ChevroletCitation1983Overview/chevrolet/citation/1983/base/

1983 Chevrolet Citation

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1983 Citation.

The 1983 Chevrolet Citation is defined by specific maintenance parameters, including an engine oil capacity of 3 quarts. Proper lubrication for this model year relies on selecting from viscosity grades of 20W-20, 20W-40, or 20W-50. These fluid specifications form the core technical baseline for the vehicle, establishing the operational requirements that support its mechanical reliability for this model year.

Model year198519841983198219811980

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-20 / 20W-40 / 20W-50OEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length176.8 in
Overall width68.5 in
Overall height53.9 in
Wheelbase104.7 in
Curb weight2449 lb

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

9.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.90 sec — 1982 X11 Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1982X11 Coupe 2.8L V69.90 sec17.30 sec135 hpFWD

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 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-20 · 20W-40 · 20W-50 · 15W-40 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3 qt
Engine Oil20W-20 · 20W-40 · 20W-50 · 15W-40 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Engine Oil20W-20 · 20W-40 · 20W-50 · 15W-40 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.0 qt

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
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
0
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

No owner complaints on record with NHTSA for this vehicle.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

83V105000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Differential Proportional ValveReported 13/10/1983

THE BRAKE PROPORTIONER VALVES MAY BREAK AND SEPARATE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS WOULD ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK AND WOULD RESULT IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE ALL SUSPECT VALVES.

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 Citation. 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 1983 Citation take?

3 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F 30, ABOVE 20 degrees F: 20W-20, 20W-40, 20W-50, ABOVE 10 degrees F: 15W-40, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1983 Citation have open recalls?

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