GMC TruckYukon XL2020Overview/gmc-truck/yukon-xl/2020/base/

2020 GMC Truck Yukon XL

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Yukon XL.

The 2020 GMC Yukon XL carries the full-size, truck-based platform architecture that demands 8.0 quarts of 0W-20 oil for its engine service, and for this specific model year, reliability metrics show a contained issue count of just 44 owner complaints alongside two recalls, with the engine category registering the highest concentration of feedback. This 2020 data profile represents a dramatic departure from the model's historical complaint volatility documented between 2001 and 2009, a period that encompassed a low-water mark of 83 complaints in 2006 and a severe spike of 776 in 2007. Consequently, this model year sits at a notably quieter point in the Yukon XL's reliability timeline, distinct from the turbulence that characterized earlier generations.

Model year2024202320202018

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity8.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque140.0 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 94R; Auxilliary Battery: 48 · 720; Auxilliary Battery: 730 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 94R; Auxilliary Battery: 48 · 720; Auxilliary Battery: 730 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP275/55R20 111SOEM · verified
Wheel / rim9 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731742
Engine air filter23349854
Spark plug12622441
Front wiper blades84613732
Serpentine belt12643517 alt 12658178
Thermostat12620318 alt 12674639
Cabin air filter23281440

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 8.0 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, Synthetic · SAE 75W85 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.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity10L80
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.1 qt
Brake FluidDOT 3
Brake Fluid Capacity2.11 pt
Brake FluidDot 3
Brake Fluid Capacity2.11 pt
Differential Gear OilSynthetic · SAE 75W85

Engine torques

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)18.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs11.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or StudsThrust plate retainer bolts: 18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)15.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)31.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill PlugFront: 24.0; Rear: 24.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain PlugFront: 33.0, Rear: NA ft-lbs
Differential Fill Plug24.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain Plug33.0 ft-lbs
Driveshaft Flange to TransmissionFront: 18.0; Rear: 18.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts140.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug15.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1–8–7–2–6–5–4–3
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 Gap0.037–0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap.037-.043 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Oil GroupPAG
Standard BCI Group Number94R; Auxilliary Battery: 48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance720; Auxilliary Battery: 730 cca

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)46.0-84.0
Engine Compression100
Engine Oil Pressure RPM22
Engine Oil Pressure55
Engine Oil Pressure RPM22
Engine Oil Pressure RPM22
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 9.6; Rear: 9.6
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 170.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 148.0 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Vented Rotor Maximum Scoring Depth0.059
Maximum Rotor Runout0.002
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.102; Rear: .728; Rear: 1.280
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: 1.122; Rear: .748; Front: 1.535; Rear: 1.299

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
185°-100°
Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
137.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45.0°37 ft. lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°48 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 85°18 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Use current crankshaft bolt and tighten 240.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Remove crankshaft bolt and discard., Step 3: Check for a recess of .094-.176" of the crankshaft into the balancer bore., Step 4: Use replacement bolt and tighten to 110.0 ft. lbs., Step 5: Loosen 360°., Step 6: 59.0 ft. lbs., Step 7: Balancer Bolt with Flanged Head 125°., Step 8: Balancer Bolt with rotating washer 200°.240 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
159.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°, Step 3: Internal Hex Bolt: 40°, Step 4: All Except Internal Hex Bolt: 60°59 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 3 stages
111.0 ft. lbs.11 ft. lbs
222.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
345.0
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs. Step 2: 90°3.7 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages
13.6 ft. lbs.3.6 ft. lbs
27.4
Oil Pan to Block Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Pan Bolts to Block and Front Cover18 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the 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.

Every 7,500 miAccelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect)
Every 15,000 miWindshield Wiper Blade (replace)
Every 22,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 75,000 miHood Hinge (inspect)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
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.

Owner complaints about the 2020 GMC Truck Yukon XL dominate in one area — the engine, 15 of 44 reports (34%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 2 recall campaigns target the engine, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 2 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine 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.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
712
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
44
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 44 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine15
Power Train8
Steering2
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System2
Electrical System,Engine2
Unknown Or Other2
Exterior Lighting2
Service Brakes,Fuel/Propulsion System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

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…

19V837000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel PumpReported 21/11/2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Camaro, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump may be missing a… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 712 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT5509M2026-05-14Unknown Or OtherThis PI provides diagnostic tips for diagnosing electric trailer brakes issues.
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP61042026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V2026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT6425D2026-03-02Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue…

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 Yukon XL. 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 2020 Yukon XL take?

8.0 qt of 0W-20 meeting GM Dexos 1, per the factory manual.

Does the 2020 Yukon XL have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.