AMC Pacer

Manual transmission fluid capacity & service interval

AMC Pacer manual transmission fluid capacity ranges from 1,7 to 1,9 liters. Service intervals consist of checks every 12000 km or 8 months and changes every 48000 km or 30 months. The data covers 6 configurations.

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

TypeSpecifications
Pacer V8 (1978-1980)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,7 liter
  • Check 12000 km/ 8 months
  • Change 48000 km/ 30 months
  • Code: 4/1
  • Pacer V8 (1978-1980)
  • With overdrive
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,9 liter
  • Check 12000 km/ 8 months
  • Change 48000 km/ 30 months
  • Code: 4/1
Pacer 232 (1975-1980)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,7 liter
  • Check 12000 km/ 8 months
  • Change 48000 km/ 30 months
  • Code: 4/1
  • Pacer 232 (1975-1980)
  • With overdrive
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,9 liter
  • Check 12000 km/ 8 months
  • Change 48000 km/ 30 months
  • Code: 4/1
Pacer 258 (1975-1980)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,7 liter
  • Check 12000 km/ 8 months
  • Change 48000 km/ 30 months
  • Code: 4/1
  • Pacer 258 (1975-1980)
  • With overdrive
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,9 liter
  • Check 12000 km/ 8 months
  • Change 48000 km/ 30 months
  • Code: 4/1

Additional Notes

  • The AMC Pacer manual transmission without overdrive holds 1.7 liters of fluid across the 232, 258, and V8 engine configurations, representing a standard service fill for routine fluid replacement rather than a full overhaul capacity.
  • When the manual transmission is paired with an overdrive unit, fluid capacity rises to 1.9 liters across all three engine variants, reflecting the additional volume required to lubricate the overdrive mechanism integrated into the gearbox assembly.
  • The V8 engine option in the Pacer was available from 1978-1980, a narrower window than the 232 and 258 inline-six configurations, which span the full 1975-1980 range.
  • All six configurations share an identical check interval of every 12,000 km or 8 months, whichever comes first, under normal use conditions.
  • The fluid change interval for every configuration is set at 48,000 km or 30 months under normal use, meaning a full drain-and-refill cycle is expected roughly every four years of typical driving.
  • The time-based check interval of 8 months means a calendar-driven service trigger applies even when mileage accumulation is low, which is relevant for vehicles driven infrequently.
  • The 30-month change interval works out to 2.5 years, so a vehicle driven well below the 48,000 km threshold would still reach a fluid change requirement on the time-based schedule before the distance-based one.

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