ChevroletG301990Overview/chevrolet/g30/1990/base/

1990 Chevrolet G30

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1990 G30.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1990 Chevrolet G30 utilizes a 4-speed automatic transmission and maintains an EPA fuel economy rating of 12/17/14 mpg. Maintenance specifications for the vehicle call for 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 or 10W-30 API engine oil. Within the model's 1990-2002 production history, this year is characterized by three recalls and five owner complaints regarding the structure, a figure significantly lower than the 26 complaints recorded during the 1995 peak.

Model year199019821981198019791978197719761975

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy12/17/14 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length202 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height81.9 in
Wheelbase125.2 in
Curb weight4462 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined12 / 17 / 14 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 / 10W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.9 qt
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 24,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 24,000 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 5,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 5,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
At 6,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 6,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate)
Every 12,000 miAir Cleaner Manifold Heat Control Actuator (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Underbody Splash Shield (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 24,000 miAir Intake System (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
At 25,000 miEGR System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miClutch Cross Shaft (lubricate) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)

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 1990 Chevrolet G30 sits at the beginning of the federal record with 5 complaints and 3 recalls, placing it among the lower-complaint early years alongside 1991 (0 complaints, 3 recalls) and 1992 (2 complaints, 5 recalls). Across the generation, complaint volume remained modest through the early 1990s before climbing sharply to a peak of 26 complaints in 1995, while recalls peaked later at 6 in 1996 and then trended downward toward zero by 1999 and beyond. Because 1990 predates that escalation, its complaint count is well below the generation average, and the data shows no crash or fire complaints and no investigations. The four reported complaint areas—Structure, Service Brakes/Hydraulic/Power Train, Tires, and Electrical System—each account for a single instance, so the federal record does not identify any concentrated defect pattern for this year. However, the 3 recalls are in line with several surrounding years, so a buyer should verify whether those campaigns were completed. Overall, 1990 is one of the more favorable years to buy in this generation based strictly on the federal record, though any prospective purchase still warrants a thorough inspection and recall-status confirmation.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
5
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 5 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Structure1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Power Train1
Tires1
Electrical System1
Power Train,Electrical System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 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…

07E088000EquipmentReported 24/10/2007

CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

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 G30. 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 1990 G30 take?

4.5 qt of LIGHT DUTY MODELS: 5W-30 API, HEAVY DUTY MODELS: 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1990 G30 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the G30 get?

EPA figures are 12 city / 17 highway / 14 combined mpg.