what type of antifreeze does a 1998 malibu take?

Answer 1

Nothing special just buy Prestone ready mix and go to it. Some newer autos require expensive type, but yours does not. Look at the color of the liquid in the overflow reservoir and if it is greenish go with the cheap stuff, if it is orange and has a manufactures notice on the fan shroud ( I don't think it does) you may want to get professional opinion at the auto parts or dealer.

Answer 2

Dex-Cool GM coolant. Any GM vehicle 96 and newer and some late model 95's all take Dex-Cool. But I would have it flushed out and put the standard green in it. Dex-Cool has been known to have problems. Not so much the coolant but the lack of attention to the level. People see that it is a 100k mile coolant and think they can just leave it for 100k miles. You need to make sure it is always full. The problem with dex-cool is that when it gets low it mixes with the air and turns to mush.

Answer 3

My GM mechanic friend told me to get the GM antifreeze out of my Malibu. Some sort of problems with gaskets. He filled with Prestone.

Answer 4

Dex-Cool is the only coolant approved by GM for use in this vehicle. There is nothing particularly wrong with Dex-Cool as long as the system is maintained properly, checked regularly and never allowed to get low (for reasons mentioned in the last post). I've never seen Dex go the 150k miles/5-years GM insists it can go though without having some issues.

Do not mix Dex-Cool and Ethyl-Glycol (green) coolant. I really wouldn't mix Dex and so-called "universal" coolants either. If you've got Dex and just need a top off, use Dex. Only switch to something else if your going to flush the entire system.

Answer 5

Your malibu takes the orange Dexcool antifreeze, if you don't have any around you can also use Prestone's yellow universal antifreeze.

Answer 6

antifreeze