I saw pink foam in my engine bay about 115k miles. Changed out the water pump. Not really that difficult but an annoying job and it caused some lower back and hamstring pain. The housing had some scarring in it. A couple months later, it was foaming again. Took it to a dealership figuring there some trick to get it sealed up. They replaced it and it was leaking again 2 days later. The next one they did seems to be sealed up. It's been 40k miles without issue.
126,000 miles in a 2015 Malibu.
- Thread starter ls1mike
- Start date
My buddy at work has two of those and they’ve been great to him. His has 160k the one his daughter drives even more.
My son bought one and it started well but turned into the car from hell. Makes no sense.
My son bought one and it started well but turned into the car from hell. Makes no sense.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
Great color and wheels too.
I loved Bremerton when I was there last summer. Kind of the ultimate commuting area too, I never saw any traffic? Just hop on the 3 and motor on. Well, I guess some traffic around Tacoma.
I loved Bremerton when I was there last summer. Kind of the ultimate commuting area too, I never saw any traffic? Just hop on the 3 and motor on. Well, I guess some traffic around Tacoma.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
Dude. I know that stretch of road. I drive it often. Once you get out here on the Kitsap Peninsula it is nice. Since they built the second bridge traffic has been much better!! It has its days but it tolerable. Just so expensive to live here and I won't lie, I cleared 160,000 last year without the wife's salary. I know way off topic, but I don't know how a lot of people do it.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
It is odd. Kids LB7 Duramax needed one. I was too busy to do it, and it was sort of involved so we took it somewhere. As far as we could tell it was the original pump at 232,000. The new one? 5,000 miles it started leaking. Glad I had someone do it. It had warranty.
Would not have thought Washington would have been that expensive to live there. More than here in MI, but I would have not thought it would be crazy…..
Western Washington is just as bad as SoCal, if not worse (and not necessarily just as it comes to cost of living). WA is basically trying to phase out personal cars, implementing pay-by-mile, ban on new sales of non EV/hybrids after 2030(?), taxes on unrealized capital gains, etc.
The summer weather is definitely the best in the country though, albeit EXTREMELY short, and it’s relatively easy on vehicles, unless they have water leaks, and believe me a W. WA fall/winter/spring/early summer will absolutely find its way into every weak seal.
In any case though, I love to see these higher mileage success stories, whatever op is doing seems to be doing well and I bet 350k is in the cards
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
Looking on Zillow, we’ve got about the same housing situation.
I have no idea how people do it. I’m single and earn about 1/2 what you do. I’m likely buying my first home later this year, but from a family member with an extreme discount. I have no idea how I’d do it otherwise.
I just look at that like they're "Durability testers".
You probably have other stuff already but as my dad put it. Your car is paid off? Great. Take that car payment and put in separate account and use for maintenance or the down payment on the next one of you need it to lower those payments.
Same thing if you want new. How much is the new one? Would you get a loan? If yes than figure out loan payment and start putting that away in that account. You'll have a bunch available if things happen to current ones.
Kid at my firehouse wanted a new to him truck. He was working a lot but still young and not a lot of parental guidance. I told him that same thing, he was driving an older Sonata that needed some work. He started putting money away and realized he didn't have enough to keep up with monthly payments, insurance, maintenance but kept putting money away for it. 2 months ago he bought a lower mileage, couple year older Ram 1500. He paid cash and is still putting money away in case it needs things.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
Ah, so that’s what my little sister does to my ‘07 Sonata. Testing the durabilityI just look at that like they're "Durability testers".
Boy does she
Is yours the 4 or 6 cylinder?
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
Had not been a 6cyl for a while. I think since 2013. I have the 2.0 LTG 4cyl turbo. 252hp 295ft/lbs of torque.
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Those are healthy power numbers, I had no idea that the Malibu's were 2.0 turbo!
I have the OG 2.0 boosted GM Ecotec, a 2006 Saturn Ion Redline with the supercharged LSJ. 205 hp/ 195 tq is mildly entertaining on a sub 3000 lb car, and has been super reliable.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Wow! You've kept that Malibu looking like new Mike. I see the occasional clean 8th gen in the Buffalo rust belt, but it's rare.
We've had our 2016 8th gen for 2yrs now. It wasn't nearly as pretty as yours when I bought it for my kids to use, and it's even worse now unfortunately. Mine has the 2.5L which has a nice amount of power for what it is. She runs and drives excellent.
Have you considered changing out the vacuum pump on your 2.0T? I would at this age/mileage if you haven't. It will break the exhaust cam if it locks up and replacement exhaust cams for the 2.0T are really hard to find.
We've had our 2016 8th gen for 2yrs now. It wasn't nearly as pretty as yours when I bought it for my kids to use, and it's even worse now unfortunately. Mine has the 2.5L which has a nice amount of power for what it is. She runs and drives excellent.
Have you considered changing out the vacuum pump on your 2.0T? I would at this age/mileage if you haven't. It will break the exhaust cam if it locks up and replacement exhaust cams for the 2.0T are really hard to find.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
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