ChevroletNova1985Overview/chevrolet/nova/1985/base/

1985 Chevrolet Nova

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

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1985 Chevrolet Nova takes 4 qt of 20W-20 engine oil and is EPA-rated at 23/29/26 mpg city/highway/combined.

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-20 / 20W-40 / 20W-50OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy23/29/26 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 31017520. Note the factory engine oil filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter31017520 discontinued
Fuel filter25055673
Spark plug19354423
Serpentine belt94853865 alt 94856263
Thermostat94856516 alt 94854705

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 29 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume86 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

10.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.30 sec — 1975 LN Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1975LN Sedan 5.7L V810.30 sec18.00 sec145 hpRWD

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 / 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 Capacity4 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1050017 OR EQUIVALENT

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

Every 10,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake System (adjust) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Throttle Position Sensor (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 20,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
At 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 30,000 miChoke System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)
At 120,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)

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 Nova. 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 1985 Nova take?

4 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.

What gas mileage does the Nova get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 29 highway / 26 combined mpg.