GMC TruckV2500 Suburban1990Overview/gmc-truck/v2500-suburban/1990/base/

1990 GMC Truck V2500 Suburban

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1990 V2500 Suburban.

The 1990 GMC V2500 Suburban is a heavy-duty, four-wheel-drive variant of GMC's full-size truck-based Suburban wagon, its substantial 5.5-quart engine oil capacity — specified for 5W-30 or 10W-30 API viscosity oil — pointing to a sizable, conventionally designed powerplant built for sustained work rather than passenger-car refinement. This model year arrives late in the Suburban's long-running square-body platform cycle, a period in which the drivetrain's mechanical simplicity and proven durability had been refined through years of production, placing the 1990 among the more reliable and well-debugged iterations of a model line celebrated for longevity. For a researcher, the V2500's combination of heavy-duty chassis specification and straightforward, high-capacity lubrication requirements signals a vehicle engineered for dependable service in demanding conditions, representing a mature stage of a platform whose reputation for long-term reliability remains a defining characteristic.

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.5 qt of 5W-30 / 10W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity14.0 qt
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.9 qt
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5.5 qt

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; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 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.

At 5,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 5,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Power Steering System (inspect)
At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate)
Every 10,000 miAir Intake System (inspect) · Radiator Fan Assembly (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Underbody Splash Shield (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miClutch Cross Shaft (lubricate) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miCrankcase Depression Regulator Valve (inspect) · Exhaust Pressure Regulator (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Ignition Timing (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.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
0
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

No owner complaints on record with NHTSA for this vehicle.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
1300890092013-09-01Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

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 V2500 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1990 V2500 Suburban take?

5.5 qt of LIGHT DUDY MODELS: 5W-30 API, HEAVY DUTY MODELS: 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1990 V2500 Suburban have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.