1997–2022 Chevy Malibu Oil Capacity Free Lookup - Chevy Geek (2024)

Oil is considered the lifeline of an engine. It keeps the motor working efficiently by combating overheating and friction. Engine oil is also at the center of performance and fuel economy in a vehicle. To this end, you may be asking yourself what’s the Chevy Malibu oil capacity and oil type?

In this article, I will answer this question and help you identify the correct oil for any Chevy Malibu made from 1997 to 2022. I’ll take you through all the years so you’ll never get confused when choosing motor oil for your vehicle.

Take a look at all you need to know about Chevy Malibu oil capacity and oil type.

1997–2022 Chevy Malibu Oil Capacity Free Lookup

Select “Year” then Select “Model & Engine Size” to find the oil capacity and oil type for your vehicle.

To Reset, click on the values shown.

Leave a comment (at the end of the post) if you cannot find yours.

Read more: WIX Oil Filters Review: Are They Good For Your Vehicle?

Oil Types and Suitable Oil Viscosity for Chevy Malibu

A Chevrolet Malibu owner appreciates the value and refinement of a stylish ride. As such, doing some DIY stuff like an oil change is one of the ways you can take care of your car. However, for the Chevy Malibu, the type of oil that you use depends on the engine. This is because engines require oil in specific viscosities for proper functioning.

Oil viscosity is how well the oil flows at certain temperatures. At high temperatures, oil flows better than at low temperatures. Engine oil viscosity is denoted in an XW-XX classification. The “W” stands for winter, and the number before W is the oil’s flow rate at 0°F. The numbers after W are the oils flow rate at 212°F.

Back to Chevy Malibu vehicles, you’ll find that 1997 – 2004 models should use 10w-30 oil if you live in a temperate climate where temperatures don’t go below -22°F. These cars can also use 5w-30 oil suitable for all temperatures, which is the recommended oil type. This is because 5w-30 thickens less than 10w-30 in cold temperatures. As such, the engine will not suffer from cold start problems.

On the other hand, Chevy Malibu vehicles from 2005 – 2022 can use 0w-30 and 5w30 oil. This depends on the climate and the engine (more on this below).

Thus, it’s important to verify the type of oil your specific model uses to prevent damage to the engine.

1997 – 2003 Malibu Oil Engine Sizes, Capacity, and Oil Type

1997 – 2003 Chevy Malibu vehicles make up the fifth generation of the Chevy Malibu line. These are front-wheel Malibu cars with an extended wheelbase.

1997 – 1998 Chevy Malibu with a 2.4L I4 engine have a 4-quart oil capacity. These cars can use either 10w-30 or 5w-30 oils.

The same goes for the 1997 – 1998 models with 3.1L V6 and 1999 – 2003 Malibu with 2.4L I4 engines. These cars all have a 4-quart oil capacity and can utilize either 10w-30. However, 5w-3- is the preferred oil.

Nonetheless, a 1999 – 2003 model with a 3.1L V6 engine has a 4.5-quart oil capacity. Similarly, these cars can utilize 10w-30 or 5w-30 motor oils.

These oils will not thin out in high temperatures or clump up in low temperatures, ensuring the proper functioning of these vehicles’ engines.

Read more: Chevy 350 Oil Capacity, Oil Types, and Oil Filters [with Recommendation]

2004 – 2007 Malibu Engine Sizes, Oil Capacity, and Oil Type

From 2004 to 2007, Chevy Malibu moved up a generation with a standard 4-sedan or a 5-door Malibu Maxx.

These vehicles utilize various engines, including the LZ4 Malibu Maxx 3.5L V6, LZ9 Malibu Maxx SS 3.9L V6, LX9 3.5L V6, and L61 2.2L 16V engines.

The 3.5L and 3.9L engine sizes have a 4-quart oil capacity, while the 2.2L engine has a 5-quart oil pan.

Nonetheless, these engines use either 0w-30 or 5w-30 engine oils like the Mobil 1 Advanced Synthetic 5w-30.

Every capacity listed is when you have a new filter recommended with every oil change.

Read more: Chevy 4.3L 3.8L 3.3L V6 Firing Order and Cylinder Numbers (With Diagram)

2008 – 2012 Malibu Engine Sizes, Oil Capacity, and Oil Type

2008 – 2012 Chevy Malibu are extensively redesigned models. They have different trim levels like LS, LT, hybrid, and LTZ. They use the LE5 2.4L Ecotec Inline-4, LY7 3.6L V6, LZE 3.5L V6, LZ4 3.5L, and LAT 2.4L Ecotec Hybrid inline-4 engines.

The 2.2L and 2.4L engines have a 5-quart capacity and utilize 5w-30 oils. Meanwhile, 3.5L motors have a 4-quart oil pan but still use 5w-30 motor oil.

However, 3.6L V6 engines from 2008 to 2012 have a much larger capacity of 5.5 quarts. In addition, these vehicles also accept 0w-30 oils when the other engines in these years cannot. Nevertheless, the preferred oil for 3.6L engines is 5w-30.

Read more: LS vs. LT vs. LTZ: What Do They Mean On A Chevy?

2013 – 2015 Malibu Engine Sizes, Oil Capacity, and Oil Type

8^th generation Chevy Malibu cars were made between 2013 and 2015. These models have LS and 1LS trims. They also sport different engines, including the LTG 2.0L VVT Turbo, LUK 2.4L Ecotec VVT DI, and LKW 2.5L VVT. All these engines have a 5-quart oil capacity.

However, the 2.0L and 2.4L engines use 0w-30 for cold climates and 5w-30 oils for all temperatures.

The 2.5L engine can utilize a 0w-20 oil as an alternative for 0w-30 in extremely cold climates. Still, you can use 5w-30 in normal weather on the 2.5L engine.

Read more: LS Firing Order: LS 4.8, 5.3, 6.0, 6.2, LT1 Firing Order and Cylinder Numbers (With Diagrams)

2016 – 2022 Malibu Engine Sizes, Oil Capacity, and Oil Type

Chevrolet unveiled an updated Malibu ushering in the 9^th generation of Chevy Malibu in 2016. This Malibu comes in four trims: LS, L, LT, and Premier. The engines available for these vehicles are the LKN Inline-4 1.8L Hybrid, LFV 1.5L Inline-4, and LTG 2.0L Inline-4.

The 1.8L engine has a 5.3-quart oil capacity and uses 5w-20 and 0w-20 oils. GM recommends using only SAE 5w-20 oils.

Meanwhile, 1.5L engines have a 4.2-quart oil capacity. They strictly use 0w-20 synthetic oils.

On the other hand, engines with a 2.0L size have 5-quart oil pans. They use 5w-30 for all temperatures and 0w-30 for temperatures below 29°F.

Final Thoughts

Regular oil changes on your Chevy Malibu can help improve your vehicle’s fuel economy and performance. I hope you now know the 1997 – 2022 Chevy Malibu oil capacity and oil type before doing an oil change.

It’s recommended that you don’t mix oils owing to the various types and viscosities. Hence, it’s good that your Malibu operates on the correct oil.

Download the chart here.

Read more: 1999-2022 Chevy Silverado Engine Sizes, Oil Capacity, and Oil Type