The John Deere 6120M takes 16.9 quarts / 16 litres of engine oil with the filter.
John Deere 6120M Oil Capacity and Type
Engine Oil Capacity
16.9 qt / 16 L with filter
Recommended Oil Name
John Deere Plus-50 II
Recommended Oil Type
15W-40 diesel engine oil
Cold Weather Oil
10W-30 or 5W-40 diesel engine oil
Oil Specification
Diesel-rated low-ash oil suitable for emissions-equipped engines
Engine
John Deere PowerTech EWL 4.5L diesel
Cylinders
4-cylinder turbocharged diesel
Engine Power
120 HP / 88 kW
Rated PTO Power
94 HP / 69 kW
Oil Change Interval
500 hours with Plus-50 II oil and John Deere filter; 250 hours if conditions are not met
How Much Oil Does a John Deere 6120M Take?
The John Deere 6120M takes 16.9 quarts / 16 litres of engine oil when the oil filter is replaced.
Use John Deere Plus-50 II 15W-40 for normal service. For colder operating conditions, use a suitable 10W-30 or 5W-40 diesel engine oil.
The 500-hour oil interval only applies when using John Deere Plus-50 II oil, a John Deere oil filter, and ultra-low-sulfur diesel. Otherwise, change the oil and filter every 250 hours.
Quick Specs Overview
16.9 qtEngine Oil
15W-40Oil Type
500 hrsMax Interval
120 HPEngine Power
Best Oil to Use
John Deere Plus-50 II 15W-40 engine oil
Diesel-rated low-ash engine oil for emissions-equipped engines
10W-30 diesel oil for cooler climates
5W-40 synthetic diesel oil for cold starts and harsh conditions
Replace the engine oil filter at every oil change
Oil Capacity Comparison
6120M
16.9 qt
6110M
16.9 qt
5100M
13.7 qt
5065E
9 qt
Oil Change Intervals
Engine Oil
500 hours with Plus-50 II oil and John Deere filter
Shorter Interval
250 hours if extended-interval conditions are not met
Oil Filter
Replace with every engine oil change
Primary Fuel Filter
Every 500 hours
Final Fuel Filter
Every 500 hours
Primary Air Filter
Service as required; replace by manual interval or condition
Other John Deere 6120M Fluid Capacities
Engine Oil
16 L / 4.2 gal / 16.9 qt
Fuel Tank
195 L / 51.5 gal on many FT4 models; later versions may use 175 L / 46.2 gal or 205 L / 54.2 gal tanks
DEF Tank
13 L / 3.4 gal on many FT4 models; later versions may use 19 L / 5.0 gal
Cooling System
22 L / 5.8 gal on many FT4 models
Transmission / Hydraulics
52 L / 13.7 gal
Extra With Creeper
1 L / 0.3 gal
Front PTO Oil
2.6 L / 0.69 gal, if equipped
John Deere 6120M Engine Specs
Engine
John Deere PowerTech EWL
Displacement
275 cu in / 4.5 L
Cylinders
4-cylinder
Aspiration
Single turbocharger with wastegate
Rated Engine Power
120 HP / 88 kW
Rated Power With IPM
140 HP / 103 kW
Maximum Engine Power
133 HP / 98 kW
Maximum Power With IPM
144 HP / 106 kW
Rated PTO Power
94 HP / 69 kW
Maximum PTO Power With IPM
118 HP / 87 kW
Rated RPM
2100 rpm
Hydraulic Specs
Standard Pump Flow
80 L/min / 21 gpm
Optional Pump Flow
114 L/min / 30 gpm
Hydraulic System Type
Open-center or pressure-flow compensated, depending on configuration
Common Mistakes
Using non-diesel oil in an emissions-equipped tractor
Assuming the 500-hour interval applies with any oil or filter
Skipping the oil filter replacement
Confusing engine oil capacity with transmission / hydraulic capacity
Assuming every 6120M has the same fuel and DEF tank size across all model years
Summary
The John Deere 6120M takes 16.9 quarts / 16 litres of engine oil with the filter. The best oil choice is John Deere Plus-50 II 15W-40. Use the 500-hour oil interval only when running Plus-50 II oil, a John Deere filter, and ultra-low-sulfur diesel; otherwise use a 250-hour interval.
