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1986 Chevrolet K10 Suburban

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 K10 Suburban.

The 1986 Chevrolet K10 Suburban carries a 6-quart oil fill and a notably broad factory viscosity spectrum that spans 20W-20, 15W-40, and 5W-30, establishing its baseline service requirements. Recorded reliability metrics for this model year show zero recalls and only six owner complaints total, with tires constituting the most common area of concern. That minimal grievance volume and complete absence of recalls place the 1986 K10 Suburban among the more stable points in the model’s reliability history, marking it as a year with little evidence of recurring or systemic owner-reported defects.

Model year1986 1984 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type20W-20 / 15W-40 / 5W-30OEM · verified

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6 qt of 20W-20 / 15W-40 / 5W-30 engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	27.0 qt
Engine Oil	20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	6 qt
Engine Oil	20W-20 · 15W-40 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	6 qt
Engine Oil	15W-40 · API

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi.

At 3,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)
At 5,000 mi	Exhaust Pressure Regulator (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 5,000 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate)
At 7,500 mi	Carburetor Mounting Fasteners (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect) · Early Fuel Evaporation System (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate)
Every 10,000 mi	Air Intake System (inspect) · Radiator Fan Assembly (inspect) · Underbody Splash Shield (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust Pressure Regulator (inspect) · PCV System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Choke System (inspect) · Clutch Cross Shaft (lubricate) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Carburetor Mounting Fasteners (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect)

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 1986 Chevrolet K10 Suburban dominate in one area — the tires, 3 of 6 reports (50%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the tires 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

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 filed with NHTSA, by component

All 6 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Tires3

Structure1

Steering1

Fuel System, Gasoline1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

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 K10 Suburban. 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.

Vehicles taking 6 qt

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1986 K10 Suburban take?

6 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 20 degrees F: 20W-20, ABOVE 10 degrees F: 15W-40, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1986 K10 Suburban have open recalls?

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