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1998 Chevrolet Suburban RHD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 Suburban RHD.

Body SUV

The 1998 Chevrolet Suburban RHD is an SUV that requires 5.5 quarts of 5W‑30 API engine oil. Owner reports total 279 complaints, with the service brakes hydraulic system emerging as the top concern. Three recalls accompany those figures, underscoring a measurable but not extraordinary issue frequency for the Suburban line.

Model year1999 1998

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · 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 78 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 25160561. 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

Tire sizeLT245-75R16EOEM · verified

Wheel / rim6.5-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	25160561
Engine air filter	25168082 alt 25168081
Fuel filter	10154635 alt 25171792
Spark plug	12681665
Front wiper blades	93441742
Serpentine belt	12576454 alt 12564763
Thermostat	12559336 alt 12632948

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	219.7 in
Overall width	76.8 in
Overall height	71.3 in
Wheelbase	131.5 in
Curb weight	5031 lb
Track (front / rear)	62.6 / 63.8 in

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-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 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. 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

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
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	8.5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	74 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	110 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	40 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	8.85 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	20.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	6.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	9.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket	70.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle	70.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket	70.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts	140 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	165 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	14 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	11-15 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Standard BCI Group Number	78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	78

Service checks

Pressure Test	20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	66.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	60-66
RPM	50-63 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance	11.8-12.6 @ 50-95 degreesF MFI ohms
Engine Compression	100

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	15 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	38 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Drum Runout Limit	0.006 in
Drum Nominal Diameter	10 in / 11.15 in / 13 in
Drum Maximum Machining	10.05 in / 11.21 in / 13.06 in
Drum Discard at-or-over	10.09 / 11.24 / 13.09
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in / 0.0005 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

1	20 ft. lbs.	20 ft. lbs
2	55 ft. lbs.	55 ft. lbs
3	55 ft. lbs.	55 ft. lbs
4	90 degrees	90 degrees

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

22 ft. lbs., step 2: 30

22 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 100,000 mi.

At 3,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 5,000 mi	Steering System (inspect)
Every 7,500 mi	CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft Slip Yoke (lubricate) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 10,000 mi	Air Intake System (inspect)
Every 12,000 mi	Underbody Splash Shield (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 mi	Clutch Cross Shaft (lubricate) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Crankcase Depression Regulator Valve (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Exhaust Pressure Regulator (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	PCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

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 1998 Chevrolet Suburban RHD lead in one area — the service brakes, hydraulic, 54 of 279 reports (19%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 3 recall campaigns target the service brakes, hydraulic, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 12 of the reports describe a crash and 3 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the service brakes, hydraulic 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

279

Owner complaints

12 involved a crash · 3 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 279 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic54

Visibility51

Steering24

Tires18

Engine & Engine Cooling18

Power Train14

Suspension13

Electrical System12

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION…

03V093000Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:ExteriorReported 07/03/2003

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 65 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
17-NA-073	2023-02-21	Equipment	This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIP4723F	2022-01-14	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D	2020-01-31	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIC4696E	2019-11-22	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
17NA073	2019-09-18	Equipment	This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…

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 RHD. 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 battery Vehicles taking 5.5 qt Engine oil filter 25160561 Engine air filter 25168082 Fuel filter 10154635 Spark plug 12681665

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 1998 Suburban RHD take?

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

Does the 1998 Suburban RHD have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.