I just did my first oil change on my Malibu - decided to do it at 1,100 miles to swap out with synthetic (M1). I ordered Puralator PureOne filters from Amazon.com, along with the tool to take off the filter (by Leslie), and for the first time in my cars installed a qwikvalve (http://www.qwikvalve.com/home.php) kit (F107 and ADP-107, 12mm-1.75) which I can tell already will make oil changes (in conjunction with the top filter change) much faster and cleaner. BTW if you are planning on getting the quickvalve I found that I did have to purchase the extender for this car.

Now just one question on the trans fluid--the manual seems to indicate that there is a drain plug for the trans on this car (2.4l), but I couldn't locate it easily, also didn't search a ton for it. Does anyone know if this is true, and if so where is the drain plug?

i think - but dont know for sure, but the transmission may not be owner serviceable. I know my sisters 2000 Cavy isnt.

i think - but dont know for sure, but the transmission may not be owner serviceable. I know my sisters 2000 Cavy isnt.

Based on the owner's manual it sounds like there is a way to drain the pan but no details are provided (that is the recommended maintenance, versus dropping a pain and replacing a filter I guess). If there is a drain plug, could make partial changes over to synth for example fairly easy.

I will be changing my oil tonight or tomorrow. I'll let you know if I see anything.

i think - but dont know for sure, but the transmission may not be owner serviceable. I know my sisters 2000 Cavy isnt.

fyi your sister cavy is and should be ;) let me know if you need help with it.

IIRC there isnt a drain plug as you think. There is what GM calls a "check plug" that you pull out to see if fluid will dribble out of it. If fluid comes out you have enough. If it doesnt you need to add until it does.

To change it youll have to probably drop the transmission pan.

yea there is a check plug. make sure the tranny is warm. if fluid comes out then it is full, if not the fill it till fluid comes out

Okay, I didn't see a drain plug, but I did see something that looks like the "check plug" that others are refering to. If you are underneath the car with your head facing the back side, the plug is on the side of the transmission on the left side. It looks like a bleeder valve on a brake system.

Better look at the interval on servicing the transmission though, it's only recommended to have the fluid and filter changed every 50,000 miles.