[Hokiehall]

I have the 3.6L V6 engine in my 2010 Malibu that is getting around 19 mpg around town and on a couple of longer road trips averaged about 27-28. Does that appear to be average for this engine? I realize that the government is forcing the ethanol contaminated gas down our tanks which has reduced the overall mileage for most everything but was wondering if this is about average.

My old 2002 Olds Intrigue had the 3.5 L engine and averaged about 23 around town before the ethanol was added. When I got rid of it for the Malibu it was averaging 21 around town with the ethanol gas.

 

[Silver LTZ]

I have the 3.6L V6 engine in my 2010 Malibu that is getting around 19 mpg around town and on a couple of longer road trips averaged about 27-28. Does that appear to be average for this engine? I realize that the government is forcing the ethanol contaminated gas down our tanks which has reduced the overall mileage for most everything but was wondering if this is about average.

My old 2002 Olds Intrigue had the 3.5 L engine and averaged about 23 around town before the ethanol was added. When I got rid of it for the Malibu it was averaging 21 around town with the ethanol gas.

Sounds right to me, also remember the Malibu is heavier then the Olds.

 

[RedJewel]

This is interesting to me. I traded a 2001 Monte Carlo SS with the 3.8 for the Malibu, and was avg. 23 in town and 31 on highway. What is wrong with the fuel mileage on these cars? disappointing to say the least. Maybe I just was lucky with the Monte.

 

[Hokiehall]

We are generally losing about 10% or so by having to use ethanol gas.

 

[08chevymalibultz]

Hokiehall, How are you calculating your MPG. Are you figuring the math at fill-ups or does your DIC reading on the dash show 27-28? Just wondering because there has been alot debate on the MPG with the V6. By the way your Malibu looks great, I have the same color on my 2008. I think that the Red Jewel Tintcoat color is awesome looking on the Malibu. This is one of the things that had attracted me to the car. I have had so many complements on this color.

 

[Hokiehall]

Hokiehall, How are you calculating your MPG. Are you figuring the math a fill-ups or does your DIC reading on the dash show 22-28? Just wondering because there has been at lot debate on the MPG with the V6. By the way your Malibu looks great, I have the same color on my 2008. I think that color is awesome looking on the Malibu.

I'm doing the math at fill ups and tracking it in a spreadsheet to get a long term average. I realize I may not fill it the exact amount each time but over the long term it is pretty accurate.

 

[Richard]

This is interesting to me. I traded a 2001 Monte Carlo SS with the 3.8 for the Malibu, and was avg. 23 in town and 31 on highway. What is wrong with the fuel mileage on these cars? disappointing to say the least. Maybe I just was lucky with the Monte.

The Malibu is a fairly large and heavy car. I have the 4 cylinder. It gets great mileage on the highway - about 34 mpg. The mileage for stop and go city driving is quite low, even with the 4 cyl. I get under 14 mpg with this type of driving.

 

[Richard]

I think that the Red Jewel Tintcoat color is awesome looking on the Malibu. This is one of the things that had attracted me to the car. I have had so many complements on this color.

I also have the Red Jewel Tintcoat. I think this color really brings out the great look of the Malibu. And it's such a rich, lusterous color. I insisted on this color when I got my car. I was considering getting an LT1, but when I heard that you had to get at least an LT2 to get the Red Jewel Tintcoat, there was no question I was going to get the LT2. My car came with the Chrome Wheels which look great against the Red Jewel Tintcoat. The funny thing is I've seen other pictures of the Red Jewel and it looks more red than my car. Mine has more of a burgandy look, but that can be the lighting and type of camera used.

 

[Hokiehall]

I had to have the Red too. My local dealer didn't have it on his lot but they had another location in another city about 50 miles away. I had them bring it in, which they were more than glad to do. I was riding through his lot today and they have two sitting there side by side.

I think it is closer to a burgundy or maroon color rather than red. I park it next to our 03 Suburban, which is Redfire Metallic and it is a brighter, but the 'burb may have faded over the years.

 

[Silver LTZ]

I also have the Red Jewel Tintcoat. I think this color really brings out the great look of the Malibu. And it's such a rich, lusterous color. I insisted on this color when I got my car. I was considering getting an LT1, but when I heard that you had to get at least an LT2 to get the Red Jewel Tintcoat, there was no question I was going to get the LT2. My car came with the Chrome Wheels which look great against the Red Jewel Tintcoat. The funny thing is I've seen other pictures of the Red Jewel and it looks more red than my car. Mine has more of a burgandy look, but that can be the lighting and type of camera used.

Instead of posting that tiny pic, why not make a sig?

 

[DrivenDaily]

My 3.6 gets about 19-20 summer/ 17-18 winter (city), and highway I get over 30. I've seen the DIC on a trip get me to 36 while on the highway but when I exited and hit city streets to go fill up it dipped to 35.x so that's still not bad! On most trips I fill up before hitting the freeway and fill up either at the other end (if it's a long trip) or when returning home.

If I try really hard I can get my city average above 25, but that's such an extreme change of style so that's out. But with less severe changes I can raise it to around 23. I've been working on getting better mpg lately.

 

[KenM10759]

My '09 1FL (4 cyl, 4 spd auto) gets a raw average of 27.8 for me, but I do about 75% to 80% highway.

 

[08chevymalibultz]

DRIVENDAILY, 36 on the DIC reading on the Malibu Dash, WOW! I am thinking there is definitely something wrong with my Malibu. I have driven 2 to even 3+ hour trips to and then back home this last summer and my DIC reading only has got up to an AVG. 22 MPG! I just don't see how everybody is getting these high numbers with the V6. Again there has to be something wrong with my car. I know I have change tires to a more aggressive tred but it has been around the same as the Goodyear LS that was on the car. I know some have said they lost a couple miles on the tripletred when I have researched the tire but nothing that high in numbers. I am not saying that you are not getting what you say, I just thinking my car has a MPG problem. MY QUESTION TO EVERYBODY THAT HAS THE V6, WHAT DOES YOUR MALIBU DIC READING READ FOR AVG MPG ON THE HIGHWAY? NOTE: NOT YOUR FILL-UP CAUCULATIONS BUT YOUR DIC READING ON THE DASH AT HIGHWAY TRIPS READ? I AM NOT PICKING ON THE CAR JUST WONDERING IF I SHOULD BRING THIS ISSUE TO MY DEALERSHIP. THANKS

 

[budman65]

Yes, I can see 36mpg on the instant reading but finding it hard to believe on the avg. reading. I realize Missouri where I'm from is rather hilly but I never average higher than 26-28 on a trip and right now with all city miles I'm averaging 18.9mpg.

 

[Hokiehall]

My combined mileage after 5100 miles is 20.8. That is primarily in town driving with a weekly 50 mile round trip to visit my dad thrown in for good measure and a couple of longer 250 mile+ trips.

 

[Silver LTZ]

You are NOT gonna see anywhere near 36 as the average reading with a V6 on the highway. I average around 23 or so, but I live in FL which has a 70 mph limit and usually cruise around 80 mph. On my trips up to NY averaging around 65 mph I would average around 25 per tank.

 

[08chevymalibultz]

SILVER LTZ, Did you or anybody upgrade your Air Cleaner, such as K&N or are you running on Stock Air Cleaner? If you or anybody has up-Graded their Air Cleaner, Was there a increase in MPG? Will a K&N filter cause problems with the Warranty? Not to throw off the first question but was wondering if any different mods were done such as a simple change like a Air Filter Change that would have increased their MPG!

 

[Silver LTZ]

SILVER LTZ, Did you or anybody upgrade your Air Cleaner, such as K&N or are you running on Stock Air Cleaner? If you or anybody has up-Graded their Air Cleaner, Was there a increase in MPG? Will a K&N filter cause problems with the Warranty? Not to throw off the first question but was wondering if any different mods were done such as a simple change like a Air Filter Change that would have increased their MPG!

I have a K&N drop in, it makes no difference at all. A real CAI might though.

 

[Starship]

One thing that can sap the gas mileage, other than not using the recommended octane fuel, is underinflated tires. I thought the tire pressure in my DIC was a little optimistic. It turns out that my old tire gauge wasn't that hot either. So, my tires were actually underinflated by as much as 3 PSI.

 

[DrivenDaily]

@ 08chevymalibultz:
Let me make sure you and others who read my numbers are on the same page as me. Except in rare circumstances I reset my Avg MPG every tankful. When I take a trip I have always had the habit of filling up just before hitting the road and then again when nearing 1/8 to 1/4 tank and still heading outbound, or if near 1/2 and I'm at the end heading outbound, or upon returning home if I can do the round trip on one tank.

I also keep my Goodyear Eagle LS2 tires inflated cold to 38 front/36 rear for all situations, whether in town on on the freeway. Anything less and the steering becomes imprecise, it wanders, it pulls slightly left, and the shoulders start to show excessive wear (scrubbing I think it's called).

Resetting the DIC each tankful does not give me an average over many weeks, months, or miles, but instead for the tank currently being consumed. So on a trip my Avg MPG on the DIC always reads above 30 once I've gone a few miles from the fill-up and generally hangs around 32-34. On that one trip it went to 36.x at its peak, then declined to 35.x once I exited the freeway and headed in town for dinner and gas. When I calculated the MPG for the tank manually I recall that it was above 32 for sure but can't recall the exact number. It may have been 33 or 34, but that's more an optimistic guess based on a spotty memory.

I hope this makes things clear.