Quote:
Originally Posted by NARFALICIOUS
That's why I asked how often OP changes it.
But 12k is a little high. While the Malibu wasn't part of GM's recent OLM recall, I just think that's too high, and oil should be inspected periodically after 3k to determine true condition. Do you use Synthetic?
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I don't think 12k is too high. I use synthetic and most of my miles are highway. I find no need to "inspect" the oil between changes other than occasionally checking fill level. Honestly, how exactly are you "inspecting" the oil anyway? You can't tell anything based on feel, color and smell and the "blotter tests" where you put a drop on a business card are equally useless. I seriously doubt you are sending out for an oil analysis every 3k, so what you are basically doing is getting your hands dirty. There are plenty of cars these days that go 10k-15k between changes by design. My rule is to change the oil when the manufacturer says to which is generally when the OLM indicates it or one year.
The current GM recall really has nothing to do with the OLM per se, but that is what GM is changing to help remedy other problems. The direct injected versions of the 3.6L V6 are having several issues, including premature timing chain wear. GM is blaming this on them setting the intervals "too far out" on the oil changes. However, the non-DI versions are not impacted at all. Pretty much everyone sees this as being GM's attempt at a bandaid to prevent future failures related to a flaw in the DI 3.6L, not an actual issue with the OLM itself.
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