Buick›Skylark›1985›Overview/buick/skylark/1985/base/

1985 Buick Skylark

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

The 1985 Buick Skylark, a compact front-wheel-drive sedan built on GM's N-body platform, requires 3 quarts of engine oil with viscosities ranging from 20W-20 to 10W-30 or 10W-40, specifications that reflect its era's engineering priorities for this mid-market American automobile; during this model year, owners reported 9 total complaints with engine and engine cooling emerging as the primary concern area, alongside one recall affecting the model. This 1985 iteration predates the period covered by the model's comprehensive complaint tracking, which began in 1990 and ran through 2000, a span during which complaint volumes ranged dramatically from a peak of 100 in 1995 down to just 1 in 2000, suggesting that while early-generation Skylarks like the 1985 saw relatively few reported issues, the model's reliability trajectory over the subsequent decade was marked by considerable fluctuation before reaching notably improved standing by the end of the century.

Model year1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1985

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3 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 12731175. 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	12731175
Engine air filter	25043317 alt 08996555
Fuel filter	25055083 alt 5651803
Spark plug	19300382 alt 19300874
Serpentine belt	14091802 alt 09433732
Thermostat	10192505 alt 03043066

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	181.1 in
Overall width	69.3 in
Overall height	53.5 in
Wheelbase	104.7 in
Curb weight	2551 lb
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 3 qt of 20W-20 / 10W-30 / 10W-40 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	ABOVE 40 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity	3 qt
Engine Oil	ABOVE 40 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	ABOVE 40 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity	3.0 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi.

Every 5,000 mi	Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect)
At 7,500 mi	Carburetor Mounting Fasteners (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Choke System (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 provided federal record begins in 1990, five years after the 1985 target year, so direct comparison to adjacent model years is not possible from this dataset. The 1985 Skylark shows three fire complaints and a concentration of reports in Engine & Engine Cooling (three) and Steering (two) categories, though total complaint volume for 1985 is not quantified in the federal summary. From 1990 onward, the generation exhibits a clear upward trend in complaints (rising from 31 to 100) and TSBs (from 1 to 67) through the mid-1990s, suggesting accumulating durability issues as the platform aged. The 1985 model year precedes this escalation, but the absence of early-year federal metrics makes it impossible to determine if 1985 was inherently better or simply under-reported. The three fire complaints in 1985 warrant specific inspection of fuel and electrical systems, though the data does not specify root causes. Given the incomplete federal record for the critical early years, this is a higher-risk purchase that demands a thorough pre-purchase inspection rather than a confident recommendation.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 3 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’00

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 9 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling3

Steering2

Unknown Or Other1

Engine & Engine Cooling,Fuel System, Gasoline1

Steering,Fuel System, Gasoline1

Visibility1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

84V132000Vehicle Speed Control:SpringsReported 16/10/1984

THE THROTTLE LINKAGE MAY BIND BECAUSE DURING NORMAL OPERATION, THE THROTTLE BODY CASE MAY INTERFERE WITH THE LINKAGE. THIS INTERFERENCE COULD PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM CLOSING EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVER HAS REMOVED HIS FOOT… Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT VEHICLES AND IMPROVE THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE AND THROTTLE BODY CASING IF NEEDED, AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
000524001	2000-04-01	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	INFORMATION REGARDING SNOW INTRUSION INTO REAR DRUM BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. **MR

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 Skylark. 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 Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 25043317 Fuel filter 25055083 Spark plug 19300382

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 Skylark take?

3 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 Skylark have open recalls?

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