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1997 Oldsmobile Achieva

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 Achieva.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva is a passenger car that uses an engine requiring 4.5 quarts of 10W‑30 API oil. In its reliability record the model incurred 71 total owner complaints, most of which related to the electrical system, and it was subject to four recalls. Across its 1992‑2000 production span the complaint count peaked at 100 in 1996 and dropped to three by 2000, placing the 1997 model year between those extremes as a point of gradual reliability improvement.

Model year1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 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 12731172. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 sizeP195-70R14OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731172 alt 12731175
Engine air filter	25099735
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	19158037 alt 19301813
Front wiper blades	22155381
Serpentine belt	88984195 alt 88986809
Thermostat	24577288 alt 24507563

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	187.8 in
Overall width	67.3 in
Overall height	53.1 in
Wheelbase	103.5 in
Curb weight	2751 lb
Track (front / rear)	55.9 / 55.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 10W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7.4 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
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	76 Code M ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	18.5 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	30.2 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	185 ft-lbs

Ignition

Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5,000-8,000 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5,000-7,000 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.00 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	GM part number 12345923 or equivalent.
Oil Capacity	8.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	75

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	185-205 °F
Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	185-205 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	47.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	40-47

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	38 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	100 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	0.796 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.796 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	0.751 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

129 ft. lbs., step 2: 90

129 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	33 ft. lbs.	33 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees.	90 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	Bolts 1-8	40 ft. lbs
2	Bolts 9-10	30 ft.lbs
3	90 degrees.	90 degrees

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 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 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 mi	Door Hinge (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Hood Hinge (lubricate) · Hood Latch (lubricate) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate)
Every 15,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

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 positions the 1997 model year within a clear post-peak decline, with complaints falling from the generation's 1996 high of 100 to 71, recalls dropping from six to four, and both metrics continuing downward to 49 complaints and three recalls by 1998. The 1997 model nevertheless registers the generation's highest technical service bulletin count at 67, exceeding even 1996's 63, though the data does not specify whether this reflects persistent issues or increased manufacturer documentation. That year records 71 complaints concentrated in Electrical System (11), Engine & Engine Cooling (9), Air Bags (8), and Vehicle Speed Control (6), plus four crash-related and one fire-related complaint, placing it mid-arc between the 1996 reliability nadir and the generation's 2000 conclusion when complaints plummeted to three. Notably, 1997 continues the zero-investigation trend begun in 1996, contrasting with the 1992-1995 period that each saw one federal investigation. Given that 1998 models demonstrate significantly lower complaint and recall activity while avoiding 1997's peak TSB volume, prospective buyers should target 1998 or later examples rather than the 1997 Achieva.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

4 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96’97’98 ’00

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 71 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System11

Engine & Engine Cooling9

Air Bags8

Vehicle Speed Control6

Visibility5

Structure4

Exterior Lighting2

Seats2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

02V070000Electrical System:Ignition:SwitchReported 06/03/2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR…

07E021000Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly:Pressure Relief DevicesReported 12/03/2007

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE… Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

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…
19NA273	2019-12-02	Electrical System	This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to…
PIC4696E	2019-11-22	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
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 Achieva. 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 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 12731172 Engine air filter 25099735 Fuel filter 25121293 Spark plug 19158037

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 1997 Achieva take?

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

Does the 1997 Achieva have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.