Changing your oil: VW jetta, golf, new beetle TDI ALH engine
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 pumpe duse cars or 1000q: engine oil for non-pumpe duse cars.  Note:  you can use a "from the top" oil extractor but I do not like these because it doesn't give you a chance to inspect the bottom of the engine bay when you are down there draining the oil and you might not get out all the oil.  The advantage is that it is faster and you may get out more oil than if you drained from the bottom.  The engine oil is long life and will be black in 1 day anyways, so I prefer to check the underside of the car. 

Parts

Metric tool set
oil filter wrench or VW tool 3417 
oil catch pan
T-20 torx bit or screwdriver to remove belly shield/plastic cover

new engine oil filter for diesel VW# 074-115-562 or Mann equivalent filter or Mahle equivalent filter

4.5L of engine oil 
For all TDI engines, including pumpe duse:  Castrol SLX professional 505.1 "OEM" VW engine oil or ELFEXCELLIUM DID OIL 5W40  505.01 (1 Liter)  (5 liter jug) (w/oil filter)  Please see 1000q: engine oil for pumpe duse cars for a longer list of VW approved oils.
For 1998-2003 engines only:  please see 1000q: engine oil for non-pumpe duse cars

Procedure

Torque specs:
engine oil drain plug - 22 ft lbs
oil filter cap - 18 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.  Open the engine oil fill cap to let air in.

Place catch pan under oil plug, remove oil plug (19mm x 1 bolt circled in yellow).  Make sure that you are not removing the transmission oil drain plug!

Remove oil filter (circled in green), pull out the old filter, and replace.  Note which direction is up for the filter.  There is also an o-ring on the shaft, pic below.

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.  The optimum level is right below the upper mark on the dipstick.