BuickSkylark1998Overview/buick/skylark/1998/base/

1998 Buick Skylark

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1998 Buick Skylark is a passenger car whose 4.5-quart oil capacity calls for 10W-30 API viscosity, a detail that hints at its conventional powertrain. In the model’s reliability history, this year recorded 37 total owner complaints—far fewer than the 1995 peak of 100 but well above the 2000 low of just one—with the electrical system emerging as the most-cited trouble area, and three recalls further mark its service record.

Model year199819971996199519941993199219911989

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 12731172. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 sizeEX. GS P195-70R14; GS P205-55R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731172 alt 12731175
Engine air filter25099735
Fuel filter25121293 discontinued
Spark plug19158037 alt 19301813
Front wiper blades22155381
Serpentine belt88984195 alt 88986809
Thermostat24577288 alt 24507563

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length189.4 in
Overall width68.1 in
Overall height53.5 in
Wheelbase103.5 in
Curb weight2948 lb
Track (front / rear)55.9 / 55.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)65/35

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. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)52 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)103 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts76 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)18.5 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)30.2 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5,000-7,000 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5,000-8,000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug TypeAC 41-940
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.00-2.50 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Capacity9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15; Do not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature185-205 °F
Pressure Test15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature185-205 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum47.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)40.5-47

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket38 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.806 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.806 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.786 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1129 ft. lbs., step 2: 90129 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages
1bolts 1-840 ft. lbs
2turn all bolts 90
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages
144 ft. lbs.44 ft. lbs
2turn 95

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 miBrake System (inspect) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Hood Hinge (lubricate) · Hood Latch (lubricate)
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.

Federal data shows the 1998 Buick Skylark sits near the end of a generation-wide arc that saw complaints climb steadily from 31 in 1990 to a peak of 100 in both 1995 and 1996, before dropping sharply to 93 in 1997 and then to 37 in 1998. While recalls also moderated from a high of six in 1996 and five in 1997 down to three in 1998, technical service bulletins remained elevated at 52, though below the mid-1990s peak. Investigations ceased entirely after 1995, and the 1998 model recorded zero fire complaints alongside only two crash-related complaints. The top complaint categories for 1998 were Electrical System, Engine & Engine Cooling, Vehicle Speed Control, and Air Bags, though the data does not specify root causes. Given that complaint volume fell by roughly two-thirds from the generation's peak and recalls tapered while fire incidents stayed absent, 1998 represents one of the more favorable model years to buy within this generation.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
52
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
37
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 37 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System6
Engine & Engine Cooling5
Vehicle Speed Control5
Air Bags4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Structure2
Suspension2
Seat Belts,Wheels1

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.

07E015000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel PumpReported 26/02/2007

CERTAIN DELPHI AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP MODULES / MODULE RESERVOIR ASSEMBLIES (MRA) THAT WERE SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE MRAS VENT AND FUEL RETURN TUBES WERE REVERSED. THIS CONDITION… Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE MRAS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 1-877-335-7443.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 52 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…
19NA2732019-12-02Electrical SystemThis informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to…
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…

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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1998 Skylark take?

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

Does the 1998 Skylark have open recalls?

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