Page 233 of 351
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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232 Vehicle Care
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0237.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0234.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil0234.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0238.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brakes0243.
6. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0238.
7. Battery - North America 0244.
8. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North
America 0290.
9. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0254.
10. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0242.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America
0 290.
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Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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Vehicle Care 233
2.0L L4 Turbo Engine
1. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0237.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0234.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil0234.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0238.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brakes0243. 6. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
See Cooling System 0238.
7. Battery - North America 0244.
8. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North
America 0290. 9.
Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0254.
10. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0242.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America
0 290.
Page 235 of 351

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
234 Vehicle Care
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:
.Use engine oil approved to the proper
specification and of the proper viscosity
grade. See“Selecting the Right Engine
Oil” in this section.
.Check the engine oil level regularly and
maintain the proper oil level. See
“Checking Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
.Change the engine oil at the appropriate
time. SeeEngine Oil Life System 0236.
.Always dispose of engine oil properly. See
“What to Do with Used Oil” later in this
section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly, every
650 km (400 mi), especially prior to a long
trip. The engine oil dipstick handle is a loop.
See Engine Compartment Overview 0231 for
the location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle may be
hot; it could burn you. Use a towel or
glove to touch the dipstick handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center (DIC)
message displays, check the oil level.
Follow these guidelines:
.To get an accurate reading, park the
vehicle on level ground. Check the engine
oil level after the engine has been off for
at least two hours. Checking the engine
oil level on steep grades or too soon after
engine shutoff can result in incorrect
readings. Accuracy improves when
checking a cold engine prior to starting.
Remove the dipstick and check the level.
.If unable to wait two hours, the engine
must be off for at least 15 minutes if the
engine is warm, or at least 30 minutes if
the engine is not warm. Pull out the
dipstick, wipe it with a clean 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
1.5L L4 Turbo Engine
2.0L L4 Turbo Engine
If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at
the tip of the dipstick and the engine has
been off for at least 15 minutes, add 1 L (1
qt) of the recommended oil and then
recheck the level. See “Selecting the Right
Engine Oil” later in this section for an
explanation of what kind of oil to use. For
engine oil crankcase capacity, see Capacities
and Specifications 0317.
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Vehicle Care 235
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil levels above
or below the acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful to the
engine. If you find that you have an oil
level above the operating range, i.e., 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. You should drain out
the excess oil or limit driving of the
vehicle and seek a service professional to
remove the excess amount of oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview 0231 for
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. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants 0312. Specification
Use full synthetic engine oils that meet the
dexos1 specification. Engine oils that have
been approved by GM as meeting the
dexos1 specification are marked with the
dexos1 approved logo. See
www.gmdexos.com.
Caution
Failure to use the recommended engine
oil or equivalent can result in engine
damage not covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Viscosity Grade
Use SAE 0W-20 viscosity grade engine oil for
the LFV 1.5L L4 turbo engine.
Use SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade engine oil for
the LTG 2.0L L4 turbo engine. Cold
Temperature Operation: In an area of
extreme cold, where the temperature falls
below −29 °C (−20 °F), an SAE 0W-30 oil may be used. An oil of this viscosity grade will
provide easier cold starting for the engine at
extremely low temperatures.
When selecting an oil of the appropriate
viscosity grade, it is recommended to select
an oil of the correct specification. See
“Specification”
earlier in this section.
Engine Oil Additives/Engine Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil. The
recommended oils meeting the dexos1
specification are all that is needed for good
performance and engine protection.
Engine oil system flushes are not
recommended and could cause engine
damage not covered by the vehicle
warranty.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements
that can be unhealthy for your skin and
could even cause cancer. Do not let used oil
stay on your skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and water, or a
good hand cleaner. Wash or properly
dispose of clothing or rags containing used
engine oil. See the manufacturer's warnings
about the use and disposal of oil products.