1988 GMC Suburban Oil Type & Capacity
The 1988 GMC Suburban oil type depends on the engine: the R1500, 5.7 K takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the R1500, 6.2 C takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts qt with filter); the R2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the R2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the R2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the R2500, 5.7 K, Standard takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the R2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts qt with filter); the R2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts qt with filter); the R2500, 7.4 N, 400/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts qt with filter); the R2500, 7.4 N, 475/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts qt with filter); the V1500, 5.7 K, Automatic takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the V1500, 5.7 K, Standard takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the V1500, 6.2 C takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts qt with filter); the V2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the V2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the V2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the V2500, 5.7 K, Standard takes 10W-30 (5.0 quarts qt with filter); the V2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts qt with filter); the V2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40 takes 10W-30 (7.0 quarts qt with filter), per the factory service manual.
Factory-spec answer
It depends on the engine:
- R1500, 5.7 K: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- R1500, 6.2 C: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- R2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- R2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- R2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- R2500, 5.7 K, Standard: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- R2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- R2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- R2500, 7.4 N, 400/M40: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- R2500, 7.4 N, 475/M40: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- V1500, 5.7 K, Automatic: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- V1500, 5.7 K, Standard: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- V1500, 6.2 C: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- V2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- V2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- V2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- V2500, 5.7 K, Standard: 10W-30, 5.0 quarts with filter
- V2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40: 10W-30, 7.0 quarts with filter
- V2500, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1500, 5.7 K — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| R1500, 6.2 C — Eng VIN C | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
| R2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40 — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| R2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40 — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| R2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| R2500, 5.7 K, Standard — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| R2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40 — Eng VIN J | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
| R2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40 — Eng VIN J | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
| R2500, 7.4 N, 400/M40 — Eng VIN N | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 7.00 QTS. | 6.00 QTS. | — |
| R2500, 7.4 N, 475/M40 — Eng VIN N | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 7.00 QTS. | 6.00 QTS. | — |
| V1500, 5.7 K, Automatic — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| V1500, 5.7 K, Standard — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| V1500, 6.2 C — Eng VIN C | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
| V2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40 — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| V2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40 — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| V2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| V2500, 5.7 K, Standard — Eng VIN K | SAE 10W-30 Energy Conserving Engine | 5.00 QTS. | 4.00 QTS. | — |
| V2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40 — Eng VIN J | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
| V2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40 — Eng VIN J | SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40 | 7.00 QTS. | — | — |
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More factory specs & repair guides for your Suburban
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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 GMC Suburban take?
It depends on the engine: R1500, 5.7 K uses 10W-30; R1500, 6.2 C uses 10W-30; R2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40 uses 10W-30; R2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40 uses 10W-30; R2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 uses 10W-30; R2500, 5.7 K, Standard uses 10W-30; R2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40 uses 10W-30; R2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40 uses 10W-30; R2500, 7.4 N, 400/M40 uses 10W-30; R2500, 7.4 N, 475/M40 uses 10W-30; V1500, 5.7 K, Automatic uses 10W-30; V1500, 5.7 K, Standard uses 10W-30; V1500, 6.2 C uses 10W-30; V2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40 uses 10W-30; V2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40 uses 10W-30; V2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 uses 10W-30; V2500, 5.7 K, Standard uses 10W-30; V2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40 uses 10W-30; V2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40 uses 10W-30.
What is the oil capacity of a 1988 GMC Suburban?
Oil capacity depends on the engine: R1500, 5.7 K holds 5.0 quarts with filter; R1500, 6.2 C holds 7.0 quarts with filter; R2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; R2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; R2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; R2500, 5.7 K, Standard holds 5.0 quarts with filter; R2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter; R2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter; R2500, 7.4 N, 400/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter; R2500, 7.4 N, 475/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter; V1500, 5.7 K, Automatic holds 5.0 quarts with filter; V1500, 5.7 K, Standard holds 5.0 quarts with filter; V1500, 6.2 C holds 7.0 quarts with filter; V2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 400/M40 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; V2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 475/M40 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; V2500, 5.7 K, Automatic, 700R4/MD8 holds 5.0 quarts with filter; V2500, 5.7 K, Standard holds 5.0 quarts with filter; V2500, 6.2 J, 400/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter; V2500, 6.2 J, 475/M40 holds 7.0 quarts with filter.
How often should I change the oil in my 1988 GMC Suburban?
Most 1988 GMC Suburban owners follow a 5,000–7,500 mile interval with conventional oil, or up to 10,000 miles with full synthetic. Always check the oil life monitor if equipped, and consult your owner's manual — GMC recommends intervals based on driving conditions, not just mileage.
Can I use synthetic oil in my 1988 GMC Suburban?
Yes. 10W-30 is widely available as a full synthetic, and synthetic is safe (often recommended) for the 1988 GMC Suburban. What matters most is matching the factory viscosity and specification, then changing the oil and filter on schedule.