The 1996 Chevrolet K1500 had a wide range of engines that started with a 4.3-liter V-6 that produced 200 horsepower, and capped off with a 6.5-liter diesel V-8 with up to 250 horsepower. This truck also had three transmission options that consisted of a base five-speed manual, a five-speed manual with "granny gear" and a four-speed automatic. Each of the three transmissions used its own fluid.
If your 1996 Chevrolet K1500 has an automatic transmission, it requires Dexron-III automatic transmission fluid. A K1500 with a five-speed manual transmission and "granny gear" -- a low-range gear for towing -- requires GM Goodwrench Synthetic Manual Transmission Gear oil, Castrol Syntorq LT or an equivalent SAE 75W-90 GL-4 gear oil. Without granny gear, the five-speed transmission requires a standard synchromesh transmission fluid.
