What Oil Does a Jeep Grand Cherokee Take? Full Guide

Q: What oil does a Jeep Grand Cherokee take?

Most modern Jeep Grand Cherokees take full synthetic 0W-20 (2014 and newer 3.6L V6, and the 2.0L turbo) or 5W-20 (older 3.6L V6 and the 5.7L Hemi V8). The 6.4L Hemi SRT and Trackhawk's 6.2L supercharged V8 use 0W-40. Always confirm the weight stamped on your oil cap and listed in your owner's manual.

Q: How many quarts of oil does a Jeep Grand Cherokee take?

The 3.6L V6 holds 6 quarts, the 5.7L Hemi holds 7 quarts, the 6.4L Hemi holds 7 quarts, the 2.0L turbo holds about 5.2 quarts, and the 3.0L EcoDiesel holds roughly 10.5 quarts. Always fill to the dipstick mark rather than dumping in a fixed amount.

Q: Can I use synthetic blend instead of full synthetic in my Grand Cherokee?

For 2014 and newer engines, Jeep specifies full synthetic oil meeting the FCA MS-6395 standard. Using a synthetic blend can void warranty coverage and shorten oil life. Stick with full synthetic in the exact weight your manual calls for.

Q: How often should I change the oil in a Jeep Grand Cherokee?

With full synthetic oil, the interval is typically 8,000 to 10,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first. Severe use such as towing, short trips, or dusty conditions shortens that to about 5,000 to 6,000 miles. The oil life monitor on the dash is the most reliable guide.

⚡ The Quick Answer

Most Grand Cherokees take full synthetic 0W-20 or 5W-20. The exact weight depends on your engine and model year. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 (the most common engine) uses 0W-20 on 2014-and-newer trucks and 5W-20 on earlier ones. The 5.7L Hemi V8 takes 5W-20. The 6.4L Hemi SRT and the 6.2L supercharged Trackhawk step up to 0W-40. Every modern Grand Cherokee requires full synthetic oil meeting the FCA MS-6395 standard.

If you only remember one thing: pop the hood and read the oil fill cap. Jeep stamps the required weight right on it. When the cap and your owner's manual disagree, the manual wins, because it accounts for your exact build date and engine code.

📋 Oil Type and Capacity by Engine

So what oil does a Jeep Grand Cherokee take in your specific case? Find your engine in the table below. Capacities include the filter and are rounded to the figure most owners use at the parts counter.

Engine	Oil Weight	Capacity (w/ filter)	Years
3.6L Pentastar V6 (2014+)	0W-20 full synthetic	6.0 qt	2014-present
3.6L Pentastar V6 (early)	5W-20 full synthetic	6.0 qt	2011-2013
2.0L Turbo I4 (4xe / GME-T4)	0W-20 full synthetic	5.2 qt	2021-present
5.7L Hemi V8	5W-20 full synthetic	7.0 qt	2011-2021
6.4L Hemi V8 (SRT / 392)	0W-40 full synthetic	7.0 qt	2012-2021
6.2L Supercharged V8 (Trackhawk)	0W-40 full synthetic	7.0 qt	2018-2021
3.0L EcoDiesel V6	5W-30 diesel synthetic	10.5 qt	2014-2019

Note the EcoDiesel is a different animal: it needs a low-ash, diesel-rated 5W-30 (FCA MS-10902), not the gas-engine oil. Pouring standard gas-engine oil into a diesel can foul the emissions system and is an expensive mistake.

🧩 Why the Weight Matters

The two numbers in an oil grade describe how the oil flows. The first number with the "W" (for winter) is how thin it stays when cold. The second is how thick it stays at engine operating temperature. A 0W-20 flows faster on a cold start than a 5W-20, which is why newer engines with tighter tolerances and stop-start systems call for it.

Going thicker or thinner

Running 5W-20 in a truck that calls for 0W-20 will not blow up your engine, but it slightly dulls cold-start protection and can trim fuel economy. Going the other way, jumping to 5W-30 or 10W-30 to "quiet a noisy engine," can mask a real problem and reduce flow through narrow oil passages. If your Pentastar is ticking, that is usually a rocker arm or lifter issue worth diagnosing, not an oil-weight fix. See our breakdown of the engine ticking noise before you change anything.

The one place owners legitimately deviate: heavy towing in extreme heat. Some 5.7L Hemi owners step from 5W-20 to 5W-30 for sustained high-load summer towing. That is a known, accepted trade-off, but it is not the factory default.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using synthetic blend instead of full synthetic. 2014-and-newer engines require full synthetic meeting MS-6395. A blend can void warranty coverage and breaks down faster.
Overfilling. The 3.6L takes 6 quarts, not the 5 quarts many other V6s use. The 5.7L and 6.4L Hemis take a full 7 quarts. Always verify on the dipstick, never just dump the jug.
Wrong filter. Mopar MO-349 covers most Pentastar and Hemi engines, but the 2.0L turbo and EcoDiesel use different filters. A loose or mismatched filter is a top cause of leaks.
Ignoring the oil life monitor. The dash percentage is a real algorithm based on your driving, not a fixed mileage countdown. If it hits 0 percent at 6,000 miles, your driving counts as severe.
Skipping diesel-specific oil. The 3.0L EcoDiesel will not tolerate standard oil. It needs the low-ash diesel formula.

🔧 Change Interval and Decision Guide

With full synthetic, the standard interval is 8,000 to 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. Severe service shortens that significantly. Use this quick framework:

How You Drive	Recommended Interval
Mostly highway, mild climate	8,000-10,000 mi or 1 yr
Mixed city/highway	6,000-7,500 mi or 1 yr
Towing, off-road, or dusty roads	5,000-6,000 mi
Lots of short trips under 5 mi	5,000 mi or every 6 months

If your truck burns oil between changes (a known trait on some higher-mileage Pentastars and 5.7L Hemis), check the level every other fill-up. Losing a quart every 2,000 to 3,000 miles is borderline normal; faster than that points to a problem. A flashing oil pressure light or the P0521 oil pressure sensor code means stop driving and check the level immediately. Persistent low pressure can also surface as the oil pressure light staying on.

💰 What an Oil Change Should Cost

Because the Grand Cherokee uses full synthetic and large capacities, it costs more than a compact car. A dealer change runs $80 to $130 for the V6 and $100 to $160 for the Hemis. An independent shop is usually $60 to $100. Doing it yourself runs about $35 to $55 in oil and a filter for the V6, and $45 to $70 for the 7-quart Hemis. If a quote feels high, run it through our quote checker before you say yes.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What oil does a Jeep Grand Cherokee take?

Most modern Grand Cherokees take full synthetic 0W-20 (2014-and-newer 3.6L V6 and the 2.0L turbo) or 5W-20 (older 3.6L V6 and the 5.7L Hemi V8). The 6.4L Hemi SRT and Trackhawk's 6.2L supercharged V8 use 0W-40. Confirm the weight on your oil cap and in the owner's manual.

How many quarts of oil does a Jeep Grand Cherokee take?

The 3.6L V6 holds 6 quarts, the 5.7L and 6.4L Hemis hold 7 quarts, the 2.0L turbo holds about 5.2 quarts, and the 3.0L EcoDiesel holds roughly 10.5 quarts. Always fill to the dipstick mark rather than a fixed amount.

Can I use synthetic blend instead of full synthetic in my Grand Cherokee?

For 2014-and-newer engines, Jeep specifies full synthetic meeting FCA MS-6395. Using a blend can void warranty coverage and shorten oil life. Stick with full synthetic in the exact weight your manual lists.

How often should I change the oil in a Jeep Grand Cherokee?

With full synthetic, the interval is typically 8,000 to 10,000 miles or once a year. Severe use like towing, short trips, or dusty roads shortens that to about 5,000 to 6,000 miles. The dash oil life monitor is the most reliable guide.

What oil weight does the 5.7 Hemi Grand Cherokee take?

The 5.7L Hemi V8 takes full synthetic 5W-20 and holds 7 quarts with the filter. Some owners run 5W-30 in extreme heat or for towing, but 5W-20 is the factory specification.

✅ TL;DR

3.6L V6 (2014+): 0W-20 full synthetic, 6 quarts.
3.6L V6 (2011-2013): 5W-20 full synthetic, 6 quarts.
5.7L Hemi: 5W-20 full synthetic, 7 quarts.
6.4L SRT / 6.2L Trackhawk: 0W-40 full synthetic, 7 quarts.
3.0L EcoDiesel: 5W-30 diesel synthetic, 10.5 quarts.
Interval: 8,000-10,000 mi (highway) down to 5,000 mi (severe).