Changing your engine oil: Jetta or Passat engine oil change, for mk3 VW TDI with 1Z or AHU engine, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Difficulty: 2/5
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Introduction

This article discusses some tips on how to change your engine oil.  For types of VW approved oil and change intervals, refer to the article:  1000q: engine oil for non-pumpe duse cars.  Later generation TDI that use the pumpe duse engine should use pumpe duse specific engine oil, this generation of TDI can use pumpe duse oil or older VW 505 spec oil.   It's normal for new engine oil to be black since there will be a little bit left over which will make all the oil black.

Parts

Metric tool set
oil filter wrench
oil catch pan
torx bits and screwdriver to remove belly shield/plastic cover

engine oil - 4.5 Liters/4.7 quarts , should meet VW 505.00 standards or pumpe duse VW 505.01, 506.01, or 507.00 standards.
For all 1996-2003 VW TDI (North American market):  please see 1000q: engine oil list for non-pumpe duse cars

Procedure

Torque specs:
engine oil drain plug - 22 ft lbs

Engage the parking brake, jack up the front of the car using the factory jack points, rest car securely on jack stands, chock the rear wheels, and make sure the car is safe and secure before doing anything else.

Remove plastic engine belly shield.

Place catch pan under oil plug, remove oil plug (19mm x 1 bolt w/yellow arrow in below pic).

Remove oil filter and replace.  Sometimes the oil filters can be really stuck, if it is really bad you can stick a screwdriver through it and use that to turn the oil filter off.

Caution - always check to see that the old filter gasket is off.  Sometimes the rubber gasket will stick to the oil filter housing.  If it does, it will cause a sudden leak later on when the gasket blows.  Below is a picture showing the bare metal of the oil filter housing.  The nut in the middle should not be loose.  Also inspect for oil leaks or coolant leaks. 

Double check the engine oil drain plug and engine oil filter are tightened.  Put in slightly less oil than needed.  Lower the car so that the car is on level ground.  Wipe the dipstick clean and recheck the level.  If you need oil, slowly add oil and recheck.  Too much oil is almost as bad as too little oil because excess oil can foam up.  The optimum level is right below the upper mark on the dipstick.

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