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Chevrolet Malibu Transmission Fluid

Which transmission fluid the Chevrolet Malibu uses by model year and transmission, and how to check the level.

Quick answer

DEXRON-VI (2013 automatic); ATF-WS (2016 2.0L 8-speed); GM CVT fluid from your dealer (2025 CVT) — confirm for your year and engine. Dipstick: Not confirmed for every year — see your owner's manual. GM's 2013 and 2025 owner's manuals say it is not necessary to check the transmission fluid level. Fill capacity and change interval depend on your exact year, engine and transmission, so they are not listed here — use your owner's manual.

Updated October 24, 2026

Confirm your exact version. The Chevrolet Malibu was sold across several model years and more than one transmission. What is shown here is general guidance and has not been verified for every individual configuration. Before buying fluid or servicing, confirm the fluid spec, capacity, and check procedure for your exact model year and transmission using the owner's manual or a dealer parts lookup for your VIN.

Fluid specifications

Fluid (confirm for your year): DEXRON-VI (2013 automatic); ATF-WS (2016 2.0L 8-speed); GM CVT fluid from your dealer (2025 CVT) — confirm for your year and engine
Transmission: 6-speed automatic, 8-speed automatic (2016 2.0L) or CVT on newer models
Capacity and interval: Not listed — varies by year, engine and transmission. See your owner's manual.
Dipstick: Not confirmed for every year — see your owner's manual
Applies to: 2013–present

Official documents checked for this page

These cover only the model years named above, not every configuration.

This is general guidance for the Chevrolet Malibu. Always confirm the exact fluid spec and capacity for your model year in the owner's manual before servicing. Official source: Chevrolet manuals and guides.

How to check it

Check the transmission fluid section of your Chevrolet Malibu owner's manual first — it says whether your version has a dipstick, is checked at a fill/level plug at a set temperature, or should be checked by a dealer. See our step-by-step guides:

Frequently asked questions

What type of transmission fluid does the Chevrolet Malibu use?+

For the Chevrolet Malibu: DEXRON-VI (2013 automatic); ATF-WS (2016 2.0L 8-speed); GM CVT fluid from your dealer (2025 CVT) — confirm for your year and engine. Always confirm the exact specification for your model year in the owner's manual before topping up or changing fluid — using the wrong fluid can damage the transmission.

Does the Chevrolet Malibu have a transmission dipstick?+

We have not confirmed this for every Chevrolet Malibu model year. The official documents we checked are listed on this page; your owner's manual's transmission fluid section says whether your version has a dipstick or should be checked by a dealer.

How often should Chevrolet Malibu transmission fluid be changed?+

The interval depends on your model year, transmission and how the vehicle is used, so we do not publish a single number for the Chevrolet Malibu. Your owner's manual or maintenance schedule gives the interval, usually with a shorter one for severe service such as towing, extreme heat or stop-and-go driving.

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