Vibe or Matrix Owners

[Rhymingmechanic]

Hello Bitog. I recently got a used 2010 Vibe, 1.8 4 speed automatic. The GM/Toyota joint venture seems to cause a lot of contradictions about fluid requirements, and hopefully you can help. I'm posting several questions here to avoid multiple posts in several forums.

First, of course, oil: The Pontiac manual says 5w30 but the cap says 5W or 0W-20. A Pontiac manual online says 5W-20. That's what I'll use when I change. The crazy thing is, both manuals say to change every 5000 miles or 3 MONTHS, whichever is first. Is that a typo? Does Toyota have the same requirement?

Filter: This has a cartridge filter. So far, I have found 3 different styles, and I'm trying to figure out which is best based on how the element seals. The Toyota and Wix filters don't have a full end cap, just some translucent material molded around the center tube. Fram and Beck Arnley have full end caps molded from the same hard, amber-colored material. Purolator has black plastic end caps with white felt around the center tube. All come with one big o-ring to seal the cap, but I don't quite understand how the center tube seals inside the engine. Any recommendations?

Crush Washers: Do I need to buy new ones for the oil and trans drain plugs, or are they reusable?

Coolant: The manual says Dex-Cool, but the coolant is pink--A drop on a piece of paper is bubble gum pink. Is this a Toyota Coolant? Dex cool looks pink in the reservoir of my Silverado, but it's actually orange.

Finally, are the Helm service manuals advertised in the owner's manual worth the $150, or would a Haynes or Chilton be just as good?

Thanks for your help in advance. Mods, let me know if I should break these questions up.

 

[Spyder7]

I can take a stab at some of them:

The 5k OCI in your manual is not a typo. I'd stick with it if using dino. If using syn you can stretch it out a little more, but then you might run into warranty issues, so as long as its under warranty its probably just as well to stick to dino and 5k OCIs.

The coolant sounds like Toyota Super Long Life coolant. They only use two types: Toyota red and pink. Pink is the the Super Long Life stuff.

I have the Haynes for the Prizm and Corollas covered by the one for my 2000 model. Its usable but about as concise as it gets. I'm not familiar with the Helm manual.

-Spyder

 

[Bill in Utah]

The Toyota OCI is 5000 miles or 6 months. You can use any 5w-20 and have excellent results and long life with that engine.

As far as the filter, not really familiar with the cartridge ones (mine uses the normal filters (05 Corolla 1ZZFE) but what I've seen here they all seem to be well built.

I went with a Sure drain for the plug on the oil pan but I would replace the crush washer every other time. Just flip it over! I've done that for decades with never a leak.

Toyota pick in some of the vehicles, Dexcool in others. When the vehicle went in for service at most GM shops they saw Dexcool. When I changed my factory fill I went to Peak Global lifetime since Toyota pink is only avail in a 50/50 mix and way too much.

The aftermarket manuals are good. They may not list part numbers like the factory but I'd pass on a factory one.

Enjoy the new ride! Said that Pontiac is no longer. They sold only 825 for the month of Oct...

Bill

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

Thanks for the tips so far. My first project will probably be trans fluid, since it has a drain plug. It has the 5/100 powertrain warranty, so I plan to use 5w20 conventional or on-sale synthetic every 5000. I thought the 3 month recommendation was strange, though. I don't know if I changed oil in my slant-six Duster that often.

Any thoughts on the cartridge filters?

This seems like a good little car so far, and a big step up from the oil-burning Saturn it replaced. I even found a local dealership that did a TSB with no questions asked--no lies, accusations or excuses like a Chevy dealer gave me over warranty work on a pickup.

 

[Mustang_Cougar]

I've got an '05 AWD, so there are some differences between your Vibe & mine (for instance, filter vs. cartridge). That said, the 1ZZFE is a Toyota engine, not a GM, so I would stick to the recommendations for the Matrix & Corolla (namely, 5w20 & the 5K/3mth OCI...well, until your warranty runs out).

As far as coolant, mine came w/Toyota Pink; my Vibe manual calls for Dexcool...but if I do a drain & fill, it'll be w/Toyota Pink.

A/T fluid recommendation is the same way: Manual states GM, but I use Toyota T-IV for drain & fills. As w/the coolant & filters, if you buy them at a GM parts dept, it's going to be $$$; if you buy them at a Toyota part dept, it's "only" going to be $$. Either way, OEM products will always be more expensive than Walmart.

The oil pan is a crush washer, the A/T pan is not (it's just a regular washer). Like BIU, I use a Fram Sure Drain on my car...so I don't know how often you "really" need to replace the oil pan crush washer. But replacing it every oil change seems extreme. As far as the A/T pan, yours might be aluminum; the AWD cars have a steel pan (just something to remember when you go cranking down on the drain plug).

Lastly, I don't know if you'll even be able to find a Haynes or Chilton manual for your Vibe yet; I might be wrong about this, but I don't think either company made a Vibe/Matrix manual until '06 or '07; so you might have to wait awhile until they update for the latest redesigns. That said, I do have the Haynes' and it's very generic...it doesn't address nearly enough of the unique AWD maintenance issues. Plus, many of the torque specs are wrong.

BTW: You might already know of it, but there is a very good, very friendly Vibe forum called Gen Vibe. Before you run out and buy an expensive service manual, try finding the info there; more than a few members have factory service manuals. Also, there are a few former NUMMI employees there who can be helpful.

Good luck!

 

[unixguru]

My mom has 2009 Matrix in the same configuration as yours. Manual recommends 5w-20 and 0w-20. So far I've used Mobil 1 0w30 twice and currently running Mobil 1 5w30. No issues whatsoever with 0/5w30. Maybe if she was driving in a milder climate I would use 5w20. Decided to stick with the heavier oil because in area where she lives they see 100F+ very often.

Drain interval 5k/6months (for sure) for severe service and 7.5k/1year for normal service if I recall correctly.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Rhymingmechanic
Any thoughts on the cartridge filters?


I have a new Camry that also takes a cartridge filter. After looking at the OEM filter (with no end cap) and a Purolator Pure One (with a thick plastic end cap), I actually prefer the OEM style, with no end cap. There's a lot more media (I measured it) and the price of the OEM cartridge is pretty decent (like 5 bucks). The Fram replacement from Walmart, which looks identical, is about 8 bucks. The P1 filter was $12. I'd stick with the OEM filter.

I'm surprised the oil cap does say 5w30. That was the case with the 1ZZ-FE engines in the 2003-2008 cars. The oil spec changed to 5W-20 in 2006, but they kept using the 5w30 caps through the end of the engine's run. Your 2010 should have the ZR engine, and I'm surprised they have a 5w30 cap on it, because that engine was spec'd for 5W-20 since the beginning. Interesting. My 1ZZ-FE ran best on Havoline 5w30 conventional, which was a thin 5w30. I'd try both 5w30 and 5W-20 and see which you like best in it.

Originally Posted By: Rhymingmechanic
This seems like a good little car so far, and a big step up from the oil-burning Saturn it replaced.


I had an '07 Corolla and really liked it. It was an excellent car. Handling was fairly neutral (with good tires) and it was fun to drive. I'm sure your Vibe is the same way. Enjoy!

 

[MarkM66]

I've got an '04 Vibe that I just put 150k miles on.

Other then changing the fluids, I replaced the drive belt, plugs and battery at 110k. That's about it, still on factory front pads and rotors.

In the trans I've used T-IV, Amsoil and Maxlife. Currently on Maxlife. I drain and fill that ever 20-30k miles. Oil gets changed every 7500 miles on synthetic oil, on whatever I happened to get a good deal on. Right now it's PP.

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I'm surprised the oil cap does say 5w30.


The cap says 5W-20 or 0W-20. The Pontiac owner's manual says 5w30, with no mention of any other weight except a specific prohibition against 10W-40 and 20W-50.

It seems like one hand didn't know what the other was doing with these cars. The manual also requires Dex-cool, but the coolant looks like Toyota pink. The manual and dipstick do both specify WS trans fluid, though. Toyota priced me WS at $11 per quart, and I'll probably use that to be sure it's right.

Thanks for the details about the filter. I have only seen the Toyota, Wix, and Delco no-endcap filters in photos. Purolator and Fram are on some store shelves. Is there an O-ring inside the engine that seals against the element, or does the filter material somehow make a seal?

 

[Cutehumor]

the oil cap says 5w-20 on my 09 vibe and uses regular spin oil filters. the trans dipstick will list the correct ATF. my 09 5 speed auto has T-IV in the manual, but the dipstick said "WS". I used WS transmission fluid. I'm going to use toyota pink when it is time to change antifreeze. it's pink fluid.

 

[fdcg27]

The car is about as GM as the average BMW.
It is a Toyota, so maintain it as you would a Matrix, not a G5.
There is nothing better than a factory manual for a car you plan to keep, but you can get very good info from the various online owners' forums, a resource not available only a few years ago.
Maintain that sucker, and it should last you a good long time.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Rhymingmechanic
Thanks for the details about the filter. I have only seen the Toyota, Wix, and Delco no-endcap filters in photos. Purolator and Fram are on some store shelves. Is there an O-ring inside the engine that seals against the element, or does the filter material somehow make a seal?


Honestly, I'm not sure exactly how they work. I haven't worked on mine myself yet; still using the free maintenance from Toyota. The replacement filter element will come with any required replacement o-rings.

 

[Thermo1223]

It is a Toyota engine/transmission in GM body. Follow the Toyota rules for anything drivetrain related.

Personally I like using the best I can so using 0w20 for me especially in a cold climate would be a no brainer. Any synthetic 5w20 though will suit you fine.

Regarding the cartridge filter...well every car manuf. does it a little different.

VW included 2 o-rings in the TDI's. One for the main cap and a smaller one to seal the lower pressure side so it would actually filter. Your replaced both everytime.

The way Toyota did it I assume they have a spine that comes off with the cap. I can see a large o-ring for sealing the cap so when it comes to sealing both ends of the filter they must just rely on pressure on both ends of the filter inside the housing. So the felt ends might be better but you wouldn't know until it was installed.

http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=38351&postid=492346

That thread has pics which can give you some insight.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: Thermo1223
It is a Toyota engine/transmission in GM body. Follow the Toyota rules for anything drivetrain related.


The Vibe is a re badged Toyota. The body and drive train are both made by Toyota in a ex co-owned plant that Toyota and GM used to own.

More info.

 

[Dave Hess]

So basically the quality is the same for both cars ?

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
So basically the quality is the same for both cars ?
For the most part yes. Same with the Corolla / Chevy Prizm.

Getting close to the same vehicle for a lot less buying the Pontic/Chevy label. They changed a few things like trim levels and such. But power train and most of the body is a Toyota.

 

[Thermo1223]

I figured GM did the steel stamping so they could feel useful

Now I know better.

 

[javacontour]

The NUMMI plant was a GM plant before it was used in the joint venture. So any Vibes made in that plant were made by UAW workers.

Ditto for any Geo Prizms and Toyota Corollas made in the NUMMI plant.

So you can park your "1" VIN Toyota Corolla in the Union hall parking lot, it was made by the UAW. Ditto for "5" VIN Vibes, etc.

 

[The_Jeff]

Weren't the 4wd Vibes made in Canada?