2012 Chevrolet Malibu Owner's Manual - Page 239

Vehicle Care Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the filter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting it in the trash or pouring it on the ground, into sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Recycle it by taking it to a place that collects used oil. When the system has calculated that oil life has been diminished, it indicates that an oil change is necessary. A CHANGE OIL SOON message comes on. See Engine Oil Messages on page 5‑25. Change the oil as soon as possible within the next 1 000 km (600 mi). It is possible that, if driving under the best conditions, the oil life system might indicate that an oil change is not necessary for up to a year. The engine oil and filter must be changed at least once a year and, at this time, the system must be reset. Your dealer has trained service people who will perform this work and reset the system. It is also important to check the oil regularly over the course of an oil drain interval and keep it at the proper level. If the system is ever reset accidentally, the oil must be changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi) since the last oil change. Remember to reset the oil life system whenever the oil is changed. 10-11 How to Reset the Engine Oil Life System Reset the system whenever the engine oil is changed so that the system can calculate the next engine oil change. To reset the system: 1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN, with the engine off. 2. Press and hold the DIC INFO and reset buttons, on the left side of the steering wheel, at the same time to enter the personalization menu. The OIL LIFE RESET message displays. See Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 5‑22 and Engine Oil Messages on page 5‑25. 3. Press and hold the reset button until the DIC display shows ACKNOWLEDGED. 4. Turn the key to LOCK/OFF. The system is reset when the CHANGE OIL SOON message is off. Engine Oil Life System When to Change Engine Oil This vehicle has a computer system that indicates when to change the engine oil and filter. This is based on a combination of factors which include engine revolutions, engine temperature, and miles driven. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at which an oil change is indicated can vary considerably. For the oil life system to work properly, the system must be reset every time the oil is changed.