For a period of time, many Jeeps made from 1971-1981 were equipped with an AMC 304 V8 engine. By 1991 the 304 engine was phased out, but old-time Jeep fans are keeping this classic going by learning about its engine oil capacity and performing their own oil changes.

We are all looking for ways to

save money on car expenses

, and performing DIY oil changes is a fantastic way to keep an older vehicle on the road, especially the Jeep 304 engine.

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Jeep 304 engine oil capacity

How much engine oil will a Jeep with an AMC 304 engine need?

A 304 V8 engine holds 5 quarts or 4.7 liters of oil. In general, an AMC 304 engine has a displacement of 3.4-liters which is the measurement of volume the 8-cylinder engine takes up. Don’t worry about the engine displacement number if you stumble across it. You only need to worry about the engine oil capacity, which lets you know how much oil you need to purchase.

What kind of oil does a Jeep 304 take?

Here is some good news for your wallet! Since the Jeeps with the AMC 304 engine are older, they take conventional oil, which is the cheapest option. The manufacturer's recommendation is conventional 10W-30 or 15W-40 motor oil. What do all those letters and numbers mean? We are glad you asked!

Each vehicle requires a particular viscosity or thickness to run at its best. 10W or 15W is the required viscosity at cold engine starts while the oil is at its thickest, with W representing “winter”. The next number, 30 or 40, is the required viscosity for when the engine runs at its normal operating temperature. The oil must be thin enough to work but thick enough to protect the engine’s mechanisms.

Here are some of the most popular brands of engine oil fellow Jeep drivers prefer:

Pennzoil High Mileage Conventional 10W-30 Motor Oil

Rotella T4 Triple Protection 10W-30

Shell Rotella T 15W40

MORE:

Jeep resale value

How often to change oil on a Jeep 304

Before you doing your first oil change, you need to know how often to perform oil changes on your Jeep 304 engine.

Jeep recommends changing the oil every 7,500 to 10,000 or every 6 months if you don’t drive a lot. However, this is just a recommendation. Lower quality conventional oils many require a change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, while high mileage oils let you push it to 15,000.

Performing regular engine oil checks every time you get gas helps you narrow down that time frame. Here is what to look for:

Motor oil that needs changing is dark brown or black (Clean oil is light brown or amber, like a cup of tea. Dirty oil is like a cup of soda.)

Motor oil feels coarse or gritty

New smells, especially anything that smells like oil, smoke, or burning

Loud noises coming from the engine

Changes in your vehicle’s performance

MORE:

Jeep oil change cost

How to change your oil and oil filter

Now that you know when to

change your oil

, let’s get to it! Now keep in mind, since this article is for the AMC 304 engine, how to change your oil can be different depending on the exact year and model Jeep you have. Here is a list of what you need and how to do it that will help, but your exact car may vary slightly.

Here is a list of what you need to get started:

Socket wrench

Filter wrench

New filter

Drain pan

New washer

5 quarts of your choice of engine oil

First, run the Jeep for about five minutes to get the engine oil warm, warm oil makes for a faster and more efficient oil change. Once you are ready, park on level ground, pop the hood, and follow these steps:

Take off the oil fill cap

Place the drain pan under the engine and remove the oil drain bolt and washer

Let the oil drain into the pan

Remove the old oil filter

Install the new filter

Replace the oil drain bolt using a new washer and tighten

Refill the engine with your new oil and replace the fill cap

Check the oil level with the dipstick and add more oil if needed

Run the car for a few minutes to check for leaks

Recycle the oil at the proper facility and you are done! Be careful while filling the empty oil containers with your dirty engine oil. Even a little of this oil in the ground or water is incredibly hazardous to the environment.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

These time-saving DIY oil changes for your Jeep are rivaled only by the amount of money you can save on oil change costs each time! But don’t stop there! Let Jerry help you find cheap

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