1986 GMC Suburban Oil Type & Capacity
The 1986 GMC Suburban oil type depends on the engine: the C1500, 5.0 H takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the C1500, 5.7 L takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the C1500, 6.2 C takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts with filter); the C2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 400/M40 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the C2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 475/M40 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the C2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the C2500, 5.7 M, Standard takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the C2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts with filter); the C2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts with filter); the C2500, 7.4 W, 400/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts with filter); the C2500, 7.4 W, 475/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts with filter); the K1500, 5.7 L, Automatic takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the K1500, 5.7 L, Standard takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the K1500, 6.2 C takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts with filter); the K2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 400/M40 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the K2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 475/M40 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the K2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the K2500, 5.7 M, Standard takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the K2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts with filter); the K2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts with filter), per the factory service manual.
Factory-spec answer
It depends on the engine:
- C1500, 5.0 H: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- C1500, 5.7 L: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- C1500, 6.2 C: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- C2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 400/M40: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- C2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 475/M40: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- C2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 700R4/MD8: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- C2500, 5.7 M, Standard: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- C2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- C2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- C2500, 7.4 W, 400/M40: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- C2500, 7.4 W, 475/M40: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- K1500, 5.7 L, Automatic: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- K1500, 5.7 L, Standard: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- K1500, 6.2 C: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- K2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 400/M40: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- K2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 475/M40: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- K2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 700R4/MD8: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- K2500, 5.7 M, Standard: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- K2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- K2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
Oil capacity by engine
| Engine | Oil Type (viscosity) | Capacity w/ Filter | Capacity w/o Filter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1500, 5.0 H — Eng VIN H | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| C1500, 5.7 L — Eng VIN L | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| C1500, 6.2 C — Eng VIN C | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
| C2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 400/M40 — Eng VIN M | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| C2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 475/M40 — Eng VIN M | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| C2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 — Eng VIN M | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| C2500, 5.7 M, Standard — Eng VIN M | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| C2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40 — Eng VIN J | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
| C2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40 — Eng VIN J | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
| C2500, 7.4 W, 400/M40 — Eng VIN W | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 7.00 QTS. | 6.00 QTS. | — |
| C2500, 7.4 W, 475/M40 — Eng VIN W | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 7.00 QTS. | 6.00 QTS. | — |
| K1500, 5.7 L, Automatic — Eng VIN L | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| K1500, 5.7 L, Standard — Eng VIN L | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| K1500, 6.2 C — Eng VIN C | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
| K2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 400/M40 — Eng VIN M | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| K2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 475/M40 — Eng VIN M | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| K2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 — Eng VIN M | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| K2500, 5.7 M, Standard — Eng VIN M | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| K2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40 — Eng VIN J | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
| K2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40 — Eng VIN J | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
Buy the right oil
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More specs & repair guides for your Suburban
1986 GMC Suburban factory service manualAll fluid capacities (transmission, coolant, brakes)Powered by factory manual data from our partner site AllOEMManuals.com.
Coolant capacity
18.0 quarts (17.03 L) — 56/44 mixture of Ethylene Glycol Base Antifreeze and water. GM Specification 1825-M.
Frequently asked questions
What type of oil does a 1986 GMC Suburban take?
It depends on the engine: C1500, 5.0 H uses 10W-30; C1500, 5.7 L uses 10W-30; C1500, 6.2 C uses 10W-30; C2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 400/M40 uses 10W-30; C2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 475/M40 uses 10W-30; C2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 uses 10W-30; C2500, 5.7 M, Standard uses 10W-30; C2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40 uses 10W-30; C2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40 uses 10W-30; C2500, 7.4 W, 400/M40 uses 10W-30; C2500, 7.4 W, 475/M40 uses 10W-30; K1500, 5.7 L, Automatic uses 10W-30; K1500, 5.7 L, Standard uses 10W-30; K1500, 6.2 C uses 10W-30; K2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 400/M40 uses 10W-30; K2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 475/M40 uses 10W-30; K2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 uses 10W-30; K2500, 5.7 M, Standard uses 10W-30; K2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40 uses 10W-30; K2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40 uses 10W-30.
How much oil does a 1986 GMC Suburban take?
Capacity depends on the engine: C1500, 5.0 H holds 5.0 quarts with filter; C1500, 5.7 L holds 5.0 quarts with filter; C1500, 6.2 C holds 7.0 quarts with filter; C2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 400/M40 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; C2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 475/M40 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; C2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; C2500, 5.7 M, Standard holds 5.0 quarts with filter; C2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter; C2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter; C2500, 7.4 W, 400/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter; C2500, 7.4 W, 475/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter; K1500, 5.7 L, Automatic holds 5.0 quarts with filter; K1500, 5.7 L, Standard holds 5.0 quarts with filter; K1500, 6.2 C holds 7.0 quarts with filter; K2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 400/M40 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; K2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 475/M40 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; K2500, 5.7 M, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; K2500, 5.7 M, Standard holds 5.0 quarts with filter; K2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter; K2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter.
Can I use synthetic oil in my 1986 GMC Suburban?
Yes. 10W-30 is widely available as a full synthetic, and synthetic is safe (often recommended) for the 1986 GMC Suburban. What matters most is matching the factory viscosity and specification, then changing the oil and filter on schedule.