2015 Passat owners: check your oil level - incorrect spec in manual!

Agreed. Their Owner's Manual technical editors are falling down on the job. 1.5 qts over spec is not acceptable. If it is indeed NOT 5.8 qts, this is not a minor error in the manual!

I have an official VWoA document, "Passat 2015 Fluid Capacity Chart", dated 11/11/14. I have it in PDF form.

I've forgotten how to post a document here. Help, please?

In the meantime, I'm sitting here, staring at the VWoA chart, and it states:

2015 Passat TDI: 5.5l/5.8qts

...go figure...

Snoozer said:

I just did my first oil change on the 2015 Passat 6M a few days ago. Added 5 liters of oil and the level only comes up to the bottom third of the crosshatched area of the dipstick.

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Well it sure looks like it is 5.8 quarts. Thanks for the OP and all the posts from interested parties. Guess we'll get a revision to the early owner's manuals soon.

Armstrongtrucks: Private email, including the VW document. Maybe YOU can post it here! I'm having issues with photobucket...

act98002---how would one go about looking up the oil pan part number on each vehicle?
it would seem that at least for the Passat the VWofA website is wrong (along with the early owner's manuals) or the dipstick is not the correct size.

tdiatlast---did you happen to ask your SA friend about the dipstick length?

Bigworm---any word from your cousin about the dipstick recall, could you have him contact the service department and get some further information about this.

Dipstick: AFAIK, there's NO DIPSTICK length issue with the 2015 NMS Passat. The issue that is referred to occurred with the Jetta/Golf.

waltzconmigo said:

act98002---how would one go about looking up the oil pan part number on each vehicle?
it would seem that at least for the Passat the VWofA website is wrong (along with the early owner's manuals) or the dipstick is not the correct size.

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Part numbers for components like that aren't easily available to us plebes .

Some web sites that sell parts might have the factory numbers listed, but usually they only show their internal stock number. I don't know if VW maintains any sort of Internet accessible portal with the info.

I sent a copy of tdiatlast post for the bulletin changing TDI to 5.8qts oil.
I also asked if there would be a recall on the dipstick length. This is the e- mail I got today.
for Reference # 150250114
Dear Mr. Brady,
I apologize for the delay in my reply. I’ve been working with my product specialists here at Volkswagen to make sure I’m giving you the best info I have available.
After doing so, I confirm that only the 3.6L gasoline engine is meant to hold 5.8 quarts of oil. For the smaller 2.0L TDI engine in your Passat, the oil capacity is 4.5 quarts with the oil filter. I’m sorry for any confusion, though I hope this helps provide clarity on the situation.
Please let me know if there is anything in addition to this I can look into on your behalf. Apart from this, I hope you enjoy a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Eric W.
Customer CARE Advocate

So we STILL haven't gotten anywhere.

armstrongtrucks: can you post the bulletin I sent you? I'm still having issues with my computer...

I have tried, for some reason it changes text. I will copy and paste it.

Passat - 2015 FLUID CAPACITY CHART Updated 11/11/14



Engine Oil
approx. qty. w/filter change
Manual Trans
Auto Trans
Final Drive
Cooling System
Power Steering
Brake System
A/C System


Windshield and Headlight Washer Fluid



1.8L 170 hp (CPKA,CPRA)
5.5L (5.7 qt.)
VW Oil Spec:
VW 502 00** Use synthetic oil SAE 5W-40, SAE 5W-30
5-Spd (0A4) 1.9 L (2.0 qt)
Oil PN
G 052 512 A2*
N/A
N/A
10.0L (10.5 qt.)
Electromechanical
1.2 L (1.3qt) (approximately)
VW Brake Fluid Specification:
Use new fluid only.
VW 501 14 or FMVSS 116 DOT 4
Fluid PN
B 000 750*
Refrigerant
Use only R134a
Refrig. Capacity
575 ± 5 grams (20.3 ± 0.2 oz.)
Refrigerant Oil
Use a PAG oil with R134a
Oil PN & Capacity
Sanden Cmpr:
G 052 200 A2*
110 cc ± 10 cc (3.7 ± 0.3 fl. oz.)
4.5 L (4.7qt)
Fluid PN
G 052 164*



N/A
6-Spd (09G)
New Fill:
7.0 L (7.4 qt)
Change
3.0 L (3.1 qt.)
Oil PN
G 055 540 A2*
Capacity included with transmission.


2.0TDI 150 hp Diesel (CVCA)
5.5 L (5.8 qt.)
VW Oil Spec:
VW 507 00** Use synthetic oil SAE 5W-30
6-Spd (02Q)
2.3 L (2.4 qt)
Oil PN
G 052 171 A2*
N/A
N/A
8.0 L (8.45 qt.)
AdBlue ® Tank
18.5 L - (19.5 qt.)****
ISO Standard 22241-1







N/A
6-Spd DSG (02E) New Fill: 7.2 L (7.6 qt) Change: 5.2 L (5.5 qt)
Capacity included with transmission.
Oil PN
G 052 182 A2*
For proper fluid level and filling information, see the Repair Manual and/or Maintenance Manual in Elsa.
* Oil and fluid part numbers are for reference only. Always check with your Parts Department for the latest part information. **Refer to Technical Bulletin 2012855 for engine oils that meet this VW oil specification.
*** VW Coolant Additive Specification and Part Number: (color is pink) G 13 (TL-VW 774 J). Dilute with Distilled Water.
**** Part Numbers for AdBlue® Reducing Agent: 0.5 gal (1.89 L) G 052 910 A2 for warranty repairs, 2.5 gal (10.0L) GUS 052 910 A3 for Carefree maintenance services.

© 2014 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Timely info as my first oil change is coming up in the next few weeks. I'll ask the service writer to double check the fill required before dumping new oil into the engine.

Well got home and checked things out. Build date is 10/14. Owners manual says about 4.5 quarts.

Here's a wild question.

Did ALL 2015 NMS Passat TDIs come with the new EA288 engine? Is it possible they started the production of 2015 cars with the 2014 engine, and switched over at some time?

Don't know that, or how to tell. The oil filter is under neath the car. Can't imagine that would be changed easily to the old engine.

atlast---that would certainly be odd as the '15 is advertised with the EA288.

armstrong---i think if you look for the color code sticker in the trunk that information should be there as well, not sure of location. if the oil filter is accessed from below you would have the new engine.

tdiatlast said:

Here's a wild question.

Did ALL 2015 NMS Passat TDIs come with the new EA288 engine? Is it possible they started the production of 2015 cars with the 2014 engine, and switched over at some time?

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My 1st 2015 Passat was a very early build (July 2014). It had the EA288 engine. You can tell it was different after removing the top cover. But it was problematic with the engine sensors. According to the service writer, the sensors were MY2014 and not calibrated properly for the new EA288. But the engine was absolutely an EA288.

I figured that was the case.

So, this is a very serious "clerical" error, although who knows if there were hundreds of early production cars that went out with 4.5qts instead of 5.8qts, and dealerships just casually adding oil...or not...

Hopefully no harm was done by being underfilled by 25%, better than Overfilled by 25%.

Is there a 2015 owner that's willing to drain and measure?

At just over 8K I just checked and the oil is right in the middle of the cross-hatched area. I'll be setting up my 10K oil change within the next week at the dealer. I figured that since I get the first 3 changes for free, I might as well use them. I'll make sure that they use the correct spec'd oil and that they fill it to the proper level before I leave them.

5500km and yesterday I had to add 1 litre to bring the level on the dipstick up to the top of the search cross-hatched area.

Thank god I found this thread. Normally I'm anal about maintenance and checking oil level. I never imagined a car coming from the factory 1 litre short of motor oil.

Skatch_TDI: Phone your dealer. Raise holy hell that your new car, with 3500miles on the clock, needed a litre of oil. (FYI, in over 160k miles of CR TDI use, I've NEVER added oil between OC)

NO modern engine should be, or IS, using oil at that rate.

I think VWoA has a serious problem with this issue, and I'm stunned that it hasn't been addressed. EACH and every owner of a 2015 Passat TDI should have a letter by now, alerting them to this issue.

My new 2014 Passat TSI was overfilled by at least 1.5 qts.
What went in to make it appear OK on the dipstick matched the manual's qty. - I hadn't considered an incorrect dipstick...

tdiatlast said:

Skatch_TDI: Phone your dealer. Raise holy hell that your new car, with 3500miles on the clock, needed a litre of oil. (FYI, in over 160k miles of CR TDI use, I've NEVER added oil between OC)

NO modern engine should be, or IS, using oil at that rate.

I think VWoA has a serious problem with this issue, and I'm stunned that it hasn't been addressed. EACH and every owner of a 2015 Passat TDI should have a letter by now, alerting them to this issue.

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I've talked to them about this already. I'm going back in on Wednesday to balance my tires ( thanks to a massive pothole and a huge chunk of asphalt on the highway) and i'm going to talk to the dealership manager. It is BS that it was down a 1 liter of oil and no where near the safe oil level. In hind sight i should have taken a picture of the dipstick.

Sorry, Skatch, a photo of the dipstick wouldn't prove anything. Even a video of you withdrawing the dipstick would be suspect.

I think the thread title should be changed, adding the word "in EARLY PRODUCTION owner's manuals", as I think we've determined that the later manuals have the correct (5.8qts) oil capacity.

tdiatlast said:

Skatch_TDI: Phone your dealer. Raise holy hell that your new car, with 3500miles on the clock, needed a litre of oil. (FYI, in over 160k miles of CR TDI use, I've NEVER added oil between OC)

NO modern engine should be, or IS, using oil at that rate.

I think VWoA has a serious problem with this issue, and I'm stunned that it hasn't been addressed. EACH and every owner of a 2015 Passat TDI should have a letter by now, alerting them to this issue.

Click to expand...

Try being around fleet fords lol man all our trucks and vans with the 5.4 and even the 4.7 use oil from day one heck our last batch that was 2013 all those will use 2 to 3 qts between oil changes its crazy

JUST AN UPDATE.
I just received an e-mail from Volkswagen Customer Relations. They asked a lot of question in my experience with the person helping. I stated if the TDI only requires 4.5 quarts of oil why have they not sent letters to the owners so they don't over fill them. Told them if I was to take my car in for check up and they pulled the dip stick it would be low on oil and they would top it off overfilling it.
Waiting for their response.

I have found past TDI's varied greatly in their oil consumption, from 1 liter per 5000KM to none in 15,000. They burned those numbers from new and never changed as they aged. It seemed they were built with a different tolerance?
My friend had a TDI, it always burnt a liter in 5000, my beetle would always use 1/2 a liter in 15,000. right up to the 350,000 on it when I sold it.
I have seen people told their new car burning a liter in 1000KMs was "normal", I am OK at 5000 but not at 1000.

Most people are not anal enough to check the oil on their new car, I don't think I ever have, But I will the next time I buy a new car.

Has anyone found out what amount of oil it takes to hit the full mark after the oil and filter change? Hearing 4.5 and 5.8 and maybe a wrong level on a dipstick is pretty scary. I have heard an overfill is worse than an underfill.

Don

^^^Don: This thread started as a "burning oil" discussion but quickly morphed into a "crankcase quantity" discussion.

Confusion still exists. I asked about 2015 Passat TDI oil quantity at the parts counter at Autobahn VW, Ft. Worth, counter man said, 4.5qts. I challenged him to look it up. "Yupp, it says 4.5qts."

I asked him to pull up the Nov. 11, 2014 VWoA Passat capacity chart, he switched screens, came up with the chart, and said, "Hmmm...you're right...sez right hear 5.8qts."

I asked him to look up the oil pan part numbers for 2015 TDI Golf/Jetta and TDI Passat: THE NUMBERS ARE IDENTICAL.

No one I spoke with seemed terribly concerned with the confusion. I just don't get it. When I asked about some sort of "official clarification" from VWoA, I was told it really wasn't necessary, owners should follow what's printed in their owner's manual. They seemed totally concerned that, according to a few TDIClub members here, their manuals stated 4.5qts.

I still don't get it, but hey, I don't even OWN a 2015, I'm just interested in finding out the right info for fellow members here.

2015 owners need to keep harassing their dealers about this until there is clarification from VWoA,

tdiatlast said:

^^^Don: This thread started as a "burning oil" discussion but quickly morphed into a "crankcase quantity" discussion.

Confusion still exists. I asked about 2015 Passat TDI oil quantity at the parts counter at Autobahn VW, Ft. Worth, counter man said, 4.5qts. I challenged him to look it up. "Yupp, it says 4.5qts."

I asked him to pull up the Nov. 11, 2014 VWoA Passat capacity chart, he switched screens, came up with the chart, and said, "Hmmm...you're right...sez right hear 5.8qts."

I asked him to look up the oil pan part numbers for 2015 TDI Golf/Jetta and TDI Passat: THE NUMBERS ARE IDENTICAL.

No one I spoke with seemed terribly concerned with the confusion. I just don't get it. When I asked about some sort of "official clarification" from VWoA, I was told it really wasn't necessary, owners should follow what's printed in their owner's manual. They seemed totally concerned that, according to a few TDIClub members here, their manuals stated 4.5qts.

I still don't get it, but hey, I don't even OWN a 2015, I'm just interested in finding out the right info for fellow members here.

2015 owners need to keep harassing their dealers about this until there is clarification from VWoA,

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I checked mine today on my 15 with a built date of 12/14 was spot on where it should be