Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1989 P20.
The 1989 Chevrolet P20 is a vehicle featuring an engine that requires 4 quarts of 5W-30 API oil. Its reliability history for this model year consists of two recalls and two total owner complaints. With seat belts identified as the top complaint area, these figures establish the primary reliability focal point for the model.
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 4 qt of 5W-30 API 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 | 14.0 qt |
| Differential Gear Oil | 80W-90 · GL-5 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 5.5 qt |
| Differential Gear Oil | 80W-90 · GL-5 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 14.0 qt |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
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 P20 dominate in one area — the seat belts, 2 of 2 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 2 recall campaigns target the seat belts, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 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 2 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
THERE MAY BE BELOW SPECIFIED TORQUE ON THE TRAILER HITCH ATTACHING FASTENERS, ALLOWING THE TRAILER HITCH TO MOVE UNDER TOWING LOADS. Remedy: CORRECT TORQUE IN TRAILER HITCH FASTENERS TO PREVENT TRAILER SEPARATION.
UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE. Remedy: INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.