Buick›Regal›1985›Overview/buick/regal/1985/base/

1985 Buick Regal

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

The 1985 Buick Regal is specified with a 4 qt engine oil capacity utilizing 20W-20, 10W-30, or 10W-40 viscosities. The model year's reliability record includes nine recalls and 13 total owner complaints, with the primary area of concern being the hydraulic service brakes. When viewed against the model's 1990-2020 complaint history—which peaked at 325 complaints in 1998 and hit a low of 1 in 2008—this particular year maintains a low volume of reported issues.

Model year2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 1985

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type20W-20 / 10W-30 / 10W-40OEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12731179. 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.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731179 alt 19210286
Engine air filter	08997189 alt 06419892
Fuel filter	22522452 alt 5651803
Spark plug	19354430 alt 19354427
Front wiper blades	15184702
Serpentine belt	22524186 alt 09433757
Thermostat	10207373 alt 10207381

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	200.4 in
Overall width	71.7 in
Overall height	54.7 in
Wheelbase	108.3 in
Curb weight	3172 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	56/44

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Regal of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.50 sec — 1985 Grand National Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1985	Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	7.50 sec	15.70 sec	200 hp	RWD
1984	T-Type Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	8.00 sec	16.00 sec	200 hp	RWD
1986	Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	4.90 sec	13.90 sec	235 hp	RWD
1986	T-Type Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	5.85 sec	14.30 sec	235 hp	RWD
1987	Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	5.40 sec	14.20 sec	245 hp	RWD
1987	Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	6.00 sec	14.70 sec	245 hp	RWD
1987	Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6	6.10 sec	14.70 sec	245 hp	RWD
1988	Custom Coupe (Grand Touring Pkg) 2.8L V6	11.20 sec	18.20 sec	125 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt of 20W-20 / 10W-30 / 10W-40 engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.5 qt
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	ABOVE 40 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	ABOVE 40 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt

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 mi	Exhaust Pressure Regulator (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 5,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Filter Water Separator (inspect)
At 7,500 mi	Carburetor Mounting Fasteners (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) · Throttle Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust Pressure Regulator (inspect) · PCV System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Choke System (inspect) · Diesel Fuel Injection Pump Timing (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (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.

The supplied federal record contains no 1985 data point, so a 1985 Buick Regal cannot be compared to the years immediately before or after or located on the model's year-by-year reliability arc. What is known for the target year is limited to its leading complaint areas—Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Engine & Engine Cooling; Steering; and Vehicle Speed Control—plus 2 crash complaints and 0 fire complaints, with no root causes specified in the data. Across the available 1990–2020 span, complaints peak at 325 in 1998 and 279 in 2011, recalls remain mostly in the 2–10 range, and overall reporting fades as the fleet ages out. Because 1985 predates the entire year-by-year record, this dataset offers no trend context for that model year. Consequently, the record alone is insufficient to recommend or discourage buying a 1985 Regal; any decision should rest on additional historical sources and a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

2 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

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 13 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic3

Engine & Engine Cooling3

Steering3

Vehicle Speed Control2

Electrical System1

Fuel System, Gasoline1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 9 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION…

84V124000Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod AssemblyReported 10/10/1984

THE TIE RODS ARE PART OF THE STEERING LINKAGE AND TRANSMIT TURNING MOVEMENTS TO THE WHEELS. THE BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE TIE RODS TO THEIR ADJUSTERS MAY NOT BE TIGHT ENOUGH. THIS COULD ALLOW THE TIE ROD TO LOOSEN AND… Remedy: THE TIE ROD END BOLTS WILL BE TIGHTENED WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNER.

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 Regal. 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 4 qt Engine oil filter 12731179 Engine air filter 08997189 Fuel filter 22522452 Spark plug 19354430

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 Regal take?

4 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 20 degrees F: 20W-20, 10W-30, 10W-40, 20W-40 OR 20W-50, ABOVE 10 degrees F 15W-40, BELOW 20 degrees F: 5W-20 OR 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1985 Regal have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.