Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 P20.
The 1987 Chevrolet P20 specifies a 5-quart engine oil capacity utilizing 10W-30 or 5W-30 viscosity grades for routine maintenance. Reliability records indicate zero recalls and merely three documented owner complaints, with seat belts constituting the predominant concern. This combination of no safety campaigns and minimal feedback establishes the 1987 model as a notably robust entry in the P20 series, offering researchers a reference point for mechanical stability within the line.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 5 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Differential Gear Oil | 80W-90 · GL-5 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 27.0 qt |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | 10W-30 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 5 qt |
| Engine Oil | 10W-30 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 6 qt |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 1987 Chevrolet P20 dominate in one area — the seat belts, 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 seat belts 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.
All 3 complaints on record, top 3 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
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Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
5 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.