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1989 Chevrolet G-Series Van

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1989 G-Series Van.

The 1989 Chevrolet G-Series Van carries an engine oil capacity of 4.5 quarts and calls for either 5W-30 or 10W-30 API viscosity, placing it within Chevrolet's established van lineup. Reliability figures for this model year are notably clean — just three total owner complaints on record, zero recalls, and a top complaint area of structure rather than powertrain or safety. For a researcher, this positions the 1989 G-Series as one of the more trouble-free entries in the model's history, where the limited structural concerns that do exist are narrow enough that the van's overall reliability standing remains strong.

Model year1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1989 1988 1987

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12737090. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. 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.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12737090 alt 25160561
Engine air filter	06419892
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued
Spark plug	19302741
Front wiper blades	15184702 alt 12363297
Serpentine belt	19244952 alt 14102101
Thermostat	10207373 alt 10105135

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 / 10W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	4.9 qt
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	5.0 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 12,000 mi.

At 5,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 5,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Steering System (inspect) · Throttle Linkage (inspect)
At 6,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 6,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
At 7,500 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Transmission Assembly (inspect)
Every 10,000 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Underbody Splash Shield (inspect)
Every 12,000 mi	Air Cleaner Manifold Heat Control Actuator (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Radiator Fan Assembly (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 15,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & 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 1989 Chevrolet G-Series Van dominate in one area — the structure, 1 of 3 reports (33%), 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 structure 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.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 3 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Structure1

Power Train1

Seat Belts1

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 4 of 4 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
000604002	2000-01-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	SUBJECT REGARDING A HARD, NO START OR EXCESSIVE GRAY OR WHITE SMOKE CONDITION ON START UP…
461506	1995-01-01	Latches/Locks/Linkages	REAR AND SIDE CARGO DOOR LATCH RATTLES. *TW
376602A	1995-01-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	NEW CAST IRON EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STAINLESS STEEL GASKET TO CORRECT ENGINE NOISE…
467108	1994-12-01	Power Train	TRANSMISSION EXTENTION SEAL LEAKS. *TW

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 G-Series Van. 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.

Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 12737090 Engine air filter 06419892 Fuel filter 25171792 Spark plug 19302741

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1989 G-Series Van take?

4.5 qt of LIGHT DUTY MODELS: 5W-30 API, HEAVY DUTY MODELS: 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1989 G-Series Van have open recalls?

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