Dodge Durango 3.6L V6 Engine
Oil Change Guide
How to change the motor oil and replace
the filter in a 3rd generation 2011-2015 Durango with the Pentastar V6 engine.
By Paul B. Michaels Author & Photographer Auto Mechanic Since 1989 |
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![]() 2014 Durango 3.6L V6 |
![]() Oil Filler Cap SAE 5W-20 |
![]() Twist Off Counterclockwise |
This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the third generation (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & also
2016 in Canada) Dodge Durango SUV in changing the motor oil and
replacing the cartridge style oil filter in the Pentastar 3.6 liter V6 motor. Owners of other Chrysler, Dodge, RAM, Volkswagen, Lancia or Fiat vehicles equipped with the Pentastar 3.6L V6 engine such as the Avenger, Challenger, Durango, Grand Caravan, Journey, Grand Cherokee, 200, 300, Town & Country, Routan, Freemont, Wrangler, Voyager, Thema, 1500 and ProMaster may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The items needed to complete this procedure include a floor jack, jack stands, a 13mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench, a used oil catch container, a 24mm socket with a 1/2" drive ratcheting wrench, an automotive funnel, a new oil filter and 6 quarts (or 5.6L) of new SAE 5W-20 oil. |
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A few compatible replacement cartridge style oil filters for the 2011, 2012 & 2013 Durango 3.6L V6 models with their part numbers are as follows: Purolator L36135, Fram CH10955, Wix 57526, Bosch 3335, Hastings LF656, Pennzoil PZ-180, Mahle OX 768D, Pentius PCB10955, K&N PS-7025, ACDelco PF100G, Premium Guard PG6135EX, Ecogard X6135 and Valvoline # VO-110. The 2014, 2015 and probably also the 2016 (Canada) model years of the Durango with the revised Pentastar 3.6L V6 engine require slightly different oil filters. Their part numbers are as follows: Mopar # 68191349AA (or "MO-349"), Fram CH11665, Wix # WL10010 and K&N PS-7026, Ecogard X10040, Hastings LF697, Motorcraft FL2066 and Pentius PCBT4024.
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![]() Lift Out Yellow Dipstick |
![]() Remove Oil Filter Cover |
![]() Cartridge Oil Filter Housing |
The first several
steps are to warm up the engine by running it for a few minutes, park the
SUV on a level surface, and shut off the engine. Warming up the engine will help suspend any contaminants within the old oil and also allow it to drain out more quickly.
Then twist off the oil filler cap in the counter clockwise direction and pull up the yellow handled engine oil level dipstick an inch or two. Removing the oil filler cap and lifting up the dipstick will help prevent a vacuum from forming and allow the old oil to drain out more quickly. To access the cartridge oil filter housing on the top of the engine, you can either twist off the round black plastic access cover in the counterclockwise direction or you can just pull off the entire engine cover. Update - The service manual recommends that you loosen or remove the oil filter cap before draining the oil to allow the old oil from the oil filter cavity to drain down to the sump. If you don't loosen or remove the oil filter cap before draining the old oil, all of the old oil will not be removed from the engine. Use a 24mm socket and 1/2" drive ratcheting wrench to loosen the oil filter cap in the counterclockwise direction. |
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![]() Raise Front of SUV |
![]() Slide Under Engine Bay |
![]() Black Metal Oil Pan |
Raise the front of the vehicle with a floor jack and securely support it with the two jack stands. Slide under the engine bay and locate the black metal oil pan and the 13mm oil drain bolt. |
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![]() Used Oil Catch Basin |
![]() Loosen 13mm Oil Drain Bolt |
![]() Drain Out Old Oil |
Slide the used oil
catch container to just below the drain bolt. Loosen the drain bolt by turning it counter clockwise with the 13mm socket and 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench.
Allow the old oil to drain out for at least a few minutes or until the flow slows to just an occasional drip. If the oil drain bolt is equipped with a crush washer, inspect it and replace it if necessary. New crush washers can be purchased at your Dodge or Chrysler dealership's parts counter. Re-insert the drain bolt and spin it in a few turns by hand to prevent it from becoming cross threaded. |
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![]() Tighten Bolt Clockwise |
![]() Lower Car From Stands |
![]() Pull Off Plastic Engine Cover |
Tighten the drain
bolt by turning it clockwise with the 13mm socket and ratcheting wrench to
just past hand tight or about 20 ft lbs of torque.
Try to avoid over tightening the drain bolt to prevent from damaging the aluminum threads which could lead to an oil leak. Double check that the oil drain bolt is tight before moving on to the next steps. Remove any tools and the used oil catch basin from beneath the engine. Carefully lower the car from the jack stands by using the floor jack. |
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![]() Plastic Oil Filter Housing |
![]() Loosen Counterclockwise |
![]() Lift Out Oil Filter |
If you haven't done
so already, either twist off the round oil filter access cover or just pull
off the entire plastic engine cover to access the oil filter housing. Loosen the oil filter cap by turning it counterclockwise with the 24mm socket and 1/2" drive ratcheting wrench. Lift the cap and old oil filter out of the housing. |
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![]() Replace Rubber O-Ring |
![]() Empty Oil Filter Housing |
![]() Spin On Filter Cap |
Pry off the old
rubber o-ring gasket at the bottom of the threads on the oil filter cap by
using a small flathead screwdriver or with your finger nails. Apply a small amount of new SAE 5W-20 oil to the new rubber o-ring gasket included with your new oil filter. Lubricating the rubber o-ring will help the filter cap form a better seal, help prevent oil leaks and also make it much easier to remove the cap during the next oil change. I recommend buying either the Fram CH10955 (2011, 2012 & 2013 model years) or the Fram CH11665 (2014, 2015 & 2016 model years) oil filters since they have excellent reviews on Amazon. Pull the old filter out of the cap and push in the new cartridge filter until it clicks securely in to place. Lower the filter and cap back down in to the housing. Spin in the filter cap a few turns in the clockwise direction by hand to prevent it from becoming cross threaded. |
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![]() Tighten 24mm Clockwise |
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![]() Insert Automotive Funnel |
Tighten the filter
cap with the 24mm socket and 1/2" drive ratcheting wrench to about 1/4 to
1/3 turn past hand tight. Double check that the filter cap is tight before moving on to the next step. Insert the automotive funnel in to the oil filler hole. |
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![]() Pour In New SAE 5W-20 |
![]() Replace Oil Filler Cap |
![]() Check Dipstick Oil Level |
It is far better to
have slightly less oil than necessary in an engine than to over fill it.
Running an engine that has been over filled with oil may cause damage to
seals, gaskets or other components. So I would strongly recommend at first only pouring in about 5 to 5 1/2 quarts of new SAE 5W-20 oil. The engine's total capacity specification for an oil change with filter replacement is 6 U.S. quarts (or 5.6 liters). Temporarily replace the oil filler cap and push down the dipstick. Run the engine for at least a few minutes, turn it off, and then allow the oil to drain back down to the oil pan for at least 5 to 10 minutes. Check the oil level on the dipstick. If necessary, slowly pour in more oil while repeatedly checking the level on the dipstick until it reaches at or just below the upper hole in the metal. |
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![]() Re-Insert Oil Dipstick |
![]() Push On Plastic Engine Cover |
![]() Replace Filter Access Cover |
You may not need to
pour in all 6 quarts of the engine's total capacity depending on how long
you allowed the old oil to drain out. Replace the oil filler cap by twisting it on in the clockwise direction to just past hand tight and replace the oil level dipstick. Line up the engine cover and gently push it back in to place. Or replace the filter access cover. Be sure to record the oil change in your service records. It's also a good idea to check your driveway or garage during the next few days for drops of oil that may indicate a leak from the drain bolt or the filter housing. To reset the "change oil" notification, follow these steps: 1. Turn the ignition switch to the "On/Run" position but do not start the engine. 2. Fully press down the gas pedal slowly three times within ten seconds. 3. Turn the ignition switch to the "Off" position. If your Durango has the Keyless "Enter-N-Go"
(or "Passive Entry") system, follow these steps to reset the oil life: For more,
check out my other
Dodge Durango DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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