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1995 Buick Skylark

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 Skylark.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1995 Buick Skylark is a four‑door passenger car that debuted on Buick’s updated platform, featuring a 4.0‑quart, 10W‑30 API engine oil requirement and a standard 10W‑30 viscosity. In the decade‑long reliability survey covering 1990‑2000, the 1995 model recorded the peak of 100 owner complaints—primarily focused on its electrical system—and received a single recall, marking it as the most problematic year in the Skylark’s history. This data signals a period of heightened maintenance attention for researchers examining the vehicle’s long‑term durability.

Model year1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1989

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 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 75 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. 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 75 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeEX. GS P185-75R14;P205-55R16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731175 alt 12737092
Engine air filter	25099735
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	19302728 alt 19301805
Front wiper blades	22155381
Thermostat	24507563 alt 24577288

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	189 in
Overall width	68.9 in
Overall height	53.5 in
Wheelbase	103.5 in
Curb weight	2791 lb
Track (front / rear)	55.9 / 55.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	65/35

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 10W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)	52 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)	103 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	30 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)	12-16 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	17 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.00-2.50 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Capacity	9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	195 °F
Engine Compression	100

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle	38 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.806 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.806 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	0.786 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.736 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	long bolts 30 ft. lbs.; short bolts 26 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
2	90

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	33 ft. lbs.	33 ft. lbs
2	turn 90

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 every 30,000 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.

At 7,500 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (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.

Federal data shows 1995 represents the peak of the complaint curve for this generation, with 100 complaints marking a steep rise from 31 in 1990 and matching the subsequent 1996 volume before the model's decline to 93 in 1997 and 37 by 1998. While complaints plateau at their maximum, 1995 carries only one recall compared to six in 1996 and five in 1997, though technical service bulletins peak at 67, indicating extensive documented service needs. The year's complaint distribution shows Electrical System (22) and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (17) as leading categories, with seven crash-related and four fire-related complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. Positioned at the apex of the arc where TSB volume maxes out but recall exposure remains relatively contained compared to adjacent years, 1995 sits in a transitional zone of high maintenance documentation but moderate safety campaign activity. Given the generation's highest complaint volume paired with peak technical service bulletins suggesting persistent issues requiring dealer attention, 1995 is not the optimal year to buy compared to earlier or later production years with lower documented complaint rates.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

100

Owner complaints

7 involved a crash · 4 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94’95’96 ’97 ’98 ’00

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 100 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System22

Service Brakes, Hydraulic17

Air Bags11

Exterior Lighting7

Engine & Engine Cooling7

Power Train5

Vehicle Speed Control3

Electrical System,Air Bags2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

00V287000Electrical System:Starter AssemblyReported 02/10/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE AND THE DRIVER HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRODUCING HEAT… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT AND VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION (ADEQUATE RESERVE CAPACITY, OR COLD CRANKING…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 67 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP4723F	2022-01-14	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D	2020-01-31	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIC4696E	2019-11-22	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
17NA073	2019-09-18	Equipment	This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIC4696D	2019-09-05	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…

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 Skylark. 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.

Group 75 battery Vehicles taking 4.0 qt Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 25099735 Fuel filter 25121293 Spark plug 19302728

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1995 Skylark take?

4.0 qt of 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1995 Skylark have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.