Plymouth›Colt›1985›Overview/plymouth/colt/1985/base/

1985 Plymouth Colt

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1985 Colt.

The 1985 Plymouth Colt is a compact model that utilizes a modest‑sized powertrain requiring three quarts of oil plus filter, and it accepts a range of viscosities from 15W‑40 down to 5W‑30, giving owners flexibility in seasonal lubrication. Though the vehicle’s core design predates the early‑1990s, its reliability record is illuminated by the complaint data collected for later model years, which show a low point of just eight complaints in 1991 and a peak of seventy‑seven in 1993. This pattern suggests that the 1985 Colt sits toward the more dependable end of the series, with its early‑era engineering generally outlasting the higher‑complaint years that followed.

Model year1995 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3 qt w/ filterOEM · verified

Engine oil type15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30OEM · verified

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3 qt w/ filter of 15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	15W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	3 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil	15W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	3 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil	20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt w/ filter

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.

Every 7,500 mi	Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 50,000 mi	Air Injection System (inspect) · Air Injection System Solenoid Control Valve Air (replace) · Air Intake Duct (inspect) · Carburetor (inspect) · EGR Valve (replace) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
At 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · PCV System (inspect) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

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

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’93 ’94

No owner complaints on record with NHTSA for this vehicle.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

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 Colt. 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.

Vehicles taking 3 qt w/ filter

Reference guides

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

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1985 Colt take?

3 qt w/ filter of ABOVE 20 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 10 degrees F: 15W-40, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30, BELOW 100 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1985 Colt have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.