Originally Posted by sloinker
Bought a 2016 Tiguan today. 30k mile lease return. It was bought and serviced at the same dealer since new. 10k interval. I haven't paid much attention about the gas direct injection issues until today. I heard that this vehicle has the habit of coking the back of intake valves. My question is which oil to use to minimize this effect and what other tips to try to keep the carbon at bay as much as possible. I believe the factory fill is a 5W40 502 VW spec.
Factory fill in those engines is probably Castrol 0W30. Dealers use usually Castrol 5W40 Professional due to the dye in that oil so it is easier to spot oil leaks. But, it is unremarkable oil in every aspect.
Some dealers use Valvoline 5W40, some Mobil1 0W40 FS, some Pennzoil Platinum 5W40. As long as oil is approved for VW 502.00, it is good.
Most favorite oil among Euro owners currently is Castrol 0W40, and it is step above Castrol 5W40 (not because of 0W).
EA888 in your Tiguan (same engine as in mine) is only recommended for VW502.00 and not VW504.00, although in some states (primarily CA) VW504.00 probably will be fine.
Things to pay attention:
1. Good oil, use Castrol 0W40 or generally oil that besides VW502.00 approval has MB229.5 approval.
2. PCV! Go on youtube and find VW 2.0T PCV. It has distinctive sound when goes bad. It is around $190, not big deal to change it, BUT (number 3).
3. Rear main seal! If you do not change PCV in time, rear main seal will go away. It seems that VW designed rear main seal as fail/safe so that bad PCV does not create bigger issues.
It could be that on 2016 PCV is redesigned. Also, in mid 2012 VW redesigned chain tensioner so do not worry about it since you will read A LOT about VW 2.0T and chain tensioner (I installed updated one on my own to prevent engine going south).
4. Once car is warmed (engines in Tiguan reach operating temperature super fast), drive it aggressively. In conjunction with good oil, best way to prevent deposits.
5. Change Haldex fluid at 40k
6. Change transmission fluid and filter at 60K.
Mine has 75k and only had ventilation relay bad. that is it. It s fun little CUV and hardly anything in that class will catch up with it on mountain roads. It is really, really good in snow with snow tires, but be aware, while AWD is really good while going, once you are stuck it is not Audi, Subaru etc.