Keeping good tabs on your Jeep’s preventive maintenance is essential to long term reliability. Which means you need to be keeping up on your oil changes, especially if you are regularly taking your Jeep wheeling. The nice thing about the Jeep Wrangler is that changing the oil can be a 10 minute job, and requires minimal tools to accomplish the task. So if you are ready to tackle the job follow along our easy step by step process.
How To Change The Oil On A 2012 Jeep Wrangler
While these instructions are specific to a 2012 Jeep Wrangler, the overall process is essentially the same for all models that include the 3.6 pentastar motor, and incredible similar for models with the 3.8 liter engine.
Tools For The Job
You are going to need a few tools to get the job done.
1. Ratchet with 13mm and 24mm socket
2. Oil Drain Pan
3. Gloves
4. Flat-head screw driver
5. Towel.
Step 1: Remove The Plastic Engine Cap
The Jeep Wrangler engine is topped with a removable plastic engine cap that covers the top of your motor. It is not bolted down so all you have to do is grab the front with both hands and pull up. The cap will come off exposing the top of your motor including the oil filter, and the oil filler cap, both of which you will need access to for getting the job done.
Step 2: Drain The Old Oil
Place your oil catch pan underneath your Jeep so you can catch all of the old oil. Using your ratchet with a 13mm socket loosen your drain bolt and then by hand take it the rest of the way out. Gravity will push the oil out quickly so be ready to quickly move your hand and drain bolt out of the way. It will take a few minutes for the oil to fully drain so while you wait you can move on to the next step.
Step 3: Replace Your Oil Filter
While the oil is draining out of your Jeep you can go ahead and replace your oil filter. Move back to the top of your engine bay and using a ratchet with a 24mm socket loosen the oil filter and remove the filter by hand. It’s a good idea to have a rag with you in case a little bit of oil drips off of the filter. Once you have pulled the filter out you can detach it from the cap by gently pulling it lose.
At the top of the cap is an o-ring that needs to be removed. Your new oil filter will come with a replacement ring. Using a flat head-screw driver you can pry the old o-ring loose so you can roll it off. Then simply roll the new replacement o-ring back in to place. Then using a clean finger dip your finger into some new oil and rub around the new o-ring and plastic threads on the cap. Then gently push the new filter into the cap locking it into place. Now you are ready to put the new filter back into your motor. Snugly tighten the cap back into place.
Step 4: Tighten Your Drain Plug
Now jump back under your Jeep and put the oil drain plug back in. Refer to your owners manual for torque requirements. For the 2012 model it is 25 ft-lbs. Then using a clean towel wipe up the bottom of your oil pan to clean up any oil just sitting there to prevent build up of dirt and gunk.
Step 5: Add Oil
Now it’s time to fill your motor back up with oil. The oil filler cap is on the drivers hand side of the motor and easily unscrews. Using a funnel start adding your oil. Mopar recommends 6 quarts for the pentastar motor. Refer to your owners manual for the weight (viscosity) of oil you should be using. We like to add 5 quarters and then start the motor for a second to let the oil circulate. Then turn off the engine check your fluid level and add the last quart to top it off.
Once finished be sure to clean off all of your tools and put them away. We also like to take a minute while the hood is up spend a few minutes with a flash light looking things over to make sure everything is in order, no leaks, loose bolts or other problem areas. Last but not least record your mileage and set a reminder for when you need to change your oil next. We recommend the Fuelly app which is great for monitoring fuel mileage and maintaining maintenance records. We Have a step you always include when you change the oil on your Jeep? Tell us about it in the comments! If you have not already take a minute to subscribe to our YouTube channel!
If following step by step