LincolnContinental1998Overview/lincoln/continental/1998/base/

1998 Lincoln Continental

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

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1998 Lincoln Continental, paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission, calls for 6.0 quarts of 5W-20 API oil and returns EPA estimates of 15 mpg city, 22 highway, and 18 combined. This model year accumulated 72 owner complaints—predominantly in the Vehicle Speed Control category—alongside two recalls. Within the nameplate’s complaint history from 1990 to 2020, the 1998 Continental sits well below the peak of 427 complaints recorded for 1993, marking it as a relatively stable entry in the model’s reliability arc.

Model year202020192018201720022001200019991998

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque85-105 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/22/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 · 750 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 65 · 750 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-60HR16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length208.7 in
Overall width73.6 in
Overall height55.9 in
Wheelbase109.1 in
Curb weight3869 lb
Track (front / rear)63 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 22 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume101 cu ft
Cargo volume19 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

7.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.50 sec — 1998 Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1998Sedan 4.6L V87.50 sec15.60 sec260 hpFWD
1995Sedan 4.6L V87.50 sec15.70 sec260 hpFWD
1995Sedan 4.6L V87.70 sec15.90 sec260 hpFWD
1995Sedan 4.6L V87.80 sec16.00 sec260 hpFWD
1995Sedan 4.6L V88.20 sec16.00 sec260 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-105 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 19.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts114-121 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts14.0-16.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug19.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts85-105 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub180-200 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub221 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)25 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap0.052-0.056 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing10, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.10-2.40 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeYN-12-D
Oil Capacity7.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number65
Standard BCI Cranking Performance750 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test13-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief13-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature183-190 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)45.0-60.0
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 ohms

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket65-87 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle85-105 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.040; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0004 in / 0.00035 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.004 in / 0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.55 in / 1.024 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.55 in / 1.024 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.502 in / 0.974 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat new bolts lightly with specified oil

128.0-31.0 ft. lbs.28–31 ft. lbs
285-95 degrees85–95 degrees
3Loosen all bolts completely.
428.0-31.0 ft. lbs.28–31 ft. lbs
585-95 degrees85–95 degrees
685-95 degrees85–95 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 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.

At 5,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Wheel Lug Nut (torque)
Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 10,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Wheel Lug Nut (torque)
Every 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 20,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miPCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plugs (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 1998 Continental sits squarely in the post-1994 improvement arc where complaints plummeted from the 1993–1994 peak of 427 and 409 to a stable 33–99 range through 2002, and its 72 complaints and two recalls align with that cleaner era. However, the 124 technical service bulletins for 1998 stand out sharply — exceeding the 1997 (87) and 1999 (105) counts and rivaling the troubled early-generation years — indicating elevated dealer-level service activity despite low consumer complaint volume. The top complaint categories for 1998 are Vehicle Speed Control and Engine & Engine Cooling at 11 each, followed by Visibility (6) and Power Train (4), with eight crash complaints and two fire complaints recorded; the data does not specify root causes for these issues. Compared to the surrounding model years, 1998 shows the characteristic low recall and investigation profile of the later generation but carries a TSB burden more typical of the problematic early 1990s. This suggests the 1998 model benefits from the generation's overall reliability gains but may require attention to documented service campaigns. For a buyer, 1998 is a reasonable year to purchase provided all 124 TSBs have been addressed and the speed control and cooling systems are verified.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
124
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
72
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 72 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Vehicle Speed Control11
Engine & Engine Cooling11
Visibility6
Power Train4
Electrical System4
Seat Belts3
Steering3
Structure3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16E026000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:PadsReported 01/04/2016

Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598… Remedy: Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at…

98V028000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 10/02/1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO… Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 124 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
0416012005-11-14Engine And Engine CoolingWDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR…
0421072004-12-13Power TrainGENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
042172004-11-01Power TrainGENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
0314042004-08-23Engine And Engine CoolingENGINE MISFIRE OR RUNNING - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC…
173582004-08-01Power TrainGROAN/BUZZ/VIBRATION WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN PARK WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED ON AN…

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 Continental. 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 Continental take?

6.0 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1998 Continental have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Continental get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 22 highway / 18 combined mpg.