2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU maintenance

Black plate (60,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
10-60 Vehicle Care
A rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and
may require the same correction
you would use in a skid. In any rear
blowout remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle
under control by steering the way
you want the vehicle to go. It may
be very bumpy and noisy, but you
can still steer. Gently brake to a
stop, well off the road, if possible.
{WARNING
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has been
driven on while severely
under-inflated or flat may cause a
blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire
that has been driven on while
severely under-inflated or flat.
Have your dealer or an authorized
tire service center repair or
replace the flat tire as soon as
possible.
{WARNING
Lifting a vehicle and getting under
it to do maintenance or repairs is
dangerous without the
appropriate safety equipment and
training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could
be badly injured or killed if the
vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, only
use it for changing a flat tire.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place, well off the road,
if possible. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 6‑4.
{WARNING
Changing a tire can be
dangerous. The vehicle can slip
off the jack and roll over or fall on
you or other people. You and they
could be badly injured or even
killed. Find a level place to
change your tire. To help prevent
the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transmission shift lever in
P (Park), or shift a manual
transmission to 1 (First) or
R (Reverse).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
(Continued)

Black plate (89,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-89
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow
removal and dust control can collect
on the underbody. If these are not
removed, corrosion and rust can
develop on the underbody parts
such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan,
and exhaust system even though
they have corrosion protection.
At least every spring, flush these
materials from the underbody with
plain water. Clean any areas where
mud and debris can collect. Dirt
packed in close areas of the frame
should be loosened before being
flushed. Your dealer or an
underbody car washing system can
do this.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric
conditions can create a chemical
fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall
upon and attack painted surfaces on
the vehicle. This damage can take
two forms: blotchy, ring-shaped
discolorations, and small, irregular
dark spots etched into the paint
surface.
Interior Care
The vehicle's interior will continue to
look its best if it is cleaned often.
Dust and dirt can accumulate on the
upholstery and cause damage to
the carpet, fabric, leather, and
plastic surfaces. Stains should be
removed quickly as extreme heat
could cause them to set rapidly.
Lighter colored interiors may require
more frequent cleaning.
Newspapers and garments that can
transfer color to home furnishings
can also transfer color to the
vehicle's interior.
Remove dust from small buttons
and knobs with a small brush with
soft bristles.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
Service and Maintenance 11-1
Service and
Maintenance
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Scheduled Maintenance
Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . 11-2
Recommended Fluids,
Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-6
Maintenance Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
Maintenance Records
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . 11-9
General Information
Notice: Maintenance intervals,
checks, inspections,
recommended fluids, and
lubricants are necessary to keep
this vehicle in good working
condition. Damage caused by
failure to follow scheduled
maintenance might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
As the vehicle owner, you are
responsible for the scheduled
maintenance in this section. We
recommend having your dealer
perform these services. Proper
vehicle maintenance helps to keep
the vehicle in good working
condition, improves fuel economy,
and reduces vehicle emissions for
better air quality. Because of all the different ways
people use vehicles, maintenance
needs vary. The vehicle might need
more frequent checks and services.
Please read the information under
Scheduled Maintenance. To keep
the vehicle in good condition, see
your dealer.
The maintenance schedule is for
vehicles that:
.Carry passengers and cargo
within recommended limits on
the Tire and Loading Information
label. See
Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑12.
.Are driven on reasonable road
surfaces within legal driving
limits.
.Use the recommended fuel. See
Recommended Fuelon
page 9‑38.

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
11-2 Service and Maintenance
{WARNING
Performing maintenance work can
be dangerous. Some jobs can
cause serious injury. Perform
maintenance work only if you
have the required know-how and
the proper tools and equipment.
If in doubt, see your dealer to
have a qualified technician do the
work. SeeDoing Your Own
Service Work on page 10‑4.
At your dealer, you can be certain
that you will receive the highest
level of service available. Your
dealer has specially trained service
technicians, uses genuine
replacement parts, as well as,
up‐to‐date tools and equipment to
ensure fast and accurate
diagnostics. The proper replacement parts,
fluids, and lubricants to use are
listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricantson page 11‑6and
Maintenance Replacement Partson
page 11‑7. We recommend the use
of genuine parts from your dealer.
Rotation of New Tires
To maintain ride, handling, and
performance of the vehicle, it is
important that the first rotation
service for new tires be performed.
Tires should be rotated every
12 000 km/7,500 miles. See Tire
Rotation on page 10‑52.
Scheduled
Maintenance
When the Change Oil Soon
Message Displays
Change engine oil and filter. See
Engine Oilon page 10‑9. An
Emission Control Service.
When the CHANGE OIL SOON
message displays, service is
required for the vehicle as soon
as possible, within the next
1 000 km/600 miles. If driving
under the best conditions, the
engine oil life system might not
indicate the need for vehicle service
for more than a year. The engine
oil and filter must be changed at
least once a year and the oil life
system must be reset.

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
Service and Maintenance 11-3
Your dealer has trained service
technicians who will perform this
work and reset the system. If the
engine oil life system is reset
accidentally, service the vehicle
within 5 000 km/3,000 miles since
the last service. Reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
SeeEngine Oil Life System
on
page 10‑12.
Every Engine Oil Change
.Change engine oil and filter.
Reset oil life system. See
Engine Oil
on page 10‑9and
Engine Oil Life Systemon
page 10‑12. An Emission Control
Service.
.Engine coolant level check. See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑16.
.Engine cooling system
inspection. Visual inspection of
hoses, pipes, fittings, and
clamps and replacement,
if needed.
.Windshield washer fluid level
check. See Washer Fluidon
page 10‑22.
.Windshield wiper blade
inspection for wear, cracking,
or contamination and windshield
and wiper blade cleaning, if contaminated. See
Exterior
Care
on page 10‑85. Worn or
damaged wiper blade
replacement. See Wiper Blade
Replacement on page 10‑27.
.Tire inflation pressures check.
See Tire Pressure on
page 10‑45.
.Tire wear inspection. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑51.
.Rotate tires if necessary. See
Tire Rotation on page 10‑52.
.Fluids visual leak check (or
every 12 months, whichever
occurs first). A leak in any
system must be repaired and
the fluid level checked.
.Engine air cleaner filter
inspection. See Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 10‑14.
.Brake system inspection (or
every 12 months, whichever
occurs first).

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
11-4 Service and Maintenance
.Steering and suspension
inspection. Visual inspection for
damaged, loose, or missing
parts or signs of wear.
.Body hinges and latches, key
lock cylinders, folding seat
hardware, and rear compartment
hinges lubrication. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
on page 11‑6. More
frequent lubrication may be
required when the vehicle is
exposed to a corrosive
environment. Applying silicone
grease on weatherstrips with a
clean cloth makes them last
longer, seal better, and not stick
or squeak.
.Restraint system component
check. See Safety System
Check on page 3‑22.
.Fuel system inspection for
damage or leaks.
.Exhaust system and nearby heat
shields inspection for loose or
damaged components.
Additional Required Services
Every 12 000 km/7,500 Miles
.Rotate tires. Tires should be
rotated every 12 000 km/
7,500 miles. See Tire Rotation
on page 10‑52.
At Each Fuel Stop
.Engine oil level check. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑9.
.Engine coolant level check. See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑16.
.Windshield washer fluid level
check. See Washer Fluidon
page 10‑22.
Once a Month
.Tire inflation check. See Tire
Pressure on page 10‑45.
.Tire wear inspection. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑51.
.Sunroof track and seal
inspection, if equipped. See
Sunroof on page 2‑19. Once a Year
.See
Starter Switch Checkon
page 10‑25.
.See Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control Function
Check on page 10‑26.
.See Ignition Transmission Lock
Check on page 10‑26.
.See Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Checkon
page 10‑26.
.Accelerator pedal check for
damage, high effort, or binding.
Replace if needed.
.If the vehicle has a Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit, check the
sealant expiration date printed
on the instruction label of the kit.
See Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit on page 10‑61.
.Underbody flushing service.

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
Service and Maintenance 11-5
First Engine Oil Change After
Every 80 000 km/50,000 Miles
.Engine air cleaner filter
replacement. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 10‑14.
.Automatic transmission fluid
change (severe service) for
vehicles mainly driven in heavy
city traffic in hot weather, in hilly
or mountainous terrain, when
frequently towing a trailer,
or used for taxi, police,
or delivery service. See
Automatic Transmission Fluid
on
page 10‑13.
.Evaporative control system
inspection. Check all fuel and
vapor lines and hoses for proper
hook‐up, routing, and condition.
Check that the purge valve,
if the vehicle has one, works
properly. Replace as needed. AnEmission Control Service. The
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency or the California Air
Resources Board has
determined that the failure to
perform this maintenance item
will not nullify the emission
warranty or limit recall liability
prior to the completion of the
vehicle's useful life. We,
however, urge that all
recommended maintenance
services be performed at the
indicated intervals and the
maintenance be recorded.
First Engine Oil Change After
Every 160 000 km/100,000 Miles
.Automatic transmission fluid
change (normal service). See
Automatic Transmission Fluid
on
page 10‑13.
.Spark plug replacement and
spark plug wires inspection.
An Emission Control Service. First Engine Oil Change After
Every 240 000 km/150,000 Miles
.Engine cooling system drain,
flush, and refill (or every five
years, whichever occurs first).
See
Cooling System
on
page 10‑15. An Emission Control
Service.
.Engine drive belts inspection for
fraying, excessive cracks,
or obvious damage (or every
10 years, whichever occurs
first). Replace, if needed.

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
11-6 Service and Maintenance
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
UsageFluid/Lubricant
Engine Oil The engine requires engine oil approved to the dexos™
specification. Oils
meeting this specification can be identified with the dexos™ certification
mark. Look for and use only an engine oil that displays the dexos™
certification mark of the proper viscosity grade. See Engine Oil
on
page 10‑9.
Engine Coolant 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and use only DEX-COOL Coolant.
See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑16.
Hydraulic Brake System DOT 3 Hydraulic Brake Fluid (GM Part No. U.S. 88862806, in
Canada 88862807).
Windshield Washer Optikleen
®Washer Solvent.
Hydraulic Power Steering System (if equipped) GM Power Steering Fluid (GM Part No. U.S. 89021184, in
Canada 89021186).
Automatic Transmission DEXRON
®-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Key Lock Cylinders Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Hood Latch Assembly, Secondary Latch, Pivots, Spring Anchor, and Release Pawl Lubriplate Lubricant Aerosol (GM Part No. U.S. 12346293, in
Canada 992723) or lubricant meeting requirements of NLGI #2, Category
LB or GC-LB.