GMC TruckSuburban 4WD1996Overview/gmc-truck/suburban-4wd/1996/base/

1996 GMC Truck Suburban 4WD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Suburban 4WD.

The 1996 GMC Truck Suburban 4WD takes 5.5 qt of 5W-30 engine oil.

Model year199619941993

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 DIESEL · 770 DIESEL CCA battery, OE oil filter 25013454. 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 DIESEL · 770 DIESEL CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP245-75R16COEM · verified
Wheel / rim7-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter25013454 alt 25160561
Engine air filter25168081 alt 25168082
Fuel filter10154635 alt 25171792
Spark plug12681665
Front wiper blades93441742
Serpentine belt19244952 alt 12555010
Thermostat12559336 alt 12632948

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 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 FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity5.5 qt
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity8.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.5 qt
Engine Oil15W-40 · API

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts74 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts110 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts40 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts31.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts26.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts40.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsLower: 31.0; Upper: 17.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts26.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)110.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket110.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket70.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub165 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Cylinder Firing Order1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number78 DIESEL
Standard BCI Cranking Performance770 DIESEL cca
Standard BCI Group Number78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number78

Service checks

Pressure Test20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum66.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)60-66
RPM50-63 @ Idle rpm
Engine Compression100
Engine Compression380

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket15 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle38 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Drum Runout Limit0.006 in
Drum Nominal Diameter10 in / 11.15 in / 13 in
Drum Maximum Machining10.05 in / 11.21 in / 13.06 in
Drum Discard at-or-over10.09 / 11.24 / 13.09
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in / 0.0005 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages
120 ft. lbs.20 ft. lbs
255 ft. lbs.55 ft. lbs
355 ft. lbs.55 ft. lbs
490
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
260 ft. lbs.60 ft. lbs
380
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil.

1All bolts22 ft. lbs
2Short bolts55 degrees
3Medium bolts65 degrees
4Long bolts75 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs. Step 2: long bolts: 75 degrees medium bolts: 65 degrees short bolts: 5522 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
120 ft. lbs. Step 2: 55 ft. lbs. Step 3: 55 ft. lbs. Step 4: 9020 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
137 ft. lbs. Step 2: bolts 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16: turn 150 degrees bolts 4, 5, 10, 11: turn 9037 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., step 2: 3022 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
140.0
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
130.0

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; coolant every 100,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 100,000 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.

Every 3,000 miKing Pin (lubricate)
Every 5,000 miParking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 7,500 miCV 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 miAir Intake System (inspect)
Every 12,000 miUnderbody Splash Shield (inspect)
Every 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Radiator Fan Assembly (inspect)
Every 30,000 miClutch Cross Shaft (lubricate) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory 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 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)

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

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Vehicles with shared specs

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Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1996 Suburban 4WD take?

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