Jeep Cherokee Engine Oil Type And Capacity Guide

As the Jeep Cherokee is primarily designed for off-roading, it’s crucial to pay close attention to its maintenance – especially the engine oil.

That’s because engine oil can become contaminated due to prolonged dirt/dust exposure, forcing an earlier oil change.

But things get tricky here because Jeep vehicles, including the Cherokee, have many engine options. And each of them requires a specific oil type/capacity.

For example, the 2019 Jeep Cherokee requires 5-5.9 quarts of 5W-30 or 0W-30 oil, depending on its engine.

Similarly, the 2015 Jeep Cherokee requires 5.5/5.9 quarts of 5W-20 or 0W-20 oil.

Therefore, you need to check the owner’s manual to get information about your vehicle’s oil type/capacity.

But if you’ve lost the manual or can’t seem to find the required info, I’ve got you covered.

Below is the oil type/capacity data for all Jeep Cherokee models from 1983 to 2023 – regardless of their engine options.

Jeep Cherokee XJ (1983-2001) Oil Type And Capacity

Related Read: Jeep 4.0L Oil Type and Capacity

Jeep Cherokee KL (2014-2023) Oil Type And Capacity

How Often Should You Change The Engine Oil in Jeep Cherokee?

The frequency of oil changes is widely debated among car/truck owners.

While some argue for doing it every 3000-5000 miles, others suggest going as far as 7500 miles.

In my opinion, it depends on the engine, driving conditions, weather conditions, and whether you’re using conventional, semi-synthetic, or fully-synthetic oil.

Generally, you can go up to 7500 miles or six months using a fully-synthetic oil. But this limit can get reduced if you do heavy towing or off-roading.

On the other hand, if you use conventional oil, you might need to do an oil change every 3000-5000 miles or three months, whichever comes first.

To fix this problem, many newer vehicles give the ‘oil change required’ message if the vehicle’s computer calculates it to be too low.

It’s not 100% accurate, though. Therefore, you’ll have to manually check the oil level or its color through the dipstick.

If you find its level low or its color too dark, it indicates that an oil refill/change is required.

How to Change Oil and Oil Filter in Jeep Cherokee?

While every vehicle has a slightly different oil change procedure, here are some general steps:

• Park the vehicle and turn it off. This will allow the engine oil to cool down.
• Lift the vehicle using a jack and secure it with a jack stand.
• Locate the oil pan and unscrew the oil drain plug.
• Use a spare pan to catch the older oil draining out of the vehicle.
• Remove the older oil filter using a wrench. Apply some fresh oil on the new oil filter and put it in the location of the older oil filter.
• By this time, the older oil would’ve been drained out of the vehicle. Clean the oil drain bolt, plug it back, and tighten it properly.
• Open the oil cap and put new engine oil in your vehicle according to its capacity. Check the oil level with the dipstick.
• Once everything is done, lower down the vehicle.

For more info, check out this video:

Conclusion

Having accurate information about engine oil type and capacity for your Cherokee is crucial in an oil change. Otherwise, you might end up using an unsuitable oil, leading to engine performance issues or even permanent damage.

If you’re interested in other Jeep vehicles, check out our blog posts on the oil type/capacity for Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Wrangler.

Frequently Asked Questions