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1987 Pontiac 6000

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 6000.

The 1987 Pontiac 6000 is documented with a three-quart engine oil capacity and a recommended viscosity of either 10W-30 or 5W-30, specifications that reflect the straightforward lubrication requirements of its era's mainstream engineering. Reliability records for this model year show 23 total owner complaints — with Engine & Engine Cooling as the dominant trouble area — and three recalls on file, placing the 1987 6000 in a moderate but not exemplary position within the model's reliability history. For a researcher, that means this particular year demands attention to engine and cooling-system integrity above all else when evaluating condition or predicting long-term serviceability.

Model year1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30OEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12737090. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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	12737090 alt 12731175
Engine air filter	25043317 alt 25040881
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued
Spark plug	05614046 alt 19354418
Front wiper blades	15184702
Serpentine belt	19244954 alt 14092212
Thermostat	10207373 alt 19435095

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	189 in
Overall width	72 in
Overall height	53.5 in
Wheelbase	104.7 in
Curb weight	2760 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	3 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · 5W-30
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; spark plugs every 30,000 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 7,500 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV System (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (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.

For the 1987 Pontiac 6000, federal data highlights primary concerns in Engine & Engine Cooling (4 complaints), Structure (3), Vehicle Speed Control (3), and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (3), alongside 2 crash and 2 fire complaints. The provided dataset lacks complete totals for the years immediately before and after 1987, making a direct year-over-year comparison impossible; however, the later 1990 and 1991 models show a downward complaint trend from 11 to 6, respectively, while recalls and investigations remained steady at 2 each. Because the 1987 model lacks overall complaint and recall totals in this record, its precise position within the generation's reliability arc is indeterminate, though the concentration of speed control and fire issues is notable. The data does not specify the root causes for these failures, leaving the mechanical severity of the engine and speed control complaints unknown. Given the documented fire and speed control risks associated with the 1987 model, buyers should insist on a rigorous pre-purchase inspection of these specific systems before considering it a viable purchase.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

2 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 23 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling4

Structure3

Vehicle Speed Control3

Service Brakes, Hydraulic3

Electrical System2

Steering2

Fuel System, Gasoline1

Steering,Suspension1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION…

87V093000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipReported 23/06/1987

THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH MAY EXHIBIT BRAKE FLUID SEEPAGE WHICH EVENTUALLY CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR. ADDITIONALLY, THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR AND ABS… Remedy: THE ABS AND HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR ELECTRICAL RELAYS AND 30 AMP FUSES WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR ASSEMBLY AND PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH WILL BE INSPECTED…

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 6000. 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 3 qt Engine oil filter 12737090 Engine air filter 25043317 Fuel filter 25171792 Spark plug 05614046

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 6000 take?

3 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1987 6000 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.