What type of oil should I use for my 2013 Malibu?

christian62 · October 23, 2018, 5:19pm

I’m getting ready to do an oil change on my 2013 Chevrolet Malibu and I’m a bit unsure about the right oil type to use. I’ve done some searching and it looks like 5W-20 is the recommended viscosity, but I’ve also seen mentions of synthetic oil being a better choice.

Does anyone have personal experience with this?

Is synthetic worth the extra cost?
How often do you really need to change it?

I want to make sure I’m keeping my car in good condition and running smoothly. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

briannahendricks · October 27, 2018, 5:15pm

For your 2013 Malibu, Chevrolet recommends using 5W-30 viscosity motor oil. It’s crucial to check the manual for the exact specifications!

jamie01 · October 28, 2018, 5:28pm

That’s right! I’ve been using synthetic oil for a while, and it seems to keep my engine running smoother and longer. Anyone else prefer synthetic?

nancy42 · October 29, 2018, 5:31pm

I read somewhere that synthetic oils can actually help with fuel efficiency too! It’s a win-win if you ask me.

meredithmckee · November 1, 2018, 5:38pm

True! I was skeptical about synthetic oils at first, but switching has made a noticeable difference in my driving experience.

aarongibson · November 3, 2018, 5:04pm

But isn’t conventional oil cheaper? I mean, if it works fine, who needs to splurge on synthetic?

wallison · November 5, 2018, 5:12pm

That’s a fair point, but remember that while synthetic costs more upfront, it could save you money in the long run with extended oil change intervals.

duane41 · November 8, 2018, 5:10pm

I’ve heard mixed opinions about oils. Are there any drawbacks to using synthetic in the long run?

amanda46 · November 13, 2018, 5:58pm

Using synthetic has some minor drawbacks, like potential leaks in older engines. Still, it usually leads to better performance overall!

williamhouston · November 16, 2018, 5:22pm

What about adding oil additives? Are they beneficial or just a gimmick? I’ve always been curious about that.

deborah82 · November 21, 2018, 5:31pm

Honestly, I think they can sometimes do more harm than good. A good quality oil should have everything your engine needs!

cindyfinley · November 25, 2018, 5:10pm

I like to keep it simple and just stick with the recommended oil type. Sometimes less is more!

villanuevadarrell · November 28, 2018, 5:59pm

Agreed! Plus, it takes the guesswork out of it. The manufacturer knows best!

stephen77 · November 30, 2018, 5:36pm

For my 2013 Malibu, I’ve had great results using full synthetic oil. It seems to keep the engine clean and I’ve noticed a slight boost in my gas mileage. Highly recommend it!

alisonpope · December 3, 2018, 5:20pm

Interesting! I’ve heard full synthetic can really make a difference. How many miles do you generally get between oil changes?

marissasullivan · December 7, 2018, 5:28pm

I’ve switched to a high-mileage oil since my Malibu has over 100k miles now. I felt it helped reduce some leaks and the engine feels smoother overall. That’s my experience!

wheelerroger · December 10, 2018, 5:35pm

That’s good to know! I didn’t realize high-mileage oil could help that much. Did you notice any changes in performance?

gonzalezelizabeth · December 14, 2018, 5:19pm

I’ve tried using both conventional and synthetic oil in my Malibu. Honestly, I didn’t feel much difference in performance, though synthetic did last longer between changes.

matthew88 · December 18, 2018, 5:24pm

Is conventional oil to be avoided, then? I thought maybe it was just fine for regular usage. What are the pros and cons you all have seen?

hbenson · December 20, 2018, 5:57pm

I’ve had no issues with conventional oil in my Malibu either, but I switch to synthetic for added peace of mind. Just love the extra protection!