Owners of other Chrysler, Dodge, RAM, Volkswagen, Lancia or Fiat vehicles equipped with the Pentastar 3.6L V6 engine such as the Avenger, Challenger, Durango, Grand Caravan, Journey, Grand Cherokee, 200, 300, Town & Country, Routan, Freemont, Wrangler, Voyager, Thema, 1500 and ProMaster may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The items needed to complete this procedure include a floor jack, jack stands, a 13mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench, a used oil catch container, a 24mm socket with a 1/2" drive ratcheting wrench, an automotive funnel, a new oil filter and 6 quarts (or 5.6L) of new SAE 5W-20 oil.

The 2014, 2015 and probably also the 2016 (Canada) model years of the Durango with the revised Pentastar 3.6L V6 engine require slightly different oil filters. Their part numbers are as follows: Mopar # 68191349AA (or "MO-349"), Fram CH11665, Wix # WL10010 and K&N PS-7026, Ecogard X10040, Hastings LF697, Motorcraft FL2066 and Pentius PCBT4024.

Warning: Using an oil filter intended for the 2011, 2012 & 2013 model years on a 2014 or 2015 Durango may result in an oil leak. If you have a newer 2014, 2015 or 2016 Durango, please buy one of the compatible filters listed above.

Warming up the engine will help suspend any contaminants within the old oil and also allow it to drain out more quickly.

Engage the emergency / parking brake and place wheel chocks on both sides of the rear tires to prevent the vehicle from moving.

Then twist off the oil filler cap in the counter clockwise direction and pull up the yellow handled engine oil level dipstick an inch or two. Removing the oil filler cap and lifting up the dipstick will help prevent a vacuum from forming and allow the old oil to drain out more quickly.

To access the cartridge oil filter housing on the top of the engine, you can either twist off the round black plastic access cover in the counterclockwise direction or you can just pull off the entire engine cover.

Update - The service manual recommends that you loosen or remove the oil filter cap before draining the oil to allow the old oil from the oil filter cavity to drain down to the sump. If you don't loosen or remove the oil filter cap before draining the old oil, all of the old oil will not be removed from the engine. Use a 24mm socket and 1/2" drive ratcheting wrench to loosen the oil filter cap in the counterclockwise direction.

Raise the front of the vehicle with a floor jack and securely support it with the two jack stands.

Slide under the engine bay and locate the black metal oil pan and the 13mm oil drain bolt.

Loosen the drain bolt by turning it counter clockwise with the 13mm socket and 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench.

Be careful when you remove the drain bolt since the old oil can be hot enough to burn your fingers depending on how long you warmed up the engine in the first step.

Allow the old oil to drain out for at least a few minutes or until the flow slows to just an occasional drip.

If the oil drain bolt is equipped with a crush washer, inspect it and replace it if necessary. New crush washers can be purchased at your Dodge or Chrysler dealership's parts counter.

Re-insert the drain bolt and spin it in a few turns by hand to prevent it from becoming cross threaded.

Try to avoid over tightening the drain bolt to prevent from damaging the aluminum threads which could lead to an oil leak.

Double check that the oil drain bolt is tight before moving on to the next steps.

Remove any tools and the used oil catch basin from beneath the engine.

Carefully lower the car from the jack stands by using the floor jack.

Loosen the oil filter cap by turning it counterclockwise with the 24mm socket and 1/2" drive ratcheting wrench.

Lift the cap and old oil filter out of the housing.

Apply a small amount of new SAE 5W-20 oil to the new rubber o-ring gasket included with your new oil filter.

Lubricating the rubber o-ring will help the filter cap form a better seal, help prevent oil leaks and also make it much easier to remove the cap during the next oil change.

I recommend buying either the Fram CH10955 (2011, 2012 & 2013 model years) or the Fram CH11665 (2014, 2015 & 2016 model years) oil filters since they have excellent reviews on Amazon.

Pull the old filter out of the cap and push in the new cartridge filter until it clicks securely in to place.

Lower the filter and cap back down in to the housing.

Spin in the filter cap a few turns in the clockwise direction by hand to prevent it from becoming cross threaded.

Double check that the filter cap is tight before moving on to the next step.

Insert the automotive funnel in to the oil filler hole.

So I would strongly recommend at first only pouring in about 5 to 5 1/2 quarts of new SAE 5W-20 oil.

The engine's total capacity specification for an oil change with filter replacement is 6 U.S. quarts (or 5.6 liters).

Temporarily replace the oil filler cap and push down the dipstick.

Run the engine for at least a few minutes, turn it off, and then allow the oil to drain back down to the oil pan for at least 5 to 10 minutes.

Check the oil level on the dipstick.

If necessary, slowly pour in more oil while repeatedly checking the level on the dipstick until it reaches at or just below the upper hole in the metal.

Replace the oil filler cap by twisting it on in the clockwise direction to just past hand tight and replace the oil level dipstick.

Line up the engine cover and gently push it back in to place. Or replace the filter access cover.

Be sure to record the oil change in your service records.

It's also a good idea to check your driveway or garage during the next few days for drops of oil that may indicate a leak from the drain bolt or the filter housing.

To reset the "change oil" notification, follow these steps: 1. Turn the ignition switch to the "On/Run" position but do not start the engine. 2. Fully press down the gas pedal slowly three times within ten seconds. 3. Turn the ignition switch to the "Off" position.

If your Durango has the Keyless "Enter-N-Go" (or "Passive Entry") system, follow these steps to reset the oil life:
1. Without pressing the brake pedal, push the "Start/Stop" button once to set the ignition to "On/Run" but do not start the engine. 2. Push and release the "Down" arrow button to scroll through the menu to "Vehicle Info". 3. Push and release the "Right" arrow to access the "Oil Life" screen. 4. Push and hold the "Right" arrow for at least one second to access the "Oil Life Reset" screen. 5. Push and hold the "Down" arrow button until the screen displays 100% oil life.

For more, check out my other Dodge Durango DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.