Volvo2451986Overview/volvo/245/1986/base/

1986 Volvo 245

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 245.

The 1986 Volvo 245 carries a maintenance profile defined by an exact engine oil capacity of 3.7 quarts and a specified viscosity range of 15W-40, 5W-30, or 10W-30 meeting API SL standards. These lubrication figures serve as the concrete technical baseline for the model year. Because the specification set centers on these precise fluid requirements, the 1986 edition is understood through its 3.7-quart fill and multi-grade oil ratings, meaning those values remain the authoritative reference points for any service discussion.

Model year198919881987198619851984198319821981

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 5W-30 / 10W-30 API SLOEM · verified

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.7 qt of 15W-40 / 5W-30 / 10W-30 API SL engine oil, DEXRON in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear OilDEXRON
Differential Gear Oil Capacity0 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil15W-40 · API · 5W-30 · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.7 qt
Power Steering FluidDEXRON III OR EQUIVALENT

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi.

At 5,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
Every 5,000 miDifferential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Radio Antenna (clean) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect)
Every 10,000 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 20,000 miPCV Flame Guard (inspect)
Every 25,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Driveshaft Support Bearing (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Oxygen Sensor (replace)
Every 55,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miFuel Filter (replace) · PCV System (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.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
2
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
0
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

No owner complaints on record with NHTSA for this vehicle.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

88V064000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 14/04/1988

MICRO PROCESSOR IN CONTROL UNITS OF CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM CAN BE AFFECTED BY A SHORT DURATION VOLTAGE DROP. Remedy: REPLACE CRUISE CONTROL UNIT.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
356EN012022-02-09EquipmentVIDA QR Scanner Mobile App
Service Manager2022-02-03Electrical SystemShipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery…

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 245. 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 1986 245 take?

3.7 qt of ABOVE 10 degrees F: 15W-40 API SL OR GREATER, BELOW 68 degrees F: 5W-30 API SL OR GREATER, -13 degrees F TO 104 degrees F: 10W-30 API SL OR GREATER, per the factory manual.

Does the 1986 245 have open recalls?

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