release
loose dust and dirt. If the filter
remains caked with dirt, a new filter
is required. To inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter:
1. Remove the spring clamps that
hold the cover on.
2. Lift off the cover.

Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-17
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. If using this mixture,
nothing else needs to be added.
This mixture:
.Gives freezing protection down
to−37°C (−34°F), outside
temperature.
.Gives boiling protection up to
129°C (265°F), engine
temperature.
.Protects against rust and
corrosion.
.Will not damage aluminum parts.
.Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Notice: If an improper coolant
mixture is used, the engine could
overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Too much water in the mixture
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other
parts.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until
it cools down. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level is not at or
above the FULL COLD mark, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant at the
coolant surge tank, but be sure the
cooling system is cool before this is
done. See Engine Overheating
on
page 10‑19for more information.
The coolant level should be at or
above the FULL COLD mark on the
coolant surge tank. If it is not, there
may be a leak at the pressure cap
or in the radiator hoses, heater
hoses, radiator, water pump,
or somewhere else in the cooling
system.
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank
{WARNING
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
Notice: This vehicle has a
specific coolant fill procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure
could cause the engine to
overheat and be severely
damaged.
If coolant is needed, add the proper
DEX-COOL coolant mixture at the
coolant surge tank.

Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-21
Notice:After driving in the
overheated engine protection
operating mode, to avoid engine
damage, allow the engine to cool
before attempting any repair. The
engine oil will be severely
degraded. Repair the cause of
coolant loss, change the oil and
reset the oil life system. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑9.
Power Steering Fluid
See Engine Compartment
Overviewon page 10‑6for
reservoir location.
When to Check Power Steering
Fluid
Power steering fluid is used in all
vehicles with the V6 engine.
Vehicles with the 4-cylinder engine
have electric power steering and do
not use power steering fluid.
It is not necessary to regularly
check power steering fluid unless a
leak is suspected in the system,
or an unusual noise is heard. A fluid
loss in this system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering
Fluid
To check the power steering fluid:
1. Turn the key off and let the
engine compartment cool down.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean. 3. Unscrew the cap and wipe the
dipstick with a clean rag.
4. Replace the cap and completely tighten it.
5. Remove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The fluid level should be between
the MIN (Minimum) and MAX
(Maximum) marks when the engine
is cold, and at the MAX mark when
the engine is hot. If the fluid is at the
MIN mark when the engine is cold
or hot, power steering fluid should
be added.
The fluid level should be within the
crosshatch area on the dipstick.
If the fluid is at or below the ADD or
MIN mark on the dipstick, add just
enough fluid to bring the level within
the crosshatch area.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to
use, see Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
on page 11‑6. Always
use the proper fluid.