GMC TruckSuburban 4WD1986Overview/gmc-truck/suburban-4wd/1986/base/

1986 GMC Truck Suburban 4WD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 Suburban 4WD.

The 1986 GMC Truck Suburban 4WD is the four-wheel-drive variant recorded for that model year, with service data specifying a 6-quart engine-oil capacity and approved viscosities of 20W-20, 15W-40, and 5W-30. Reliability records show zero recalls and just four owner complaints, with tires cited as the top complaint area. Because the broader model complaint history spans 1990 through 2004—peaking at 480 complaints in 1994 and reaching a low of one in 2004—the 1986 model sits outside that tracked window, so its low documented complaint count and absence of recalls reflect limited available feedback rather than a direct reliability comparison with later years.

Model year199219861985

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-20 / 15W-40 / 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 Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter08996118 alt 08997890
Fuel filter5651803 discontinued · alt 25011765
Spark plug19300382
Front wiper blades15184702
Serpentine belt10112415 alt 09433764
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 20W-20 / 15W-40 / 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 Capacity14.0 qt
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity42.0 qt
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL

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 miExhaust Pressure Regulator (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 5,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate)
At 7,500 miCarburetor Mounting Fasteners (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Early Fuel Evaporation System (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 10,000 miAir Intake System (inspect) · Radiator Fan Assembly (inspect) · Underbody Splash Shield (inspect)
Every 15,000 miDistributor Vacuum Advance (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust Pressure Regulator (inspect) · PCV System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 30,000 miDistributor Vacuum Advance (inspect)
Every 30,000 miChoke System (inspect) · Clutch Cross Shaft (lubricate) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miCarburetor Mounting Fasteners (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 1986 GMC Truck Suburban 4WD lead in one area — the tires, 1 of 4 reports (25%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the tires 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
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
4
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 4 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Tires1
Unknown Or Other1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
Seat Belts1

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.

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 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1986 Suburban 4WD take?

6 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 20 degrees F: 20W-20, ABOVE 10 degrees F: 15W-40, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1986 Suburban 4WD have open recalls?

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