Chevrolet›S10 4WD›1996›Overview/chevrolet/s10-4wd/1996/base/

1996 Chevrolet S10 4WD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 S10 4WD.

Body TRUCK

The 1996 Chevrolet S10 4WD is a compact pickup built on a rugged truck platform that requires 4.5 quarts of 5W‑30 API‑approved oil to keep its powertrain operating within spec, while its body design delivers a practical blend of cargo capacity and off‑road capability. In terms of reliability, the model year sits on the higher side of the S10’s overall record, with 776 owner complaints and 11 recalls, the most frequent issue revolving around service brakes and hydraulic components. For researchers examining durability trends, this data indicates that while the S10 remains a solid workhorse, attention to its braking and hydraulic systems is essential to maintain long‑term performance.

Model year200420032002200120001999199819971996

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 torque95 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 75 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 19210286. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 75 · 525 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205-75R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter19210286 alt 12731175
Engine air filter19259086
Fuel filter25171792 discontinued
Spark plug12681665 alt 19301812
Front wiper blades15757007 alt 15757008
Serpentine belt12564763 alt 12550110
Thermostat12632948 alt 24577299

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, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 95 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 Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.6 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts77 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts74 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts21 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts9.8 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug19.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts8.85 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts95 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub180 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-6-5-4-3-2
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5000-8000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Torque14 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque11-14 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.00 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeGM part number 12345923 or equivalent.
Oil Capacity9.00 oz
RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.75-2.00 lbs
Oil GroupPAG

Service checks

Pressure Test20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum66.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)60-66

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle38 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.03 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.03 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.98 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.965 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages
1long bolts 46 ft. lbs.; short bolts 43 ft. lbs.46 ft. lbs
290

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.

At 7,500 miDifferential (inspect fluid level)
Every 7,500 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Pedal Assembly (lubricate return spring) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Bushing (lubricate) · Clutch Pedal Clevis Pin (lubricate)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 100,000 miPCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · 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.

Owner complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet S10 4WD lead in one area — the service brakes, hydraulic, 193 of 776 reports (25%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 115 of the reports describe a crash and 14 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the service brakes, hydraulic 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.

11
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
96
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
776
Owner complaints
115 involved a crash · 14 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 776 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic193
Visibility95
Power Train65
Engine & Engine Cooling65
Air Bags60
Vehicle Speed Control33
Electrical System32
Equipment26

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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 96 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
17-NA-0732023-02-21EquipmentThis warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIP4723F2022-01-14Service Brakes, HydraulicThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D2020-01-31Electrical SystemThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIC4696E2019-11-22EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
17NA0732019-09-18EquipmentThis warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…

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 S10 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 75 batteryVehicles taking 4.5 qtEngine oil filter 19210286Engine air filter 19259086Fuel filter 25171792Spark plug 12681665

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1996 S10 4WD take?

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

Does the 1996 S10 4WD have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 11 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.