The 2000 Jeep Cherokee has an engine oil capacity of four quarts for the four-cylinder engine or six quarts for the six-cylinder engine. Click here for more.

Written by Mary Cahill

Reviewed by Hillary Kobayashi

Updated on Dec 13, 2022

Table of Contents

2000 Jeep Cherokee engine oil capacity
How often to change the oil on a 2000 Jeep Cherokee

A 2000 Jeep Cherokee has a boxy, old-school body style and some respectable off-road chops. Its engine oil capacity is either four or six quarts depending on the size of its engine. You should change your Cherokee’s oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles to keep this vintage vehicle running smoothly.

Jeeps have a reputation for longevity, so if your 2000 Cherokee is still in good working order, chances are that you already have a good grasp of how much oil the engine can hold, but if there’s any lingering doubt, we’ve got your back.

In addition to going over how much oil your Jeep Cherokee’s engine needs, we’ll also discuss what type of oil is best and when it’s time for an oil change.

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2000 Jeep Cherokee engine oil capacity

The 2000 Jeep Cherokee has either a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a 4-liter six-cylinder engine. If your Cherokee is equipped with a four-cylinder, the engine oil capacity is four quarts. The only trim equipped with this smaller engine is the base model SE.

All other trims of the 2000 Cherokee come with a six-cylinder engine, which has an oil capacity of six quarts. Those trim levels are:

Sport

Classic

Limited

What kind of oil does a 2000 Jeep Cherokee need?

Now that you know how much oil goes into your Cherokee’s engine, you’ll also need to know what kind of engine oil to choose. The oil type recommended in the 2000 Jeep Cherokee owner’s manual is

SAE 0W-20 fully synthetic motor oil

This combination of numbers and letters seems confusing, but it’s actually pretty straightforward. SAE is the abbreviation for the Society of Automotive Engineers, a century-plus-old group that’s in charge of global oil classifications.

Engine oil is measured by viscosity—which is just another way of describing how thick the oil is. A “0W” viscosity means that the oil will remain relatively thin in very cold temperatures. That’s why the “W” stands for winter.

When oil is classified as 0W-20, the “20” indicates that the oil can also withstand hot temperatures. 0W-20 oil is usually a suitable choice for drivers who live in colder climates.

There are several oil brands that make 0W-20 synthetic oil, but if you’re unsure of which to choose, you could go with

Mopar SAE 0W-20 oil

. Mopar is an automotive brand that sells OEM accessories for

, and

Seeing as your Cherokee has been around for more than two decades now, it’s probably got a lot of miles on it. Another good engine oil option is

Mobil 1 Extended Performance High Mileage 5W-20 Full Synthetic Motor Oil

, which has been specifically designed for vehicles that have at least 80,000 to 1000,000 miles on the odometer.

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How often to change the oil on a 2000 Jeep Cherokee

The 2000 Jeep Cherokee owner’s manual recommends changing the oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. You should also be checking your oil about once a month to ensure that it’s at the correct level and doesn’t look overly dirty.

You can check your Cherokee’s oil using the dipstick under the hood. The oil level should be within the lines on the dipstick—not too high or too low. The color of the oil should be a light, honey-brown color and have a translucent opacity.

If you check your oil and notice that the color is very dark brown or black or the texture is gitty or sludgy, it’s time for an oil change.

It’s important to be aware of how your engine behaves as well. A smoky odor, lagging, or clunking sounds coming from the engine are your Cherokee’s way of telling you that maintenance is needed immediately.

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How to change your oil and oil filter

If you feel ready to change your Cherokee’s oil on your own, this could be a big money-saver. Beforehand, make sure you have the following supplies:

Rubber gloves

Eye protection

Funnel

Oil drain pan

16mm wrench

Oil filter or metal strap wrench

New oil filter

Four to six quarts of engine oil

To start, pop your Jeep's hood and remove the engine oil cap. Be sure to keep it somewhere safe while you change the oil according to these steps:

Position the oil drain pan below the oil drain plug at the back of the oil pan.

Use your wrench to remove the oil drain plug. It should take several minutes for all of the oil to drain out.

Reinstall your drain plug manually and carefully tighten it with the wrench—do not tighten it too much, as this will strip the threads of the oil drain plug.

Locate the oil filter underneath your Jeep, just above the starter, and carefully loosen it without losing any other components nearby. Position your drain pan beneath it.

Remove the oil filter by hand. Keep the filter upright to prevent more oil spillage than necessary. Make sure the O-ring is attached to the top of the oil filter

Coat the O-ring of the new oil filter with clean oil and manually reinstall it.

Use the oil funnel and fill your engine with engine oil.

Once finished, run your engine for a few minutes and then check the oil level. As long as the level looks good, you’re all set!

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