ChevroletAstro 2WD2003Overview/chevrolet/astro-2wd/2003/base/

2003 Chevrolet Astro 2WD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2003 Astro 2WD.

Body VANTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2003 Chevrolet Astro 2WD is a van that pairs a 4-speed automatic transmission with an engine requiring 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 API oil, delivering EPA fuel economy ratings of 15 mpg city, 21 highway, and 17 combined. This model year sits at the tail end of the Astro’s production run, a point where the platform’s long-term durability and straightforward service needs were well established, meaning owners can expect a mature, no-surprises ownership experience.

Model year20031995

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque140 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/21/17 mpgEPA · 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 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 sizeP215-70R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731175
Engine air filter19259086
Fuel filter25171792 discontinued
Spark plug12681665
Front wiper blades15184702
Serpentine belt12576572 alt 12576452
Thermostat12632948 alt 12551507

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length189.8 in
Overall width77.6 in
Overall height75.2 in
Wheelbase111 in
Curb weight4202 lb
Track (front / rear)65 / 65.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)53/47

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 21 / 17 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-6-5-4-3-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts70 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts8.85 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)74.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket74.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle74.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket103.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub147 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-6-5-4-3-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque11-14 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

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

Service checks

Pressure Test20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum62.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)55-62
RPM45-59 @ Idle rpm
Engine Compression100
Engine Compression100 Minimum psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket80 ft-lbs / 31 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle129 ft-lbs / 148 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.005 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.142 in / 0.787 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.142 in / 0.787 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.102 in / 0.748 in

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 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 7,500 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Wheel Bearing (repack)
Every 50,000 miTransfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
Every 100,000 miPCV Valve (inspect) · Spark 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.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
420
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
89
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

No owner complaints on record with NHTSA for this vehicle.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

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 Astro 2WD. 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 2003 Astro 2WD take?

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

Does the 2003 Astro 2WD have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Astro 2WD get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 21 highway / 17 combined mpg.