Pontiac Firebird

Automatic transmission fluid capacity & service interval

Pontiac Firebird automatic transmission fluid capacity ranges from 1,4 to 9,9 liters. Service intervals include 12000 miles and 24000 miles. The data covers 26 configurations.

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

TypeSpecifications
Firebird, SD-455 (1973-1974)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 9 liter
  • Capacity 3,5 liter (Change capacity)
  • Change 24000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M40
Firebird, SD-455 (1973-1974)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 9 liter
  • Capacity 3,5 liter (Change capacity)
  • Change 12000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M40
Firebird, 455 cu. (1971-1976)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,4 liter (Change capacity)
  • Capacity 9,5 liter (Overhaul capacity)
  • Change 24000 miles
  • Code: 2/1
Firebird, 455 cu. (1971-1976)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 1,4 liter (Change capacity)
  • Capacity 9,5 liter (Overhaul capacity)
  • Change 12000 miles
  • Code: 2/1
Firebird, 455 cu. (1971-1976)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 3,8 liter (Change capacity)
  • Capacity 9,9 liter (Overhaul capacity)
  • Change 24000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M38
Firebird, 455 cu. (1971-1976)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 3,8 liter (Change capacity)
  • Capacity 9,9 liter (Overhaul capacity)
  • Change 12000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M38
Firebird, 455 cu. (1971-1976)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 9 liter
  • Capacity 3,5 liter (Change capacity)
  • Change 24000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M40
Firebird, 455 cu. (1971-1976)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 9 liter
  • Capacity 3,5 liter (Change capacity)
  • Change 12000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M40
Firebird, 455 H.O. (1971-1974)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 9 liter
  • Capacity 3,5 liter (Change capacity)
  • Change 24000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M40
Firebird, 455 H.O. (1971-1974)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 9 liter
  • Capacity 3,5 liter (Change capacity)
  • Change 12000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M40
Firebird, 250 cu. (1970-1976)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,4 liter (Change capacity)
  • Capacity 8,6 liter (Overhaul capacity)
  • Change 24000 miles
  • Code: 2/1
Firebird, 250 cu. (1970-1976)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 1,4 liter (Change capacity)
  • Capacity 8,6 liter (Overhaul capacity)
  • Change 12000 miles
  • Code: 2/1
Firebird, 250 cu. (1970-1976)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 3,8 liter (Change capacity)
  • Capacity 9,1 liter (Overhaul capacity)
  • Change 24000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M38
Firebird, 250 cu. (1970-1976)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 3,8 liter (Change capacity)
  • Capacity 9,1 liter (Overhaul capacity)
  • Change 12000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M38
Firebird, 350 cu. (1970-1979)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,4 liter (Change capacity)
  • Capacity 9,5 liter (Overhaul capacity)
  • Change 24000 miles
  • Code: 2/1
Firebird, 350 cu. (1970-1979)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 1,4 liter (Change capacity)
  • Capacity 9,5 liter (Overhaul capacity)
  • Change 12000 miles
  • Code: 2/1
Firebird, 350 cu. (1970-1979)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 3,8 liter (Change capacity)
  • Capacity 9,9 liter (Overhaul capacity)
  • Change 24000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M38
Firebird, 350 cu. (1970-1979)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 3,8 liter (Change capacity)
  • Capacity 9,9 liter (Overhaul capacity)
  • Change 12000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M38
Firebird, 350 cu. (1970-1979)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 9 liter
  • Capacity 3,5 liter (Change capacity)
  • Change 24000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M40
Firebird, 350 cu. (1970-1979)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 9 liter
  • Capacity 3,5 liter (Change capacity)
  • Change 12000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M40
Firebird, 400 cu. (1970-1979)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,4 liter (Change capacity)
  • Capacity 9,5 liter (Overhaul capacity)
  • Change 24000 miles
  • Code: 2/1
Firebird, 400 cu. (1970-1979)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 1,4 liter (Change capacity)
  • Capacity 9,5 liter (Overhaul capacity)
  • Change 12000 miles
  • Code: 2/1
Firebird, 400 cu. (1970-1979)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 3,8 liter (Change capacity)
  • Capacity 9,9 liter (Overhaul capacity)
  • Change 24000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M38
Firebird, 400 cu. (1970-1979)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 3,8 liter (Change capacity)
  • Capacity 9,9 liter (Overhaul capacity)
  • Change 12000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M38
Firebird, 400 cu. (1970-1979)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 9 liter
  • Capacity 3,5 liter (Change capacity)
  • Change 24000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M40
Firebird, 400 cu. (1970-1979)
  • Use: Severe
  • Capacity 9 liter
  • Capacity 3,5 liter (Change capacity)
  • Change 12000 miles
  • Code: Turbo-Hydramatic M40

Additional Notes

  • The Pontiac Firebird 250 cu. (1970-1976) carries two distinct automatic transmission configurations, one with a 1.4-liter change capacity and an 8.6-liter overhaul capacity, and another with a 3.8-liter change capacity and a 9.1-liter overhaul capacity. The gap between change and overhaul figures in both cases reflects the additional fluid held in the torque converter and transmission cooler lines, which are fully drained only during a complete teardown.
  • Across the 350 cu. and 400 cu. engine variants (1970-1979), three separate transmission configurations appear. Two share overhaul capacities of 9.5 liters and 9.9 liters respectively, paired with change capacities of 1.4 liters and 3.8 liters. A third configuration lists a total capacity of 9.0 liters alongside a 3.5-liter change capacity, a format where the total system volume is stated rather than a dedicated overhaul figure.
  • The 3.5-liter change capacity paired with a 9.0-liter total capacity, seen across the 350 cu., 400 cu., 455 cu., 455 H.O., and SD-455 configurations, means a routine fluid change replaces roughly 39 percent of the total fluid volume. The remaining fluid stays in the torque converter, which does not drain during a standard pan-drop service.
  • Normal-use service intervals across all Firebird engine variants are set at 24,000 miles. Under severe use conditions, the interval is halved to 12,000 miles. Severe use typically encompasses conditions such as frequent towing, extended idling, or repeated short-trip driving that prevents the transmission fluid from reaching full operating temperature.
  • The 455 cu. engine (1971-1976) carries all three transmission configurations also found on the 350 cu. and 400 cu. variants, with identical capacity values: 1.4-liter change with 9.5-liter overhaul, 3.8-liter change with 9.9-liter overhaul, and 3.5-liter change with 9.0-liter total. This indicates shared transmission units across multiple engine displacements rather than engine-specific gearboxes.
  • The 455 H.O. (1971-1974) and SD-455 (1973-1974) variants each list only a single transmission configuration: a 9.0-liter total capacity with a 3.5-liter change capacity. Neither variant carries the 1.4-liter or 3.8-liter change capacity configurations present on the standard 455 cu. engine.
  • The 250 cu. engine's overhaul capacities of 8.6 liters and 9.1 liters are the lowest among all Firebird engine variants in the specifications. The 350 cu., 400 cu., and 455 cu. engines share higher overhaul figures of 9.5 liters and 9.9 liters, consistent with larger transmission units suited to higher-torque applications.
  • The SD-455 was produced only for 1973-1974, the shortest production span of any engine variant in the specifications. Despite the engine's performance-oriented nature, the transmission fluid capacity and service interval figures are identical to those of the standard 455 cu. and 455 H.O. in the same configuration, at 9.0 liters total and 3.5 liters change capacity, with 24,000-mile normal and 12,000-mile severe intervals.

Other Systems