AcuraRL1998Overview/acura/rl/1998/base/

1998 Acura RL

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 RL.

The 1998 Acura RL is a full-size luxury sedan that utilizes the manufacturer's corporate platform, and it maintains the model's reputation for refinement with a recommended engine oil capacity of 4.9 quarts specifying 5W-30 API viscosity; during this model year, owners filed 11 total complaints with the Air Bags system representing the most frequently cited concern, while three recalls were issued for the vehicle. This complaint figure positions the 1998 model year among the lower points in the model's longitudinal complaint history spanning 1996 to 2015, particularly when contrasted against the peak of 125 complaints recorded in 2005, though it remains notably higher than the historic low of just 1 complaint logged in 2012. For researchers examining the RL's reliability trajectory, the 1998 model year represents a period of relatively subdued owner dissatisfaction relative to later production years, suggesting fewer endemic manufacturing issues during this particular production cycle.

Model year201220112010200920082007200620051998

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.9 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24 · 550 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24 · 550 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215-60VR16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length194.9 in
Overall width71.3 in
Overall height56.7 in
Wheelbase114.6 in
Curb weight3693 lb
Track (front / rear)61 / 60.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the RL of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.5–7.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.50 sec — 1996 3.5 Premium Package Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
19963.5 Premium Package Sedan 3.5L V67.50 sec16.00 sec210 hpFWD
19963.5 Premium Package Sedan 3.5L V67.80 sec16.00 sec210 hpFWD
20023.5 w/Nav Sedan 3.5L V67.90 sec16.10 sec225 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.9 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, GL-4 · GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilGL-4 · GL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.2 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.9 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs8mm Bolts: 16 ft-lbs, 6mm Bolts: 9 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts181 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts54 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts8mm bolts, 16: 6mm bolts, 9 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts22 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts16.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs8mm Bolts: 16 ft-lbs, 6mm Bolts: 9 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts8.9 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub181 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub181 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance0.9-1.1 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.50-1.60 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.66 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24
Standard BCI Cranking Performance550 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature169-176 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)43.0-50.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)35.0-42.0 psi
Engine Compression142
Engine Oil Pressure10 psi @ idle, 50 psi @ 3000 rpm psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket80 ft-lbs / 17 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle80 ft-lbs / 26 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.060 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.004 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.906 in / 0.354 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.906 in / 0.354 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.826 in / 0.295 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9014 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Exterior Lighting (inspect)
At 30,000 miFinal Drive (drain & refill)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 45,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed)
At 105,000 miBalance Shaft Drive Belt (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Timing Belt (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed) · Water Pump (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1998 Acura RL sits at the low-complaint end of the early model run, with just 11 NHTSA complaints compared with 24 in 1996, 20 in 1997, and a sharp rise to 38 in 1999 and 70 in 2000. Its three recalls match the 1996 count and exceed 1997's two, while its 72 TSBs are modestly higher than the 64–65 recorded in the two prior years. Reported complaint categories are limited and low-volume—air bags, suspension, and power train each account for only two complaints, with one structure/latches/locks/linkages complaint, and there are zero crash or fire complaints. Across the broader RL record, complaint and recall activity escalates significantly in later years, peaking at 125 complaints, 11 recalls, and 3 investigations in 2005, so 1998 falls in a comparatively quiet period before those spikes. Given its low complaint count, zero crash/fire reports, and placement before the larger later-year spikes, the 1998 model year stands out as one of the better early used RL choices.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
72
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
11
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 11 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags2
Suspension2
Power Train2
Structure,Latches/Locks/Linkages1
Seat Belts1
Electrical System,Visibility,Seat Belts,Structure1
Visibility1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V026000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 17/01/2020

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The…

99V227000Power Train:Automatic TransmissionReported 19/08/1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A TRANSMISSION CASE BOLT CAN LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED BOLT.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 72 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DORE5C4S092019-07-11SuspensionThis SKU is a Front Upper Ball Joint. The customer communication requested return of…
BJA461672017-01-01EquipmentSending vehicle data to tech line.
B05-0182016-11-23EquipmentSERVICE BULLETIN - NAVIGATION SYSTEM INFORMATION.
B980152016-03-18EquipmentSpecial Tool Loan Program: Under TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR LOAN, the list has been updated.
B99-0402015-12-08Fuel System, Gasoline"SERVICE BULLETIN - THIS BULLETIN UPDATES THE TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES FOR DTC P1456…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific RL. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1998 RL take?

4.9 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1998 RL have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.