2012–2024 Jeep Wrangler Oil Capacity & Fluid Specs
Quick answer
Wrangler oil capacity depends on generation: the JK 3.6L (2012–2018) takes 6.0 quarts of 5W-20; the JL 3.6L (2018–2024) takes 5.0 quarts of 0W-20; the JL 2.0L Turbo and 4xe take 5.0 quarts of 5W-30. All use a top-side cartridge filter — one of the cleanest filter jobs in the business.
Compiled from Jeep owner's manuals across the JK (2012–2018) and JL (2018–2024) Wrangler. The generation split matters everywhere on this page: oil viscosity AND capacity changed for the JL 3.6L, lug torque jumped from 95 to 130 lb-ft, and the JL automatic switched to ZF fluid that must never be confused with the ATF+4 in the transfer case. Off-roaders: your maintenance schedule is the severe one, and water crossings mean immediate diff fluid checks — water in gear oil turns it milky and grinds gears to glitter.
3.6L Pentastar V6 — JK (2012–2018)
| Specification | Capacity / type |
|---|---|
| Engine oil — with filter | 6.0 qt (5.7 L) |
| Oil viscosity | 5W-20 (MS-6395) |
| Oil filter | Mopar 68079744AC (cartridge, top-side) |
| Automatic, 5-speed (W5A580) — service | ≈5 qt (4.7 L) pan drop — ATF+4 |
| Manual, 6-speed (NSG370) | ≈1.6 qt (1.5 L) — ATF+4 (per manual — yes, ATF in the manual box) |
| Coolant (engine) | ≈10.5 qt (9.9 L) — Mopar OAT/HOAT per year, check your cap |
| Front differential (Dana 30/44) | ≈1.5 qt (1.4 L) — 75W-90 GL-5 (75W-140 if towing) |
| Rear differential (Dana 35/44) | ≈2.0 qt (1.9 L) — 75W-90 GL-5 |
| Transfer case (NV241) | ≈1.5 qt (1.4 L) — ATF+4 |
3.6L Pentastar V6 — JL (2018–2024)
| Specification | Capacity / type |
|---|---|
| Engine oil — with filter | 5.0 qt (4.7 L) |
| Oil viscosity | 0W-20 (MS-13340) |
| Oil filter | Mopar 68191349AC (cartridge) |
| Automatic, 8-speed (850RE) — service | ≈4.8 qt (4.5 L) pan drop — ZF 8&9 Speed ATF — NOT ATF+4 |
| Manual, 6-speed (D478) | ≈1.7 qt (1.6 L) — Mopar C635 manual fluid (verify) |
| Coolant (engine) | ≈9.2 qt (8.7 L) — Mopar OAT (purple) |
| Front differential (JL Dana) | ≈1.3 qt (1.2 L) — 75W-85 GL-5 (Rubicon: 75W-140 option) |
| Rear differential (JL Dana) | ≈2.4 qt (2.3 L) — 75W-85 GL-5 |
| Transfer case | ≈1.5 qt (1.4 L) — ATF+4 (Selec-Trac/Rock-Trac per manual) |
2.0L Turbo — JL (2018–2024, incl. 4xe hybrid)
| Specification | Capacity / type |
|---|---|
| Engine oil — with filter | 5.0 qt (4.7 L) |
| Oil viscosity | 5W-30 (MS-13340 5W-30 variant — verify cap) |
| Oil filter | Mopar 68191349AC |
| Automatic, 8-speed (850RE / 4xe 8P75PH) — service | ≈4.8 qt (4.5 L) pan drop — ZF 8&9 Speed ATF |
| Coolant (engine) | Engine loop + (4xe) separate battery/inverter loops — Mopar OAT; 4xe loops are dealer-procedure |
Oil drain plug torque: ≈25 lb-ft (34 N·m) — verify per engine
Capacities compiled from the owner’s manual. Always confirm with your own manual before servicing.
Quick reference
| Battery group size | H6 main + AGM aux (JL ESS) / H7 some builds — verify |
| Wiper blades (driver / passenger / rear) | 15" / 15" / 13" (JK) · 18" / 18" / 13" (JL — verify) |
| Common factory tire sizes | 255/75R17 · 285/70R17 (Rubicon) · 245/75R17 |
| Lug nut torque | 95 lb-ft (JK) / 130 lb-ft (JL) — generation matters! |
| Spark plugs / gap | Per engine · Pentastar gap 0.043" (verify) |
Maintenance schedule highlights
| Item | Interval |
|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | Per oil-life monitor, max 10,000 mi / 1 yr (severe off-road: 4,000) |
| Differential fluids | Every 40,000 mi — IMMEDIATELY after deep water crossings |
| Transfer case fluid | Every 60,000 mi (sooner off-road) |
| Engine air filter | 30,000 mi — inspect after every dusty trail day |
| Spark plugs | Every 100,000 mi (Pentastar) |
| Coolant | 10 yr / 150,000 mi first interval |
Exact products for this vehicle
- 5W-20 (JK) / 0W-20 (JL 3.6) / 5W-30 (2.0T) full synthetic ↗
- Mopar cartridge filter (68079744AC JK / 68191349AC JL) ↗
- Oil filter housing O-ring (comes with quality filters) ↗
- Filter cap socket (JK/JL cartridge) ↗
- Funnel + 6-qt drain pan ↗
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DIY oil change — quick steps
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1 Set up
Level ground, warm engine. Wrangler clearance makes underside access trivial. The Pentastar's cartridge filter is ON TOP of the engine — you'll change it without getting under the Jeep.
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2 Drain
Drain plug on the pan; let it finish. Check the plug washer per your engine.
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3 Top-side cartridge filter
Unscrew the housing cap (socket size varies JK/JL), lift out the element, swap the cap O-ring (included with quality filters), torque the cap modestly — ≈18 lb-ft typical, verify. No tools touch the dirty side of the Jeep.
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4 Refill, verify, reset
Fill per generation/engine from the table — JK 6.0 vs JL 5.0 quarts is the classic mistake. Settle, dipstick, leak-check. Oil-life reset: accelerator-pedal 3x ritual or cluster menu per year.
Common problems on this vehicle
Pentastar oil filter housing leak
The plastic oil filter/cooler housing weeps oil onto the engine valley — the smell of oil on hot aluminum with no puddle is this part. Aftermarket aluminum housings ended the saga for many owners. It's the Pentastar tax; budget for it once.
Death wobble
A violent front-end oscillation after hitting a bump at speed — solid-axle Jeeps' infamous party trick. It's NOT alignment: inspect the track bar and its mounts first, then ball joints, tie rods, and the steering damper (which masks, not cures). Every Wrangler owner should know this checklist.
Related code: P0300
JL steering feel / box issues
Early JLs drew complaints of wandering, loose steering; Jeep revised steering boxes and issued TSBs. If your JL needs constant correction at highway speed, check for the updated box/TSB before throwing alignments at it.
ESS auxiliary battery gremlins (JL)
The JL's stop-start system uses a hidden second battery; when it weakens, you get random warning storms and dead-feeling electronics with a 'healthy' main battery. Test BOTH batteries — the aux hides under/behind the main tray.
Codes this vehicle is known for
Repair guides for this vehicle
Recall results below are shown for 2024 models — check your exact year with the free VIN tool.
Open recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Service bulletins (TSBs)
Manufacturer communications and technical service bulletins for this vehicle are available on NHTSA’s site:
View TSBs on NHTSA.gov ↗Frequently asked questions
- How much oil does a Wrangler 3.6 take?
- JK (2012–2018): 6.0 quarts of 5W-20. JL (2018–2024): 5.0 quarts of 0W-20. Same engine family, different fill — the generation is the spec.
- What's the Wrangler lug nut torque?
- JK: 95 lb-ft. JL: 130 lb-ft. With aftermarket wheels, follow the wheel maker's spec. Recheck after 100 miles, and after every trail day.
- What fluid goes in the transfer case vs the transmission?
- Transfer case: ATF+4 (both generations, most cases). JL 8-speed transmission: ZF 8&9 fluid — NOT ATF+4. JK 5-speed automatic: ATF+4. This page exists partly to prevent that exact mix-up.
- I crossed water deeper than the hubs. Now what?
- Check both differentials promptly: pull the fill plugs and look — milky/chocolate fluid means water got in past the vents, and gears running on water-oil milkshake die fast. Off-road days earn the severe schedule.
- Why does my Jeep smell like burning oil but never drips?
- On a Pentastar, suspect the oil filter housing weeping onto the hot engine valley. It evaporates before it can drip — the smell IS the evidence. Common, known, fixable.