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1986 GMC Truck Jimmy 4WD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 Jimmy 4WD.

The 1986 GMC Truck Jimmy 4WD represents an early generation of this compact sport utility, with its engine requiring 3 quarts of oil within a viscosity range spanning 20W-20, 15W-40, and 5W-30 depending on operating conditions—a specification reflecting the era's broader tolerance for lubricant choices. Among model-year data tracked from 1990 through 2004, the 1986 Jimmy's complaint record of just 3 total owner submissions stands in sharp contrast to the 620 complaints filed for the 1995 model, the peak year in this dataset, and suggests that whatever issues plagued later generations had yet to fully manifest in this early production run; notably, the top complaint category across the model's history was Engine & Engine Cooling, and the single recall issued for this year indicates that while problems existed, they remained relatively contained. This early position in the model's lifecycle, combined with its remarkably low complaint count compared to subsequent years, positions the 1986 as potentially one of the more reliable iterations of the Jimmy platform before design complexities and component aging drove complaint volumes upward.

Model year20011992199119861985

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-20 / 15W-40 / 5W-30OEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 25160561. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter25160561
Engine air filter08996118 alt 08997890
Fuel filter5651803 discontinued · alt 25011765
Spark plug19300382
Front wiper blades15184702
Serpentine belt09433734 alt 09433749
Thermostat14077122 alt 12514334

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3 qt of 20W-20 / 15W-40 / 5W-30 engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.0 qt
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.6 qt
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3 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 60,000 mi.

At 5,000 miExhaust Pressure Regulator (inspect)
Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 7,500 miCarburetor Mounting Fasteners (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Early Fuel Evaporation System (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate)
Every 10,000 miAir Intake System (inspect) · Radiator Fan Assembly (inspect) · Underbody Splash Shield (inspect)
Every 15,000 miDistributor Vacuum Advance (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust Pressure Regulator (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 30,000 miDistributor Vacuum Advance (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Clutch Cross Shaft (lubricate) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · EGR System (inspect) · Early Fuel Evaporation System (inspect)
Every 60,000 miCarburetor Mounting Fasteners (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Throttle Body (torque) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)

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 1986 GMC Truck Jimmy 4WD dominate in one area — the engine & engine cooling, 1 of 3 reports (33%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 1 recall campaigns target the engine & engine cooling, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine & engine cooling 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.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
3
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’90’92’93’94’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’03’04

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 3 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
Visibility1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E026000Exterior LightingReported 23/03/2006

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL… Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

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 Jimmy 4WD. 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 3 qtEngine oil filter 25160561Engine air filter 08996118Fuel filter 5651803Spark plug 19300382

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1986 Jimmy 4WD take?

3 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 20 degrees F: 20W-20, ABOVE 10 degrees F: 15W-40, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1986 Jimmy 4WD have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.