What oil goes into your Jeep each time it needs a refresher? Although it might seem strange to think about a specific brand and weight for your vehicle, the different engines found in each model require unique products.
Several issues require consideration when looking for the best oil to use for a Jeep 4L, 3.8L, 3.6L, and other choices. You must look at the quality, its age, and other specifications that could make it usable or something to avoid.
If you’re wondering what to feed your Jeep, this guide can take you through the various choices to ensure the correct one gets purchased.
Best Oil for Jeep 4.0 / 3.8 / 3.6 and More
Jeep engines prefer all-season motor oil for almost every type. That includes the 4.2L, 4.0L, 3.8L, 3.6L, 2.5L, and 2.4L designs. If you have a 4L engine or above, you’ll need six quarts of your preferred product. If you have a 2.5L or 2.4L Jeep engine, you’ll need four quarts for a complete change.
When you shop for motor oil, you’ll find several different types are available to use in Jeep engines. The primary function of this product is to lubricate the moving parts by reducing friction, providing cleaning, and offering cooling benefits.
The best motor oil products can prevent corrosion when you have the right amount added to the engine.
Many of today’s motor oils have detergents, additives, dispersants, and chemicals added to enhance their performance. Polymers are a popular choice to ensure the correct viscosity as temperatures change.
A thinner oil for a Jeep engine is meant for colder temperatures, while thicker products are better for warmer weather.
What Are the Different Motor Oil Types to Use?
Today’s motor oil products can be separated into four categories.
| Synthetic Oil: | • This oil comes from a chemical engineering process that creates a better overall performance. • It has more purity than conventional products, with improved handling at low- and high-temperature extremes. |
| Synthetic Blend Oil: | • Most drivers use this oil type in their Jeep engines because it offers additional protection while carrying a heavy load. • It mixes organic and synthetic components to protect the metals from oxidation. • It can even deliver better gas mileage while delivering a consistent performance in cold temperatures. |
| High Mileage Oil: | • New Jeep owners would consider this option. • It uses unique additives that minimize burn-off problems and leaking to keep the number of oil changes down. |
| Conventional Oil: | • Drivers can purchase the traditional motor oil with several different quality levels and viscosity grades. • This option might be right for you if you have a conservative driving style or an older Jeep engine to manage. |
When you look at the prices for the best oil for Jeeps, the high mileage products tend to cost the most.
If you want the best combination of performance and value, the synthetic blend is an excellent choice. It costs less than a true synthetic while offering more benefits than the conventional product.
It is essential to remember that the oil motor oil recommended by the Jeep brand for North American drivers is Pennzoil®. The oil type, weight, and viscosity recommendations for your specific engine are found in the owner’s manual for your vehicle.
◼️ What Is the Job of a Synthetic Oil?
Full synthetic oils allow a Jeep engine to reach its optimal performance. It relates to what everyone wants to see when they get behind the wheel for a long drive or an off-roading experience.
When you choose Pennzoil for your Jeep, you’ll find four different choices available to consider.
- Pennzoil Ultra Platinum motor oil.
- Pennzoil Platinum motor oil.
- Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage Full Synthetic motor oil.
- Pennzoil Platinum Euro motor oil.
You’ll need to review the container size for the oil you prefer for your Jeep. If you have a 4L or bigger engine, it requires six quarts. Most of the packs that you’ll find online are sold as 1.25-gallon containers, which equates to 5 quarts.
You’ll need to purchase an extra quart or a second container to ensure you have enough to fill the engine.
When you have a smaller engine to manage with your Jeep, you cannot use the entire container because it will add an extra quart to it. Your 3.8L and smaller engines typically call for a 4-quart infusion instead.
If you invest in a full synthetic from Pennzoil, you’re receiving one of the highest performing products for sale right now. The brand made a switch to natural gas tech to create a purer synthetic product.
Every bottle comes with the company’s PurePlus® technology. This process converts natural gas into a high-quality base oil with fewer impurities than crude or traditional products.
What Are the Weight and Viscosity Options for Jeep Motor Oil?
You’ll often see multigrade oils offered today because they are thin enough to perform at low temperatures and thick enough to handle a warm climate. Before selecting which weight and viscosity your Jeep needs, refer to the owner’s manual to ensure the product is compatible with its build.
When you look at today’s motor oil products, you’ll see that it has a couple of numbers on the container. This information indicates the viscosity and weight of the product.
You might see an oil described as “5W-30.” That information tells you what the product’s viscosity is at low temperatures.
Lower numbers before the “W” on an oil product let you know that it is thinner and can handle cold starts more efficiently.
The other number lets you know how thick the motor oil is when the engine operates at normal temperatures.
Just because you live in a cold climate with your Jeep doesn’t mean that you can run 0W oil in the engine. If you live somewhere warmer, a 15W product may not be compatible with your vehicle.
Most Jeep owner’s manuals say that the best oil weight and viscosity to use for the engine is 10W-30, 5W-30, 5W-20, or 0W-20.
The biggest question for most Jeep owners involves the differences between 5W-20 and 5W-30 oil. Although they are both listed as 5-weight products, the viscosity differences are enough to impact the engine’s performance.
When you use a thicker motor oil in the engine than the one recommended, you’ll experience a higher load and decreases in the overall fuel economy. It can even lead to a shorter life or increased maintenance costs.
If you use a 5W-20 oil when 5W-30 is required, the thinner product can lead to excessive wear and tear throughout the engine.
That’s why you’ll want to review your documentation to see what is recommended. If you’re unsure, speak with a local dealership about your Jeep. They’ll let you know what the current best practices are for this maintenance need.
What Oil Products Can I Use Instead of Pennzoil?
Jeep recommends that you use Pennzoil for North American driving. If you live in Europe or South America, other synthetic oils are worth considering.
You can also choose another synthetic oil brand with the appropriate weight and viscosity if Pennzoil is unavailable when your Jeep requires service.
Here are the different options you can consider when you’re ready to feed your Jeep with something new.
| Castrol 03128C Edge High-Mileage 5W-30 Oil | • It maximizes the long-term engine performance for Jeeps with a high-mileage engine. • The product uses “titanium technology” to increase oil film strength. • It maintains lubrication well without significant breakdowns during tough driving conditions. |
| Shell Rotella T5 Blend Motor Oil | • Useful for Jeep owners who happen to have a diesel engine in their vehicle. • The triple protection qualities of the motor oil protect against carbon deposits and premature wear. • Increases the fuel economy of the Jeep by up to 2%. |
| AmazonBasics Full Motor Oil | • Formulated for drivers who require longer intervals before servicing. • Offers additives that prevent corrosion and rust from developing within the engine. • Comes in several weight and viscosity choices to ensure you’re using the correct product in your Jeep. |
| Mobil 1 Advanced Motor Oil | • You can purchase this product with a 5W-50 for Jeeps with this extreme need. • It delivers outstanding wear protection from the first moment. • Drivers will experience fewer harmful deposits and sludge within the engine compartment. |
| Castrol 03129C Edge High-Mileage 10W-30 Motor Oil | • It uses extra additives to increase oil film strength to reduce potential friction problems. • Maximizes the short-term potential of a high-mileage Jeep engine. • Excels in extending the lifespan of vehicles with more than 75,000 miles. |
| Motorcraft Full Synthetic Motor Oil | • Formulated for racing and off-road use, earning the recommendation from the Ford Motor Company as their product of choice. • It is compatible with other synthetic or conventional formulations. • The oil comes with several viscosity ratings to ensure each drive gets the outcome they need. |
| Castrol GTX Magnatec Synthetic Motor Oil | • Formulated to reduce engine wear dramatically while leaving critical engine parts up to four times smoother. • Delivers instant protection from the moment the engine starts after servicing. • Protects during the warmup phase of the startup, delivering “intelligent molecules” that prevent most problems. |
When you purchase synthetic or conventional motor oil online, you will want to check the container’s seals before using the product. The shipping process can sometimes cause them to break, which could compromise their integrity.
If you experience this issue, contact the online store where you purchase the item to discuss a refund or return.
◼️ Information About Modern Motor Oil: How Is It Made?
Jeep engine oil is typically derived from crude. This product comes from wells drilled into underground or undersea reservoirs.
Researchers and geologists use seismic surveys to locate the crude oil. When it is commercially viable to extract it, the removal process begins. After collection, the product gets transported by tankers or pipelines to reach a refinery.
The refinery workers remove the waste products from the crude oil. It’s a sedimentation process that separates the water while expelling the impurities.
Once all the foreign materials are gone, the refinery heats the remaining product to almost 700°F before getting sent to fractionating towers. About 80% of the product vaporizes during the cooling process.
After the base oil gets refined from the crude, the different additives get blended to make the final product. You can find brands adding everything from a rust inhibitor to a friction modifier to produce specific results for Jeep engines.
Once the oil is prepped, several quality control tests start. This part of the process ensures that the flash points, color, and advertised viscosity are met. Once completed, the oil gets package and distributed to retailers for use.
A Final Thought on Motor Oil for Jeep Engines
I always use 5W-20 full synthetic for my Jeep because that is the recommendation in the owner’s manual. If you have something different in your documentation, follow that choice instead.
Although it might not be the end of the world to use the wrong weight or viscosity, you will notice changes to how the vehicle drives. I’ve found that thicker oils tend to make my Jeep a bit sluggish. When it is less responsive, it isn’t as easy to navigate the off-road trails we like to explore as a family.
If you end up getting the wrong oil, I’d recommend an immediate change. Let the service personnel know your situation if you have the work professionally done to ensure that your Jeep gets what it needs.
It is possible to use a thicker oil to prevent small leaks. You might also have a higher viscosity create significant problems that make it harder to get work done on y9our vehicle.
You can use other products than Pennzoil, but I’ve always found that brand delivers the most consistent results.
Some manufacturers recommend only one motor oil grade. Unless Jeep gives a range based on your climate, it is always better to stick with the recommendation.