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2018 Chevrolet Suburban 3500 HD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 Suburban 3500 HD.

Body VAN

Classified as a van, the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban 3500 HD requires a substantial 6.0 quarts of 5W-30 or 0W-30 engine oil to keep its core mechanicals running. Ironically, the powertrain that depends on that oil is the top complaint area among the vehicle's 14 total owner grievances. Combined with six official recalls, this concentration of drivetrain concerns places the 2018 model year at a notably problematic point in the vehicle's reliability history, meaning researchers must factor in significant mechanical risks when evaluating this specific variant.

Model year2019 2018

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 / 0W-30OEM · verified

Lug nut torque140 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 720 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 94R · 720 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP265/65R18OEM · verified

Wheel / rim8.5; Optional: 9.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12690386
Engine air filter	23349854
Spark plug	12680072
Battery	88866309 alt 88865934
Front wiper blades	84613732
Serpentine belt	19210691 alt 12637204
Thermostat	89018168 alt 12587397
Cabin air filter	23281440

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	224.4 in
Overall width	80.3 in
Overall height	74.4 in
Wheelbase	129.9 in
Curb weight	5776 lb
Track (front / rear)	68.1 / 68.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	51/49

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-30 / 0W-30 engine oil, Synthetic · 75W-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 1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3. 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 Fluid	Use DEXRON(R)-VI GM P/N 89020661
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	6.0-7.4
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	Synthetic · 75W-90 · GL-5
Engine Coolant Capacity	16.2
Engine Oil	5W-30 · 0W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	6.0 qt
Power Steering Fluid	Use GM part number 19329450

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	18.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	15.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	31.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)	18.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts	M8 Bolts: 18.0 ft-lbs, M6 Bolts: 8.8 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	140 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	188.0 Do not re-use old hub nut. ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-6-5-4-3-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number	94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	720 cca

Service checks

RPM	43.0
Engine Compression	100

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque	Front: 74; Rear: 38 Use; Rear: 77
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque	Front: 170; Rear: 148; Rear: 221
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement	Front: 1.102; Rear: .728; Front: 1.516; Rear: 1.280
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after Refinish	Front: 1.122; Rear: .748; Front: 1.535; Rear: 1.299
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation	Rear: .007; Rear: .001
Maximum Rotor Runout	.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages

48.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

48 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	15.0 ft. lbs.	15 ft. lbs
2	85.0

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not re-use old bolts · M11 Bolts

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	70 degrees; M8 Bolts	70 degrees
1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	15.0 ft. lbs.	15 ft. lbs
2	37.0 ft. lbs.	37 ft. lbs
3	74.0

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	3.7 ft. lbs.	3.7 ft. lbs
2	7.4

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	11 ft. lbs.	11 ft. lbs
2	15

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Inner bolts

1	15.0 ft. lbs.	15 ft. lbs
2	80 degrees; Outer bolts	80 degrees
1	15.0 ft. lbs.	15 ft. lbs
2	51.0 degrees; Side bolts	51 degrees
1	18.0 ft. lbs.	18 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 97,500 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Accelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (inspect fluid level)
Every 22,500 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 97,500 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)

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 2018 Chevrolet Suburban 3500 HD lead in one area — the power train, 3 of 14 reports (21%), 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 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the power train 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

1023

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 1 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 14 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train3

Electrical System2

Steering,Power Train,Unknown Or Other1

Power Train,Structure,Unknown Or Other1

Electrical System,Visibility1

Electrical System,Unknown Or Other,Service Brakes1

Service Brakes1

Electrical System,Service Brakes1

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 1023 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIT6247B	2026-05-04	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates direction to find information at…
PIT3271Q	2026-04-01	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP6104	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT6400A	2026-01-16	Unknown Or Other	This PI Communications information on an alternative product dealers can use to perform…

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 Suburban 3500 HD. 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 94R battery Vehicles taking 6.0 qt Engine oil filter 12690386 Engine air filter 23349854 Spark plug 12680072 Battery 88866309

Reference guides

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

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2018 Suburban 3500 HD take?

6.0 qt of 5W-30 Use GM Dexos 1 Oil or equivalent. Where temperature falls below -20 degreesF Use 0W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 2018 Suburban 3500 HD have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.