Passenger vans. These vans experience fuel odors or leakage.
Risk and remedy
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will install a revised evaporative emission pipe assembly.
Fuel tank capacity
31.0gal · 117 L
The 1997 Chevrolet Express has a fuel tank capacity of 31.0 gallons (117 liters) on every trim.
A full tank is good for roughly 527 highway miles or 372–434 miles around town, going by the EPA ratings.
31.0 gal · Bigger than 90% of 1997 models we list.
What changes the tank sizeTap an option to filter the table
All 10 trims
MPG and range are city / highway.
| Trim | Engine | Drive | Tank | MPG city / hwy | Range city / hwy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G1500 3dr Van 4.3L 6cyl 4A · RWD MPG 14 / 17Range 434 / 527 mi | 4.3L 6cyl 4A | RWD | 31.0 gal117 L | 14 / 17 | 434 / 527 mi | |
| G1500 LS 3dr Van 4.3L 6cyl 4A · RWD MPG 14 / 17Range 434 / 527 mi | 4.3L 6cyl 4A | RWD | 31.0 gal117 L | 14 / 17 | 434 / 527 mi | |
| G2500 3dr Ext Van 5.7L 8cyl 4A · RWD MPG 12 / 17Range 372 / 527 mi | 5.7L 8cyl 4A | RWD | 31.0 gal117 L | 12 / 17 | 372 / 527 mi | |
| G2500 3dr Van 5.7L 8cyl 4A · RWD MPG 12 / 17Range 372 / 527 mi | 5.7L 8cyl 4A | RWD | 31.0 gal117 L | 12 / 17 | 372 / 527 mi | |
| G2500 LS 3dr Ext Van 5.7L 8cyl 4A · RWD MPG 12 / 17Range 372 / 527 mi | 5.7L 8cyl 4A | RWD | 31.0 gal117 L | 12 / 17 | 372 / 527 mi | |
| G2500 LS 3dr Van 5.7L 8cyl 4A · RWD MPG 12 / 17Range 372 / 527 mi | 5.7L 8cyl 4A | RWD | 31.0 gal117 L | 12 / 17 | 372 / 527 mi | |
| G3500 3dr Ext Van 5.7L 8cyl 4A · RWD MPG 12 / 17Range 372 / 527 mi | 5.7L 8cyl 4A | RWD | 31.0 gal117 L | 12 / 17 | 372 / 527 mi | |
| G3500 3dr Van 5.7L 8cyl 4A · RWD MPG 12 / 17Range 372 / 527 mi | 5.7L 8cyl 4A | RWD | 31.0 gal117 L | 12 / 17 | 372 / 527 mi | |
| G3500 LS 3dr Ext Van 5.7L 8cyl 4A · RWD MPG 12 / 17Range 372 / 527 mi | 5.7L 8cyl 4A | RWD | 31.0 gal117 L | 12 / 17 | 372 / 527 mi | |
| G3500 LS 3dr Van 5.7L 8cyl 4A · RWD MPG 12 / 17Range 372 / 527 mi | 5.7L 8cyl 4A | RWD | 31.0 gal117 L | 12 / 17 | 372 / 527 mi | |
| No trim matches all of these filters. | ||||||
Tank figures are the manufacturer's rated capacity, sorted smallest tank first. Range is tank size times EPA city or highway MPG (worked out from the rated MPG where the EPA range wasn't published).
Gallons left and the distance they cover at each mark on the fuel gauge, at EPA city and highway mileage. At the combined rating of 14 MPG, a full 31.0-gallon tank covers about 434 miles.
| Gauge | Gallons | Highway miles | City miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full | 31.0 | 527 | 372 |
| 3/4 | 23.3 | 395 | 279 |
| 1/2 | 15.5 | 264 | 186 |
| 1/4 | 7.8 | 132 | 93 |
| 1/8 | 3.9 | 66 | 47 |
Over 15,000 miles a year (the EPA's yearly estimate) this configuration uses about 1,071 gallons, roughly 35 full tanks.
Fuel gauges aren't perfectly linear and the low-fuel light comes on with a few gallons still in the tank, so plan your stop before the last eighth.
$132.37 to fill the 31.0-gallon tank from empty with regular, at this week's US average of $4.27 a gallon.
| Tank | Fuel | US avg / gal | From empty | From 1/4 tank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.0 gal | Regular | $4.27 | $132.37 | $99.28 |
| Region | Regular / gal | Fill from empty |
|---|---|---|
| East Coast | $4.02 | $124.62 |
| Midwest | $4.27 | $132.37 |
| Gulf CoastLowest | $3.70 | $114.70 |
| Rocky Mountain | $4.46 | $138.26 |
| West Coast | $5.42 | $168.02 |
| CaliforniaHighest | $5.89 | $182.59 |
Prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration retail averages for the week of October 26, 2026. This week's prices by state and city.
Starts at the US average for regular; type in what your station charges. For other tank sizes, use the fill-up calculator.
The 1997 Express uses the same 31.0 gal tank as the 1996 model.
| Model year | Tank | Longest highway range |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 Express | 31.0 gal | 496 mi |
| 2001 Express | 31.0 gal | 496 mi |
| 2000 Express | 31.0 gal | 527 mi |
| 1999 Express | 31.0 gal | 558 mi |
| 1998 Express | 31.0 gal | 527 mi |
| 1997 Express | 31.0 gal | 527 mi |
| 1996 Express | 31.0 gal | 527 mi |
The Express has the largest tank of the two 1997 vans compared here, 31.0 gallons against 31.0 for the GMC Savana.
| 1997 model | Tank | Longest highway range |
|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Express | 31.0 gal | 527 mi |
| GMC Savana | 31.0 gal | 527 mi |
Other 1997 vans of a similar size, one model per brand.
NHTSA lists 1 fuel-system recall for the 1997 Chevrolet Express, out of 1 recall in total. A recall applies only to the vehicles named in it, so check your VIN.
Passenger vans. These vans experience fuel odors or leakage.
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will install a revised evaporative emission pipe assembly.
The 1997 Chevrolet Express holds 31.0 gallons (117 liters) on every trim we list.
The 1997 Chevrolet Express tank holds 117 liters, or 31.0 gallons in US gallons.
About 527 miles on the highway and 372–434 miles in town, going from full to empty at its EPA ratings. Expect less in practice, since nobody runs the tank dry.
About 132 highway miles or 93 in town from the 31.0-gallon tank, which has roughly 7.8 gallons left at the quarter mark. Gauges aren't exact, so treat that as a guide.
Regular unleaded. The label inside the fuel door confirms it for your car.
At the US average of $4.27 a gallon for regular (EIA, week of October 26, 2026), filling the 31.0-gallon tank from empty costs $132.37. It ranges from $114.70 in the Gulf Coast to $182.59 in California.
About 192 pounds for the 31.0-gallon tank. Gasoline weighs roughly 6.2 pounds a gallon.
No, they match: both top out at 31.0 gallons in 1997.
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 fuel-system recall for the 1997 Chevrolet Express: 00V110000 (delivery · hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your car is affected.
Does your owner's manual say something different? Let us know and we'll fix it. More on how we check the numbers.