AMC Ambassador

Automatic transmission fluid capacity & service interval

AMC Ambassador uses automatic transmission fluid with a capacity range of 8 to 9,5 liters. Service intervals include checks at 6400 km, 8000 km or 5 months, and 9600 km, with fluid changes at 38500 km or 24 months and 40000 km or 25 months. The data covers 11 configurations.

The configuration chart below lists fill volumes and service intervals for each engine and trim variant.

TypeSpecifications
Ambassador 258 Six (1971-1974)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 8 liter
  • Check 8000 km/ 5 months
  • Code: 3/1
Ambassador 258 Six (1971-1974)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 8 liter
  • Check 8000 km/ 5 months
  • Change 40000 km/ 25 months
  • Code: 3/1
Ambassador 304 V8 (1971-1974)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 8 liter
  • Check 8000 km/ 5 months
  • Code: 3/1
Ambassador 304 V8 (1971-1974)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 8 liter
  • Check 8000 km/ 5 months
  • Change 40000 km/ 25 months
  • Code: 3/1
Ambassador 360 V8 (1971-1974)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 9 liter
  • Check 9600 km
  • Code: 3/1
Ambassador 360 V8 (1971-1974)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 9 liter
  • Check 9600 km
  • Change 38500 km/ 24 months
  • Code: 3/1
Ambassador 401 V8 (1971-1974)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 9 liter
  • Check 8000 km/ 5 months
  • Code: 3/1
Ambassador 401 V8 (1971-1974)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 9 liter
  • Check 8000 km/ 5 months
  • Change 40000 km/ 25 months
  • Code: 3/1
Ambassador 232 Six (1968-1970)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 8,5 liter
  • Check 6400 km
  • Code: 3/1
Ambassador 290 V8 (1968-1970)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 8,5 liter
  • Check 6400 km
  • Code: 3/1
Ambassador 343 V8 (1968-1970)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 9,5 liter
  • Check 6400 km
  • Code: 3/1

Additional Notes

  • The AMC Ambassador 232 Six (1968-1970) carries an automatic transmission fluid capacity of 8.5 liters, while the later 258 Six (1971-1974) holds 8 liters, reflecting a modest reduction between the two inline-six generations.
  • The 343 V8 (1968-1970) has the largest automatic transmission fluid capacity in the 1968-1970 range at 9.5 liters, compared to 8.5 liters for the 232 Six and 290 V8 of the same period, a difference consistent with the greater fluid volume demands of larger-displacement V8 transmissions.
  • The 360 V8 and 401 V8 (1971-1974) both share a 9-liter automatic transmission fluid capacity, down from the 9.5 liters specified for the 343 V8 in the preceding generation.
  • Check intervals for the 1968-1970 engines are expressed in kilometers only, with the 232 Six and 290 V8 set at 6,400 km and the 343 V8 at 6,400 km as well, while 1971-1974 intervals add a time-based component alongside the distance figure.
  • The 258 Six and 304 V8 (1971-1974) share an identical check interval of 8,000 km or 5 months under normal use conditions, indicating that engine displacement alone does not determine service scheduling within the same model generation.
  • The 360 V8 (1971-1974) has a notably different check interval of 9,600 km compared to the 8,000 km specified for the 304 V8 and 401 V8 of the same years, making the 360 V8 the only 1971-1974 engine with a distance-only check interval that exceeds 8,000 km.
  • Under severe use conditions, the 258 Six, 304 V8, and 401 V8 (1971-1974) all carry a fluid change interval of 40,000 km or 25 months, while the 360 V8 under the same conditions specifies a change at 38,500 km or 24 months, a slight difference from the other three engines.
  • Severe use specifications for the 1971-1974 engines add a mandatory fluid change interval on top of the check interval, whereas normal use specifications for those same engines list only a check interval without a defined change point.
  • The 1968-1970 engine configurations carry no severe use entries in the specifications, with all three engines in that period listed under normal use only.

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