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2004 GMC Truck Yukon XL 4WD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2004 Yukon XL 4WD.

The 2004 GMC Truck Yukon XL 4WD is the four-wheel-drive version of GMC's extended Yukon XL line, a truck-badged utility vehicle whose 6-quart 5W-30 API oil capacity is one of the more concrete service numbers owners need to track. That maintenance item is uncomplicated, yet the model year's reliability profile is more telling: 445 owner complaints place it under real scrutiny, with the Electrical System standing out as the top problem area and 4 recalls adding to the picture. For researchers, this positions the 2004 Yukon XL 4WD as a model year to examine closely for electrical and recall-related concerns rather than to assume a clean reliability record.

Model year2009 2008 2007 2004

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6 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 12731172. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

Battery groupBCI 78 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP265-70R16OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731172
Engine air filter	22845992 alt 15908916
Fuel filter	25164003 discontinued
Spark plug	12621258
Battery	88866306 alt 88866305
Front wiper blades	15214346
Serpentine belt	12576447 alt 12637204
Thermostat	12600171 alt 12570307

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, SAE 75W · Synthetic in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 21.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3. 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

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	7.4
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	SAE 75W · Synthetic
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	2.75 qt
Differential Gear Oil	SAE 75W · Synthetic
Differential Gear Oil	SAE 75W · Synthetic
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.83 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	189 ft-lbs
Cylinder Head Steps	Install the NEW cylinder head bolts.
Cylinder Head Steps	Install the NEW cylinder head bolts.
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	Bolts: 26 ft-lbs, nuts: 12 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	21.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket	110.0 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	177 ft-lbs

Ignition

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

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Oil Group	PAG
Standard BCI Group Number	78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	78
Optional BCI Cranking Performance	770 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	62.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	55-62
RPM	45-59 @ Idle rpm
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	55-62
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	62.0 psi

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH RPO JC3, JC4, JH2 / WITH RPO JH6
Torque Caliper to Bracket	80 ft-lbs / 31 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	129 ft-lbs / 122 ft-lbs
Brake Application	WITH RPO JC3, JC4, JH2 / WITH RPO JH6
Torque Caliper to Bracket	80 ft-lbs / 31 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	129 ft-lbs / 122 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake Application	WITH RPO JC3, JC4, JH2 / WITH RPO JH6

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

1	M11 bolts	22 ft. lbs
2	M11 bolts-90 degrees	90 degrees
3	M11 bolts 1-8	90 degrees
4	M11 bolts 9 and 10	50 degrees
5	22

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

1	M11 bolts	22 ft. lbs
2	M11 bolts-90 degrees	90 degrees
3	M11 bolts 1-8	90 degrees
4	M11 bolts 9 and 10	50 degrees
5	22

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

1	M11 bolts	22 ft. lbs
2	M11 bolts-90 degrees	90 degrees
3	M11 bolts 1-8	90 degrees
4	M11 bolts 9 and 10	50 degrees
5	22

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
3	120 degrees	120 degrees
4	bolts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17	60 degrees
5	bolts 15, 18	45 degrees
6	turn 30

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

3.7 ft. lbs., step 2: 5.9 ft. lbs., step 3: 8.8

3.7 ft. lbs

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

7.4

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

18.0

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

7.4

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

15.0

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 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.

Every 25,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory 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 2004 GMC Truck Yukon XL 4WD dominate in one area — the electrical system, 142 of 445 reports (32%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 4 recall campaigns target the electrical system, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 19 of the reports describe a crash and 8 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the electrical system 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

445

Owner complaints

19 involved a crash · 8 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 445 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System142

Service Brakes48

Service Brakes, Hydraulic22

Engine & Engine Cooling17

Vehicle Speed Control14

Steering14

Air Bags10

Fuel System, Gasoline10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06V289000Engine And Engine CoolingReported 03/08/2006

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 (RPO L8-VIN G) ENGINE HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE DAMPER. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC…

07E106000Wheels:HubReported 17/12/2007

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007… Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT…

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 XL 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.

Group 78 battery Vehicles taking 6 qt Engine oil filter 12731172 Engine air filter 22845992 Fuel filter 25164003 Spark plug 12621258

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 2004 Yukon XL 4WD take?

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

Does the 2004 Yukon XL 4WD have open recalls?

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

2004 GMC Truck Yukon XL 4WD

Quick specs

Fitment & sizes

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Lubricants & capacities

Engine torques

Chassis torques

Ignition

Battery & A/C

Service checks

Brakes

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Common OBD-II trouble codes

VIN tools

Vehicles with shared specs

Reference guides

Related vehicles

Other years

Frequently asked