OldsmobileCutlass1998Overview/oldsmobile/cutlass/1998/base/

1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass is a passenger car requiring 4.5 quarts of 10W-30 API oil, and it stands as the most complained-about model in the 19971999 range, with 174 total owner complaints—nearly double the 92 logged for the 1999 version. Its top trouble area is the service brakes, hydraulic system, and the model carries three recalls, placing this year at the low point of the Cutlass’s short-term reliability record and marking it as the generation’s most problematic entry.

Model year199919981997198719861985198119801977

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 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 sizeP215-60R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731175 alt 25325404
Engine air filter25099735
Fuel filter25121293 discontinued
Spark plug19301813
Front wiper blades22700263 alt 19120758
Serpentine belt12576452 discontinued
Thermostat24507563 alt 10226107

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 CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)103 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts76 Code M ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)17 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)31 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)14 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsUpper: 18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts12 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub284 ft-lbs

Ignition

Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5,000-7,000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.75 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature185-205 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum47.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)40-47
RPM30-44 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance11.4-12.6 @ 50-95 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression100

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket85 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0015 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.031 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.031 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.98 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages
144 ft. lbs.44 ft. lbs
295 degrees.95 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 miDoor Hinge (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Hood Hinge (lubricate) · Hood Latch (lubricate) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate)
Every 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miEngine 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.

The 1998 model year represents the peak of reported complaints for this generation, registering 174 complaints and 3 recalls compared with 166 complaints in 1997 and a sharp decline to 92 complaints and only 1 recall in 1999. Federal investigations similarly trended downward across the arc, falling from 7 in 1997 to 6 in 1998 and zero in 1999, placing the 1998 model at the crest of regulatory activity before metrics improved substantially. For the 1998 model specifically, the highest complaint volumes were concentrated in Service Brakes/Hydraulic and Engine & Engine Cooling, though the data does not specify root causes, and the year recorded 7 crash-related complaints against zero fire complaints. Because 1998 carries the generation’s highest complaint volume and ties for the most recalls while 1999 shows markedly cleaner federal data, this is not the strongest year to buy; prospective owners should prioritize a 1999 example or subject any 1998 candidate to rigorous inspection of its brakes and engine cooling systems.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
106
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
6
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
174
Owner complaints
7 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 174 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic31
Engine & Engine Cooling22
Electrical System13
Steering12
Suspension11
Visibility9
Air Bags9
Structure6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

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.

03V527000Steering:Rack And PinionReported 11/12/2003

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 106 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIP4723F2022-01-14Service Brakes, HydraulicThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D2020-01-31Electrical SystemThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIC4696E2019-11-22EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
17NA0732019-09-18EquipmentThis warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIC4696D2019-09-05EquipmentThis 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

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VIN
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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 Cutlass take?

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

Does the 1998 Cutlass have open recalls?

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