Pat Dolan
Veteran Member
I have been gone for about 6 months, wife left at home with her new Q7. Finally got back in time to change to winter wheels/tires and do first oil change.
Not being home, I have as yet to get a Q7 factory manual of any kind. In fact, I can not seem to FIND the Bentley or Audi manual for first gen TDI anywhere. For me, ALL service stats with the factory shop manual, so I am left a bit high and dry. Anyone have the solution??
When I did a bit of searching online, it was suggested that an oil evacuator would work, so I bought one (Mightyvac). The first 5 litres came out of the dipstick tube just fine, but I could not get it to pick up the last 3, so off with the second cover and out with the sump plug. A bit surprised that my local filter shop did not carry a German element, so had to buy from VW (fair price). Found that probably from "emissions fix" VW fixers had broken some of the plastic bits in the underbody covers, so not thrilled about that on a brand-damn-new car.
Had a bit of fuss finding some 507 oil in town. VW carries Castrol, and Wakefield is not exactly at the top of my list (former lubricants manufacturer). Wound up with Lubri-moly in 5w-30. Was SHOCKED to find how little service information is easily and fully presented in the owner's manual.
Next came the issue of engine heat. I bought a 125W stick-on from VW (Temro) but even carefully sanding the paint off of the hot sump and pre-hyeating the pad (per Temro instructions), it did not stick worth a damn, so I reverted to high temp RTV - not greatest solution, but at least for now in place. Adding 2A smart charger/maintainer to that combination can stay plugged in all night on really cold days, BUT: where the hell do you guys and gals run the cord to get it out from inside that very well sealed engine room>?>?
Not being home, I have as yet to get a Q7 factory manual of any kind. In fact, I can not seem to FIND the Bentley or Audi manual for first gen TDI anywhere. For me, ALL service stats with the factory shop manual, so I am left a bit high and dry. Anyone have the solution??
When I did a bit of searching online, it was suggested that an oil evacuator would work, so I bought one (Mightyvac). The first 5 litres came out of the dipstick tube just fine, but I could not get it to pick up the last 3, so off with the second cover and out with the sump plug. A bit surprised that my local filter shop did not carry a German element, so had to buy from VW (fair price). Found that probably from "emissions fix" VW fixers had broken some of the plastic bits in the underbody covers, so not thrilled about that on a brand-damn-new car.
Had a bit of fuss finding some 507 oil in town. VW carries Castrol, and Wakefield is not exactly at the top of my list (former lubricants manufacturer). Wound up with Lubri-moly in 5w-30. Was SHOCKED to find how little service information is easily and fully presented in the owner's manual.
Next came the issue of engine heat. I bought a 125W stick-on from VW (Temro) but even carefully sanding the paint off of the hot sump and pre-hyeating the pad (per Temro instructions), it did not stick worth a damn, so I reverted to high temp RTV - not greatest solution, but at least for now in place. Adding 2A smart charger/maintainer to that combination can stay plugged in all night on really cold days, BUT: where the hell do you guys and gals run the cord to get it out from inside that very well sealed engine room>?>?