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Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.6L V6 Engine Oil Change Guide
How to change the motor oil in a 4th generation WK2 2011-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the Pentastar 3.6L V6 engine.

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2012 Pentastar 3.6L V6
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Oil Filter Access Cover
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Lift Off Engine Cover
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the 4th generation "WK2" (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016) Jeep Grand Cherokee in changing the motor oil and replacing the cartridge style oil filter in the Pentastar 3.6 liter V6 engine.

Owners of other Jeep, Chrysler, RAM, Volkswagen, Fiat and Lancia vehicles equipped with the Pentastar 3.6L V6 motor such as the Wrangler, 200, 300, Town & Country, Ram 1500, C/V Cargo Van, Avenger, Challenger, Charger, Durango, Grand Caravan, Journey, VW Routan, Freemont, Voyager and Thema may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The items needed to complete this procedure include a 24mm socket with a 1/2" drive ratcheting wrench, a 13mm socket with a 3/8" ratcheting wrench, a used oil catch container, an automotive funnel, a new cartridge style oil filter and 6 U.S. quarts (5.6L) of new SAE 5W-30 motor oil.

Update: Please check your oil filler cap and owner's manual before buying new oil. Jeep recommends using SAE 5W-20 oil for the newer model years to achieve slightly better fuel economy (MPG).



 

A few compatible aftermarket cartridge style oil filters for the 2011, 2012, and 2013 model years with their part numbers are as follows: Purolator L36135, Wix 57526, Fram CH10955, Bosch 3335, K&N PS-7025, Pennzoil PZ-180, Valvoline VO-110, Mahle OX 786D, Premium Guard PG6135, Omix-Ada 17436.20 and Hastings LF656.

The 2014, 2015 and 2016 model years of the Jeep Grand Cherokee with the updated Pentastar 3.6L V6 engine require different oil filters. The compatible filter part numbers include: Mopar 4892339AA, K&N PS-7026, Fram CH11665, Wix # WL10010, Ecogard X10040, K&N PS-7026 and Pentius PCBT4024.

Warning: Using an oil filter intended for the 2011, 2012 & 2013 model years in a 2014 or 2015 Grand Cherokee may result in an oil leak.

If you have a newer 2014, 2015 or 2016 Grand Cherokee, please buy one of the compatible filters listed above.

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Plastic Engine Cover Removed
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Oil Filler Cap SAE 5W-30
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Twist Off Counter Clockwise
The first three steps are to warm up the engine for a few minutes, park the SUV on a level surface and shut off the engine.

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

Then engage the emergency / parking brake and chock the rear wheels to prevent the vehicle from moving.

The plastic engine cover has a round oil filter housing cap access cover, but it is far easier to just pull off the entire engine cover when performing an oil change. It is held in place by a few rubber friction fasteners.

Set the engine cover aside in a safe place.

Twist off the oil filler cap in the counter clockwise direction and pull up the yellow handled oil level dipstick an inch.

Both of these steps will help prevent a vacuum from forming and allow the old oil to drain out more quickly.

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Pull Up Oil Level Dipstick
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Loosen 24mm Oil Filter Cap
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Pull Out Old Cartridge Filter
The oil filter housing is located near the center of the engine. Attach the 24mm socket and 1/2" drive ratcheting wrench to the hex head at the top of the oil filter cap.

Loosen the oil filter cap by turning it counter clockwise and then detach the 24mm socket.

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 removing the oil drain bolt, all of the old oil will not be drained from the engine.

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Black Metal Oil Pan
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Loosen 13mm Oil Drain Bolt
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Drain Out Old Motor Oil
To drain out the old motor oil, slide under the passenger side of the engine with the used oil catch basin, the 13mm socket and a 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench.

The oil drain bolt is located on the passenger side of the black metal oil pan.

Slide the used oil catch basin to just below the drain bolt.

Loosen the oil drain bolt by turning it counter clockwise with the 13mm socket and ratcheting wrench.

Be careful when you remove the drain bolt since the old oil may be hot enough to burn your skin depending on how long you warmed up the engine in the first step. If available, you should wear latex gloves to keep your skin clean. Used motor oil may be carcinogenic (causes cancer).

Spin out the bolt and allow the old oil to drain out for at least a few minutes or until the flow slows down to an occasional drip.



 

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Replace Oil Drain Bolt Clockwise
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Discard Old Cartridge Filter
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Oil Filter Housing
Replace the oil drain bolt and tighten it in the clockwise direction with the 13mm socket and ratcheting wrench to just past hand tight or about 20-25 ft-lbs of torque.

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

Remove the old cartridge oil filter from the cap and discard it. Pull the old rubber o-ring gasket off the middle of the oil filter cap at the top of the threads and throw it away.

I recommend buying either the K&N PS-7025 for your 2011, 2012, 2013 model year JGC or the K&N PS-7026 for a 2014, 2015, 2016 Grand Cherokee. They both have excellent reviews on Amazon.

Lightly lubricate the new rubber o-ring with some new SAE 5W-30 motor oil. Lubricating the o-ring will help it form a better seal, prevent oil leaks, and make it easier to remove the oil filter cap during the next oil change.

Push the new cartridge oil filter element in to the filter cap. Lower the filter and cap down in to the housing on the engine.

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Install New Oil Filter
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Tighten Filter Cap With 24mm
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Insert Automotive Funnel
Spin on the filter cap in the clockwise direction by hand to prevent it from becoming cross threaded.

Tighten the oil filter cap to about 1/4 to 1/3 turn past finger tight by turning it clockwise with the 24mm socket and ratcheting wrench.

Do not over tighten the oil filter cap to prevent from cracking the plastic body or damaging the rubber o-ring. Damaging the cap or o-ring may lead to oil leaks.

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

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Funnel In Oil Filler Hole
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Pour In New SAE 5W-30 Oil
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Yellow Handled Oil Dipstick
Insert the automotive funnel in to the oil filler hole.

The Chrysler Pentastar 3.6L V6 engine requires 6 quarts (5.6 liters) of new SAE 5W-30 oil for an oil change with filter replacement.

Pour in about 5 to 5 1/2 quarts of the engine's 6 quart total capacity.

It is far better to have slightly less oil than necessary in an engine than to have too much. Over filling with oil and running the engine may damage seals, gaskets or other components and lead to oil leaks.

Temporarily replace the oil filler cap by twisting it on in the clockwise direction and push down the yellow handled oil level dipstick.

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Check Engine Oil Level
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Twist On Oil Filler Cap
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Push On Plastic Engine Cover
Run the engine for a few minutes, shut it off, and allow it to rest for 5 to 10 minutes while the oil drains back down to the oil pan.

Remove the oil dipstick, wipe it clean, re-insert it, pull it out again and check the oil level.

If necessary, slowly pour in more oil while repeatedly checking the level on the dipstick until it reaches at or just below the upper cross hatched area by the word "SAFE".

You may not need to pour in the entire 6 quarts (5.6L) of new SAE 5W-30 oil depending on how long you allowed the old oil to drain out.

Replace the oil filler cap if you haven't already and re-insert the oil level dipstick.

Line up the plastic engine cover over the engine and firmly push it down to insert the metal pegs on the top of the engine in to the rubber grommet friction fasteners on the underside of the cover.

Be sure to record the oil change in your service records. Watch your drive way or garage floor for drops of oil that may indicate a leak from the drain bolt or filter housing. It's also a good idea to check the level on the dipstick during the next few days.

To reset the "Oil Change Due" or "Oil Change Required" message on the display, follow these steps: 1. Turn the ignition to the "Run" position (or press the "Engine Start/Stop" button twice) but do not start the engine. 2. Press the accelerator (gas) pedal down to the floor 3 times within 10 seconds. 3. Turn the ignition switch to the "Off" position (or press the "Start/Stop" button once). The next time you turn on the ignition, the message should be gone.

For more, check out my other Jeep Grand Cherokee DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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