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How Much Oil Does a Chevy Silverado Take?

Short answer: most Silverado V8s take 8 quarts, but the exact capacity, viscosity, and filter depend entirely on your engine. Here is the full breakdown from the 2.7L turbo to the 6.6L Duramax.

🛢️ 6 to 10 qt range 5.3L & 6.2L = 8 qt 0W-20 or 5W-30 Dexos1 Gen 3 required

🛢️ The quick answer

Most Silverado V8s take 8 quarts with a filter change. How much oil a Chevy Silverado takes comes down to the engine. The popular 5.3L and 6.2L V8s both hold 8 quarts. The 2.7L turbo four holds 6 quarts, the 4.3L V6 holds 6 quarts, the 3.0L Duramax diesel holds 7.4 quarts, and the heavy-duty 6.6L Duramax holds 10 quarts. Match the viscosity to your model year and you are set.

If you only remember one thing: open your hood and read the oil-fill cap. GM stamps the recommended viscosity right on it. Newer trucks (2019 and up) almost always read 0W-20, while older gas V8s read 5W-30. The capacity is printed in your owner's manual under "capacities and specifications." Below we cover every common Silverado engine so you can buy the right amount and the right oil in one trip.

📊 Silverado oil capacity by engine

Capacities below are with a filter change, which is the number you actually care about at oil-change time. These cover the GMT900, K2XX, and the current T1XX platforms (roughly 2007 through 2026 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks).

EngineOil Capacity (w/ filter)ViscositySpec / Filter
2.7L Turbo I4 (L3B)6.0 qt0W-20 syntheticDexos1 Gen 3 / PF66
4.3L V6 (LV3)6.0 qt0W-20 / 5W-30Dexos1 Gen 3 / PF63
5.3L V8 (older, Gen IV)8.0 qt5W-30 syntheticDexos1 / PF63
5.3L V8 (L84, 2019+)8.0 qt0W-20 syntheticDexos1 Gen 3 / PF66
6.2L V8 (L86 / L87)8.0 qt0W-20 syntheticDexos1 Gen 3 / PF66
3.0L Duramax I6 diesel7.4 qt0W-20 dieselDexos D / cartridge
6.6L Duramax V8 diesel (L5P)10.0 qt15W-40 / 10W-30Dexos D / cartridge

Note: the older 5.3L and 6.2L gas V8s shifted from 5W-30 to 0W-20 around the 2014 to 2019 transition as GM updated the engines and the Dexos spec. When in doubt, the oil cap wins over any chart, including this one.

🔧 What kind of oil does a Silverado take?

For gas engines, GM requires oil that carries the Dexos1 Gen 3 license (older trucks may list Dexos1 Gen 2, which Gen 3 supersedes). This is not marketing fluff. Dexos is a real performance standard, and running non-Dexos oil on a newer Silverado can affect your warranty and contribute to carbon buildup and the lifter and AFM problems these V8s are known for.

Gas engines (1500 trucks)

  • 2019 and newer: 0W-20 full synthetic, Dexos1 Gen 3.
  • Roughly 2014 to 2018: usually 5W-30 synthetic blend or full synthetic, Dexos1.
  • Older (pre-2014): 5W-30 conventional or synthetic, Dexos1 once it existed.

Diesel engines (Duramax)

  • 3.0L Duramax: 0W-20 rated to Dexos D. Do not use standard gas-engine 0W-20.
  • 6.6L Duramax: 15W-40 or 10W-30 rated to Dexos D.

If your truck is burning or leaking oil between changes, that is a symptom worth diagnosing rather than just topping off. See our guide on why a car burns oil and the related P0521 oil pressure sensor code if your oil light is involved.

Not sure which engine or spec your truck has? Get exact oil capacity, viscosity, and filter for your VIN-decoded Silverado.
Run Free Diagnosis →

⚠️ Common mistakes when changing Silverado oil

These trucks are forgiving, but a few errors show up again and again at the shop and in the comments.

  • Overfilling. The 5.3L and 6.2L take 8 quarts, which feels like a lot. People assume the jug was short and add a ninth. Overfilling foams the oil, stresses seals, and can trigger consumption. Add 7.5 quarts, run it, then check the dipstick.
  • Wrong viscosity. Putting 5W-30 in a 0W-20 truck (or vice versa) is a frequent mix-up between model years. It can hurt fuel economy and, on the newer engines, the AFM and lifter hardware that depend on precise oil flow.
  • Skipping the Dexos requirement. Cheap non-Dexos oil saves a few dollars and can cost a lifter job later.
  • Not resetting the Oil Life Monitor. The dash percentage will not reset itself. Reset it through the menu or the gas-pedal procedure so your next reminder is accurate.
  • Reusing the drain plug gasket or filter seal dry. A small leak after a change is almost always a pinched or dry seal.

🧭 How to buy the right oil in one trip

Use this quick framework before you head to the parts counter:

  1. Identify the engine. Check the badge, the window sticker, or decode the VIN. The 8th VIN digit is the engine code.
  2. Read the oil-fill cap. It shows the exact viscosity GM wants. Trust it over any online chart.
  3. Buy capacity plus a little. For an 8-quart V8, grab a 6-quart jug and a separate quart, or two 5-quart jugs if you want spare for top-offs.
  4. Match the filter. Most V8s use the AC Delco PF63, PF63E, or PF66 family. Cross-reference your exact engine, since GM has used several.
  5. Confirm Dexos. Look for the Dexos1 Gen 3 logo on gas-engine oil, or Dexos D on diesel oil.

Paying a shop instead? A Silverado oil change with full synthetic typically runs $70 to $130 depending on engine and oil brand, more for the diesels because they hold more oil. If a quote feels high, run it through our repair quote checker before you say yes.

❓ Frequently asked questions

How much oil does a Chevy Silverado 5.3L take?
The 5.3L V8 (both the older Gen IV and the newer L84) holds 8 quarts of oil with a filter change. Most Silverado V8s recommend 0W-20 in newer model years (2019 and up) and 5W-30 in older trucks. Always confirm against your owner's manual or the oil-fill cap.
How much oil does a 6.2L Silverado take?
The 6.2L V8 (L86/L87) holds 8 quarts with a filter change. It calls for 0W-20 synthetic in most recent model years. The 6.2L is sensitive to low oil, so do not run it short.
What kind of oil does a Chevy Silverado take?
Most modern Silverados (2019 and newer) take 0W-20 full synthetic. Older gas V8s (roughly 2014 to 2018) take 5W-30. The 3.0L Duramax diesel takes 0W-20 Dexos D diesel oil and the 6.6L Duramax takes 15W-40 or 10W-30 Dexos D. Gas engines need Dexos1 Gen 3 rated oil.
How much oil does the 3.0L Duramax diesel take?
The 3.0L LM2/LZ0 Duramax inline-six diesel holds 7.4 quarts with a filter change and uses 0W-20 Dexos D rated diesel oil. The 6.6L Duramax V8 (L5P) holds 10 quarts and uses 15W-40 or 10W-30 Dexos D.
How often should I change the oil in my Silverado?
Follow the Oil Life Monitor on the dash, which usually lands between 5,000 and 7,500 miles on synthetic. If you tow, idle, or drive short trips often, change it closer to every 5,000 miles. Do not exceed 12 months even if mileage is low.
What is the oil filter part number for a Silverado V8?
The 5.3L and 6.2L V8s use the AC Delco PF63 (or PF63E / PF64) and PF66 family of spin-on filters depending on model year. The 2.7L turbo uses PF66. Cross-reference your exact engine before buying, since GM has used several filters across generations.

✅ TL;DR

  • 5.3L and 6.2L V8: 8 quarts, 0W-20 (2019+) or 5W-30 (older), Dexos1 Gen 3.
  • 2.7L turbo and 4.3L V6: 6 quarts, 0W-20 or 5W-30, Dexos1 Gen 3.
  • 3.0L Duramax: 7.4 quarts, 0W-20 Dexos D.
  • 6.6L Duramax: 10 quarts, 15W-40 or 10W-30 Dexos D.
  • Golden rule: read the oil-fill cap and your manual. They override every chart.