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1996 Chevrolet Caprice

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1996 Chevrolet Caprice is a passenger car that requires 5 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil. This model year recorded 8 recalls and 84 total owner complaints, with the suspension identified as the top complaint area. Within the model's complaint history spanning 1990 to 2011, the 1996 volume sits between the high of 196 complaints in 1994 and the low of one complaint in 2003.

Model year2014 2013 2012 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991

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 torque100 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 19425079. Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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

Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

Tire sizeSEDAN P215/75R15; WAGON P225/75R15;OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	19425079 alt 25325403
Engine air filter	19259030
Fuel filter	25121978 discontinued
Spark plug	19301813
Front wiper blades	25689175 discontinued · alt 10283602
Serpentine belt	19244956
Thermostat	12555290 alt 12551507

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	214.2 in
Overall width	77.6 in
Overall height	55.9 in
Wheelbase	116.1 in
Curb weight	4061 lb
Track (front / rear)	61.8 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	55/45

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Caprice of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.2–10.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.20 sec — 1986 Wagon

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1991	Classic Sedan 5.0L V8	10.10 sec	17.60 sec	170 hp	RWD
1991	Classic Sedan 5.0L V8	10.50 sec	17.20 sec	170 hp	RWD
1991	Wagon 5.0L V8	10.50 sec	17.70 sec	170 hp	RWD
1986	Wagon 5.7L V8	7.20 sec	15.50 sec	170 hp	RWD

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, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 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 Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	4.2 qt
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)	18 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	74 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	74 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	74 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	26 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	35 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	26 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts	15 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill Plug	26 ft-lbs
Driveshaft Flange to Transmission	16 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts	35 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub Bearing Housing Bolts	12 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub Bearing Housing Bolts	16 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.050 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.050 in
Spark Plug Torque	20.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.75-1.88 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	8.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	78

Service checks

Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	181-212 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	47.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	41-47
RPM	30.5-44 @ Idle rpm
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	47.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	41-47

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH 11 inch DRUM / WITH DISC
Torque to Knuckle	38 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	38 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake Application	WITH 11 inch DRUM / WITH DISC
Drum Runout Limit	0.006 in
Drum Nominal Diameter	11 in / 9.5 in
Drum Maximum Machining	11.06 in / 9.56 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	Bolts 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16	67 degrees
3	Bolts 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17	80 degrees

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

5.9 ft. lbs., step 2: 35

5.9 ft. lbs

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.

At 7,500 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · 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.

The 1996 Chevrolet Caprice sits near the end of the 1991–1996 federal-record arc, with 84 complaints and 8 recalls placing it below the 1991 peak of 169 complaints/10 recalls, the 1992 figure of 114 complaints/11 recalls, the 1994 spike of 196 complaints/10 recalls, and the 1995 figure of 108 complaints/11 recalls, though not as low as 1993’s 70 complaints/6 recalls. Across this run, complaints and recalls were volatile early on, surging in 1991 and again in 1994 before generally declining, while technical service bulletins rose steadily each year to a run-high 57 in 1996. The leading 1996 complaint areas were suspension (12), engine and engine cooling (10), power train (10), and fuel system, gasoline (8), with one crash-related complaint and no fire complaints recorded; the data does not specify root causes for these patterns. Given its lower complaint and recall volume relative to most earlier years and the highest TSB count within this run, 1996 is a comparatively favorable model year to consider.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95’96’97 ’03 ’11

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 84 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Suspension12

Engine & Engine Cooling10

Power Train10

Fuel System, Gasoline8

Steering5

Tires4

Vehicle Speed Control4

Service Brakes, Hydraulic4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 57 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
17-NA-073	2023-02-21	Equipment	This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIP4723F	2022-01-14	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D	2020-01-31	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
19NA273	2019-12-02	Electrical System	This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to…
PIC4696E	2019-11-22	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…

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 Caprice. 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 5 qt Engine oil filter 19425079 Engine air filter 19259030 Fuel filter 25121978 Spark plug 19301813

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 1996 Caprice take?

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

Does the 1996 Caprice have open recalls?

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