1983 Chevrolet Malibu Oil Type & Capacity
The 1983 Chevrolet Malibu oil type depends on the engine: the 4D Sedan, 3.8 9 takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts qt with filter); the 4D Sedan, 3.8 A, 250C/M31 takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts qt with filter); the 4D Sedan, 3.8 A, 350C/MX2 takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts qt with filter); the 4D Sedan, 4.3 V takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts qt with filter); the 4D Sedan, 5.0 H, 250C/M31 takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the 4D Sedan, 5.0 H, 350C/MX2 takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the 4D Sedan, 5.7 N takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts qt with filter); the 4D Wagon, 3.8 9 takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts qt with filter); the 4D Wagon, 3.8 A, 250C/M31 takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts qt with filter); the 4D Wagon, 3.8 A, 350C/MX2 takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts qt with filter); the 4D Wagon, 5.0 H, 250C/M31 takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the 4D Wagon, 5.0 H, 350C/MX2 takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the 4D Wagon, 5.7 N takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts qt with filter), per the factory service manual.
Factory-spec answer
It depends on the engine:
- 4D Sedan, 3.8 9: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
- 4D Sedan, 3.8 A, 250C/M31: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
- 4D Sedan, 3.8 A, 350C/MX2: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
- 4D Sedan, 4.3 V: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
- 4D Sedan, 5.0 H, 250C/M31: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- 4D Sedan, 5.0 H, 350C/MX2: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- 4D Sedan, 5.7 N: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- 4D Wagon, 3.8 9: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
- 4D Wagon, 3.8 A, 250C/M31: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
- 4D Wagon, 3.8 A, 350C/MX2: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
- 4D Wagon, 5.0 H, 250C/M31: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- 4D Wagon, 5.0 H, 350C/MX2: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- 4D Wagon, 5.7 N: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
Oil capacity by engine
| Engine | Oil Type (viscosity) | Capacity w/ Filter | Capacity w/o Filter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4D Sedan, 3.8 9 — 3.8L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 15W-40 (10Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-20/40/50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 4.00 QTS. | — | — |
| 4D Sedan, 3.8 A, 250C/M31 — 3.8L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 15W-40 (10Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-20/40/50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 4.00 QTS. | — | — |
| 4D Sedan, 3.8 A, 350C/MX2 — 3.8L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 15W-40 (10Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-20/40/50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 4.00 QTS. | — | — |
| 4D Sedan, 4.3 V — 4.3L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 15W-40 (10Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-20/40/50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 4.00 QTS. | — | — |
| 4D Sedan, 5.0 H, 250C/M31 — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 15W-40 (10Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-20/40/50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| 4D Sedan, 5.0 H, 350C/MX2 — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 15W-40 (10Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-20/40/50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| 4D Sedan, 5.7 N — 5.7L Eng | SAE 10W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 (15Deg.F to Above 75Deg.F), 30 (Preferred) (32Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 7.00 QTS. | 6.00 QTS. | — |
| 4D Wagon, 3.8 9 — 3.8L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 15W-40 (10Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-20/40/50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 4.00 QTS. | — | — |
| 4D Wagon, 3.8 A, 250C/M31 — 3.8L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 15W-40 (10Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-20/40/50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 4.00 QTS. | — | — |
| 4D Wagon, 3.8 A, 350C/MX2 — 3.8L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 15W-40 (10Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-20/40/50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 4.00 QTS. | — | — |
| 4D Wagon, 5.0 H, 250C/M31 — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 15W-40 (10Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-20/40/50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| 4D Wagon, 5.0 H, 350C/MX2 — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 15W-40 (10Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-20/40/50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| 4D Wagon, 5.7 N — 5.7L Eng | SAE 10W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 (15Deg.F to Above 75Deg.F), 30 (Preferred) (32Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 7.00 QTS. | 6.00 QTS. | — |
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More factory specs & repair guides for your Malibu
🛞 1983 Chevrolet Malibu Tire Size & Pressure →🌧️ 1983 Chevrolet Malibu Wiper Blade Sizes →💡 1983 Chevrolet Malibu Light Bulb Sizes →📖 1983 Chevrolet Malibu Factory Service Manual →All fluid capacities (transmission, coolant, brakes)Powered by factory manual data from our partner network AllOEMManuals.com.
Coolant capacity
15.0 quarts (14.19 L) — 50/50 mixture of Ethylene Glycol Base Antifreeze and water. GM Specification 1825-M.
Frequently asked questions
What type of oil does a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu take?
It depends on the engine: 4D Sedan, 3.8 9 uses 5W-30; 4D Sedan, 3.8 A, 250C/M31 uses 5W-30; 4D Sedan, 3.8 A, 350C/MX2 uses 5W-30; 4D Sedan, 4.3 V uses 5W-30; 4D Sedan, 5.0 H, 250C/M31 uses 5W-30; 4D Sedan, 5.0 H, 350C/MX2 uses 5W-30; 4D Sedan, 5.7 N uses 10W-30; 4D Wagon, 3.8 9 uses 5W-30; 4D Wagon, 3.8 A, 250C/M31 uses 5W-30; 4D Wagon, 3.8 A, 350C/MX2 uses 5W-30; 4D Wagon, 5.0 H, 250C/M31 uses 5W-30; 4D Wagon, 5.0 H, 350C/MX2 uses 5W-30; 4D Wagon, 5.7 N uses 10W-30.
What is the oil capacity of a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu?
Oil capacity depends on the engine: 4D Sedan, 3.8 9 holds 4.0 quarts with filter; 4D Sedan, 3.8 A, 250C/M31 holds 4.0 quarts with filter; 4D Sedan, 3.8 A, 350C/MX2 holds 4.0 quarts with filter; 4D Sedan, 4.3 V holds 4.0 quarts with filter; 4D Sedan, 5.0 H, 250C/M31 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; 4D Sedan, 5.0 H, 350C/MX2 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; 4D Sedan, 5.7 N holds 7.0 quarts with filter; 4D Wagon, 3.8 9 holds 4.0 quarts with filter; 4D Wagon, 3.8 A, 250C/M31 holds 4.0 quarts with filter; 4D Wagon, 3.8 A, 350C/MX2 holds 4.0 quarts with filter; 4D Wagon, 5.0 H, 250C/M31 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; 4D Wagon, 5.0 H, 350C/MX2 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; 4D Wagon, 5.7 N holds 7.0 quarts with filter.
How often should I change the oil in my 1983 Chevrolet Malibu?
Most 1983 Chevrolet Malibu owners follow a 5,000–7,500 mile interval with conventional oil, or up to 10,000 miles with full synthetic. Always check the oil life monitor if equipped, and consult your owner's manual — Chevrolet recommends intervals based on driving conditions, not just mileage.
Can I use synthetic oil in my 1983 Chevrolet Malibu?
Yes. 5W-30 is widely available as a full synthetic, and synthetic is safe (often recommended) for the 1983 Chevrolet Malibu. What matters most is matching the factory viscosity and specification, then changing the oil and filter on schedule.