1988 Chevrolet Suburban Oil Type & Capacity
The 1988 Chevrolet Suburban oil type depends on the engine: the R10, 5.7 K takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the R10, 6.2 C takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts with filter); the R20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the R20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the R20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the R20, 5.7 K, Standard takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the R20, 6.2 J, 400/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts with filter); the R20, 6.2 J, 475/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts with filter); the R20, 7.4 N, 400/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts with filter); the R20, 7.4 N, 475/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts with filter); the V10, 5.7 K, Automatic takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the V10, 5.7 K, Standard takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the V10, 6.2 C takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts with filter); the V20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the V20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the V20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the V20, 5.7 K, Standard takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts with filter); the V20, 6.2 J, 400/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts with filter); the V20, 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:
- R10, 5.7 K: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- R10, 6.2 C: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- R20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- R20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- R20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- R20, 5.7 K, Standard: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- R20, 6.2 J, 400/M40: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- R20, 6.2 J, 475/M40: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- R20, 7.4 N, 400/M40: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- R20, 7.4 N, 475/M40: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- V10, 5.7 K, Automatic: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- V10, 5.7 K, Standard: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- V10, 6.2 C: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- V20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- V20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- V20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- V20, 5.7 K, Standard: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- V20, 6.2 J, 400/M40: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- V20, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R10, 5.7 K — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| R10, 6.2 C — Eng VIN C | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
| R20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40 — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| R20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40 — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| R20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| R20, 5.7 K, Standard — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| R20, 6.2 J, 400/M40 — Eng VIN J | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
| R20, 6.2 J, 475/M40 — Eng VIN J | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
| R20, 7.4 N, 400/M40 — Eng VIN N | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 7.00 QTS. | 6.00 QTS. | — |
| R20, 7.4 N, 475/M40 — Eng VIN N | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 7.00 QTS. | 6.00 QTS. | — |
| V10, 5.7 K, Automatic — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| V10, 5.7 K, Standard — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| V10, 6.2 C — Eng VIN C | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
| V20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40 — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| V20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40 — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| V20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| V20, 5.7 K, Standard — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| V20, 6.2 J, 400/M40 — Eng VIN J | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
| V20, 6.2 J, 475/M40 — Eng VIN J | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
Buy the right oil
Buy 10W-30 motor oil on Amazon1988 Chevrolet Suburban oil filter on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through these links.
More specs & repair guides for your Suburban
1988 Chevrolet 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 1988 Chevrolet Suburban take?
It depends on the engine: R10, 5.7 K uses 10W-30; R10, 6.2 C uses 10W-30; R20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40 uses 10W-30; R20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40 uses 10W-30; R20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 uses 10W-30; R20, 5.7 K, Standard uses 10W-30; R20, 6.2 J, 400/M40 uses 10W-30; R20, 6.2 J, 475/M40 uses 10W-30; R20, 7.4 N, 400/M40 uses 10W-30; R20, 7.4 N, 475/M40 uses 10W-30; V10, 5.7 K, Automatic uses 10W-30; V10, 5.7 K, Standard uses 10W-30; V10, 6.2 C uses 10W-30; V20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40 uses 10W-30; V20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40 uses 10W-30; V20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 uses 10W-30; V20, 5.7 K, Standard uses 10W-30; V20, 6.2 J, 400/M40 uses 10W-30; V20, 6.2 J, 475/M40 uses 10W-30.
How much oil does a 1988 Chevrolet Suburban take?
Capacity depends on the engine: R10, 5.7 K holds 5.0 quarts with filter; R10, 6.2 C holds 7.0 quarts with filter; R20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; R20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; R20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; R20, 5.7 K, Standard holds 5.0 quarts with filter; R20, 6.2 J, 400/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter; R20, 6.2 J, 475/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter; R20, 7.4 N, 400/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter; R20, 7.4 N, 475/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter; V10, 5.7 K, Automatic holds 5.0 quarts with filter; V10, 5.7 K, Standard holds 5.0 quarts with filter; V10, 6.2 C holds 7.0 quarts with filter; V20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; V20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; V20, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; V20, 5.7 K, Standard holds 5.0 quarts with filter; V20, 6.2 J, 400/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter; V20, 6.2 J, 475/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter.
Can I use synthetic oil in my 1988 Chevrolet Suburban?
Yes. 10W-30 is widely available as a full synthetic, and synthetic is safe (often recommended) for the 1988 Chevrolet Suburban. What matters most is matching the factory viscosity and specification, then changing the oil and filter on schedule.