- #117 of 176
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Maxx... Opel... Chevette connection...
by cwesleyg
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Aug 11, 2005 (12:32 pm)
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My first post on this forum... I just bought my black 2005 Malibu Maxx LS last month. I really love this car. I traded in my indigo 2002 2WD Silverado Ext cab short box... I miss it very much... but I don't miss the 15 mpg. My Maxx is getting about 26 mpg now that it is a little broken in... I hope that will improve a bit more. This is my first brand new car for myself, and my first car with a sunroof.
I had a 1973 opel 1900 (in years previous it was known as the Kadett in previous years)... few people know this, but that car design eventually became the Chevette in 1976. As many of us know, the 2004 Malibu is based on the GM Epsilon front wheel drive platform, that is also engineered by Opel. I never cared for the Chevette, but I loved my Opel dearly. It was gitchy cool and very fun to drive.
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- #118 of 176
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Malibu Reliability
by clarencehollow
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Aug 15, 2005 (6:38 am)
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Replying to: cwesleyg (Aug 11, 2005 12:32 pm)
We have had our 2005 Malibu BASE since Nov 2004 and we have had ZERO problems, and got our second our change at almost 14,000 miles with the Oil Life Monitoring System. Never had a car that worked so perfect, honest! I only had to use Roadside Assistance once when I locked my keys in the car. From the time I called and the time they had my car unlocked, it was less than 45 minutes - and a AAA Van showed up for it. Locksmith service is FREE and included in the car witht e 24 hour Roadside Assistance. WE love GM.
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- #119 of 176
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Re: Malibu Reliability [clarencehollow]
by cwesleyg
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Aug 17, 2005 (1:05 pm)
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Replying to: clarencehollow (Aug 15, 2005 6:38 am)
despite what the oil life monitor says, I would never wait that long for an oil change... I am considering full synthetic on second oil change at 6500 miles...
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- #120 of 176
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Re: Malibu Reliability [cwesleyg]
by maxx4me
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Aug 17, 2005 (4:29 pm)
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Replying to: cwesleyg (Aug 17, 2005 1:05 pm)
I'd recommend just that. But then I'd also recommend you only change your synthetic every 6k. Anything sooner is simply a waste of your money, unless you are driving on dirt roads each and every day.
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- #121 of 176
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Re: Malibu Reliability [maxx4me]
by pao
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Aug 18, 2005 (4:24 am)
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Replying to: maxx4me (Aug 17, 2005 4:29 pm)
I have switched to synthetic on my 04 Maxx and doing changes between 6-7K....the GMOL system usually indicates around 40-50% left at that point.....Im have gotten away from the every 3K oil change with todays engines...and my driving habits.......some still swear by the 3K change......but I honestly beleive you can extend that out...with a good quality oil.....as long as you have the normal driving habits......no towing..no full time stop and go...etc......about to roll over 36k on my Maxx this week
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- #122 of 176
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Re: Malibu Reliability [pao]
by maxx4me
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Aug 18, 2005 (7:58 am)
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Replying to: pao (Aug 18, 2005 4:24 am)
wow pao, just to put your driving habits into perspective, at 6k, my DIC says that I have only 5% time left to change my oil. In fact the last time, it flashed the "change oil soon" sign.
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- #123 of 176
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Re: Malibu Reliability [maxx4me]
by pao
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Aug 18, 2005 (9:48 am)
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Replying to: maxx4me (Aug 18, 2005 7:58 am)
all of mine is highway.....cruise control...about 65..mostly.....instead of all that stop and go stuff you do....probably accounts for some of it....no hard starts...and not too many hills so trans isnt pulling gears.....
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- #124 of 176
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Re: Malibu Reliability [maxx4me]
by csandste
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Aug 18, 2005 (10:50 pm)
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Replying to: maxx4me (Aug 18, 2005 7:58 am)
I changed my oil with 25% on the monitor since I was going on an almost 2000 mile trip. Could have almost stretched it since I only used 14% in steady driving. GM has invested a lot in that system, Ignoring it and dropping oil at 3 to 5K is wasteful. That V6 is a very easy engine on oil.
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- #125 of 176
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Re: Malibu Reliability [csandste]
by pao
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Aug 19, 2005 (4:52 am)
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Replying to: csandste (Aug 18, 2005 10:50 pm)
with my current driving style..mostly highway.......my GMOL reduces by 10-13% for every 1000 miles driven right now...I have stretched my oil changes to every 7500 miles now and using synthetic oil now
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- #126 of 176
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Re: Malibu Reliability [csandste]
by cwesleyg
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Aug 22, 2005 (12:49 pm)
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Replying to: csandste (Aug 18, 2005 10:50 pm)
Anyone not changing their regular motor oil atleast every 5k is asking for trouble. I would never trust that computerized oil life indicator. If I stay with regular oil, I'll change it every 3-3.5k... with synthetic avery 5-6k, regardless of road conditions. There is not enough history on the 3.5 LX9 motor to support your claim. Better safe than sorry. Oil changes are alot cheaper than egine replacements and rebuilds.
We have a lot of dirt roads in Michigan... even the paved roads get dirt all over them from all the cars entering from dirt ones. Livingston County MI only has about 60% paved roads... and you can taste the road salt in the air all winter...
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