Acura›CL›1997›3.0L/acura/cl/1997/3-0l/

1997 Acura CL — 3.0L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 CL 3.0L.

Engine 3.0L

The 1997 Acura CL 3.0L is the 3.0-liter opening entry in Acura's 1997–2004 CL lineup, specified with a 4.6-quart 5W-30 API oil capacity. Its reliability record is comparatively quiet: 87 owner complaints and 2 recalls, with Power Train reported as the top complaint area. That count sits far below the 2001 peak of 274 complaints and above the 2004 low of just one, positioning the 1997 CL as one of the more settled early years in the model's reliability history.

Model year1999 1998 1997

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.6 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque80 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 24 · 550 CCA battery. 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 24 · 550 CCAOEM · verified

Tire size205-55VR16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	190.2 in
Overall width	70.1 in
Overall height	54.7 in
Wheelbase	107.1 in
Curb weight	3009 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.4 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	62/38

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

No 1997 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

7.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.30 sec — 1999 3.0CL Coupe

200 hpHorsepower (as tested)

192 lb-ftTorque (as tested)

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1999	3.0CL Coupe 3.0L V6	7.30 sec	15.70 sec	200 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.6 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.6 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	181 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	54 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	23 ft-lbs
Main Bearings	Bed Bolts: 56 ft-lbs, Side Bolts: 36 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0-22.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	9 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	181 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	134 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-4-2-5-3-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	AT: 780, MT: 800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)	AT: 780, MT: 800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)	50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	.34-.42 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	17,100-20,900 ohms

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.40-1.50 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	5.33 oz
Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.30-4.40 lbs
Oil Type	ND 8 oil

Service checks

Pressure Test	14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	169-176 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)	41.0-48.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	37.0-44.0 psi
Engine Compression	135
Engine Oil Pressure	10 psi @ idle, 50 psi @ 3000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash	0.006-0.007 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	18 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	28 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	54 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	80 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	0.060 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.004 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.985 in / 0.395 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

14 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

14 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	29.0 ft. lbs.	29 ft. lbs
2	51.0 ft. lbs.	51 ft. lbs
3	72.3 ft. lbs.	72.3 ft. lbs

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; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 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 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 45,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 45,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed)
At 105,000 mi	Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)

Reliability & federal safety record

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

In 1997 the Acura CL recorded 87 complaints, 2 recalls, no investigations and 57 technical service bulletins. Complaint volume then declined to 57 in 1998, 49 in 1999 and a low of 11 in 2000 before surging to 274 in 2001, fluctuating between 61 and 79 through 2003, and falling sharply to just 1 complaint in 2004. Recall counts showed a comparable trend—2 in 1997, a peak of 4 in 1998, zero in 2000, rising again to 5 in 2003 and returning to zero in 2004—while investigations remained absent until 2001. Consequently, the 1997 model sits at the higher‑end of the complaint spectrum for the generation, preceding the low‑complaint years of 1998‑2000 but well below the 2001 spike. Given its relatively elevated complaint count and the lack of any specified root‑cause information in the data, a 1997 Acura CL presents a moderate risk compared with the later low‑complaint years, making it a less‑optimal choice unless other factors such as price or condition strongly favor it.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

5 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’97’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 87 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train17

Air Bags13

Electrical System12

Suspension7

Engine & Engine Cooling6

Service Brakes, Hydraulic5

Visibility4

Tires3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

02V120000Electrical System:Ignition:SwitchReported 16/05/2002

ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT…

99V069000Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball JointReported 10/05/1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 57 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
RFI20210312_BB64	2021-03-12	Equipment	This SKU is a bushing kit. The customer communication requested return of unsold…
B98015	2016-03-18	Equipment	Special Tool Loan Program: Under TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR LOAN, the list has been updated.
B99-040	2015-12-08	Fuel System, Gasoline	"SERVICE BULLETIN - THIS BULLETIN UPDATES THE TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES FOR DTC P1456…
SB-90509	2013-02-01	Electrical System	ACURA: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. INFORMATION REGARDING PRODUCT UPDATE…
SB-0708	2010-11-01	Tires	ACURA: THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING: TIRE…

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 CL. 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.

Group 24 battery Vehicles taking 4.6 qt

Reference guides

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

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1997 CL 3.0L take?

4.6 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1997 CL have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.