Is the Jeep Cherokee the same as the Grand Cherokee?

No — they're completely different vehicles that share a name. The Cherokee (KL, this page) is the smaller crossover with transverse engines and the 9-speed; the Grand Cherokee is the larger SUV with the 8-speed. None of the specs interchange — even lug torque differs (100 lb-ft here, 130 on the Grand Cherokee). We keep a separate Grand Cherokee fluids guide with its own verified numbers.

How much oil does a Jeep Cherokee 2.4 take?

5.5 quarts (5.2 L) of 0W-20 with a filter change, per the manuals — the spec never changed across 2016–2023. The 3.2L V6 takes 6.0 quarts of 5W-20, and the 2.0L turbo takes 5.0 quarts of full-synthetic 5W-30 (MS-13340).

What transmission fluid does the Cherokee's 9-speed take?

Mopar ZF 8&9 Speed ATF — every owner's manual we checked (2016, 2019, 2021) names it as the only approved fluid. Yes, the same fluid covers ZF's 8- and 9-speed boxes; that's what the name means. Never ATF+4. There's no dipstick — the level is set by a temperature-based procedure.

Does the 2.4 Tigershark really burn oil?

Enough that FCA settled a class action over it (Wood v. FCA US, settled 2022) with extended engine warranty coverage for 2014–2019 Cherokees built before July 2018. Not every engine does it, but check your level routinely — it can consume oil without leaking or smoking, and running low is what kills them.

Does the 2.0L turbo need premium gas?

It runs on 87, but the 2019 manual recommends 91 for full performance. The 2.4L and 3.2L are plain 87-octane engines.

What's the lug nut torque?

100 lb-ft (135 N·m) — M12×1.25 lugs, 19 mm socket, star pattern, and the manual says recheck after 25 miles. Don't carry over the Grand Cherokee's 130 lb-ft.

2016–2023 Jeep Cherokee Oil Capacity & Fluid Specs

Quick answer

The Jeep Cherokee KL 2.4L takes 5.5 quarts of 0W-20 with a filter change; the 3.2L V6 takes 6.0 quarts of 5W-20 (all years — it never switched to 0W-20); the 2.0L turbo (2019+) takes 5.0 quarts of 5W-30. The ZF 948TE 9-speed takes Mopar ZF 8&9 Speed ATF — never ATF+4. Lug torque is 100 lb-ft.

Specs verified against Jeep's own 2016, 2019 and 2021 Cherokee (KL) owner's manuals — one generation, so the numbers barely move. The traps the manuals settle: the 3.2L Pentastar stays at 5W-20 for its entire run (no 2019 switch to 0W-20 like its 3.6L siblings), the 2.0L turbo demands a full-synthetic 5W-30 to FCA spec MS-13340, and the famous ZF 948TE 9-speed uses the same Mopar ZF 8&9 Speed fluid as the 8-speed trucks — the name covers both boxes. One more: lug torque here is 100 lb-ft, not the Grand Cherokee's 130 — this page is the smaller Cherokee (KL), a completely different vehicle.

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2.4L Tigershark MultiAir I4

Specification	Capacity / type
Engine oil — with filter	5.5 qt (5.2 L)
Oil viscosity	0W-20 (MS-6395) — same spec all years per the manuals
Oil filter	Mopar 68102241AA (cartridge) — verify
Automatic, 9-speed (ZF 948TE) — service	Drain-and-fill ≈4 qt; level is set by temperature procedure, no dipstick — verify — Mopar ZF 8&9 Speed ATF — yes, the same fluid family as the 8-speed; NOT ATF+4
Coolant (engine)	7.2 qt (6.8 L) — Mopar OAT 10-yr/150k (MS.90032)
PTU — power transfer unit (4x4)	Under 1 qt — dealer/FSM procedure; verify — 75W-90 synthetic gear oil (FSM spec — the owner's manual lists no DIY service)
RDM — rear drive module (4x4)	Under 1 qt — dealer/FSM procedure; verify — 75W-90 synthetic gear oil (FSM spec — not in the owner's manual)

3.2L Pentastar V6

Specification	Capacity / type
Engine oil — with filter	6.0 qt (5.6 L)
Oil viscosity	5W-20 (MS-6395) — ALL years; the 3.2L never switched to 0W-20
Oil filter	Mopar 68191349AC (cartridge, top-side — shared with the 3.6L)
Automatic, 9-speed (ZF 948TE) — service	Drain-and-fill ≈4 qt; temperature-based level procedure — verify — Mopar ZF 8&9 Speed ATF — NOT ATF+4
Coolant (engine)	10 qt (9.5 L) — Mopar OAT 10-yr/150k (MS.90032)

2.0L Turbo I4 (2019+)

Specification	Capacity / type
Engine oil — with filter	5.0 qt (4.7 L)
Oil viscosity	5W-30 full synthetic (MS-13340; API SN PLUS, later SP/GF-6) — a turbo-specific spec, don't let anyone substitute 0W-20
Automatic, 9-speed (ZF 948TE) — service	Drain-and-fill ≈4 qt; temperature-based level procedure — verify — Mopar ZF 8&9 Speed ATF — NOT ATF+4
Coolant (engine)	9 qt (8.6 L) — Mopar OAT 10-yr/150k (MS.90032)

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

Lug nut torque	100 lb-ft (135 N·m) — M12×1.25, 19 mm socket; recheck after 25 mi
Fuel tank	15.8 gal (60 L) — all engines
Fuel octane	87 regular (2.4L/3.2L) · 2.0T: 87 OK, 91 recommended per the 2019 manual
Brake fluid	DOT 3 (DOT 4 acceptable if DOT 3 unavailable)
Common factory tire sizes	225/65R17 · 225/55R18 · 245/65R17 (Trailhawk) — verify your door jamb

Maintenance schedule highlights

Item	Interval
Engine oil & filter	Per oil-life indicator, max 10,000 mi / 1 yr (severe duty: 4,000 mi)
Tire rotation	Every oil change — 4x4s need matched tires or the PTU suffers
Engine air filter	Every 30,000 mi
Cabin air filter	Every 20,000–30,000 mi
Spark plugs	100,000 mi (mileage-based, not time)
Coolant	10 yr / 150,000 mi (OAT — never mix with HOAT)
9-speed (948TE) fluid	'Lifetime' per FCA — given this transmission's history, a ~60,000-mi service is cheap insurance
PTU & RDM fluid (4x4)	Not in the owner's schedule — inspect for leaks every oil change; a 30,000–60,000-mi fluid service is wise

Exact products for this vehicle

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DIY oil change — quick steps

1 Set up

Level ground, warm engine, jack stands if you go under. The 2.4L and 3.2L both put the cartridge filter up top, so most of this job happens from above.
2 Drain

Pull the drain plug and let it finish — on a 2.4L Tigershark, an accurate refill matters more than usual because you'll be watching this dipstick for a living (see the oil-consumption note below).
3 Filter and refill

Swap the cartridge element and O-ring, snug the cap (modest torque — it's plastic-adjacent). Refill per YOUR engine: 5.5 qt (2.4L) / 6.0 qt (3.2L) / 5.0 qt (2.0T), then verify on the dipstick.
4 Verify and reset

Run it, check for seepage at the filter cap, let it settle, recheck the level. Reset the oil-life indicator through the cluster menu (or the ignition-on, accelerator-3x ritual on early clusters).

Common problems on this vehicle

9-speed shift quality (the KL's famous drama)

The ZF 948TE launched rough — harsh low-gear shifts, clunky 4-5 upshifts, hunting. FCA's answer was software: repeated TCM/PCM updates, a 'Quick Learn' relearn procedure (TSB 21-013-16), and harsh-shift TSBs into 2017 (18-018-17, 21-008-17). The 2014–2015 trucks were also recalled (S55 / NHTSA 16V-529) for harness crimps that could drop the box into neutral. Later years are genuinely better. Before paying for diagnosis: confirm the latest software is on it, and run a quick-learn after any battery change or transmission repair.

Related code: P0700

PTU failures on 4x4 models

The power transfer unit is the KL's known weak point — input-spline wear or internal failure that announces itself with a 'Service 4WD' message, a whine, or gear oil leaking at the unit, and can end in loss of drive or a vehicle that rolls in Park. It's been recalled twice: 20V-343 plus expansion 45A (2014–2017, software remedy) and 40D / NHTSA 25V-011 (2019–2023, ~61,700 vehicles — remedy still in development as of mid-2026). Run your VIN at NHTSA, take any 4WD warning seriously, and consider fluid service even though the manual calls it sealed.

2.4L Tigershark oil consumption

The 2.4L's appetite for oil is documented in federal court: the Wood v. FCA US class action (E.D. Mich., No. 5:20-cv-11054) settled in 2022 with extended engine warranty coverage for 2014–2019 Cherokees built before July 2018, after owners alleged consumption high enough to cause stalling. The engine can burn oil with no leak and no smoke, and the low-oil warning may come late. Check the dipstick at every other fill-up, and if it's drinking, get a documented dealer oil-consumption test on record while coverage applies.

Pentastar oil-filter housing seep (3.2L)

Same plastic filter/cooler housing family as the 3.6L: it seeps onto the engine valley — burning-oil smell with no drip on the floor. Reseal or, better, fit an aluminum replacement housing for the permanent fix.

Codes this vehicle is known for

Recall results below are shown for 2023 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

Is the Jeep Cherokee the same as the Grand Cherokee?: No — they're completely different vehicles that share a name. The Cherokee (KL, this page) is the smaller crossover with transverse engines and the 9-speed; the Grand Cherokee is the larger SUV with the 8-speed. None of the specs interchange — even lug torque differs (100 lb-ft here, 130 on the Grand Cherokee). We keep a separate Grand Cherokee fluids guide with its own verified numbers.
How much oil does a Jeep Cherokee 2.4 take?: 5.5 quarts (5.2 L) of 0W-20 with a filter change, per the manuals — the spec never changed across 2016–2023. The 3.2L V6 takes 6.0 quarts of 5W-20, and the 2.0L turbo takes 5.0 quarts of full-synthetic 5W-30 (MS-13340).
What transmission fluid does the Cherokee's 9-speed take?: Mopar ZF 8&9 Speed ATF — every owner's manual we checked (2016, 2019, 2021) names it as the only approved fluid. Yes, the same fluid covers ZF's 8- and 9-speed boxes; that's what the name means. Never ATF+4. There's no dipstick — the level is set by a temperature-based procedure.
Does the 2.4 Tigershark really burn oil?: Enough that FCA settled a class action over it (Wood v. FCA US, settled 2022) with extended engine warranty coverage for 2014–2019 Cherokees built before July 2018. Not every engine does it, but check your level routinely — it can consume oil without leaking or smoking, and running low is what kills them.
Does the 2.0L turbo need premium gas?: It runs on 87, but the 2019 manual recommends 91 for full performance. The 2.4L and 3.2L are plain 87-octane engines.
What's the lug nut torque?: 100 lb-ft (135 N·m) — M12×1.25 lugs, 19 mm socket, star pattern, and the manual says recheck after 25 miles. Don't carry over the Grand Cherokee's 130 lb-ft.