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2008 GMC Truck Savana AWD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 Savana AWD.

The 2008 GMC Savana AWD is the all-wheel-drive variant of GMC's truck-class Savana line, and its routine service reference points are a 4.5-quart engine oil capacity and 5W-30 API viscosity. Set against the model's complaint history from 1994 to 2026—a span that peaks at 54 complaints for the 1999 model year and bottoms at one complaint for 1994—the 2008 model year sits well past the highest-volume period and outside the earliest low-sample years. That positioning makes it a practical mid-to-late reference point for researchers comparing how reported complaint frequency changed across the Savana AWD's tracked production run.

Model year2014200820052004

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 12690386. 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 filter12690386 alt 12691158
Engine air filter22909882 alt 15102546
Fuel filter19259309
Spark plug12621258
Front wiper blades15214346
Serpentine belt12576447 alt 12637202
Thermostat12680544 alt 89018168

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 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

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.4
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.5 qt
Differential Gear OilSAE 75W · SYNTHETIC
Differential Gear Oil Capacity6.6 qt
Engine CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Cylinder Head StepsInstall the NEW cylinder head bolts.
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts42 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsLower: 2nd
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts42.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)103.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket107.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle66.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket66.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub155 ft-lbs

Ignition

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

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number78 DIESEL

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-60
RPM43-45 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression300 Minimum. Maximum variation 50 PSI.
Engine Compression100 Minimum psi
Engine Compression300 psi
Engine Oil Pressure18 psi @ 2000 rpm, 24 psi @ 4000

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket80 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle129 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.005 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.142 in / 1.181 in / 1.496 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.142 in / 1.181 in / 1.496 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.102 in / 1.142 in / 1.457 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
170 ft. lbs., step 2: 95 ft. lbs.70 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Installation, 92 ft. lbs., step 2: then remove bolt, install new bolt., step 3: 92 ft. lbs., step 4: 130 degrees.92 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174 ft. lbs., step 2: 100 ft. lbs., step 3: 105 degrees.74 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head or head bolt bosses · M11 Bolts 1-10:

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
370 degrees; M8 Bolts 11-15:70 degrees
122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
222.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
1all bolts22 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.43.7 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., step 2: 1511 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.43.7 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., step 2: 1511 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7.43.7 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 1511 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7.43.7 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 1511 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 20,000 miFuel Filter (replace)
Every 25,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory 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.

7
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
0
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’94’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’25’26

No owner complaints on record with NHTSA for this vehicle.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08V340000Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)Reported 28/07/2008

GM IS RECALLING 151 MY 2008 CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD). SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE TRANSFER CASES THAT WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AN INCORRECT PART THAT CAN CAUSE EARLY… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSFER CASE DATE CODE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438…

10V205000Equipment Adaptive/MobilityReported 13/05/2010

MAIN MOBILITY IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 AND 2009 CONVERSION VANS BUILT ON CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA CHASSIS FROM OCTOBER 2007 THROUGH MAY 2010 AND FITTED WITH CERTAIN RICON S SERIES AND K SERIES… Remedy: MAIN MOBILITY WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY AUTHORIZED RICON DEALERS FREE OF CHARGE. A SOFTWARE SOLUTION FOR THIS SAFETY DEFECT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION…

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 Savana AWD. 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 78 batteryVehicles taking 4.5 qtEngine oil filter 12690386Engine air filter 22909882Fuel filter 19259309Spark plug 12621258

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 2008 Savana AWD take?

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

Does the 2008 Savana AWD have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.