1985 Pontiac Firebird Oil Type & Capacity
The 1985 Pontiac Firebird oil type depends on the engine: the Base, 2.5 2, Automatic takes 5W-30 (3.0 quarts qt with filter); the Base, 2.5 2, Standard, M08 takes 5W-30 (3.0 quarts qt with filter); the Base, 2.5 2, Standard, ML3 takes 5W-30 (3.0 quarts qt with filter); the Base, 2.8 S, Automatic takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts qt with filter); the Base, 2.8 S, Standard takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts qt with filter); the Base, 5.0 H, Automatic takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the Base, 5.0 H, Standard takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the SE, 2.8 S, Automatic takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts qt with filter); the SE, 2.8 S, Standard takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts qt with filter); the SE, 5.0 H, Automatic takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the SE, 5.0 H, Standard takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the Trans Am, 5.0 F takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the Trans Am, 5.0 G takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the Trans Am, 5.0 H, Automatic takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the Trans Am, 5.0 H, Standard takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter), per the factory service manual.
Factory-spec answer
It depends on the engine:
- Base, 2.5 2, Automatic: 5W-30, 3.0 quarts with filter
- Base, 2.5 2, Standard, M08: 5W-30, 3.0 quarts with filter
- Base, 2.5 2, Standard, ML3: 5W-30, 3.0 quarts with filter
- Base, 2.8 S, Automatic: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
- Base, 2.8 S, Standard: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
- Base, 5.0 H, Automatic: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- Base, 5.0 H, Standard: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- SE, 2.8 S, Automatic: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
- SE, 2.8 S, Standard: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
- SE, 5.0 H, Automatic: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- SE, 5.0 H, Standard: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- Trans Am, 5.0 F: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- Trans Am, 5.0 G: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- Trans Am, 5.0 H, Automatic: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- Trans Am, 5.0 H, Standard: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
Oil capacity by engine
| Engine | Oil Type (viscosity) | Capacity w/ Filter | Capacity w/o Filter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base, 2.5 2, Automatic — 2.5L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 15W-30 (10Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 20W-20 (20Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to over 100Deg.F) | 3.00 QTS. | — | — |
| Base, 2.5 2, Standard, M08 — 2.5L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 15W-30 (10Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 20W-20 (20Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to over 100Deg.F) | 3.00 QTS. | — | — |
| Base, 2.5 2, Standard, ML3 — 2.5L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 15W-30 (10Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 20W-20 (20Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to over 100Deg.F) | 3.00 QTS. | — | — |
| Base, 2.8 S, Automatic — 2.8L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 15W-30 (10Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 20W-20 (20Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to over 100Deg.F) | 4.00 QTS. | — | — |
| Base, 2.8 S, Standard — 2.8L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 15W-30 (10Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 20W-20 (20Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to over 100Deg.F) | 4.00 QTS. | — | — |
| Base, 5.0 H, Automatic — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 15W-30 (10Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 20W-20 (20Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to over 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Base, 5.0 H, Standard — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 15W-30 (10Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 20W-20 (20Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to over 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| SE, 2.8 S, Automatic — 2.8L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 15W-30 (10Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 20W-20 (20Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to over 100Deg.F) | 4.00 QTS. | — | — |
| SE, 2.8 S, Standard — 2.8L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 15W-30 (10Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 20W-20 (20Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to over 100Deg.F) | 4.00 QTS. | — | — |
| SE, 5.0 H, Automatic — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 15W-30 (10Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 20W-20 (20Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to over 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| SE, 5.0 H, Standard — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 15W-30 (10Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 20W-20 (20Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to over 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Trans Am, 5.0 F — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 15W-30 (10Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 20W-20 (20Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to over 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Trans Am, 5.0 G — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 15W-30 (10Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 20W-20 (20Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to over 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Trans Am, 5.0 H, Automatic — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 15W-30 (10Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 20W-20 (20Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to over 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Trans Am, 5.0 H, Standard — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 15W-30 (10Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 20W-20 (20Deg.F to over 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to over 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
More factory specs & repair guides for your Firebird
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Coolant capacity
13.0 quarts (12.3 L) — 50/50 mixture of Ethylene Glycol Base Antifreeze and water. GM Specification 1825-M.
Frequently asked questions
What type of oil does a 1985 Pontiac Firebird take?
It depends on the engine: Base, 2.5 2, Automatic uses 5W-30; Base, 2.5 2, Standard, M08 uses 5W-30; Base, 2.5 2, Standard, ML3 uses 5W-30; Base, 2.8 S, Automatic uses 5W-30; Base, 2.8 S, Standard uses 5W-30; Base, 5.0 H, Automatic uses 5W-30; Base, 5.0 H, Standard uses 5W-30; SE, 2.8 S, Automatic uses 5W-30; SE, 2.8 S, Standard uses 5W-30; SE, 5.0 H, Automatic uses 5W-30; SE, 5.0 H, Standard uses 5W-30; Trans Am, 5.0 F uses 5W-30; Trans Am, 5.0 G uses 5W-30; Trans Am, 5.0 H, Automatic uses 5W-30; Trans Am, 5.0 H, Standard uses 5W-30.
What is the oil capacity of a 1985 Pontiac Firebird?
Oil capacity depends on the engine: Base, 2.5 2, Automatic holds 3.0 quarts with filter; Base, 2.5 2, Standard, M08 holds 3.0 quarts with filter; Base, 2.5 2, Standard, ML3 holds 3.0 quarts with filter; Base, 2.8 S, Automatic holds 4.0 quarts with filter; Base, 2.8 S, Standard holds 4.0 quarts with filter; Base, 5.0 H, Automatic holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Base, 5.0 H, Standard holds 5.0 quarts with filter; SE, 2.8 S, Automatic holds 4.0 quarts with filter; SE, 2.8 S, Standard holds 4.0 quarts with filter; SE, 5.0 H, Automatic holds 5.0 quarts with filter; SE, 5.0 H, Standard holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Trans Am, 5.0 F holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Trans Am, 5.0 G holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Trans Am, 5.0 H, Automatic holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Trans Am, 5.0 H, Standard holds 5.0 quarts with filter.
How often should I change the oil in my 1985 Pontiac Firebird?
Most 1985 Pontiac Firebird 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 — Pontiac recommends intervals based on driving conditions, not just mileage.
Can I use synthetic oil in my 1985 Pontiac Firebird?
Yes. 5W-30 is widely available as a full synthetic, and synthetic is safe (often recommended) for the 1985 Pontiac Firebird. What matters most is matching the factory viscosity and specification, then changing the oil and filter on schedule.