What Oil Does a Dodge Charger Take? Type, Weight & Capacity

Q: What oil does a Dodge Charger take?

It depends on the engine. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 takes 5W-20 synthetic and 5.9 quarts. The 5.7L HEMI V8 takes 5W-20 synthetic and 7 quarts. The 6.4L 392 SRT uses 0W-40 full synthetic and 7 quarts. The supercharged 6.2L Hellcat also runs 0W-40 full synthetic with about 7 quarts. Always use a full-synthetic oil that meets the Chrysler MS-6395 (V6/5.7L) or MS-12633 (SRT) specification.

Q: What weight oil does a 5.7 HEMI Charger take?

The 5.7L HEMI V8 Charger (R/T and similar) takes SAE 5W-20 oil. Some early 2006-2008 5.7L engines were spec'd for 5W-20 as well. Use a full synthetic 5W-20 that meets Chrysler MS-6395 and you'll have 7 quarts of capacity with the filter.

Q: What oil does a Charger Hellcat take?

The 6.2L supercharged Hellcat and the 6.4L 392 SRT both require 0W-40 full synthetic oil meeting Chrysler MS-12633 (Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Euro 0W-40 is the factory fill). Capacity is about 7 quarts. Do not substitute a thinner 5W-20 in these high-output engines.

Q: How often should you change the oil in a Dodge Charger?

With full synthetic oil, most Charger V6 and 5.7L V8 owners change every 7,000 to 10,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first. The oil-life monitor (in the cluster) typically calls for service around that range. SRT and Hellcat owners driving hard or tracking the car should change every 3,000 to 6,000 miles.

✅ The quick answer

3.6L V6 and 5.7L HEMI: SAE 5W-20 full synthetic. The 3.6L Pentastar holds 5.9 quarts, the 5.7L HEMI holds 7 quarts. Both want an oil that meets the Chrysler MS-6395 standard. Change it every 7,000 to 10,000 miles on full synthetic.

6.4L 392 SRT and 6.2L Hellcat: 0W-40 full synthetic. These high-output engines require an MS-12633 oil (Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Euro 0W-40 is the factory fill), roughly 7 quarts. Do not drop down to 5W-20 in these motors.

So when someone asks what oil does a Dodge Charger take, the honest answer is "it depends on which engine is under the hood." A 2015 SXT V6 and a 2021 Hellcat Redeye use completely different oil. Find your engine in the table below and match the weight exactly. Using the wrong viscosity is one of the most common DIY mistakes we see, and it can quietly cost you a cam phaser or a set of lifters.

📋 Oil type, weight & capacity by engine

This covers the LX/LD-platform Charger from 2006 through the final 2023 model year. Capacities are with a new filter installed.

Engine	Oil Weight	Capacity	Spec
2.7L V6 (2006-2010)	5W-20	5.0 qt	MS-6395
3.5L V6 (2006-2010)	5W-20	5.5 qt	MS-6395
3.6L Pentastar V6	5W-20	5.9 qt	MS-6395
5.7L HEMI V8 (R/T)	5W-20	7.0 qt	MS-6395
6.1L HEMI SRT8 (2006-2010)	0W-40	7.0 qt	MS-10850 / 0W-40 synth
6.4L 392 SRT	0W-40	7.0 qt	MS-12633
6.2L Hellcat (supercharged)	0W-40	7.0 qt	MS-12633

A few notes that trip people up. Some early 5.7L HEMI owner manuals listed 5W-20 across the board, and that is still the correct fill today. The 0W-40 in the SRT engines is a true Euro-spec synthetic, not the same bottle you grab for the V6. If your filler cap is stamped with a weight, that stamp wins over anything you read online.

🔧 Why the weight actually matters

The 3.6L and 5.7L are built around 5W-20 for two reasons: fuel economy and the oil-pressure-fed systems inside them. The 5.7L uses MDS (Multi-Displacement System) to deactivate four cylinders, and that system relies on thin oil reaching the lifter solenoids quickly. The Pentastar V6 runs variable valve timing through oil-fed cam phasers. Run a heavier 5W-30 and cold-start oil flow slows down, which is exactly where lifter tick and rough VVT operation start.

The SRT and Hellcat engines flip that logic. They make 485 to 717-plus horsepower, run higher oil temperatures, and the 0W-40 gives a thicker film at operating temp while still flowing instantly on a cold start. That is why you cannot mix them up in either direction. If you are chasing a noise or a warning light, our engine ticking noise guide walks through how oil weight ties into HEMI lifter problems.

Synthetic vs. conventional

Every modern Charger should run full synthetic. Chrysler stopped recommending conventional oil on these engines years ago, and the oil-change intervals assume synthetic. A blend will not hurt the engine in a pinch, but it will not stretch to the 10,000-mile interval the oil-life monitor allows.

⚠ Common mistakes to avoid

Using 5W-30 in a V6 or 5.7L. The single most common mistake. It is the wrong spec and can lead to cam phaser and lifter complaints, sometimes throwing a P0017 or P0521 code. See our P0521 oil pressure sensor guide if a light comes on after a change.
Putting 5W-20 in an SRT or Hellcat. Too thin for the heat and load. Always run the 0W-40 MS-12633 oil in these engines.
Overfilling. The HEMI takes 7 quarts, not 7.5. Overfilling foams the oil and can fool the MDS and oil-pressure system. Check on a level surface after the car sits.
Skipping the filter spec. Use a Mopar MO-339 (V6/5.7L) or the correct SRT filter. A cheap filter with a weak bypass valve can starve the engine on a cold start.
Ignoring the oil-life monitor. The cluster reminder is based on how you drive. Resetting it without changing the oil defeats the whole system.

🧮 How to pick the right oil in 30 seconds

Identify your engine. Check the badge (SXT/GT = V6, R/T = 5.7L, Scat Pack/392 = 6.4L, Hellcat = supercharged 6.2L) or the eighth digit of your VIN.
Match the weight from the table. V6 and 5.7L take 5W-20. The 6.1L, 6.4L, and Hellcat take 0W-40.
Confirm the spec. Look for MS-6395 on the bottle for V6/5.7L, or MS-12633 (Euro 0W-40) for SRT engines.
Buy full synthetic and the right quantity. Grab a 5-quart jug plus a single quart for the V6, or two jugs minus a quart for any V8.
Reset the oil-life monitor after the change so the next reminder is accurate.

Before you pay a shop for this, it is worth running the price through our repair quote checker. A full-synthetic Charger oil change should land in the $70 to $130 range at most shops, more for the SRT 0W-40.

💬 Frequently asked questions

What oil does a Dodge Charger take?

It depends on the engine. The 3.6L V6 takes 5W-20 synthetic and 5.9 quarts. The 5.7L HEMI takes 5W-20 and 7 quarts. The 6.4L 392 and the supercharged Hellcat use 0W-40 full synthetic, about 7 quarts. Use an oil meeting Chrysler MS-6395 (V6/5.7L) or MS-12633 (SRT).

What weight oil does a 5.7 HEMI Charger take?

The 5.7L HEMI Charger takes SAE 5W-20. Use a full synthetic 5W-20 that meets Chrysler MS-6395, and plan on 7 quarts with the filter.

What oil does a Charger Hellcat take?

The 6.2L supercharged Hellcat and the 6.4L 392 both require 0W-40 full synthetic meeting Chrysler MS-12633 (Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Euro 0W-40 is the factory fill), roughly 7 quarts. Do not substitute 5W-20.

How often should you change the oil in a Dodge Charger?

On full synthetic, most V6 and 5.7L owners change every 7,000 to 10,000 miles or once a year. The oil-life monitor in the cluster usually calls for service in that window. SRT and Hellcat owners driving hard should change every 3,000 to 6,000 miles.

Can I use 5W-30 instead of 5W-20 in my Charger?

Stick with the factory weight. The 3.6L V6 and 5.7L HEMI are engineered around 5W-20 for fuel economy and their oil-fed VVT and MDS systems. Running 5W-30 can cause lifter and cam-phaser issues over time. Only the SRT/Hellcat engines call for the thicker 0W-40.

⭐ TL;DR

3.6L V6 and 5.7L HEMI Chargers take 5W-20 full synthetic (5.9 and 7 quarts). The 6.1L, 6.4L 392, and 6.2L Hellcat take 0W-40 full synthetic (about 7 quarts). Match the Chrysler spec on the bottle, do not swap weights between the standard and SRT engines, and change on full synthetic every 7,000 to 10,000 miles for the V6/5.7L.