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2018 GMC Truck Savana

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 Savana.

The 2018 GMC Truck Savana continues the model’s long‑running lineage and calls for 6.0 quarts of oil with recommended viscosities of 5W‑30 or 0W‑40. Across the 1994‑2026 production span, the Savana’s annual complaint counts have ranged from a low of one in 1994 to a high of 54 in 1999, placing the 2018 model year within a historically variable reliability record. That spread suggests the 2018 Savana inherits a mixed reliability heritage rather than a consistently clean or troubled track.

Model year2018 2009 1997

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 / 0W-40OEM · 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 12731742. 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 filter	12731742 alt 12690386
Engine air filter	84373974 alt 84612001
Fuel filter	84428486
Spark plug	12622441 alt 12680072
Battery	88866121 alt 88866306
Front wiper blades	15214346
Serpentine belt	12679333 alt 19210691
Thermostat	89018168 alt 12587397

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-30 / 0W-40 engine oil, synthetic in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3. 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 Fluid	Use DEXRON(R)-VI GM P/N 89020661
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	6.0
Automatic Transmission Fluid	Use Dexron HP
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	7.4
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	SAE 75W · SYNTHETIC
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	6.6 qt
Differential Gear Oil	synthetic

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	11.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	8.1 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	18.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	18.0 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	18.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	7.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	97.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	Diesel: 24.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)	103.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket	107.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle	66.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket	66.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts	140 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-6-5-4-3-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Standard BCI Group Number	78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	78
Optional BCI Cranking Performance	770 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	78

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	60.0-80.0
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	46.0-84.0
RPM	43.0
Engine Compression	100

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages

48.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

48 ft. lbs

Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages

48.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

48 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	40.0

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	15.0 ft. lbs.	15 ft. lbs
5	85.0

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	15.0 ft. lbs.	15 ft. lbs
2	85.0

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

Use old crankshaft balancer bolt and tighten to 240.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Remove bolt and throw away. Step 3: Make sure the nose of the crankshaft is recessed 2.40-4.48mm into the balancer bolt. Step 4: Use new crankshaft bolt. Step 5: 110.0 ft. lbs., Step 6: 360 degrees, Step 7: 59.0 ft. lbs., Step 8: Balancer bolt with rotating washer tighten additional 200 degrees; Balancer Bolt with flanged head tighten additional 125 degrees.

240 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Do not re-use old bolts.

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	110 degrees	110 degrees
3	110 degrees	110 degrees
4	110 degrees	110 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not re-use old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head or head bolt bosses. · M11 Bolts

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	70 degrees; M8 Bolts	70 degrees
1	22.0

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not re-use old bolts · M11 Bolts

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	70 degrees; M8 Bolts	70 degrees
1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 4 stages

1	36.0 ft. lbs.	36 ft. lbs
2	Back off 360 degrees	360 degrees
3	18.0 ft. lbs.	18 ft. lbs
4	60.0

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	15.0 ft. lbs.	15 ft. lbs
2	37.0 ft. lbs.	37 ft. lbs
3	74.0

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	Bolts 1-6, tighten in sequence, 3.7 ft.lbs.	3.7 ft.lbs
2	8.8

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	3.7 ft. lbs.	3.7 ft. lbs
2	7.4

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	11 ft. lbs.	11 ft. lbs
2	15

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	36.0 ft. lbs.	36 ft. lbs
2	90.0

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Inner bolts

1	15.0 ft. lbs.	15 ft. lbs
2	110 degrees; Outer bolts	110 degrees
1	15.0 ft. lbs.	15 ft. lbs
2	80.0 degrees; Side bolts	80 degrees
1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	60.0 degrees	60 degrees

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Inner bolts

1	15.0 ft. lbs.	15 ft. lbs
2	80 degrees; Outer bolts	80 degrees
1	15.0 ft. lbs.	15 ft. lbs
2	51.0 degrees; Side bolts	51 degrees
1	18.0 ft. lbs.	18 ft. lbs

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 97,500 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.

At 6,000 mi	Wheel Lug Nut (torque)
Every 7,500 mi	Accelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Oil (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 mi	Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 97,500 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (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.

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 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.

18V655000Electrical SystemReported 21/09/2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Express and GMC Sierra vehicles equipped with a single, manual, rear climate control module (CCM). If the temperature is set to maximum heat or the mode… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the electrical insulation from a wiring connector within the CCM to remove the fire risk, free of charge. The recall began November…

21V115000TiresReported 25/02/2021

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at…

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. 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 battery Vehicles taking 6.0 qt Engine oil filter 12731742 Engine air filter 84373974 Fuel filter 84428486 Spark plug 12622441

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 2018 Savana take?

6.0 qt of Above -20 degreesF: 5W-30, Below -20 degreesF: 0W-40 Use GM Dexos 2 oil or equivalent, per the factory manual.

Does the 2018 Savana have open recalls?

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

2018 GMC Truck Savana

Quick specs

Fitment & sizes

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Lubricants & capacities

Engine torques

Chassis torques

Ignition

Battery & A/C

Service checks

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Reliability & federal safety record

No owner complaints on record with NHTSA for this vehicle.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Common OBD-II trouble codes

VIN tools

Vehicles with shared specs

Reference guides

Related vehicles

Other years

Frequently asked