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2008 Chevrolet Express

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 Express.

Body VANTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2008 Chevrolet Express is a full‑size van built on the Chevrolet V-Series platform, powered by a 4.5‑quart oil capacity and 5W‑30 API‑approved engine oil, and equipped with a four‑speed automatic transmission that delivers EPA ratings of 12/16/14 mpg in city, highway, and combined use. This model year sits mid‑cycle in the Express’s reliability record, with a modest total of 24 owner complaints—primarily centered on structural issues—and a total of seven recalls, a figure that is relatively low compared to the peak of 127 complaints in 2003. The 2008 Express therefore represents a period of stable performance and incremental reliability improvements within the broader 1995‑2026 history of the vehicle.

Model year201820172016201520112010200920082007

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 economy12/16/14 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12690386. 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 78 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12690386 alt 12731175
Engine air filter22909882
Spark plug12621258 alt 12681665
Front wiper blades15214346
Serpentine belt12576447 alt 12637202
Thermostat89018168 alt 12632948

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length224 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height81.5 in
Wheelbase135 in
Curb weight4634 lb
Track (front / rear)68.1 / 67.7 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined12 / 16 / 14 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Express of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.70 sec — 2003 1500 Passenger Van (SWB)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
20031500 Passenger Van (SWB) 5.3L V88.70 sec16.70 sec285 hpAWD

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, SAE 75W · SYNTHETIC in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 62.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3. 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

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.4
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.5 qt
Differential Gear OilSAE 75W · SYNTHETIC
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.4 qt
Engine CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts42 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 Oil Pan Drain Plug62.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts9.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts16.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)103.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket107.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle66.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket66.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub155 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque11 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number78

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-60
RPM43-45 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression300 Minimum. Maximum variation 50 PSI.
Engine Compression100
Engine Compression100

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket80 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle129 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.005 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.142 in / 1.181 in / 1.496 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.142 in / 1.181 in / 1.496 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.102 in / 1.142 in / 1.457 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
170 ft. lbs., step 2: 95 ft. lbs.70 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Installation, 92 ft. lbs., step 2: then remove bolt, install new bolt., step 3: 92 ft. lbs., step 4: 130 degrees.92 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174 ft. lbs., step 2: 100 ft. lbs., step 3: 105 degrees.74 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head or head bolt bosses · M11 Bolts:

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
370 degrees; M8 Bolts:70 degrees
122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
222.0 ft. lbs22 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.43.7 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., step 2: 1511 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.43.7 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., step 2: 1511 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.43.7 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., step 2: 1511 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the 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 20,000 miFuel Filter (replace)
Every 25,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine 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.

The 2008 model year follows a pronounced improvement arc in the Express generation’s federal record, arriving after complaint volume declined from a peak of 127 in 2003 to just 23 by 2007, and recalls dropped from a generation high of 17 in 2006 to 6 in 2007. Specific data for 2008 shows single-digit incidence in its leading complaint categories—5 for Structure, 4 for Service Brakes Hydraulic, 2 for Service Brakes, and 2 for Electrical System—with only 1 crash-related complaint and zero fire complaints reported; the data does not specify root causes for these issues. This low-incidence profile aligns with the late-generation stabilization trend, though it is worth noting that Technical Service Bulletins reached a generation high of 961 in 2007, indicating persistent service complexity as the platform aged. Consequently, 2008 represents a relatively favorable year to purchase within this generation, offering diminished complaint and recall exposure compared to the problematic mid-decade period, provided the vehicle’s maintenance history addresses the high volume of service bulletins characteristic of this era.

7
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1082
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
24
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’23’24’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 24 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Service Brakes2
Electrical System2
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Air Bags1
Unknown Or Other1
Power Train,Engine1

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 5 of 1082 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT64482025-11-04Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information states to reuse a fastener during a front sensor replacement…
PIT64482025-10-30Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information states to reuse a fastener during a front sensor replacement…
135982025-09-09Unknown Or OtherNew Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
PIC5650M2025-08-06Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5601C2025-07-18Unknown Or OtherThis PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…

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

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Express. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

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

Group 78 batteryVehicles taking 4.5 qtEngine oil filter 12690386Engine air filter 22909882Spark plug 12621258Front wiper blades 15214346

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 Express take?

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

Does the 2008 Express have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Express get?

EPA figures are 12 city / 16 highway / 14 combined mpg.