ChevroletSilverado K2001Overview/chevrolet/silverado-k/2001/base/

2001 Chevrolet Silverado K

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 Silverado K.

Body TRUCK

The 2001 Chevrolet Silverado K is a truck-platform vehicle whose routine engine service is straightforward — 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 API oil at scheduled intervals — but whose ownership record is far more complex, with 1,841 owner complaints logged and 18 recalls issued over its lifetime. The hydraulic service brake system dominates as the top complaint area, making this model year one of the more troubled entries in the Silverado's reliability history. For researchers evaluating the 2001 K, that combination of high complaint volume, broad recall coverage, and a concentrated brake-system failure pattern means any serious assessment must foreground hydraulic braking integrity before the truck's other capabilities can be weighed with confidence.

Model year200120001999

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

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 Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731175 alt 19210286
Engine air filter22845992 alt 15908916
Fuel filter25171792 discontinued
Spark plug12681665 alt 12621258
Front wiper blades15214346
Serpentine belt12576447 alt 12576453
Thermostat12632948 alt 12551507
Cabin air filter19257782 alt 12489479

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length241.3 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height71.3 in
Wheelbase157.5 in
Curb weight4643 lb
Track (front / rear)65 / 66.1 in

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, SAE 75W · SYNTHETIC 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 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3. 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 FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilSAE 75W · SYNTHETIC
Differential Gear Oil Capacity5.5 qt
Differential Gear OilSAE 75W · SYNTHETIC
Differential Gear Oil Capacity8.0 qt
Engine CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts74 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts260 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts189 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts25 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head BoltsBolts: 26 ft-lbs, nuts: 12 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)110.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket70.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle70.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket70.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub177 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-6-5-4-3-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque11-14 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque15 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.80 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity8.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Optional BCI Group Number78

Service checks

Pressure Test20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Injector Primary Resistance11-14 @ 50-95 degreesF MFI ohms
Injector Primary Resistance11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression100 Minimum psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH RPO JC5 / WITH RPO JC6
Torque Caliper to Bracket80 ft-lbs / 31 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle129 ft-lbs / 221 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH RPO JC5 / WITH RPO JC6
Torque Caliper to Bracket80 ft-lbs / 31 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle129 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake ApplicationWITH RPO JC5 / WITH RPO JC6

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep M11 Bolts 1-10

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
3bolts 1-8 90 degrees90 degrees
4bolts 9and10 50 degrees; M8 Bolts50 degrees
122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages
1All bolts22 ft. lbs
2All bolts 22.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
3120 degrees120 degrees
4Bolts 1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10,11,14,16,1760 degrees
5Bolts 15,1845 degrees
6Bolts 4,5,12,1330 degrees

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)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Underbody (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAir Intake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Radiator Fan Assembly (inspect) · Underbody Splash Shield (inspect)
Every 30,000 miFuel Filter (replace)
Every 50,000 miTransfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 100,000 miPCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 200,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & 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.

Owner complaints about the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado K lead in one area — the service brakes, hydraulic, 501 of 1,841 reports (27%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 15 recall campaigns target the service brakes, hydraulic, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 168 of the reports describe a crash and 18 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.

18
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
848
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
15
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1,841
Owner complaints
168 involved a crash · 18 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,841 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic501
Service Brakes211
Engine & Engine Cooling161
Tires96
Power Train71
Structure66
Parking Brake60
Air Bags46

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 15 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08E050000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/08/2008

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF… Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

06E060000Exterior LightingReported 29/06/2006

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF… Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 848 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIP5601C2025-07-18Unknown Or OtherThis PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIP5358D2025-02-19Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
03-06-01-023I2024-12-17EngineThis service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons…
PIP4723J2024-10-25Electrical SystemThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
03-06-01-023H2024-10-07EngineThis service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons…

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 Silverado K. 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 2001 Silverado K take?

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

Does the 2001 Silverado K have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 18 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.