[JBM]

Hello everyone. I recently became the owner of a 2018 LT with 27000kms. It has the 1.5 turbo engine and 6 speed auto. Has the 8" screen, Bose, and sun and wheels package. The interior is a brownish red and gray kind of ugly. I came to own the car through inheritance. My parents are both deceased and my grandma willed it to me after passing. I had been driving a 2011 Fusion with 3.0 V6.

Initial thoughts... very nice sedan. I had only heard bad things about Malibus going back a couple decades. I am shocked at how quiet and nice the car drives compared to my Fusion. The suspension seems totally tight in corners unlike my flaccid you know what Fusion. Its a little weak off the line but has surprising punch on highways. I was running 100kmh on a local road and needed to pass a car and gave it a mash. Shocked at how quick and quiet it pulled around the car. Seems faster than my 3.0 Fusion. The tech is very nice easy to use and everything seems easy to figure. I am tall and I can put the seat so far back I barely touch the pedals. Not sure about the pleather material on the seats that's some buggered material.

Grams left all the service records in the glovebox. Oil gets done every 5000kms, it had a shifter replaced two years ago, and a couple powertrain software updates.

Questions 1 What maintenance should I be doing to keep this car current 2 any major problems to watch out for 3 where is the manual door unlock 4 what floormats work best ive got carpet

 

[campb292]

Sorry about your Grandma. Very thoughtful of her to leave you a vehicle with so few miles/kilometers. I bet that Fusion was getting a little aged. Oh and the service records in the glovebox!!!

Answers:
1) In your owner's manual there is a service schedule. Follow the severe schedule. Coolant. Brake Fluid. Those are more age then mileage so I would get them done as they are both due at 5 years. Trans fluid is supposedly 45,000 miles (I think in miles, sorry) so you are a long way from that but... at 27000km already in getting coolant and brake fluid I'd probably get it done since it is 5+ years old. You can check the OLM for oil condition... if under 50% I'd just get that done while there to save time. Some of that is just opinion and saving time... the schedule in the manual is the guide you use.
2) You had the shifter replaced probably for the shift to park problem. Timing of that should mean that is set. ECM update was probably the knock sensor issue but I'm not sure what the 2nd would be. I don't see anything to be alarmed at in 2018. Make sure you get regular oil changes using dexos1 oil and use Top Tier fuel.
3) No manual door unlock on the inside. The outside is on the handle... cover pops off and key comes out of the fob.
4) I use WeatherTech in my Malibu. I have the traditional floorliners - fit great but the passenger mat slides a bit. I have the Floorliner HP in my CX5 and they are a step up. Better material, tiny little spikes hold them in place. Others will share their preferences no doubt.

Good luck, enjoy.

 

[JBM]

Thanks for the quick reply. The oil is at 18% so I'll get that done for sure along with the coolant and brake fluid. How long have pads been lasting on these? My fusion was a pad monster i probably put 3 sets on in 120000km.

 

[campb292]

Pads usually depend on driving style. I don't think I have a style. I brake light, I brake hard. My rear pads went at 110,000 miles and fronts followed around 125,000ish. I replaced rotors at the same since since they lasted so long.

 

[cp-the-nerd]

As far as brakes are concerned, my wife's 2017 Cruze brakes are very similar equipment and we're still on the factory pads and rotors at 85,000 miles (135,000 km). She's neither overly aggressive at driving nor particularly slow and timid.

I will say that her rotors are showing significant deterioration from rust over the 6 years we have owned it, so we may end up replacing all the pads and rotors due to age before wear.

Regarding oil changes, like campb292 suggested you can follow the oil life monitor (but don't ride it out to 0%). 4500 km is a very old-school mentality for the era of much lower quality oil. 10,000 km is probably still quite sensible if you're checking the dipstick and being diligent. On that note, make sure you are putting Dexos certified synthetic oil in the car. The high tech turbocharged engine is very sensitive to quality and mineral content, don't play around just to save a couple bucks. And DO NOT put conventional non-synthetic cheap oil in it.

 

[Pimp Daddy Suave]

On that note, make sure you are putting Dexos certified synthetic oil in the car. The high tech turbocharged engine is very sensitive to quality and mineral content, don't play around just to save a couple bucks. And DO NOT put conventional non-synthetic cheap oil in it.

THIS! Not to get overly dramatic, but putting the wrong oil in this particular engine may result in very, very bad things happening to your engine - particularly the pistons. Just do a quick search for melted or cracked pistons in this very community and you'll get an eyeful as to why you should stick to the proper oil.

 

[JBM]

2) You had the shifter replaced probably for the shift to park problem. Timing of that should mean that is set. ECM update was probably the knock sensor issue but I'm not sure what the 2nd would be. I don't see anything to be alarmed at in 2018. Make sure you get regular oil changes using dexos1 oil and use Top Tier fuel.

On that note, make sure you are putting Dexos certified synthetic oil in the car. The high tech turbocharged engine is very sensitive to quality and mineral content, don't play around just to save a couple bucks. And DO NOT put conventional non-synthetic cheap oil in it.

Thanks for the info guys. Is dexos just GMs word for synthetic? Great news on the brake pads I can only dream of that wear life.

 

[campb292]

Thanks for the info guys. Is dexos just GMs word for synthetic? Great news on the brake pads I can only dream of that wear life.

Short answer, No.

Dexos is a GM Approved licensing system. There was the original dexos1, dexos1 Gen 2, and current dexos1 Gen 3. The original dexos1 was released around 2011 and contained a mix of synthetic blends and full synthetics (mostly blends). Then dexos1 Gen 2 was released around 2017 and it was mostly full synthetics that met the standard. The current dexos1 Gen 3 is still mostly full synthetics it just tightened up some metrics a bit more than Gen 2. There are full synthetic oils that do not get the GM Approved Dexos1 Gen 3 license - either because the mfg doesn't seek the license or because it can't meet the standard.

If you go to a GM dealer for an oil change you will receive dexos1 oil. If you do oil changes yourself, you just look for the dexos1 Gen 3 label on the bottle (see below). There is also a website that has a database of the brands and viscosities (it is reasonably accurate but there are so errors and it can be a bit out of date): dexos®1 Gen 3 | GM

 

[JBM]

I'll go with the dealer until the warranty runs out then change myself most likely. Thanks for the info.