AMC Hornet

Coolant capacity & service interval

AMC Hornet coolant capacity ranges from 9 to 13,2 liters. Service intervals include checks at 6400 km and 9600 km, with fluid changes required every 12 or 24 months. The data covers 6 configurations.

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

TypeSpecifications
Hornet 360 V8 (1972-1977)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 12,3 liter
  • Check 9600 km
  • Change 12 months
Hornet 258 (1971-1977)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 9,9 liter
  • Check 9600 km
  • Change 12 months
Hornet SC360 (1971-1974)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 12,3 liter
  • Check 9600 km
  • Change 12 months
Hornet 199 (1970-1971)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 9 liter
  • Capacity 10 liter (+ heater)
  • Check 6400 km
  • Change 24 months
Hornet 232 (1970-1977)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 9,9 liter
  • Check 9600 km
  • Change 12 months
Hornet 304 V8 (1970-1977)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 13,2 liter
  • Check 9600 km
  • Change 12 months

Additional Notes

  • The AMC Hornet 199 carries a base cooling system capacity of 9 liters, rising to 10 liters when the heater circuit is included. The heater core adds volume to the coolant circuit, so the higher figure reflects a fully filled system with the heater connected.
  • The Hornet 199 was available from 1970-1971, making it the shortest-lived engine option in the Hornet lineup covered by these specifications. Its check interval of 6,400 km is notably shorter than the 9,600 km interval specified for all other engines in the range.
  • The Hornet 199 also carries a change interval of 24 months, which is twice the 12-month interval assigned to every other engine configuration listed. A longer change interval typically reflects a different coolant formulation or a different engineering assessment of degradation rate.
  • The 232 and 258 inline-six engines share an identical capacity of 9.9 liters, along with the same 9,600 km check interval and 12-month change interval. Despite the displacement difference between the two engines, the cooling system requirements are specified identically.
  • The Hornet 304 V8 carries the largest cooling system capacity in the lineup at 13.2 liters. A larger capacity is consistent with the greater heat rejection demands of a V8 engine compared to the inline-six configurations.
  • The 360 V8 and the SC360 share a cooling system capacity of 12.3 liters, which is lower than the 13.2 liters specified for the 304 V8. Although the 360 displaces more cubic inches than the 304, a larger displacement does not automatically require a larger cooling system volume.
  • The Hornet SC360 was produced from 1971-1974, while the standard 360 V8 variant spans 1972-1977. Both share the same 12.3-liter capacity and identical service intervals, indicating no cooling system differentiation between the performance-oriented SC360 and the standard 360 application.

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