Warning: Long-term skin contact with used engine oil is quite hazardous to health. Use a barrier cream or wear rubber gloves when performing the procedures described below.
Note: Frequent engine oil changes are the most important preventative maintenance procedure available to the amateur mechanic. Over time, oil is susceptible to dilution and contamination, which leads to premature engine wear.
Note: On diesel and 3.6L petrol models, the oil filter should be replaced before draining the engine oil, as removing the filter opens a valve and allows oil to drain from the filter housing into the engine oil pan.
1. Warm up the engine to operating temperature and remove the engine oil filler cap (3 in the illustrations of Section 1). Provide access to the oil filter (for example, it may be necessary to disconnect hoses, remove the air cleaner and/or other components).
2. Jack up the car and place it on supports, or drive it into an inspection pit. The car should be horizontal.
3. If installed, remove the sound insulation under the engine compartment (see Chapter 11). Unscrew the oil drain plug in the oil pan and let the oil drain into a container placed there beforehand.
Note: Be careful not to burn yourself with hot oil. You can first pump out the oil through the dipstick guide tube.
4. On petrol models with a fully replaceable filter, unscrew the oil filter (see Chapter 2, Section "Working with the lubrication system") using a strap wrench or a suitable large Allen wrench. Clean the sealing surfaces of the filter and engine, lubricate the O-ring of the new filter with clean engine oil and screw it into the engine by hand. Then tighten the filter to the torque specified in the Specifications.
5. On 3.6L petrol models with a filter element installed in a separate housing, loosen the plug (1 on the accompanying illustration) drain hole and collect the oil. Then unscrew the cover (3) of the oil filter and replace the filter element (4) with the sealing rings (2). Tighten the plug (1) with a force of 10 Nm.
6.5 Installation details of the filter element of the 3.6 l gasoline engine
6. On diesel models, the filter element is installed in a separate housing. Before replacing it on TDI-CR engines, you should unscrew the bolt (arrow in illustration 6.6a), release the wire (2), unhook the solenoid valve (1) with the holder, and place them aside to provide access to the filter element cover mounted on the front side of the engine. On all diesel engines, remove the cover (1 in illustration 6.6b) oil filter housing with a 32 or 36 mm wrench, remove the filter element (3) and replace the sealing rings (2), lubricating the new rings with oil. Make sure there are no foreign particles in the filter housing, clean the mating surfaces of the cover and the filter housing. Install a new filter element and tighten the cover with a force of 25 Nm. Secure the electromagnetic valve and wire.
6.6a Electromagnetic valve above the filter element cover of diesel TDI-CR models
6.6b Diesel Engine Filter Element Installation Details
7. Tighten the new oil drain plug to 30 Nm. Note: The seal does not separate from the plug, so the plug must be replaced together with the seal.
8. Fill with engine oil and tighten the filler plug (see section 4).
9. Start the engine and let it idle until the low engine oil pressure light goes out (see Section 13 of the Chapter "Controls and Operating Techniques"). Increasing the speed when the low pressure engine oil light is on can cause the turbocharger to fail (if available).
10. Wait 3-5 minutes and check the engine oil level, adjust it again if necessary.
11. Test drive the vehicle and check the drain plug and oil filter for leaks. If necessary, tighten the plug and/or filter slightly. Check the oil level again and correct it if necessary.