GMC Truck›Canyon 4WD›2008›Overview/gmc-truck/canyon-4wd/2008/base/

2008 GMC Truck Canyon 4WD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 Canyon 4WD.

Body TRUCK

The 2008 GMC Canyon 4WD is a compact truck built on a body-on-frame platform, requiring 5 quarts of 5W-30 API-rated engine oil for maintenance—a specification that reflects its conventional drivetrain architecture and positions it within GM's midsize truck lineage. With 42 total owner complaints filed and the Engine category identified as the primary source of issues, this model year experienced a notably higher frequency of powertrain-related concerns compared to later iterations of the Canyon. The two recalls issued for this vehicle further anchor it as a relatively problem-heavy year within the model's production run, suggesting that prospective researchers and owners should prioritize pre-purchase inspections of engine components and verify completion of all recall remedies before relying on the truck for demanding applications.

Model year2010 2008 2005

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 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 86 · 590 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731172. Note the factory engine air filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 86 · 590 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP235-75R15OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731172 alt 12731179
Engine air filter	15942429 discontinued
Spark plug	12681663
Front wiper blades	88958228 alt 88958226
Serpentine belt	12611636
Thermostat	12561155 alt 12622316

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 19.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-5-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	5
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API

Engine torques

Cylinder Head Steps	Install NEW cylinder head bolts.
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.3 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	15 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.3 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.3 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.3 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	19.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)	56.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle	63.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket	63.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	29.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	29.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	191 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-5-4-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.042 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.042 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.45 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	4.00 oz
Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.45 lbs
Oil Group	PAG

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	194-225 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-62
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-62
Injector Primary Resistance	11-14 @ 50-95 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance	11-14 @ 50-95 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	215 Nominal psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	29 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	129 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	0.070
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.030
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.002 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.06 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.06 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket — tightening sequence 1 stages

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

110 ft. lbs., step 2: 150 ft. lbs., step 3: 180

110 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

110 ft. lbs., step 2: 150 ft. lbs., step 3: 180

110 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

15 ft. lbs, Step 2: 15 ft. lbs., Step 3: 15

15 ft. lbs

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; 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 25,000 mi	Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & 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 2008 GMC Truck Canyon 4WD top in one area — the engine, 5 of 42 reports (12%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 2 recall campaigns target the engine, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine 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

958

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 1 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 42 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine5

Electrical System,Service Brakes,Engine5

Electrical System4

Power Train3

Structure3

Unknown Or Other3

Air Bags2

Electrical System,Exterior Lighting,Vehicle Speed Control2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

10V575000Child SeatReported 18/11/2010

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2011, CHEVROLET COLORADO, GMC CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006, ISUZU I-280/I-350, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008, I-290/I-370, REGULAR CAB VEHICLES AND EXTENDED CAB VEHICLES WITHOUT A REAR SEAT… Remedy: DEALERS WILL CUT A HOLE INTO THE BACK PANEL TRIM COVER TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR FOR THE FRONT CENTER SEAT POSITION AND WILL PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AS TO…

09V310000Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:SwitchReported 29/07/2009

GM IS RECALLING 185,903 MODEL YEAR 2004-2009 COLORADO, GMC MODEL YEAR 2009-2004 CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006 I-280, I-350, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 I-290, AND I-370, PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN FREE OF CHARGE. GM ANTICIPATES THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY JUNE 2010. A SPECIAL…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 958 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
13598	2025-09-09	Unknown Or Other	New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
PIC5650M	2025-08-06	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

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 Canyon 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 86 battery Vehicles taking 5 qt Engine oil filter 12731172 Engine air filter 15942429 Spark plug 12681663 Front wiper blades 88958228

Reference guides

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

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 Canyon 4WD take?

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

Does the 2008 Canyon 4WD have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.