2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU checking oil

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling the Tank..............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-17
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-20
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-22
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
(2.2L L4 and 3.5L V6 Engines)...................5-23
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
(3.9L V6 Engine).......................................5-24
Engine Coolant.............................................5-26
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-29Engine Overheating.......................................5-29
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
(3.5L V6 and 3.9L V6 Engines)...................5-31
Cooling System............................................5-32
Power Steering Fluid (3.9L V6 Engine)............5-36
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-38
Brakes........................................................5-39
Battery........................................................5-42
Jump Starting...............................................5-43
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-47
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-47
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and
Parking Lamps..........................................5-48
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-50
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-51
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-52
Tires..............................................................5-54
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-56
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-58
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-61
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-63
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-64
Buying New Tires.........................................5-64
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-66
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-66
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from
the container can ignite the gasoline vapor.
You can be badly burned and your vehicle
damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury
to you and others:
Dispense gasoline 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.
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 gasoline.
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.
5-10

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-22.
B. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-17.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-17.
D. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeCooling System on
page 5-32.E. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-39.
F. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-42.
G. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-102.
H. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-38.
5-13

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-22.
B. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-17.
C. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-17.
D. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeCooling System on
page 5-32.E. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-39.
F. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-42.
G. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-102.
H. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-38.
5-15

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-22.
B. Engine Coolant Bleed Valve.
C. Power Steering Fluid. SeePower Steering Fluid
(3.9L V6 Engine) on page 5-36.
D. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick (Out of View).
See “Checking Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transaxle Fluid (2.2L L4 and 3.5L V6 Engines) on
page 5-23orAutomatic Transaxle Fluid (3.9L
V6 Engine) on page 5-24.
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-17.
F. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-17.
G. Engine Coolant Reservoir. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-26.
H. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-39.
I. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-42.
J. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-38.
K. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-102.Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. 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. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
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 you do not do this,
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.
5-17

Automatic Transaxle Fluid
(3.9L V6 Engine)
When to Check and Change
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
A good time to check the automatic transaxle uid level
is when the engine oil is changed.
Change the uid and lter at the intervals listed in
Additional Required Services on page 6-6, and be sure
to use the transaxle uid listed inRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.
How to Check Automatic
Transaxle Fluid
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at the dealership service
department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.Notice:Too much or too little uid can damage the
transaxle. Too much can mean that some of the uid
could come out and fall on hot engine or exhaust
system parts, starting a re. Too little uid could
cause the transaxle to overheat. Be sure to get an
accurate reading if you check the transaxle uid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
uid level if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic — especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the uid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is 180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above
50°F (10°C). If it is colder than 50°F (10°C), you may
have to drive longer.
5-24