🔧 Grand Cherokee - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Replacement

This repair drains the old engine oil, replaces the oil filter, and refills your Grand Cherokee with fresh oil. Clean oil protects the 5.7L HEMI engine from wear, heat, and sludge buildup.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 45-75 minutes

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Engine oil can be hot enough to burn skin. Let the engine cool until it is warm, not hot.
• ⚠️ Always support your Grand Cherokee with jack stands if you raise it. Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack.
• ⚠️ Keep oil off belts, exhaust parts, and the driveway. Wipe spills right away.
• ⚠️ Used engine oil is hazardous waste. Collect it in a sealed container and recycle it properly.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this oil change.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 13mm socket
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 3/8-inch drive torque wrench
• Oil filter wrench 93mm 15-flute
• Drain pan 10-quart minimum
• Funnel wide-mouth
• Floor jack rated 3-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 3-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Shop towels

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil 5W-20 full synthetic - Qty: 7 quarts
• Engine oil filter - Qty: 1
• Engine oil drain plug gasket - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Grand Cherokee on level ground.
• Set the parking brake and place the transmission in Park.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• Warm the engine for 2-3 minutes, then shut it off. Warm oil drains faster.
• If extra room is needed, raise the front with a floor jack and support it securely on jack stands.
• A torque wrench is a tool that tightens bolts to the correct tightness so they are not too loose or too tight.
• An oil filter wrench is a cup-style tool that grips the oil filter so you can loosen it without crushing it.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Open the Hood and Oil Fill Cap

• Use your hands to open the hood and secure it.
• Use your hands to remove the engine oil fill cap on top of the engine.
• Pull the dipstick up slightly by hand. This helps oil drain more smoothly.
• Set the cap where it cannot fall.

Step 2: Raise and Secure the Front

• Use wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• Use a floor jack rated 3-ton minimum to lift the front at the proper front lifting point.
• Use jack stands rated 3-ton minimum under the front support points.
• Gently lower the vehicle onto the jack stands with the floor jack.
• Shake the vehicle lightly by hand to confirm it is stable before going underneath.

Step 3: Position the Drain Pan

• Put on nitrile gloves and safety glasses.
• Use a drain pan 10-quart minimum under the engine oil drain plug.
• Place the pan slightly behind the plug because oil will flow outward at first.

Step 4: Remove the Oil Drain Plug

• Use a 13mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to loosen the oil drain plug.
• Finish removing the plug by hand while keeping pressure inward until the last thread releases.
• Let the oil drain fully into the drain pan for 10-15 minutes.
• Use shop towels to wipe the drain plug and oil pan sealing area clean.
• Do not drop the plug in the pan.

Step 5: Replace the Drain Plug Gasket

• Use your hands to remove the old drain plug gasket from the drain plug.
• Use your hands to install the new engine oil drain plug gasket.
• Check that the gasket sits flat against the drain plug head.

Step 6: Reinstall the Drain Plug

• Thread the drain plug into the oil pan by hand first. This prevents cross-threading, which means damaging the threads by starting the bolt crooked.
• Use a 13mm socket and 3/8-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the drain plug.
• Torque to 27 Nm (20 ft-lbs)
• Use shop towels to wipe the area clean so leaks are easy to spot later.

Step 7: Remove the Old Oil Filter

• Move the drain pan under the oil filter area.
• Use the 93mm 15-flute oil filter wrench and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to loosen the oil filter.
• Once loose, use your hand to spin the filter off slowly.
• Keep the open end upward as much as possible to reduce spills.
• Make sure the old rubber oil filter gasket came off with the old filter.
• Double gaskets cause major leaks.

Step 8: Prepare the New Oil Filter

• Use your gloved finger to apply a thin coat of fresh 5W-20 oil to the new filter gasket.
• This helps the gasket seal and makes the next oil change easier.
• Do not fill the filter before installation on this engine because it mounts at an angle and may spill.

Step 9: Install the New Oil Filter

• Use your hand to thread the new oil filter onto the engine.
• Turn it gently until the gasket touches the mounting surface.
• Use your hand to tighten the filter an additional 3/4 turn after gasket contact.
• If using a torque wrench with the 93mm 15-flute oil filter wrench, tighten the filter to Torque to 18 Nm (13 ft-lbs).
• Do not overtighten the filter.

Step 10: Add Fresh Engine Oil

• Use a wide-mouth funnel in the oil fill opening.
• Pour in 6.5 quarts of 5W-20 full synthetic engine oil first.
• Use shop towels to wipe away any spilled oil.
• Reinstall the oil fill cap by hand.

Step 11: Start the Engine and Check for Leaks

• Make sure all tools are clear of the engine bay.
• Start the engine and let it idle for 30-60 seconds.
• Look underneath with a flashlight if needed. Check the drain plug and oil filter for leaks.
• Shut the engine off.
• Wait 5 minutes so oil can drain back into the oil pan.

Step 12: Check and Top Off Oil Level

• Use your hand to pull the dipstick out.
• Use a shop towel to wipe it clean.
• Reinsert the dipstick fully, then pull it out again.
• Add oil through the funnel as needed until the level reaches the safe/full range.
• Total capacity with filter is about 7 quarts.
• Reinstall the dipstick and oil fill cap by hand.

Step 13: Lower the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack rated 3-ton minimum to lift the front slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands by hand.
• Use the floor jack to lower your Grand Cherokee slowly to the ground.
• Remove the wheel chocks by hand.

Step 14: Reset the Oil Life Monitor

• Use the ignition button to switch to RUN without starting the engine.
• Use your foot to press the accelerator pedal slowly to the floor 3 times within 10 seconds.
• Use the ignition button to switch OFF.
• Start the engine and check that the oil change message is cleared.
• If needed, use the steering wheel buttons to check the oil life display in the instrument cluster.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Let the engine run for 1-2 minutes and recheck the drain plug and oil filter for leaks.
• ✅ Recheck the oil level after the first short drive and top off if needed.
• ✅ Dispose of used oil and the old oil filter at an approved recycling location.
• ✅ Write down the mileage and date of the oil change.
• ✅ Normal service interval depends on driving conditions, but do not ignore the oil life monitor.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $100-$180 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $45-$80 (parts only)

You Save: $55-$100 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.4-0.8 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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