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1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 Cutlass Supreme.

The 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme utilizes 5W-30 API engine oil with a 4 qt capacity. This model year maintains a strong reliability profile with zero recalls and only three total owner complaints, the most prominent of which concern the gasoline fuel system. Compared to the 1990-1996 model history—where annual complaints ranged from a low of 90 in 1995 to a high of 252 in 1994—the 1987 version represents a significantly more stable entry.

Model year1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1987

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12731179. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731179 alt 25325404
Engine air filter	06484235 alt 06419892
Fuel filter	5651803 discontinued
Spark plug	19354430 alt 19366108
Front wiper blades	15184702
Serpentine belt	22524186 alt 10009102
Thermostat	10207373 alt 12514334

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	200.4 in
Overall width	72 in
Overall height	55.9 in
Wheelbase	108.3 in
Curb weight	3232 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	54/46

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE 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 at 7,500 mi.

At 7,500 mi	Carburetor Mounting Fasteners (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (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 provided federal record does not include 1987; it covers 1990 through 1996, so the 1987 model cannot be directly compared to adjacent years within this dataset. Across the recorded 1990–1996 span, complaints fluctuate without a clear directional trend, recalls and investigations decline from their early-1990s peaks, and TSB volume rises sharply toward the mid-1990s. Because 1987 sits outside this arc, the generation-wide aging patterns visible from 1990 onward may not apply to a vehicle produced three or more years earlier. For 1987 itself, the data is extremely sparse: only one complaint each in fuel system, seat belts, and engine/cooling, zero crash complaints, and one fire complaint, with no root causes specified. That limited signal makes it impossible to identify a systemic defect profile. The bottom line: 1987 is not a year the federal record can validate or flag with confidence, so buying one should depend on a thorough pre-purchase inspection and documented maintenance rather than on statistical reassurance.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 3 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline1

Seat Belts1

Engine & Engine Cooling1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
971101776304	1997-11-01	Fuel System, Gasoline	SUBJECT PERTAINING TO DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOMS DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR DEPOSITS. *YC

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 Cutlass Supreme. 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.

Vehicles taking 4 qt Engine oil filter 12731179 Engine air filter 06484235 Fuel filter 5651803 Spark plug 19354430

Reference guides

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

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1987 Cutlass Supreme take?

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

Does the 1987 Cutlass Supreme have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.