Tank Sizes and Petrol in a Diesel Chevrolet Malibu
Someone who has put petrol in a diesel Chevrolet Malibu wants to know the capacity of its fuel tank early on, as that settles how much of what is in there is currently petrol. The tank size and the engines are listed on this page for every Chevrolet Malibu version that we have data for.
Whatever the number, the guidance is no different now that it has occurred. With the engine kept off, phone Petrol in Diesel and your car can be emptied where it stands.
How each version stacks up on Chevrolet Malibu fuel tank capacity
Every version of the Chevrolet Malibu within our data shares one diesel tank, holding 73 litres.
Wrong fuel in your Chevrolet Malibu: what a few litres means
The proportion of petrol rests on how full your tank was before you refuelled. That's because wrong fuel in your Chevrolet Malibu mixes with whatever diesel was still in there. In a tank that takes up to 73 litres, a few litres of petrol on top of an almost full tank is a minor part of the whole, and the same few litres going into a tank that was nearly empty is a far greater part of what your engine would take in.
Frequently, people ask at what point the petrol becomes too much. It is more helpful to know if the motor has been run, since a running engine is what carries the mixture out of the tank and through your pump and the fuel injectors.
Whatever the share, the sensible thing is to get it drained, and with a small quantity a fuel drain is usually all your Malibu needs.
Engines found in your diesel Malibu
Before you call, it is worth checking the version name on the badge, as it tells us which motor your Malibu has.
The engines are each 2.0 litres.
Once you call, we can work out which version it is together, even when you're not sure yourself.
Fuel tank size and AdBlue in a diesel Chevrolet Malibu
Where AdBlue is concerned, the tank size works differently. The fuel pump takes its fuel from the base of the tank, and that's where AdBlue settles, and so even a tiny quantity gets into your fuel lines. If you have AdBlue in a diesel Chevrolet Malibu, your diesel surrounding it doesn't weaken it, since AdBlue is largely water and does not blend with diesel.
AdBlue does not burn and gives your pump no protection, and as its water evaporates, the urea left behind crystallises in the fuel lines and the fuel filter and corrodes the metal around it.
A separate tank with a dedicated filler holds the AdBlue on some diesel vehicles, often alongside the diesel filler under the same fuel flap. On any Malibu with an AdBlue filler, a blue cap usually shows it, and that cap fits a smaller pump nozzle than the diesel one.
A fuel drain on your Chevrolet Malibu, step by step
A fuel drain on your Chevrolet Malibu clears the entire tank, whatever its size on your version, and it is carried out where your car is standing. Pumping out the contaminated fuel happens first, followed by a flush of the fuel lines and the filter. Then we refill with fresh diesel, prime the fuel system and start the engine.
Parked at home or still at the pumps, your Malibu gets the same drain. When we finish this drain, your car is running on clean diesel and free to drive away.
AdBlue removal from a diesel Chevrolet Malibu, explained
AdBlue settles at the bottom of your tank rather than mixing in, so draining it totally is the first step in AdBlue removal from a diesel Chevrolet Malibu. Where your engine has been run, the lines and the filter are rinsed through too, and the fuel filter is changed if needed.
This is about AdBlue that has got into the diesel tank. It is not removing or switching off the AdBlue system on the vehicle.
The cost of a fuel drain on the Chevrolet Malibu
We don't publish a fixed price, since two call-outs on the same model can be very different. How much got in against the size of your tank, petrol or AdBlue, and the car's location all matter, yet whether the Malibu has been driven or just started changes it most.
Call with those details so we can let you know what this job will involve.
Tank queries about petrol in a diesel Chevrolet Malibu
Fuel tank capacity of the Chevrolet Malibu: how much does it hold?
The same tank is fitted to each version in our figures, holding 73 litres.
Is petrol less of an issue in a larger tank?
In a larger tank, petrol is a smaller part of the whole, yet it hasn't gone anywhere, and it reaches the pump once the motor runs. Leave your Malibu switched off and emptying it gets every bit of the petrol out.
Is it wrong fuel in my Chevrolet Malibu if it's not diesel?
Everything apart from diesel in your diesel tank, meaning petrol of any grade, super unleaded as well, or AdBlue intended for its own separate tank.
Wherever the Chevrolet Malibu is, can you drain the car?
Yes. We come to your car, whether it's still at the station forecourt or left on your drive, and so it does not need to be shifted or started.