GMT900 (2nd generation) · Full-size half-ton pickup (regular, extended, crew cab)

2012–2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Specifications

Every maintenance specification shared across the 2012–2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: which oil and how much, battery group, factory tire sizes, wiper lengths, service intervals, and the failures recorded against this generation.

Last verifiedAugust 20, 2026

Photo: The Wikipeadian guy / CC BY-SA 4.0. Illustrative, not necessarily your model year or trim.

Quick facts

Engine oil: 5W-30, 4.5 qt (base engine)
Battery: Group 48 (H6), 615 CCA
Tire size: 245/70R17 (base trim)
Wiper blades: 22" / 22"
Max towing: 10,700 lbs
Key fob battery: CR2032 (remote fob)

2012–2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 maintenance guides

Oil & filter

Viscosity, capacity, filter part numbers, change interval

Battery

BCI group size, cold cranking amps, AGM or flooded

Tires & wheels

Factory sizes by trim, pressures, bolt pattern, lug torque

Wiper blades

Driver, passenger and rear blade lengths

Air & cabin filters

Cabin and engine air filter part numbers, locations, intervals

Bulbs

Headlight, fog and marker bulb types

Fluids

Transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid and capacities

Service schedule

What's actually due at every mileage interval

Problems & reliability

Documented failures, recalls, and which years to avoid

Oil light reset

Step-by-step maintenance light reset, no tools

Key fob battery

Which coin cell the remote takes

Specs

Towing, weight, fuel tank, fuel economy

Which engines came in the 2012–2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

Engine	Model years	Trims	Oil	Capacity
4.3L Vortec V6 (LU3)	2012–2013	WT, LS (base engine)	5W-30	4.5 qt
4.8L Vortec V8 (L20)	2012–2013	WT, LS, LT (base V8)	5W-30	6 qt
5.3L Vortec V8 (LMG iron / LC9 aluminum, AFM)	2012–2013	LS, LT, LTZ (volume engine)	5W-30	6 qt
6.2L Vortec V8 (L9H)	2012–2013	LTZ (optional)	5W-30	6 qt

Year-by-year changes

2012Carryover year; Silverado Hybrid (6.0L two-mode, LZ1) still available in limited numbers
2013Final GMT900 year. Max trailering ~10,700 lb with 6.2L and tow package; most 5.3L configs rate 9,100–10,400 lb

Model years in this generation

2012 Silverado 1500 2013 Silverado 1500

Year pages cover what changed that year, the engines offered, and the problems documented against it. For the full nameplate history, see the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 guide.