2010 chevy malibu oil filter location

If it's the 2.4L ecotec it is next to the right side of the intake manifold a little below it mounted on the front of the engine block. It is a canister type filter the top of the housing for the filter must be removed and a new oring lubricated and installed.

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This was very helpful as I could not find it anywhere else, being I had never seen an oil fiter upright like this one Don K

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This thread is for a 2010 Chevy Malibu 2.4L 4Cyl (non-variable fuel)

I know how to do the oil change itself. This thread is for questions concerning tools, filters, and oil types. I posted some questions and the best answers I could give currently.

I am going to change my oil for the first time in my life. When I finally understand what is needed to do the job, I am going to update this thread to be a guide for other users to use too.

The price of the parts is not too big of a deal because I feel that it is better to buy quality parts instead of wasting money on poorly constructed things.

Questions and Answers​

This is very generalized so I tried to break it down below.

Found a maximum capacity of 5 quarts but I do not think I would be adding to the max capacity.
Drunken Elvis - All 5 Qts of oil go into engine.

Oil Filter Wrench, Oil Drain plug wrench, O-Ring Grabber thing. Maybe a torque tool so I can control the ft/lbs on the oil drain plug.
Drunken Elvis - Drain pain

Oil Filter, O-Rings, Synthetic Oil, Car ramps

Below are the parts I will be using for this oil change.​

Oil Filter:
O-Rings Kit:
Oil Filter Cap Wrench:
Oil Filter Drain Plug Wrench:
Synthetic Oil:
Car Ramps:
Oil Drain Pan: Capri Tools 2-Gallon Portable Oil Drain Pan

Thanks everyone! I will be posting pics and updating this post overtime.

You will need a drain pan to catch the oil.

The engine takes 5 qts of oil, put it all in.

Be very careful when un-screwing the filter cap. If you use the wrong type of socket to remove the cap, it can damage[crack] the plastic intake manifold as it rises up out of the filter cavity.

Thank you I forgot about the drain pan.

I was going to order a specific wrench to my oil filter cap to hopefully avoid damaging.

Do some research on synthetic oils. You may come to the same conclusion as I have, which is to use Royal Purple. They have 2 higher levels and for my V6 I'm gonna use the highest one available. Last oil change I used RP but had to use a K&N filter. Not a bad choice but I'll order the RP filter before my next change and have it waiting.

I know how to do the oil change itself.

I am going to change my oil for the first time in my life.

How do you know how to do do something and yet you haven't done it yet?

This thread is for a 2010 Chevy Malibu 2.4L 4Cyl (non-variable fuel)

I know how to do the oil change itself. This thread is for questions concerning tools, filters, and oil types. I posted some questions and the best answers I could give currently.

I am going to change my oil for the first time in my life. When I finally understand what is needed to do the job, I am going to update this thread to be a guide for other users to use too.

The price of the parts is not too big of a deal because I feel that it is better to buy quality parts instead of wasting money on poorly constructed things.

Questions and Answers​

What is everything that I need to do the oil change?

This is very generalized so I tried to break it down below.

How much oil should I add?

Found a maximum capacity of 5 quarts but I do not think I would be adding to the max capacity.
Drunken Elvis - All 5 Qts of oil go into engine.

What tools are needed?

Oil Filter Wrench, Oil Drain plug wrench, O-Ring Grabber thing. Maybe a torque tool so I can control the ft/lbs on the oil drain plug.
Drunken Elvis - Drain pain

What parts are needed for a successful oil change?

Oil Filter, O-Rings, Synthetic Oil, Car ramps

Below are the parts I will be using for this oil change.​

Oil Filter:
O-Rings Kit:
Oil Filter Cap Wrench:
Oil Filter Drain Plug Wrench:
Synthetic Oil:
Car Ramps:
Oil Drain Pan: Capri Tools 2-Gallon Portable Oil Drain Pan

Thanks everyone! I will be posting pics and updating this post overtime.

Here is the Amazon link to the oil filter socket. //www.amazon.com/Lisle-14700-Filter-Socket-Ecotec/dp/B0009OMYAQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451706721&sr=8-1&keywords=chevy+oil+filter+socket

Do some research on synthetic oils. You may come to the same conclusion as I have, which is to use Royal Purple. They have 2 higher levels and for my V6 I'm gonna use the highest one available. Last oil change I used RP but had to use a K&N filter. Not a bad choice but I'll order the RP filter before my next change and have it waiting.

If you want a well made filter with a reasonable price point, try Purolator PureOne. They use an actual metal interior tube and stamped on metal ends on the media. I love Royal Purple, and use some of their products on my Trailblazer, but their filters are a basic plastic e-core element in a Purple shell

I don't wanna buy the RP hype so I went looking for some hopefully unbiased information on filter construction, media types, etc.

Here is some new information (to me, at least!) that I'd like to share with folks.

Noria: How to evaluate oil filters

Edit: I have since looked for information about efficiency, etc, for various filters and haven't found any info. I sent an email to RP requesting info so I hope to have something to share before too long.

I use acdelco filters and synthetic valvoline or penzoil oil

Fram ultra is the best oil filter u can buy. Only thing i use on our cars.

Fram ultra is the best oil filter u can buy. Only thing i use on our cars.

I'll take a look into it. Most people have been saying to use Royal Purple from what I have seen.

I use acdelco filters and synthetic valvoline or penzoil oil

I saw some problems with acdeldo filters shipping the economy version so I am scared to try those; however, they are the OEM filter.

I don't wanna buy the RP hype so I went looking for some hopefully unbiased information on filter construction, media types, etc.

Here is some new information (to me, at least!) that I'd like to share with folks.

Noria: How to evaluate oil filters

Edit: I have since looked for information about efficiency, etc, for various filters and haven't found any info. I sent an email to RP requesting info so I hope to have something to share before too long.

Thank you for posting this. I have researched many filters and even watched that video.

If you want a well made filter with a reasonable price point, try Purolator PureOne. They use an actual metal interior tube and stamped on metal ends on the media. I love Royal Purple, and use some of their products on my Trailblazer, but their filters are a basic plastic e-core element in a Purple shell

I heard the one for malibu is great.

Here is the Amazon link to the oil filter socket. Robot Check

Thank you for this, will update post.

How do you know how to do do something and yet you haven't done it yet?

WOW. It is not like there is 100 different videos online for how to do this. Or you know, I could go talk to a mechanic friend? Everything in life is possible as long as you are willing to learn. Learning is easy. Anyone can learn. Don't be dumb.

Do some research on synthetic oils. You may come to the same conclusion as I have, which is to use Royal Purple. They have 2 higher levels and for my V6 I'm gonna use the highest one available. Last oil change I used RP but had to use a K&N filter. Not a bad choice but I'll order the RP filter before my next change and have it waiting.

Might use royal purple oil too since I PROBABLY will be using the filter.

I'll take a look into it. Most people have been saying to use Royal Purple from what I have seen.

I saw some problems with acdeldo filters shipping the economy version so I am scared to try those; however, they are the OEM filter.

Thank you for posting this. I have researched many filters and even watched that video.

I heard the one for malibu is great.

Thank you for this, will update post.

WOW. It is not like there is 100 different videos online for how to do this. Or you know, I could go talk to a mechanic friend? Everything in life is possible as long as you are willing to learn. Learning is easy. Anyone can learn. Don't be dumb.

Might use royal purple oil too since I PROBABLY will be using the filter.

look up on bobistheoilguy.com and look for the best filter and all u will find is people saying fram ultra. some people even use it for 2-3 oil changes with no problems. next oil change i mite switch it up 2 a napa gold filter (wix oil filter).

I recently change the oil using conventional oil on the same motor due to owners choice. Drained the oil, screwed back on the nut, changed filter and ring, filled 5q. After 5 minutes of driving it started making a ticking noise coming from the passenger side and have no idea what it is. Any ideas?

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Check the oil level. You may have over filled the engine. If you drained the oil from the pan and reinstalled the drain plug before removing the filter cap, a significant amount of old oil may have been trapped in the oil filter housing.

I always change the filter while the oil is draining from the pan. It saves some time as well.

The 4 cyl. ecotec engine uses a cartridge type filter residing on the front of the engine and the cap/cartridge is removed from the top. This might be more convenient and less messy to change than a typical spin on type filter, but in my opinion it presents some other problems. As the filter cap is unscrewed, pulling the filter element up with it, the oil in the filter cavity drains down into the oil sump. This oil is both inside the filter [filtered] and outside of the filter element [dirty].

The oil held in the cavity on the outside of the filter element is the dirtiest oil in the entire engine as it lives with all the impurities that have been filtered out of the oil. Naturally you want all of this dirty oil and the dirt that falls off of the outside of the filter element, during handling of the filter, removed from the engine but that doesn’t always happen. The dirty oil tends to collect at the back of the filter cavity. I’ve included a picture where you can see oil and impurities just sitting there failing to drain.

I usually collect and dispose of the oil/dirt inside the filter cavity with a paper towel.

Another thing I’ve noticed is the oil level is difficult to check. It seems to rise considerably when left for a couple of hours after shut down. I’m guessing here but, the oil filter cavity sits above the main bearings of the engine and the oil could make its way out of the filter housing down through the oil gallery to the main bearings at back to the sump.

I have never had that much oil sitting in the filter cavity when doing an oil change.

My V6 has a spin-on mounted at and angle and I'd like to someday have a remote filter that is vertical and a bit larger. I've considered one that uses a cartridge but never even thought about the remaining oil when changing it. Pictures are indeed worth 1000 words!

Just trying to logic this out now that SF says he doesn't have that much oil in his:

DE - Is it possible that the oil in the housing is because the car might be parked on a slight angle?

SF - Do you change yours parked on a level surface or slightly at an angle?

My V6 has a spin-on mounted at and angle and I'd like to someday have a remote filter that is vertical and a bit larger. I've considered one that uses a cartridge but never even thought about the remaining oil when changing it. Pictures are indeed worth 1000 words!

Just trying to logic this out now that SF says he doesn't have that much oil in his:

DE - Is it possible that the oil in the housing is because the car might be parked on a slight angle?

SF - Do you change yours parked on a level surface or slightly at an angle?

I usually jack up the whole car and place it as close to level as possible on jack stands. That allows me to check suspension components while I am waiting for the oil to drain.