Use 6 quarts of 5W-20 full synthetic and a 76mm cartridge filter. Drain plug torques to 20 ft-lb on a fresh crush washer; the plastic filter cap torques to 18 ft-lb (25 Nm). Total job runs 30–60 minutes.
The 3.6L Pentastar that arrived in JKs for 2012 uses a top-mount cartridge filter — a plastic cap on top of the engine, not a spin-on canister underneath. This is the part most owners coming from the 3.8L V6 or a different platform get wrong on their first change.
**Oil spec.** Mopar calls for 5W-20 meeting MS-6395. Any quality full synthetic with an API SN or SN+ rating works — there's no advantage to running OEM-branded oil. Capacity is 6 US quarts with filter change. Overfilling past the upper mark on the dipstick can cause the crankcase pressure to push oil into the intake through the PCV system, which causes long-term carbon issues on the intake valves (Pentastars are direct-injected and already prone to this).
**Filter.** The cartridge filter sits in a plastic housing on top of the engine, behind the throttle body. Use a 76mm 14-flute cap socket — the housing cracks if you use channel locks or a strap wrench because the plastic gets brittle after heat cycles. Mopar 68191349AC is the OEM filter and includes a new O-ring. Wam-Auto and FRAM CH11665 are functional equivalents.
**Drain plug.** 13mm hex on the oil pan, passenger side. Torque is 20 ft-lb on a fresh crush washer — don't reuse the old washer; they're a dollar each and a leak means redoing the job.
| Part | Vendor | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| 5W-20 full synthetic oil (6 quarts) | Mopar / equivalent SN+ rated | ~$32 |
| Mopar oil filter (cartridge) | Mopar | ~$9 |
| Drain plug crush washer | Mopar | ~$1 |
Written and maintained by an AZ wheeler and driveway wrencher. Always cross-reference your factory service manual — modifications affect vehicle safety and warranty. Work at your own risk.