1990 Chevrolet Cavalier Oil Type & Capacity: 5W-30 (5.0 quarts)

The 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier takes 5W-30 motor oil — 5.0 quarts with a filter change, per the factory service manual.

Factory-spec answer

5W-30 — 5.0 quarts with filter

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Oil capacity by engine

Engine	Oil Type (viscosity)	Capacity w/ Filter	Capacity w/o Filter	Notes
Base, 2D Coupe, Automatic, 125C/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
Base, 2D Coupe, Automatic, 3T40/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
Base, 2D Coupe, Standard — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
Base, 4D Sedan, Automatic, 125C/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
Base, 4D Sedan, Automatic, 3T40/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
Base, 4D Sedan, Standard — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
Base, 4D Wagon, 2.2 G, Automatic, 125C/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
Base, 4D Wagon, 2.2 G, Automatic, 3T40/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
Base, 4D Wagon, 2.2 G, Standard — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
Base, 4D Wagon, 3.1 T, Automatic, 125C/MD9 — 3.1L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
Base, 4D Wagon, 3.1 T, Automatic, 3T40/MD9 — 3.1L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
Base, 4D Wagon, 3.1 T, Standard — 3.1L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
RS, 2D Coupe, Automatic, 125C/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
RS, 2D Coupe, Automatic, 3T40/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
RS, 2D Coupe, Standard — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
RS, 4D Sedan, Automatic, 125C/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
RS, 4D Sedan, Automatic, 3T40/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
RS, 4D Sedan, Standard — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
RS, 4D Wagon, 2.2 G, Automatic, 125C/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
RS, 4D Wagon, 2.2 G, Automatic, 3T40/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
RS, 4D Wagon, 2.2 G, Standard — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
RS, 4D Wagon, 3.1 T, 125C/MD9 — 3.1L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
RS, 4D Wagon, 3.1 T, 3T40/MD9 — 3.1L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
VL, 2D Coupe, Automatic, 125C/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
VL, 2D Coupe, Automatic, 3T40/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
VL, 2D Coupe, Standard — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
VL, 4D Sedan, Automatic, 125C/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
VL, 4D Sedan, Automatic, 3T40/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
VL, 4D Sedan, Standard — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
VL, 4D Wagon, Automatic, 125C/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
VL, 4D Wagon, Automatic, 3T40/MD9 — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
VL, 4D Wagon, Standard — 2.2L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
Z24, Automatic, 125C/MD9 — 3.1L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
Z24, Automatic, 3T40/MD9 — 3.1L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.
Z24, Standard — 3.1L Eng	SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)	—	4.00 QTS.	Use oil that has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute.

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OEM-fitment high-efficiency synthetic filter media (Base, 2D Coupe, Automatic, 125C/MD9)

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Wide-mouth funnel with flexible neck to eliminate engine bay spills

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More factory specs & repair guides for your Cavalier

🛞 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier Tire Size & Pressure →🌧️ 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier Wiper Blade Sizes →💡 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier Light Bulb Sizes →📖 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier Factory Service Manual →All fluid capacities (transmission, coolant, brakes)

Coolant capacity

9.8 quarts (9.27 L) — 50/50 mixture of Ethylene Glycol Base Antifreeze and water. GM Specification 1825-M.

Frequently asked questions

What type of oil does a 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier take?

The 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier takes 5W-30 motor oil (SAE 5W-30 (Preferred) (Below -20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 10W-30 (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F)), per the factory service manual.

What is the oil capacity of a 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier?

The 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier oil capacity is 5.0 quarts with a filter change, or 4.0 quarts without changing the filter.

How often should I change the oil in my 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier?

Most 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier 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 — Chevrolet recommends intervals based on driving conditions, not just mileage.

Can I use synthetic oil in my 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier?

Yes. 5W-30 is widely available as a full synthetic, and synthetic is safe (often recommended) for the 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier. What matters most is matching the factory viscosity and specification, then changing the oil and filter on schedule.