Malibu 3.6L VVT OCI per OLM?

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cfromc

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I've been searching all afternoon but haven't found anything solid. I heard about the OLM recalibration on some of the engines due to the timing chain but assume a new 2012 would already have any updated calibration, plus a larger oil sump of 6 qts. My question is, what is an average OCI for a late model GM with the 3.6L VVT (non-Cadillac though)? I'm trying to determine which oil I will be using and the frequency of replacement will play a role in the decision.

Thank you.
 
Direct injection also had something to do with the change in OLM as well. DI is very tough on oil. I would suggest anything that is at DEXOS level (This is the QS/M1 etc) and use a quality filter. Run it till it tells you to change. Malibu's are great cars and those 3.6 are a great engine. My uncle purchased a 2011 fully loaded with the same engine and it is a beautiful machine.
 
Originally Posted By: Corvette Owner
The 3.6 in the 2011 Chevy Equinox is now limited to a 5500 mile OCI by the OLM.


That's what I've heard but is that what people are experiencing? Seems like an awfully short interval, especially considering the vehicle requires dexos and has a 6qt. sump. My daughter's Cruze with a turbo seems to be headed for an 11,000 mile OCI per the OLM.
 
Originally Posted By: cfromc
Originally Posted By: Corvette Owner
The 3.6 in the 2011 Chevy Equinox is now limited to a 5500 mile OCI by the OLM.


That's what I've heard but is that what people are experiencing? Seems like an awfully short interval, especially considering the vehicle requires dexos and has a 6qt. sump. My daughter's Cruze with a turbo seems to be headed for an 11,000 mile OCI per the OLM.


Yep, that's what my daughter sees now, 0% at 5500 miles. She does EXTREME highway driving. Her Malibu MAXX used to go 10,000 miles.
 
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I do 5K oil changes on my 08 Malibu, never use the OLM just reset it
grin2.gif
 
That's very unfortunate that these only go 5,500 miles between OCIs. I really planned on about 10K. I guess I may use XL or OE instead of AZO.
 
Originally Posted By: cfromc
That's very unfortunate that these only go 5,500 miles between OCIs. I really planned on about 10K. I guess I may use XL or OE instead of AZO.


Yep, I used to change my daughter's oil and used Penzoil Platinum, now she has dealer do it with DEXOS. Dealer will replace tires for free if she does all oil changes there.
 
cfromc, Check out the UOA section, the Ecotec is known for longer OCIs, still getting used to this myself. I agree though, 5500 on 6qts does seem short, especially comapred to the 6k on 4qts my 3.5 can do.

I'd vote for OE if you're going to use the OLM.
 
Don't waste your time searching for dexos1 oil. You will be fine with any brand name synthetic 5w30 for the 5,500 mile OLM interval. If you do want to use a dexos1 oil though. Quaker State Ultimate Durability from Walmart is the way to go on price. It has shown to give very good UOA's on GM engines.
 
Originally Posted By: cfromc
I've been searching all afternoon but haven't found anything solid. I heard about the OLM recalibration on some of the engines due to the timing chain but assume a new 2012 would already have any updated calibration, plus a larger oil sump of 6 qts. My question is, what is an average OCI for a late model GM with the 3.6L VVT (non-Cadillac though)? I'm trying to determine which oil I will be using and the frequency of replacement will play a role in the decision.

Thank you.


cfromc,

On my 08' Impala SS using Mobil 1 synthetic my OLM tell me to change every 6K. My brother Caddy CTS was changed/adjusted and now counts down faster than ever before.

Durango
 
If it is truly a 5500 mile OCI I will likely use Amsoil OE but the spec that concerns me is the NOACK. I'd really like to decide on the oil before the first service so I can use that oil throughout the life of the car. I may use the ASL but it seems like way overkill for a 5500 mile OCI except the NOACK is only 7% which I like. The oil filter will probably be a Pure One PL12222. I will use the OEM air filter until the first interval and by then Amsoil will hopefully have a replacement that fits.
 
My wife has the 2009 malibu LTZ with the 3.6. we never got a recall for the timing chain. But since i know of the recall i've chaanging the oil every 5k using PU.
Now my Dad has an 08 CTS DI 3.6 which just came back from the dealer for a timing chain replacement. the caddy hass been using mobil 1 since new now at 29k it needed timing chain. is mobil 1 really protecting these engines???
 
I have a low opinion of M1 and would not use it. There are too many better oils for the same price or less. My choices would be Amsoil OE, XL, ASL, AZO but I'd also consider any of the popular Group III synths to be better than M1.
 
Originally Posted By: Ram01
My wife has the 2009 malibu LTZ with the 3.6. we never got a recall for the timing chain. But since i know of the recall i've chaanging the oil every 5k using PU.
Now my Dad has an 08 CTS DI 3.6 which just came back from the dealer for a timing chain replacement. the caddy hass been using mobil 1 since new now at 29k it needed timing chain. is mobil 1 really protecting these engines???


Isn't it fairly well-documented that the timing chain design on these recent GM V-6 engines is pretty dodgy? I would consider the CTS's timing chain failure a result of the poor design rather than a result of the lubricant used. From what I've read, these timing chains can fail no matter what oil is used.
 
Originally Posted By: Ram01
My wife has the 2009 malibu LTZ with the 3.6. we never got a recall for the timing chain. But since i know of the recall i've chaanging the oil every 5k using PU.
Now my Dad has an 08 CTS DI 3.6 which just came back from the dealer for a timing chain replacement. the caddy hass been using mobil 1 since new now at 29k it needed timing chain. is mobil 1 really protecting these engines???


Ram01,

When my bro got his letter from GM about the Caddy CTS timing chain issue I think all the dealership did was go into the computer system and chaged the OLM count that way so now it counts down faster. My brother uses Castrol "Syntec" but the dealership also offers Mobil 1 as synthetic options instead of the typical GM dino.

If you recall about a couple years ago there was a discussion about this when the OLM issue came up on the Caddys.

On my 08' Impala SS I love my OLM monitor and would not switch for anything else! After the first couple OCI's it appears my OLM counts down faster as well cuz I take my Chevy into the Caddy dealership where my bro has his services done too. Since I have the 5.3 liter V-8 I always use synthetic oil and ask for Mobil 1. My OLM tells me to change my oil out every 6K.

Durango
 
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I have two 3.6 HF V6's, neither are direct injection, I change the oil in both at about 10-15% on the OLM, so I counsel to follow the OLM.

This is around a 9K mile, 1 year OCI. I use only good quality synthetic for these long OCI's, but a strong mineral oil would probably be OK.

I might cut back to 50% on the OLM if I went to mineral oil.
 
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