How To Reset Oil Life On Chevy Malibu (2008-2015)
Last Updated on December 4, 2023 by Nick
Hello everyone, thank you for stopping by here. Today, I will show you how to reset the oil life percentage gauge light on your 2008-2015 Chevy Malibu. It’ll also work with several other Chevy models with roughly the same setup.
Again always check the owner’s manual to make sure that you’re doing the correct steps. Because they vary the owner’s manual, this vehicle doesn’t give you the best directions. So let’s get to work.
Table of Contents
2008-2012 Chevy Malibu Oil Life Reset Guide
In this section, I’ll show you guys how to reset the oil life percentage on the Chevy Malibu from 2008 to 2012. So what you’re going to do is:
- Turn the key to the on position
- Press and hold the INFO button and the ⏎ button at the same time for a second to enter the PERSONALIZATION menu
- Find the OIL LIFE RESET by pressing the INFO button repeatedly
- Press and hold the ⏎ button until the ACKNOWLEDGED displayed
- At this point, you know you’ve got it done. Just to double-check it just turn the key off and then start the car to confirm that oil life is reset
Resetting Oil Light in the Chevy Malibu (2013-2015)
Time needed: 3 minutes
If you change your own oil or someone changes it work for you and didn’t reset the oil life system, you need to reset it by yourself. It was pretty simple to do, basically, you just need to use the button on the turn signal lever. So this is how you do it:
- Get in the car and turn it on without starting the engine
If your vehicle has an ignition button, press and holds the Start/Stop button with your foot off the brake pedal
- Get to the VEHICLE INFORMATION menu screen
Then, using the MENU button, you can alter the driver information menu screen to display the remaining VEHICLE INFORMATION
- Scroll down to the REMAINING OIL LIFE
You may have to navigate up or down by using the thumbwheel to get to the remaining OIL LIFE
- Hold down the SET/CLR button
After that, pressing the SET/CLR button on the end of the stalk will prompt you to confirm your decision to reset
- Select YES
Turn the thumbwheel to YES until it says so, then presses the SET/CLR button to reset it
For your info, this will apply specifically to 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 model years. The new model has a little bit different but I’ll try to get you a link up here.
Can I trust the oil life indicator?
I think these oil life monitoring systems are not just simple sensors. They use calculations from the vehicle’s computer to figure out the best service life for the oil, which is probably why the indicator came on four thousand miles after the sticker.
So if I had a car with an oil life monitoring system, I would probably go somewhere between the complex number of 5,000 miles or 10,000 miles. Whatever it is and what the indicator says, it feels more comfortable for me to put a date on the calendar or know a specific mileage that my car services.
If the oil life indicator came on, I probably wouldn’t go past it. I would probably do it then, but I would be leaning on the hard mileage month or the oil life indicator, whichever came first. This may result in you changing your oil from time to time, but I have to say that, guys, it’s such cheap insurance to ensure your engine is running correctly.
Sixty bucks a year that you need in your life to help make it run better for longer. It’s not going to guarantee you’re not going to have problems, but you can almost count on it. If you don’t change your oil, you will have more problems than if you do change the oil. So a little over preventative maintenance right is something I would lean on versus pushing it to the absolute limit and hoping I don’t have a problem.
FAQ – Chevy Malibu Maintenance
There are 5 quarts in the 2.4L and 2.5L engines, respectively. The 2.0L engine has a 6.3-quart capacity. You should maintain the oil level between the MAX and MIN marks on the dipstick.
The kind of oil you require for the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu depends on your engine size. SAE 5W-30 is used in the 2.0L and 2.4L L4 engines. SAE 5W-20 is necessary for the 2.5 L, but the SAE 0W-20 may also be used.
The life expectancy of the tranny may be extended by regular maintenance. Regarding materials and labor, a fluid cleanses, fill, and filter replacement typically costs between $170 and $190.
Every 30,000 to 50,000 miles, the transmission fluid, and filter should be flushed and replaced.
The automatic gearbox in the 2014 Chevy Malibu’s 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine utilizes 6.3 quarts of Dexron VI/ATF fluid.
So there you go, it’s all done; that’s all you have to do. Okay, it’s as simple as that, and as I said, the manual doesn’t really tell you how to do that exactly. I’m Nick be posting more content pretty soon to show you how to take care of your car. I appreciate your time. Greetings to all of you!
About The Author
Nick
Hi! Greetings, I'm Nick, an automotive technician and a vehicle enthusiast with over a decade of experience working at a dealer service station. I have extensive knowledge of engine oils and lubricants and have helped countless customers maintain their vehicles. As an editor and author of articles on automobiles, I draw on my personal experience and professional training to provide readers with accurate and reliable information. I am passionate about sharing my expertise with others and helping them make informed decisions about their vehicles.
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Different oils have different change schedules (i.e. regular v.s. synthetic) does the % oil life indicator account for that fact ?
No, the systems do not know what type of oil you put in, however, the manufacturer recommended oil is what they calibrate the oil life monitor to. For example, the Chevy Corvette specs Mobil 1 synthetic, the monitor is calibrated for that oil.
Superb, what a web site it is! This web site presents useful facts to us,
keep it up.
Does the computer log the number of times you reset the oil – after changing it? we change our own oil, and the dealer wants “proof”, that’s fun when you have a years worth of receipts to review. Hoping with advanced as the computers are within vehicles these days, it stores that info.