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1987 Chevrolet V10 Suburban — V10

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 V10 Suburban V10.

Engine V10

The 1987 Chevrolet Suburban V10 rests on the full‑size SUV platform of its era, pairing the robust V10 powerplant with a 6‑quart oil capacity and the flexibility of either 10W‑30 or 5W‑30 viscosity grades to suit a range of climates. Its drivetrain, built around the V10’s ample displacement, was engineered for the heavy‑duty demands of a large‑body vehicle while maintaining service‑interval simplicity. With only a single owner‑reported issue—centered on engine and cooling‑system components—and no factory recalls, the 1987 model stands out in the Suburban’s chronology as a year of comparatively low reported trouble, suggesting a baseline of reliability that researchers can view as a reference point for later generations.

Model year1988 1987

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 / 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 10W-30 / 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	14.0 qt
Differential Gear Oil	80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	27.0 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · 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 every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi.

At 5,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 5,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 7,500 mi	Early Fuel Evaporation System (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Power Steering Line (inspect)
Every 10,000 mi	Air Intake System (inspect) · Radiator Fan Assembly (inspect) · Underbody Splash Shield (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Clutch Cross Shaft (lubricate) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Crankcase Depression Regulator Valve (inspect) · Exhaust Pressure Regulator (inspect) · PCV System (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 1987 Chevrolet V10 Suburban dominate in one area — the engine & engine cooling, 1 of 1 reports (100%), 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 engine & engine cooling 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

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling1

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 V10 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 1987 V10 Suburban V10 take?

6 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1987 V10 Suburban have open recalls?

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