GMC TruckSierra 3500 HD2020Overview/gmc-truck/sierra-3500-hd/2020/base/

2020 GMC Truck Sierra 3500 HD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Sierra 3500 HD.

The 2020 GMC Sierra 3500 HD is a heavy-duty pickup whose 8.0-quart engine oil sump running 5W-30 viscosity underscores the substantial lubrication demands placed on its powertrain under work-duty cycles. With 45 owner complaints and 7 recalls on record, this model year occupies a middling position in the platform's complaint history spanning 1999 through 2026 — a noticeable improvement over the 2014 peak of 108 complaints, yet a far cry from the single-complaint low set by the 2001 model year. Power train issues dominate the owner feedback, meaning that while the 2020 benefits from post-2014 refinements, prospective buyers should pay particular attention to drivetrain integrity when evaluating used examples.

Model year202520232020

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity8.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30OEM · verified
Lug nut torque140.0 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 48 Diesel Vehicles may require 2 batteries. · 730 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12684038. 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 48 Diesel Vehicles may require 2 batteries. · 730 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeLT275/70R18/E 125/122SOEM · verified
Wheel / rim8; DRW: 6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12684038 alt 12731742
Engine air filter84554703 alt 84121219
Fuel filter13539108
Spark plug12622441
Battery88864542 alt 88866309
Front wiper blades84578275
Serpentine belt12732707 alt 12658178
Thermostat12680544 alt 12680457
Cabin air filter13508023

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 8.0 qt of 5W-30 engine oil, Synthetic · SAE 75W90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid10L1000: Dexron ULV, 6L90: Dexron VI
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity10L1000
Brake FluidDOT 3
Brake Fluid Capacity2.11 pt
Differential Gear OilSynthetic · SAE 75W90
Engine CoolantDex-Cool
Engine Coolant Capacity15.5
Engine CoolantDex-Cool

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)18.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)18.0 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs11.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)173.0 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)15.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)31.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill PlugFront: 18.0-; Rear: 18.0-
Differential drain PlugFront: 18.0-; Rear: 18.0-
Driveshaft Flange to TransmissionFront: 18.0; Rear: 74.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle129.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket129.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts140.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug15.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1–8–7–2–6–5–4–3
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)680 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)680 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.037-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity1.4 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Capacity3.40 oz
Standard BCI Group Number48 Diesel Vehicles may require 2 batteries.
Standard BCI Cranking Performance730 cca
Standard BCI Cranking Performance730 cca

Service checks

Primary Fuel Pump PressureMaximum @ At Idle Speed = 120 MPa
Secondary Fuel Pump Pressure54.0-65.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)46.0-88.0
Engine Oil Pressure25.0
Engine Oil Pressure22
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 55.0; Rear: 55.0
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 221.0; Rear: 221.0
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.6; Rear: 6.6
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.516
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: 1.535
Vented Rotor Maximum Scoring DepthFront: 0.059; Rear: 0.059
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationFront: 0.001; Rear: 0.001

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts) — tightening sequence 1 stages
174.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Loosen 270°, Step 3: 74.0 ft. lbs., Step 4: 175°-185°74 ft. lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket — tightening sequence 1 stages
1148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 120°-130°148 ft. lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
185°-100°
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°48 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 85°15 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
126.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 30° Step 3: 30° Step 4: 30°26 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 22.0 ft. lbs. Step 3: 45°11 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
159.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 60° Step 3: 60°59 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 22.0 ft. lbs. Step 3: 45°11 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
159.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 60° Step 3: 60°59 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs. Step 2: 7.43.7 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
172.0 ft.lbs. Step 2: 97.0 ft. lbs. Step 3: 60° Side Bolts Step 1: 59.072 ft.lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 97,500 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 6,000 miWheel Lug Nut (torque)
Every 7,500 miAccelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect)
Every 15,000 miWindshield Wiper Blade (replace)
Every 22,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 75,000 miHood Hinge (inspect)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

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 2020 GMC Truck Sierra 3500 HD dominate in one area — the power train, 14 of 45 reports (31%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 8 recall campaigns target the power train, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 4 of the reports describe a crash and 2 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.

7
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
690
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
45
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 45 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train14
Electrical System4
Fuel/Propulsion System3
Unknown Or Other3
Tires3
Structure2
Visibility,Structure1
Unknown Or Other,Service Brakes,Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V142000Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:LatchReported 12/03/2020

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The hood-latch striker wires may not have been heat-treated properly, possibly causing them to… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hood assembly, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020…

20V792000Seat BeltsReported 17/12/2020

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 690 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT5161L2025-07-31Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5865E2025-07-28Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the possibility of DTC P30BF failing on low…
PIT64052025-06-23Unknown Or OtherThis PI is to inform dealers of a possible issue with an LVDS cable causing the radio to…
N252494770-012025-06-20Unknown Or OtherAmendments to the Song-Beverly Act (SBA) California warranty law provides vehicle owners…
N2524947702025-06-17Unknown Or OtherAmendments to the Song-Beverly Act (SBA) California warranty law provides vehicle owners…

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 Sierra 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2020 Sierra 3500 HD take?

8.0 qt of 5W-30 Use GM Dexos 1 Oil or equivalent, per the factory manual.

Does the 2020 Sierra 3500 HD have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.