Picture this. You get an oil change, everything's fine, and a few weeks later there's a burnt-oil smell after a drive and a dark drip under the Jeep. You pop the hood and there's oil sitting in the middle of the engine, in the valley between the two banks of cylinders. On a Pentastar, that is a big, flashing clue.
What the oil filter housing does
On the Pentastar, the oil filter, the oil cooler and a couple of sensors all live in one housing bolted to the top of the engine block, under the intake manifold. It's molded plastic. Heat cycles over years and miles can make plastic brittle, warp it, and crack it. And because it also carries coolant to the oil cooler, a failing housing can leak oil, coolant or both.
What FCA's own bulletins say
| Bulletin | What it covers |
|---|---|
| 09-003-13 (2013) | For 2014 models, FCA changed the oil filter adapter (housing) and the oil filter. The 2011-2013 and 2014-and-newer designs are not interchangeable, and the wrong filter can cause permanent engine damage. Use only the O-ring that comes in the filter box |
| GPOP 9003357 (2021) | For 2012-2021 Pentastar engines leaking at the filter cap O-ring or between the housing and the block: check the cap O-ring is seated in the right groove, check the five housing bolts are torqued to 12 Nm, and replace the O-rings and gaskets with a kit. On 2014 models, replace the housing itself |
How to tell it's the filter housing
- Oil pooling in the engine valley, under or around the intake, especially toward the back of the engine.
- A burning-oil smell after driving as oil hits hot exhaust parts.
- Coolant level slowly dropping with no obvious outside leak, or oil and coolant traces in the same area.
- The leak started right after an oil change. Check that filter cap O-ring first.
Fix options and costs
| Fix | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reseat or replace the filter cap O-ring | A few dollars plus an oil change | Only if the leak is at the cap |
| Housing O-ring and gasket kit (FCA's bulletin repair) | Kit plus about the same labor as a housing swap | Intake has to come off to reach it |
| Aftermarket aluminum housing, such as Dorman 926-959 | About $315 for the part | Labor guide shows about 2.2 hours |
| Valve cover gasket (a different leak source) | $415-$546 on a 2012-2015 Grand Cherokee (RepairPal) | Rule this out too |
Labor is where this gets real. To reach the housing, the shop removes the engine cover, air intake and the upper and lower intake manifold, swaps the housing and transfers the sensors and cooler, then puts it all back with new gaskets. Multiply about 2.2 hours by your local shop's labor rate to sanity-check any quote.
Don't ignore it
A small seep turns into a big leak, and this housing also handles coolant. Low oil or low coolant on a V6 that runs hot can lead to overheating and serious engine damage. If you see the oil level dropping between changes, or the temperature gauge acting up, get it in now.
What to ask the shop
- "Is the leak at the cap O-ring, the housing-to-block seal, or a cracked housing?"
- "Are you replacing just the seals, or the whole housing? Plastic or aluminum?"
- "Does the quote include new intake gaskets, coolant and an oil change?"
- "Is the part correct for my model year?" (2011-2013 vs 2014 and newer matters.)
- "Did you check the valve cover gaskets and rear of the engine too?"
Is it worth fixing?
Yes. This is a known, fixable leak, and the repair is well understood by Jeep dealers and independent shops alike. A few hundred dollars in parts plus a couple hours of labor is cheap insurance against an engine starved of oil or coolant. Go aluminum if your mechanic recommends it and the part fits your year.
Having stalling or no-start issues too? See our Grand Cherokee TIPM and alternator recall guide. Prices checked October 14, 2026.
