2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Oil Change — 3.6L Pentastar & 5.7L HEMI

The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee oil change is one of the most common DIY jobs I do, and the capacity difference between the two engines trips people up constantly. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 takes 6 quarts. The 5.7L HEMI V8 takes 7 quarts. Getting this wrong — especially on the HEMI — is an easy way to run your engine low on oil or pump air through the system from overfill. Here's both procedures done right.

Which Engine Do You Have?

• 3.6L Pentastar V6 — Standard Grand Cherokee engine. "3.6 VVT" or "V6" in your paperwork. "3.6L" often visible on the fender badge.
• 5.7L HEMI V8 — Limited, Overland, Summit, and SRT8-adjacent trims. "HEMI" badging on the fenders.

The diesel (3.0L EcoDiesel) is a separate procedure.

Quick-Reference Specs

3.6L Pentastar V6

Item	Spec
Oil type	Mopar 5W-20 full synthetic (or API SN 5W-20)
Capacity with filter	6.0 quarts
Drain plug torque	20 ft-lb (27 Nm)
Drain plug socket	13mm
Oil filter	Mopar 68191349AA or equivalent
Change interval	10,000 miles (synthetic, OLM)

5.7L HEMI V8

Item	Spec
Oil type	Mopar 5W-20 full synthetic (API SN or SN+ certified)
Capacity with filter	7.0 quarts
Drain plug torque	20 ft-lb (27 Nm)
Drain plug socket	13mm
Oil filter	Mopar 68191349AA (same filter, different capacity)
Change interval	10,000 miles (synthetic, OLM)

Important note on the HEMI and MDS: The 5.7L HEMI in the 2015 Grand Cherokee uses Multi-Displacement System (MDS) — 4 cylinders deactivate under light loads, similar to GM's AFM. MDS uses oil pressure to collapse hydraulic lifters. Use 5W-20 Mopar-certified oil only. Using a heavier viscosity can prevent MDS lifters from collapsing fully, causing a rough transition and, over time, accelerated lifter wear. The Mopar part number for a quart is 68218916AA (Mopar Pentastar/HEMI 5W-20).

Tools Needed

• 13mm socket + ratchet
• Oil filter wrench (the Mopar spin-on filter fits a standard 14-flute cap wrench)
• Torque wrench
• Drain pan (8+ quart capacity to handle HEMI)
• Funnel
• Ramps or jack + stands
• Nitrile gloves

Getting Under the Grand Cherokee

The WK2 Grand Cherokee (2011–2021) has a flat undertray that partially covers the oil pan. It's held with push-clips and can be removed fully, or you can work through the gap between the tray and the front bumper fascia — the drain plug is accessible from the front-center of the oil pan area on both engines.

1. Warm the engine for 3 minutes, then park on level ground.

2. Drive onto ramps or jack the front of the Grand Cherokee and place on stands at the front frame rails.

3. The plastic undertray pop-clips (about 6 of them) allow the front portion to be dropped for easier access. Drop the front section or remove the tray entirely.

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3.6L Pentastar V6 — Oil Change Procedure

4. Position your drain pan under the Pentastar's oil pan. The drain plug is at the rear-center of the oil pan, a 13mm hex bolt.

5. Break it loose and remove by hand. Let it drain 4–6 minutes.

6. The Pentastar's oil filter is in a cartridge-style housing on the passenger side of the engine, near the top. You'll access this from above the engine, not from underneath. Use a 24mm socket or a specialized Mopar oil filter cap wrench.

   • Turn the cap counterclockwise to remove it.
   • The filter element (paper cartridge) lifts out of the housing.
   • Remove the old O-ring from the housing groove.
   • Install the new O-ring (included with the new Mopar filter cartridge). Lightly oil it with fresh 5W-20.
   • Drop the new filter cartridge into the housing, pointed end up.
   • Thread the cap on and torque to 18 ft-lb (25 Nm).

7. Reinstall and torque the drain plug to 20 ft-lb (27 Nm).

8. Reinstall the undertray. Lower the vehicle.

9. Fill with 5.5 quarts of 5W-20, then check the dipstick. Add to reach the "Full" mark. Total is 6.0 quarts.

10. Start the engine. Oil pressure light extinguishes in 3–5 seconds. Let it idle 90 seconds, shut down, wait 3 minutes, recheck dipstick.

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5.7L HEMI V8 — Oil Change Procedure

The HEMI follows the same basic process, with two differences: the capacity is 7 quarts, and the HEMI uses a spin-on filter on the side of the engine block (driver's side, lower), not a cartridge housing like the Pentastar.

4. Position drain pan under the HEMI's oil pan. The 13mm drain plug is at the rear of the pan.

5. Remove and drain. Let it go 5–7 minutes — the HEMI has more oil volume.

6. The HEMI filter is a spin-on Mopar 68191349AA on the driver's side of the block. Use a standard cap wrench to break it loose. Spin off by hand, keeping it upright.

7. Clean the filter seating surface. Lightly oil the O-ring on the new spin-on filter.

8. Thread the new filter on hand-tight until the gasket contacts, then tighten 3/4 turn. Do not use a wrench to tighten.

9. Reinstall the drain plug: torque to 20 ft-lb (27 Nm).

10. Lower the vehicle. Fill with 6.5 quarts of 5W-20, then check the dipstick (driver's side of the HEMI block). Add to reach "Full." Total is 7.0 quarts.

11. Start the engine, confirm oil pressure light extinguishes, idle 90 seconds, recheck after cool-down.

Reset the Oil Life Monitor

12. On the 2015 Grand Cherokee, turn the ignition to "On" without cranking (press Start without brake pedal on push-button start, or key to "Run" position).

13. Navigate via the steering wheel buttons to Vehicle Info → Oil Life on the instrument cluster display.

14. Hold the OK button until the percentage resets to 100%. Confirm.

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Cost Comparison: DIY vs. Dealer

	3.6L DIY	5.7L DIY	Jeep Dealer
Oil (5W-20 synthetic)	~$30	~$35	Included
Filter	~$8	~$8	Included
Labor	$0	$0	$80–$130
Total	~$38	~$43	$95–$145

Savings: $55–$105 per oil change.

Common Mistakes

1. Filling the HEMI to 6 quarts. This is the most common mistake — people buy 6 quarts out of habit or confuse the HEMI with the Pentastar. The HEMI takes 7. Running 1 quart low on a 7-quart engine isn't catastrophic, but the oil pressure drops noticeably under load and the MDS lifters may not fully collapse.

2. Using 5W-30 on a HEMI with MDS. Heavier oil resists flowing into the MDS lifter collapse bores. Over time this means the lifters stick partially open, causing a rough transition between 4-cylinder and 8-cylinder mode, and eventually lifter scoring.

3. Over-torquing the drain plug. 20 ft-lb on the Grand Cherokee's aluminum oil pan. Use a torque wrench — this is one of the most stripped drain plug situations I see on WK2 Grand Cherokees because people over-snug by feel.

4. Mixing up the Pentastar filter procedure. The Pentastar uses a top-mounted cartridge filter; the HEMI uses a side-mounted spin-on. Don't reach for a cap wrench on the Pentastar from underneath — there's nothing down there.

For more Jeep Grand Cherokee maintenance guides, the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee oil change guide covers the 3.0L EcoDiesel if you have that engine. The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee brake pad replacement is the next logical service if you're working through the maintenance schedule.

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