🔧 Grand Cherokee - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Change

Changing the oil and filter keeps your A4.7 running clean and prevents engine wear. You’ll drain old oil from the oil pan, replace the spin-on filter, then refill with the correct oil and verify the level.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.75-1.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and set the parking brake.
• ⚠️ Let the engine cool 15–30 minutes; oil can burn you.
• ⚠️ Support the vehicle with jack stands before going underneath (never rely on a jack alone).
• ⚠️ Keep oil off the serpentine belt and exhaust parts.
• ⚠️ No battery disconnect is required for this job.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Drain pan (8-quart minimum)
• Funnel
• Shop rags
• 13mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• Torque wrench (3/8" drive, 10–80 ft-lbs)
• Oil filter wrench (strap type or cap type)
• Trim clip tool

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (5W-20, API certified, Chrysler MS-6395) - Qty: 6 quarts
• Engine oil filter (spin-on) - Qty: 1
• Oil drain plug gasket (if equipped/separate) - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on a level surface, set the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels.
• Warm the engine 3–5 minutes, then shut it off. Warm oil drains faster.
• Open the hood and loosen the oil filler cap to help the crankcase vent while draining.
• If your A4.7 has a front splash shield, be ready to remove a few clips/screws for access.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and support the front of the vehicle

• Place wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• Lift the front with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the front jacking point.
• Set the vehicle onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) and gently rock it to confirm it’s stable.

Step 2: Remove the splash shield (if equipped)

• Use a trim clip tool to pop out push clips.
• Use a 3/8" drive ratchet with the correct fastener socket (commonly 13mm socket where used) to remove any bolts.
• Move the shield aside.

Step 3: Drain the old engine oil

• Put the drain pan (8-quart minimum) under the oil pan drain plug.
• Use a 13mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratchet to loosen and remove the drain plug.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to an occasional drip (usually 5–10 minutes).
• Wipe the drain plug and sealing surface with shop rags.

Step 4: Reinstall and torque the drain plug

• Thread the drain plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a torque wrench (3/8" drive, 10–80 ft-lbs) with a 13mm socket to tighten the drain plug: Torque to 27 Nm (20 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the old oil filter

• Move the drain pan (8-quart minimum) under the oil filter area (more oil will spill).
• Use an oil filter wrench (strap type or cap type) to loosen the filter, then spin it off by hand.
• Make sure the old rubber gasket comes off with the old filter (it can stick to the engine).

Step 6: Install the new oil filter

• Lightly coat the new filter’s rubber gasket with fresh oil using a gloved finger (nitrile gloves).
• Spin the new filter on by hand until the gasket touches, then tighten 3/4 turn more by hand.
• Do not use the oil filter wrench to tighten unless you absolutely can’t by hand. Overtightening makes it hard to remove later.

Step 7: Refill with new oil

• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Insert a funnel into the oil fill opening.
• Pour in 5.5 quarts of engine oil (5W-20, Chrysler MS-6395) first.
• Reinstall the oil filler cap.

Step 8: Start the engine and check for leaks

• Start the engine and let it idle 30–60 seconds.
• Shut it off and look underneath for leaks at the drain plug and oil filter.
• Wait 5 minutes for oil to settle back into the pan.

Step 9: Set the oil level correctly

• Pull the dipstick, wipe it with shop rags, reinsert fully, then pull again to read.
• Add oil in small amounts using the funnel until it reaches the safe/full range (typically ends up around 6 quarts total with filter).
• Do not overfill.

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✅ After Repair

• Recheck for leaks after your first short drive.
• Reset the oil-change reminder (if displayed): turn key to ON (not start) → fully press the accelerator pedal 3 times within 10 seconds → turn key OFF.
• Dispose of used oil and the old filter at a recycling center/parts store that accepts waste oil.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $90-$160 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $35-$75 (parts only)

You Save: $55-$85 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.7-1.0 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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