🔧 Cherokee - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Change

This service drains the old engine oil, replaces the oil filter cartridge, and refills with fresh oil. Regular oil changes protect the Pentastar V6 from wear and keep oil pressure and timing components happy.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Let the engine cool 15-30 minutes so oil and exhaust parts aren’t dangerously hot.
• Support your Cherokee with jack stands—never rely on a floor jack alone.
• Keep oil off the serpentine belt and electrical connectors.
• Wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses; used oil is a skin irritant.
• Battery disconnect is not 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 (7-quart minimum)
• Funnel
• Shop rags
• 10mm socket
• Ratchet
• Trim clip removal tool
• 13mm socket
• 24mm socket
• Torque wrench (10-50 ft-lb range)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (SAE 0W-20 full synthetic, MS-6395 spec) - Qty: 6 quarts
• Engine oil filter (cartridge type) - Qty: 1
• Oil filter O-ring(s) (usually included with filter) - Qty: 1 set
• Oil drain plug gasket/washer - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Warm the engine for 2-3 minutes, then shut it off. Warm oil drains faster.
• Open the hood and loosen the oil fill cap by hand (this helps it drain smoothly).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and secure the front of the Cherokee

• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the front.
• Set the vehicle onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) at the proper support points.

Step 2: Remove the lower splash shield (if equipped)

• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet to remove the bolts.
• Use a trim clip removal tool to pop out any push clips (a trim clip tool is a forked pry tool that removes plastic clips without breaking them).
• Set the shield and hardware aside in a small pile so nothing gets lost.

Step 3: Drain the engine oil

• Slide the drain pan (7-quart minimum) under the oil pan drain plug.
• Use a 13mm socket and ratchet to loosen and remove the drain plug.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to an occasional drip (typically 5-10 minutes).
• Wipe the drain plug and oil pan sealing surface with shop rags.
• Install a new oil drain plug gasket/washer (if your setup uses one).
• Reinstall the drain plug by hand first, then use a torque wrench (10-50 ft-lb range) to tighten: Torque to 27 Nm (20 ft-lbs).

Step 4: Replace the oil filter cartridge (top of engine)

• Locate the oil filter housing at the top of the engine.
• Place shop rags around the housing to catch drips.
• Use a 24mm socket and ratchet to loosen the oil filter cap slowly.
• Lift the cap and old filter out together, then pull the old cartridge off the cap by hand.
• Replace the O-ring(s) on the cap with the new ones from the filter kit.
• Add a light wipe of fresh oil to the new O-ring(s) using a gloved finger. Helps prevent O-ring pinching.
• Push the new filter cartridge onto the cap until it seats.
• Thread the cap back into the housing by hand, then tighten with a torque wrench (10-50 ft-lb range): Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Reinstall the splash shield

• Reposition the shield.
• Install clips using your hands and the trim clip removal tool as needed.
• Tighten bolts with a 10mm socket and ratchet until snug (do not over-tighten plastic panels).

Step 6: Refill with 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 SAE 0W-20 full synthetic (MS-6395), starting with about 5.5 quarts.
• Reinstall the oil fill cap by hand.

Step 7: Start, check for leaks, and set the oil level

• Start the engine and let it idle 30-60 seconds.
• Shut the engine off and wait 3-5 minutes for oil to drain back.
• Check underneath for leaks at the drain plug and the filter housing.
• Check the dipstick, then top off as needed to reach the safe/full range (total is typically about 5.9 quarts with filter).
• Wipe any spilled oil with shop rags.

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✅ After Repair

• Reset the oil life monitor: turn ignition to RUN (engine off), press the accelerator to the floor 3 times within 10 seconds, then turn ignition OFF.
• Take a short 5-10 minute drive, park, and recheck for leaks.
• Recheck the dipstick level once more after the drive and top off if needed.
• Dispose of used oil and the old filter at an oil recycling center or parts store—do not dump it.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $35-$70 (parts only)

You Save: $55-$90 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?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.