1986 Pontiac Grand Am Oil Type & Capacity
The 1986 Pontiac Grand Am oil type depends on the engine: the Base, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Automatic takes 5W-30 (3.0 quarts with filter); the Base, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Standard takes 5W-30 (3.0 quarts with filter); the Base, 2D Coupe, 3.0 L takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts with filter); the Base, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Automatic takes 5W-30 (3.0 quarts with filter); the Base, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Standard takes 5W-30 (3.0 quarts with filter); the Base, 4D Sedan, 3.0 L takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts with filter); the LE, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Automatic takes 5W-30 (3.0 quarts with filter); the LE, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Standard takes 5W-30 (3.0 quarts with filter); the LE, 2D Coupe, 3.0 L takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts with filter); the LE, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Automatic takes 5W-30 (3.0 quarts with filter); the LE, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Standard takes 5W-30 (3.0 quarts with filter); the LE, 4D Sedan, 3.0 L takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts with filter); the SE, 2D Coupe takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts with filter); the SE, 4D Sedan takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts with filter), per the factory service manual.
Factory-spec answer
It depends on the engine:
- Base, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Automatic: 5W-30, 3.0 quarts with filter
- Base, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Standard: 5W-30, 3.0 quarts with filter
- Base, 2D Coupe, 3.0 L: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
- Base, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Automatic: 5W-30, 3.0 quarts with filter
- Base, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Standard: 5W-30, 3.0 quarts with filter
- Base, 4D Sedan, 3.0 L: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
- LE, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Automatic: 5W-30, 3.0 quarts with filter
- LE, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Standard: 5W-30, 3.0 quarts with filter
- LE, 2D Coupe, 3.0 L: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
- LE, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Automatic: 5W-30, 3.0 quarts with filter
- LE, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Standard: 5W-30, 3.0 quarts with filter
- LE, 4D Sedan, 3.0 L: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
- SE, 2D Coupe: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
- SE, 4D Sedan: 5W-30, 4.0 quarts with filter
Oil capacity by engine
| Engine | Oil Type (viscosity) | Capacity w/ Filter | Capacity w/o Filter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, 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, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Standard — 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, 2D Coupe, 3.0 L — 3.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (Preferred) (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, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, 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, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Standard — 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, 4D Sedan, 3.0 L — 3.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (Preferred) (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. | — | — |
| LE, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, 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. | — | — |
| LE, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Standard — 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. | — | — |
| LE, 2D Coupe, 3.0 L — 3.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (Preferred) (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. | — | — |
| LE, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, 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. | — | — |
| LE, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Standard — 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. | — | — |
| LE, 4D Sedan, 3.0 L — 3.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (Preferred) (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, 2D Coupe — 3.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (Preferred) (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, 4D Sedan — 3.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (Preferred) (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. | — | — |
Buy the right oil
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More specs & repair guides for your Grand Am
1986 Pontiac Grand Am factory service manualAll fluid capacities (transmission, coolant, brakes)Powered by factory manual data from our partner site AllOEMManuals.com.
Coolant capacity
7.9 quarts (7.47 L) — 50/50 mixture of Ethylene Glycol Base Antifreeze and water. GM Specification 1825-M.
Frequently asked questions
What type of oil does a 1986 Pontiac Grand Am take?
It depends on the engine: Base, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Automatic uses 5W-30; Base, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Standard uses 5W-30; Base, 2D Coupe, 3.0 L uses 5W-30; Base, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Automatic uses 5W-30; Base, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Standard uses 5W-30; Base, 4D Sedan, 3.0 L uses 5W-30; LE, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Automatic uses 5W-30; LE, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Standard uses 5W-30; LE, 2D Coupe, 3.0 L uses 5W-30; LE, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Automatic uses 5W-30; LE, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Standard uses 5W-30; LE, 4D Sedan, 3.0 L uses 5W-30; SE, 2D Coupe uses 5W-30; SE, 4D Sedan uses 5W-30.
How much oil does a 1986 Pontiac Grand Am take?
Capacity depends on the engine: Base, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Automatic holds 3.0 quarts with filter; Base, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Standard holds 3.0 quarts with filter; Base, 2D Coupe, 3.0 L holds 4.0 quarts with filter; Base, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Automatic holds 3.0 quarts with filter; Base, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Standard holds 3.0 quarts with filter; Base, 4D Sedan, 3.0 L holds 4.0 quarts with filter; LE, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Automatic holds 3.0 quarts with filter; LE, 2D Coupe, 2.5 U, Standard holds 3.0 quarts with filter; LE, 2D Coupe, 3.0 L holds 4.0 quarts with filter; LE, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Automatic holds 3.0 quarts with filter; LE, 4D Sedan, 2.5 U, Standard holds 3.0 quarts with filter; LE, 4D Sedan, 3.0 L holds 4.0 quarts with filter; SE, 2D Coupe holds 4.0 quarts with filter; SE, 4D Sedan holds 4.0 quarts with filter.
Can I use synthetic oil in my 1986 Pontiac Grand Am?
Yes. 5W-30 is widely available as a full synthetic, and synthetic is safe (often recommended) for the 1986 Pontiac Grand Am. What matters most is matching the factory viscosity and specification, then changing the oil and filter on schedule.