GMC TruckSuburban 2WD1987Overview/gmc-truck/suburban-2wd/1987/base/

1987 GMC Truck Suburban 2WD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 Suburban 2WD.

The 1987 GMC Truck Suburban 2WD is characterized by maintenance parameters requiring 6 quarts of oil with 10W-30 or 5W-30 viscosity. Reliability data for this specific model year shows 8 total owner complaints with the Fuel System, Gasoline as the top complaint area, yet the vehicle remains free of any recalls. While broader model complaint history spans from 1990 to 2004 with figures reaching 480 complaints in 1994, the 1987 edition sits outside this range with a low complaint count that indicates a favorable reliability standing relative to the peak issues recorded in the 1990 to 2004 period.

Model year1999199819951987

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

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 25160561. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter25160561
Engine air filter06484235 alt 08996118
Fuel filter25171792 discontinued · alt 25011765
Spark plug19300382
Front wiper blades15184702 alt 12363297
Serpentine belt09433740 alt 09433732
Thermostat14077122 alt 10105135

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 FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity27.0 qt
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity6 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; spark plugs every 60,000 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 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Linkage (inspect) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
At 7,500 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Early Fuel Evaporation System (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 10,000 miAir Intake System (inspect) · Radiator Fan Assembly (inspect) · Underbody Splash Shield (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · PCV System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
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) · 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 GMC Truck Suburban 2WD dominate in one area — the fuel system, gasoline, 3 of 8 reports (38%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 2 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the fuel system, gasoline 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.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
8
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 8 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline3
Tires1
Power Train1
Seat Belts1
Suspension1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
376602A1995-01-01Engine And Engine CoolingNEW CAST IRON EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STAINLESS STEEL GASKET TO CORRECT ENGINE NOISE…

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 Suburban 2WD. 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 1987 Suburban 2WD 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 Suburban 2WD have open recalls?

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