Saturn›LS1, SC1, SW1›1998›Overview/saturn/ls1-sc1-sw1/1998/base/

1998 Saturn LS1, SC1, SW1

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 LS1, SC1, SW1.

The 1998 Saturn LS1, SC1, and SW1 form a three-model overview that, from a service standpoint, centers on an engine requiring 4.2 quarts of 5W-30 API oil—a spec worth noting for anyone maintaining these vehicles today. The reliability picture for this model year is mixed but not alarming: zero recalls suggest no systemic safety failures, yet the 42 documented owner complaints, with the largest concentration in Engine & Engine Cooling, point to a recurring area of concern that researchers and prospective owners should weigh carefully. In the broader context of Saturn's reliability history, the 1998 models occupy a middle position—free from the recall-driven notoriety that plagues some vehicles, but carrying enough engine-cooling complaints to signal that thorough inspection of that system is essential in any surviving example.

Model year2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 21000872. Note the factory fuel filter, front wiper blades and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 525 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	21000872
Engine air filter	21000938
Fuel filter	21009427 discontinued
Spark plug	21025102
Front wiper blades	21302526 discontinued · alt 21302527
Serpentine belt	21008367 alt 21008369
Thermostat	21006335 discontinued · alt 21006227

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. 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 Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)	75 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	159 DOHC ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	6 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	33 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)	11 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	22 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	16 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	148 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	8000-15,000 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque	20 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.50 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	5.00-7.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca

Service checks

Injector Primary Resistance

11.5-12.5 @ 74 degreesF MFI ohms

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC
Torque Caliper to Bracket	27 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	63 ft-lbs / 86 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	0.030 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.040 in
Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.0024 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	33 ft. lbs.	33 ft. lbs
3	90 degrees.	90 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 6,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 100,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 100,000 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 6,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 6,000 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 12,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 18,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel System (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 36,000 mi	Radiator Cap (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 1998 Saturn LS1, SC1, SW1 lead in one area — the engine & engine cooling, 10 of 42 reports (24%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 5 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine & engine cooling pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

5 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 42 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling10

Seat Belts6

Visibility4

Vehicle Speed Control2

Service Brakes, Hydraulic2

Tires2

Suspension2

Power Train2

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
98T07	1998-02-01	Suspension	EXPERIENCING A RATTLE OR CLICK NOISE FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS…

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 LS1, SC1, SW1. 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.

Group 75 battery Vehicles taking 4.2 qt Engine oil filter 21000872 Engine air filter 21000938 Fuel filter 21009427 Spark plug 21025102

Reference guides

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

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1998 LS1, SC1, SW1 take?

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

Does the 1998 LS1, SC1, SW1 have open recalls?

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