Changing the oil is easy. Just make sure you use a quality synthetic for your 1.8T to help prevent sludging. I like Mobil 1 0w40 and the analysis done on this oil in this engine show excellent results. Some people, including myself, choose to run an over-sized filter affectionately referred to as "The Big Kahuna" to put more oil in circulation. Also, some people, including myself, also use an oil extractor instead of the normal drain pan. I have a Pela 6000 and it works well.

http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156842

And welcome... here is a good place to find some nifty information.
http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=171629

 

Yes, you should change your own oil so that you know you have correct oil and filter in/for your engine. Make sure to use VW approved 502 00/505 00 synthetic oil such as Castrol Syntec 5W-40 for your 1.8T. Depends on your engine you may need to get a whole drain plug or you may just need a crush washer from the VW dealer. You can get VW oil filter from dealer too so that you know you have a correct filter. You do need to take the belly pan down to drain the oil otherwise you may accidentally drain the ATF which has been happened many times before.

 

Yes, you should change your own oil so that you know you have correct oil and filter in/for your engine. Make sure to use VW approved 502 00/505 00 synthetic oil such as Castrol Syntec 5W-40 for your 1.8T. Depends on your engine you may need to get a whole drain plug or you may just need a crush washer from the VW dealer. You can get VW oil filter from dealer too so that you know you have a correct filter. You do need to take the belly pan down to drain the oil otherwise you may accidentally drain the ATF which has been happened many times before.

Yeah... Umm.. lol:banghead:

 

$100? I'd almost certainly change it myself at that price. But I take mine to the VW dealer for two reasons - First, they charge me $50, and every fifth change is free. This is just about the cost of materials, so why climb under? Second, on 1.8T's under eight years old, it assures there's absolutely no question about proper changes if the Sludge Warranty has to be invoked.

 

DIY oil changes on the Passat are fairly easy and can be done with simple tools. We do have complete oil change kits available here on the website for the V6:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Volkswagen...ource=passatworld&utm_medium=forum&utm_content=postreply&utm_campaign=postreply

... and here for the 1.8T:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Volkswagen...ource=passatworld&utm_medium=forum&utm_content=postreply&utm_campaign=postreply

All kits include 502 approved oil, filter and drain plug:

 

Really, other than a wrench and metric sockets, you should be fine to change your own oil.

 

if you have a v6 dont use 5w30
i used it and it burned oil like crazy

 

That's the catch. The answer to the question is almost always, "Yes." But if you have to ASK the question, you have to wonder...

My younger brother once mentioned he wanted to change the oil in my father's '93 Chevy Diesel truck. He was 17 at the time and thinking of becoming a mechanic, so my father agreed. After about 15 minutes we watched him go by the front door to get a tool from the shed. He passed by again carrying a 2"+ wrench.

"Errr...Perhaps I should go check on what he's doing," I said. My father's reply was, "Yeah. You do that." What he was tackling was a bolt of around that size, that he thought was the oil drain plug. It was on the bottom of the steering column. My brother ended up becoming a bus driver, not a mechanic.

Sometimes it pays to leave such jobs to the professionals...

 

i general knowledge of parts will help out, going into something without a clue is no laughing matter. lol!

 

The OP says he changed oil in previous cars that he's owned, which is why I responded the way I did. These are valid points above regarding competency, I think they don't apply to the OP. Also, let's not overlook the cathartic pleasure that can be had from maintaining your vehicle.

 

I helped my father change the oil on his mercedes that had full service history from new - 115'000km


I wish I took a picture of the oil filter. I'll wager my car on the fact that the filter was the original from when it rolled off the factory floor. I called it fluffy!

I'd rather buy a personally maintained car than a dealer serviced car.

Uuurghh! They aren't called stealerships for nothing. If you can then do the effort, get the satisfaction, extend the life and save some money!

 

Certainly you should do your own oil! It's easy and you know for certain exactly what's been done. Since you've done it before, you pretty much know the drill -- our engines are basically just like any other. The other benefit is that it gives you achance to get under the and look at it. I've found torn CV boots three times doing my own oil on my car and my wife's, and each time I've been able to save the CV joint because I caught it before all the grease was gone. All that was needed was a new boot.

On our longitudinally mounted engines with a standard filter, you will note that they take only about 4 qts to refill, less than the stated capacity. With the Big Kahuna oil filter, it'll be 4.5 qts. This is important to note because most oil change places will put in the stated capacity, which will significantly over fill the oil.

 

I am a new B5 owner, and FEMALE . I am in love with my new car. This past weekend, I wanted to look under the car and do the oil change. I went and bought ramps, and Mobil 1 5-40 with the mobil 1 oil filter (THIS IS MY PREFERENCE FOR MY CAR...SO NO ONE ARGUE ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF OIL) I then located the ATF (which for a 1.8T is locaed in the middle of the underbody) I thought I found the oil drain plug...but not 100% sure. I then opened up my Haynes manual I previously bought, but it was not showing a 1.8T underbody...got fustrated and didn't want to RUIN anything, so I took it into pepboys and they charged me only $18 with all my supplies at hand. KEEP IN MIND I AM NOT A FAN OF PEPBOYS AT ALL! (previous encounter w/ my Mits. Lancer was I had just changed not 5 min. earlier the air filter and took the car into Pepboys to get oil change and they told me my air filter was BAD and i needed to change it...got so mad i was yelling at the manager...THEY THINK THEY CAN PULL ONE ON FEMALES!) ANYWAYS...Pepboys was really nice enough to let me in the garage (with safety goggles) and show me where the drain plug is. I also asked the best way to access the oil filter he said to remove tire, and i asked if removing the coolant expantion tank to get there would be easier....he said he didn't know...kept watching through the window, and sure enough he removed the coolant expantion tank and removed and replaced filter. In the end, I now know how to do the oil change and where I need to drain from...in the end I am looking forward to doing my own oil change next time!!! :wrench:

 

The misogyny in the auto industry is sickening.

I also asked the best way to access the oil filter he said to remove tire, and i asked if removing the coolant expantion tank to get there would be easier....he said he didn't know...kept watching through the window, and sure enough he removed the coolant expantion tank and removed and replaced filter. In the end, I now know how to do the oil change and where I need to drain from...in the end I am looking forward to doing my own oil change next time!!! :wrench:

Right on regarding the coolant reservoir. I use this method in conjunction with an oil extractor via the dip stick hole (I use a Pela 6000) and I don't even have to go under the car or put in up on ramps to change the oil in the 1.8T. If you use an oil extractor, periodically check the oil drain plug to verify that it isn't leaking. The crush washers/bolts were designed to be a throw-away item. I haven't had any issues with mine though.

Also, those large ziplok bags come in handy once you get the filter loose to keep the oil from spilling all over the place. Just slide it over the oil filter and continue to unscrew the oil filter.

 

thanks for the info Diab0lus!

 

i took mine to the dealership last time. For $78.00 i got full synthetic, the proper filter, a 27 piont inspection, top off all fluids and a car wash. not too bad. they wrote down to come back in December or in 6000 miles for the next one, is that right?

 

they wrote down to come back in December or in 6000 miles for the next one, is that right?

Not according to the owner's manual and every other bit of official VW documentation I've seen. OCI is 5000, not 6000 miles.