ChevroletC-Series Pickup 2WD CNG1997Overview/chevrolet/c-series-pickup-2wd-cng/1997/base/

1997 Chevrolet C-Series Pickup 2WD CNG

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 C-Series Pickup 2WD CNG.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1997 Chevrolet C-Series Pickup 2WD CNG is a compressed natural gas variant of Chevrolet's two-wheel-drive pickup line, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and EPA-rated at 15 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 17 mpg combined. Its 4.5-quart engine oil capacity and 5W-30 API viscosity specification round out a straightforward maintenance profile for a truck of this configuration. In the broader context of the model's reliability history, this model year stands as one of the cleaner ones, with zero recalls and only a single owner complaint on record — directed at the hydraulic service brakes — which suggests that whatever issue surfaced was isolated rather than indicative of a wider pattern.

Model year2000199919981997

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque140 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/21/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 778 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 19210286. 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 778 · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeLT245-75R16EOEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter19210286 alt 25160561
Engine air filter25168082 alt 25173426
Fuel filter10154635 alt 25171792
Spark plug12681665
Front wiper blades93441742
Serpentine belt12576454 alt 19355374
Thermostat12632948 alt 12559336

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 21 / 17 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. 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 FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity6.3 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts74 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts110 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts40 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts8.85 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts20.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket70.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle70.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket70.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-6-5-4-3-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque11-14 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque14 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number778
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Optional BCI Group Number78
Optional BCI Cranking Performance690 cca
Standard BCI Group Number78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum66.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)60-66
RPM50-63 @ Idle rpm
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum66.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)60-66

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket15 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle38 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket15 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle38 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Drum Runout Limit0.006 in
Drum Nominal Diameter10 in / 11.15 in / 13 in
Drum Maximum Machining10.05 in / 11.21 in / 13.06 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages
120 ft. lbs.20 ft. lbs
255 ft. lbs.55 ft. lbs
355 ft. lbs.55 ft. lbs
490 degrees90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages
120.0 ft. lbs.20 ft. lbs
255.0 ft. lbs.55 ft. lbs
355.0 ft. lbs.55 ft. lbs
490 degrees90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
130.0 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
260.0 ft. lbs.60 ft. lbs
380.0 ft. lbs.80 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., step 2: 3022 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 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.

Every 5,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 7,500 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft Slip Yoke (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 10,000 miAir Intake System (inspect)
Every 12,000 miUnderbody Splash Shield (inspect)
Every 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Radiator Fan Assembly (inspect)
Every 30,000 miClutch Cross Shaft (lubricate) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Crankcase Depression Regulator Valve (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Exhaust Pressure Regulator (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 100,000 miPCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 miEngine 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 1997 Chevrolet C-Series Pickup 2WD CNG dominate in one area — the service brakes, hydraulic, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the service brakes, hydraulic 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.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
3
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

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 3 of 3 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
17-NA-0732023-02-21EquipmentThis warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
Recalls2014-06-30EquipmentVehicle Recalls
1300890092013-09-01Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

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

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VIN
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Build data
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Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1997 C-Series Pickup 2WD CNG take?

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

Does the 1997 C-Series Pickup 2WD CNG have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the C-Series Pickup 2WD CNG get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 21 highway / 17 combined mpg.