1987 Pontiac Firebird Oil Type & Capacity
The 1987 Pontiac Firebird oil type depends on the engine: the Base, 2.8 S, Automatic takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts with filter); the Base, 2.8 S, Standard takes 5W-30 (4.0 quarts with filter); the Base, 5.0 H, Automatic takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the Base, 5.0 H, Standard, M39 takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the Base, 5.0 H, Standard, MC4 takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the Formula, 5.0 F takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the Formula, 5.0 H, Automatic takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the Formula, 5.0 H, Standard, M39 takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the Formula, 5.0 H, Standard, MC4 takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the Formula, 5.7 8 takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the Trans Am GTA, 5.0 F takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the Trans Am GTA, 5.7 8 takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the Trans Am, 5.0 F takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the Trans Am, 5.0 H, Automatic takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the Trans Am, 5.0 H, Standard, M39 takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the Trans Am, 5.0 H, Standard, MC4 takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the Trans Am, 5.7 8 takes 5W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter), per the factory service manual.
Factory-spec answer
It depends on the engine:
- 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, M39: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- Base, 5.0 H, Standard, MC4: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- Formula, 5.0 F: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- Formula, 5.0 H, Automatic: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- Formula, 5.0 H, Standard, M39: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- Formula, 5.0 H, Standard, MC4: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- Formula, 5.7 8: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- Trans Am GTA, 5.0 F: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- Trans Am GTA, 5.7 8: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- Trans Am, 5.0 F: 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, M39: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- Trans Am, 5.0 H, Standard, MC4: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- Trans Am, 5.7 8: 5W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
Oil capacity by engine
| Engine | Oil Type (viscosity) | Capacity w/ Filter | Capacity w/o Filter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base, 2.8 S, Automatic — 2.8L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 4.00 QTS. | — | — |
| Base, 2.8 S, Standard — 2.8L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 4.00 QTS. | — | — |
| Base, 5.0 H, Automatic — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Base, 5.0 H, Standard, M39 — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Base, 5.0 H, Standard, MC4 — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Formula, 5.0 F — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Formula, 5.0 H, Automatic — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Formula, 5.0 H, Standard, M39 — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Formula, 5.0 H, Standard, MC4 — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Formula, 5.7 8 — 5.7L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Trans Am GTA, 5.0 F — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Trans Am GTA, 5.7 8 — 5.7L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Trans Am, 5.0 F — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Trans Am, 5.0 H, Automatic — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Trans Am, 5.0 H, Standard, M39 — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Trans Am, 5.0 H, Standard, MC4 — 5.0L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| Trans Am, 5.7 8 — 5.7L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 30 (40Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | — | 4.00 QTS. | — |
Buy the right oil
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More specs & repair guides for your Firebird
1987 Pontiac Firebird factory service manualAll fluid capacities (transmission, coolant, brakes)Powered by factory manual data from our partner site AllOEMManuals.com.
Coolant capacity
12.4 quarts (11.73 L) — 50/50 mixture of Ethylene Glycol Base Antifreeze and water. GM Specification 1825-M.
Frequently asked questions
What type of oil does a 1987 Pontiac Firebird take?
It depends on the engine: 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, M39 uses 5W-30; Base, 5.0 H, Standard, MC4 uses 5W-30; Formula, 5.0 F uses 5W-30; Formula, 5.0 H, Automatic uses 5W-30; Formula, 5.0 H, Standard, M39 uses 5W-30; Formula, 5.0 H, Standard, MC4 uses 5W-30; Formula, 5.7 8 uses 5W-30; Trans Am GTA, 5.0 F uses 5W-30; Trans Am GTA, 5.7 8 uses 5W-30; Trans Am, 5.0 F uses 5W-30; Trans Am, 5.0 H, Automatic uses 5W-30; Trans Am, 5.0 H, Standard, M39 uses 5W-30; Trans Am, 5.0 H, Standard, MC4 uses 5W-30; Trans Am, 5.7 8 uses 5W-30.
How much oil does a 1987 Pontiac Firebird take?
Capacity depends on the engine: 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, M39 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Base, 5.0 H, Standard, MC4 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Formula, 5.0 F holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Formula, 5.0 H, Automatic holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Formula, 5.0 H, Standard, M39 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Formula, 5.0 H, Standard, MC4 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Formula, 5.7 8 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Trans Am GTA, 5.0 F holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Trans Am GTA, 5.7 8 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Trans Am, 5.0 F holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Trans Am, 5.0 H, Automatic holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Trans Am, 5.0 H, Standard, M39 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Trans Am, 5.0 H, Standard, MC4 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; Trans Am, 5.7 8 holds 5.0 quarts with filter.
Can I use synthetic oil in my 1987 Pontiac Firebird?
Yes. 5W-30 is widely available as a full synthetic, and synthetic is safe (often recommended) for the 1987 Pontiac Firebird. What matters most is matching the factory viscosity and specification, then changing the oil and filter on schedule.