The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee can seemingly do it all—from tackling the backtrails, to carting the kids to practice, it’s no wonder this was one of the best-selling Jeeps of the year. If your Grand Cherokee is still chugging along and you want to get the very most out of it, you’ll need to understand its engine oil capacity.

Older vehicles tend to require general maintenance more frequently, causing owners to dip into their pockets more often. If you’d like to cut one of these recurring bills, this guide will show you how to change the oil on your 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

We’ll cover how much oil this SUV takes, the best oil types, and other tips to keep your truck running at optimal strength.

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2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee engine oil capacity

Before you start crawling under your Jeep, let’s go over exactly how much oil a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.6 requires.

This SUV’s 3.6-liter V6 engine has an oil capacity of 5.9 quarts. The 3.6-liter part of the engine indicates its displacement, and cannot be confused with its oil capacity.

When talking about engines, "displacement" refers to how much air and fuel are sucked into each of the cylinders in one cycle, while "oil capacity" refers to how much oil is required to keep the engine running smoothly. If you don't know the difference, you might put too little oil in the engine.

What kind of oil does a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee need?

Now that we’ve covered the oil capacity, let’s discuss the best oil types for your Jeep.

When you go shopping for oil, you’re going to come face to face with a ton of different oil types. But fear not, because we’ve got the best oil for you: SAE 0W-20 fully synthetic motor oil. This is the oil recommended by Jeep, and no one knows the Grand Cherokee better than them.

Let’s break down this oil type further to give you a better understanding of what you’re putting into your SUV. The “W” stands for “winter” and the 0 in front of it means that this oil is a thin blend that flows quickly under cold conditions. The 20 following the “W” then tells us it is a moderate viscosity (thickness) when the engine is at its operating temperature.

To put it simply, you want an oil that stays thin enough to flow well when the engine is cold and one that stays thick enough to keep the engine parts lubricated when the engine is running.

If you’d like to consider alternative options, we have a few for you:

Jeep recommended: For those who like to follow the book, you can't go wrong with SAE 0W-20 fully synthetic motor oil.

For high mileage: If you’ve done some damage on your odometer,

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

will help keep the miles coming.

The OEM: If you want the original oil used in the Jeep factory,

Mopar SAE 0W-20

is the oil for you.

MORE:

Can you add oil to a hot engine?

How often to change oil on a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Jeep advises having a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee's oil changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles to keep your engine running at peak performance.

Regularly checking your oil level and taking note of your last oil change will ensure you’re always adding fresh oil on time. If you keep your car’s mileage to a minimum or do not drive often, your oil should still be changed every six months to prevent it from decaying.

You should also be mindful of these signs that your Grand Cherokee needs its oil changed:

The oil color has turned dark brown or black

The oil texture feels gritty or rough

Strange sounds are coming from your engine

Burning odors are smelt under the hood

Your car’s performance has noticeably declined

How to change your oil and oil filter

Now is the time to change the oil, so let's do it! Make sure you have a socket wrench, a drain pan, a filter wrench, a replacement filter, and a rag before you get under your Jeep. Oh, and we can't forget the bottle of fully synthetic SAE 0W-20 engine oil.

Start by running the engine to warm up the oil. This will make it easier for the oil to flow. After a few minutes, turn off the engine, open the hood, and do the following:

Set yourself under the engine and place your drain pan beneath the oil drain plug.

Remove the oil plug with your socket wrench, allowing the oil to drain out.

Find your oil filter next to the engine and move your catch pan under it. Unscrew the filter with your filter wrench and let any excess oil drain out.

Wipe the filter mount with your rag, and screw in your replacement filter.

Replace the oil drain plug.

Refill the top of your engine with the necessary amount of oil.

Wash your hands and give yourself a pat on the back—you did it! Check that you have filled in the correct amount of oil by checking its level on your dipstick, and then confirm that your oil pressure dashboard light is off. Finally, start the engine and make sure there is no oil leakage.

For cleanup, never pour the old, contaminated oil on the ground or into your everyday trash. Instead, pour it into an unwanted container and bring it to your local recycling center for proper disposal.

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