CarbonSteel
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
In the biggest load of bovine scatology department from a dealer service writer @ Castle Rock Jeep:
We have a 2021 Grand Cherokee L (the L is important) with a 3.6L engine. The owner’s manual clearly specifies 5.0 quarts of oil for an oil change versus the Grand Cherokee (with no L) that specifies 6.0 quarts of oil. We have the Jeep Wave program which gives 3 free oil changes which I did not use on my Jeep Wrangler, but since the GCL is a lease vehicle, I opted to allow the dealer to change the oil.
The first time I had the oil changed, they filled it with 6 quarts. I dumped it, installed 5 quarts, and moved on (I have dozens of quarts of clearance oil that cost me $1.00 each). I had it done again yesterday and again they filled it with 6 quarts. This time I took it back to have the proper oil level adjusted and point out the invoice shows 6 quarts. The service writer proceeds to tell me that I really don’t know what I am talking about because the engine actually requires 5.1 quarts of oil and they cannot do an order for 0.1 quarts so it will always show 6.0 quarts on the invoice.
I then showed him a photo of the dipstick (engine cold) that shows the oil nearly 1” above the full mark. He ignores it and checks the oil (engine hot from drive to dealer 35 miles away) and it shows the oil at the full mark. He points to it and says that it is filled properly, and you cannot check the engine oil cold, it must be at operating temperature. He agrees to take it into the back and check it and comes back a short time later and says it is properly filled.
He proceeds to give me a Star Publication that describes the oil check procedure which to his credit states that the engine must be at 195°F and if the oil is between the mid-point and up to 7mm above the full mark, it is filled properly.
The problem? The Star Publication (S2109000008 – Oil Check Procedure) is for a Grand Cherokee (no L) without an engine size listed (it could be for the 3.6L or the 5.7L). In addition, when I dumped it the first time and only added 5 quarts, the oil level was exactly on the full mark when cold and not 1” above the full line.
It is little wonder that dealer service departments continue to incorrectly fill these engines, but on the other hand, they should be better educated than the owners. After all, they sell these vehicles and should be fully schooled in how to service them. My guess is that it is just easier to set the oil change machine to 6 quarts and use that setting for all vehicles with 3.6L engines.
It will cause you to question what and who to believe--the owners manual and the dipstick OR the Star Publication and the other dipstick
Oil level cold:
Star Document:
2021 Grand Cherokee L Oil Capacity:
2021 Grand Cherokee Oil Capacity:
We have a 2021 Grand Cherokee L (the L is important) with a 3.6L engine. The owner’s manual clearly specifies 5.0 quarts of oil for an oil change versus the Grand Cherokee (with no L) that specifies 6.0 quarts of oil. We have the Jeep Wave program which gives 3 free oil changes which I did not use on my Jeep Wrangler, but since the GCL is a lease vehicle, I opted to allow the dealer to change the oil.
The first time I had the oil changed, they filled it with 6 quarts. I dumped it, installed 5 quarts, and moved on (I have dozens of quarts of clearance oil that cost me $1.00 each). I had it done again yesterday and again they filled it with 6 quarts. This time I took it back to have the proper oil level adjusted and point out the invoice shows 6 quarts. The service writer proceeds to tell me that I really don’t know what I am talking about because the engine actually requires 5.1 quarts of oil and they cannot do an order for 0.1 quarts so it will always show 6.0 quarts on the invoice.
I then showed him a photo of the dipstick (engine cold) that shows the oil nearly 1” above the full mark. He ignores it and checks the oil (engine hot from drive to dealer 35 miles away) and it shows the oil at the full mark. He points to it and says that it is filled properly, and you cannot check the engine oil cold, it must be at operating temperature. He agrees to take it into the back and check it and comes back a short time later and says it is properly filled.
He proceeds to give me a Star Publication that describes the oil check procedure which to his credit states that the engine must be at 195°F and if the oil is between the mid-point and up to 7mm above the full mark, it is filled properly.
The problem? The Star Publication (S2109000008 – Oil Check Procedure) is for a Grand Cherokee (no L) without an engine size listed (it could be for the 3.6L or the 5.7L). In addition, when I dumped it the first time and only added 5 quarts, the oil level was exactly on the full mark when cold and not 1” above the full line.
It is little wonder that dealer service departments continue to incorrectly fill these engines, but on the other hand, they should be better educated than the owners. After all, they sell these vehicles and should be fully schooled in how to service them. My guess is that it is just easier to set the oil change machine to 6 quarts and use that setting for all vehicles with 3.6L engines.
It will cause you to question what and who to believe--the owners manual and the dipstick OR the Star Publication and the other dipstick
Oil level cold:
Star Document:
2021 Grand Cherokee L Oil Capacity:
2021 Grand Cherokee Oil Capacity:
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