GMC TruckYukon 4WD1996Overview/gmc-truck/yukon-4wd/1996/base/

1996 GMC Truck Yukon 4WD

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

The 1996 GMC Yukon 4WD is a four-wheel-drive truck from GMC's Yukon line, powered by an engine that calls for 5 quarts of 5W-30 API motor oil at service intervals — a straightforward, workhorse-grade lubrication spec consistent with the vehicle's utilitarian positioning. This model year has accumulated 84 owner complaints on record, with visibility issues standing out as the single most frequently reported problem area, and it has been subject to 4 recalls over its production life. In the broader arc of the Yukon's reliability history, the 1996 4WD sits in a moderate band — neither a standout for trouble-free ownership nor a notorious problem year — which means a researcher evaluating this model should focus their attention on the visibility complaints and recall record as the primary risk signals rather than anticipating widespread powertrain failure.

Model year200520001996

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5 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 sizeP235-75R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter25160561
Engine air filter19259103 alt 25168082
Fuel filter25055457 alt 25171792
Spark plug12681665
Front wiper blades93441742
Serpentine belt19244952 alt 12555010
Thermostat12632948 alt 12551591

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. 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

Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity8.5 qt
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity5.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt
Engine Oil15W-40 · API
Engine Oil Capacity7 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts74 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts31.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts26.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts9.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts16.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)81.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket92.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle81.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket92.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub177 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
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

Battery & A/C

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

Service checks

Pressure Test20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum66.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)60-66

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 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
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0

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 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 7,500 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)
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 12,000 miUnderbody Splash Shield (inspect)
Every 15,000 miRadiator Fan Assembly (inspect)
Every 30,000 miClutch Cross Shaft (lubricate) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (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 1996 GMC Truck Yukon 4WD top in one area — the visibility, 14 of 84 reports (17%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the visibility are also the target of recall 03V-159 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 8 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the visibility 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.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
84
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 84 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Visibility14
Service Brakes, Hydraulic14
Power Train9
Engine & Engine Cooling7
Air Bags7
Seats6
Fuel System, Gasoline4
Electrical System3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 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…

03V159000Visibility:Windshield Wiper/WasherReported 28/04/2003

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON…

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 Yukon 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1996 Yukon 4WD take?

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

Does the 1996 Yukon 4WD have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.