VW Jetta 5 cylinder cartridge oil filter

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Messages
7
Location
ne
We bought a used 2013 Jetta from a dealer in September 2017. It had about 50k on it at that time, running well and very clean.
Of course, the dealer (Dodge) assured us that the oil had been changed and indeed it looked clean.I never know or trust what oil has been put in so I always change it myself when I get the car. My son, who drives this one, didn't want to re-change the oil. We did the plugs, air filter and other maintenance. At any rate, he decided to change the oil yesterday, about 7k later. We had a new Mann filter and Penzoil Euro 0-40 approved for that VW spec. Oil drained fine from oil pan BUT the plastic filter canister was on so tightly that it wouldn't come off with the plier type filter tool. Not wanting to squeeze too hard with that tool, a quick. trip to Advance auto yielded the 74mm 14 flat cap wrench for that canister. It took LOTS of torque and a long handled ratchet to get that canister off. The condition of the filter element was clean (no visible particulates) but brittle as could be. As soon as we spread the pleats they split both vertically and horizontally. I'm surprised it didn't start to flake apart in use.

We have the special VW tool to drain the filter and that worked well.

I suspect that the dealer didn't have the drain tool and /or proper canister wrench, never changed that filter and just dumped and refilled the oil with who knows what. The old filter looked like a Mann but I can't be sure. I wonder how old that had to be to degrade like that? 10,000 miles, 20,000 or way more than that? For him , a lesson learned. for other readers, beware of freshly "serviced" cars.
 
Always a good idea to change it. Who knows what kind of oil was in that sump. Now you know it’s proper.
 
Someone did take it to a Dodge dealership, so their techs may not have experience with VW's. Unless under the dealership's ownership there is a VW or Audi dealership as well, as there might be a chance of cross-training.

Why take it to a Dodge dealership? To be less expensive? If you want a place that is less expensive than the VW dealership, then find yourself a reputable independent VW/Audi specialist.
 
Originally Posted By: UG_Passat
Someone did take it to a Dodge dealership, so their techs may not have experience with VW's. Unless under the dealership's ownership there is a VW or Audi dealership as well, as there might be a chance of cross-training.

Why take it to a Dodge dealership?


UG, did you catch this initial part of the post:
"We bought a used 2013 Jetta from a dealer in September 2017. It had about 50k on it at that time, running well and very clean. Of course, the dealer (Dodge) assured us that the oil had been changed... "
 
My sister actually bought a 2013 Jetta 2.5L 5 cylinder about 6 months ago and I did the first service on it last month.

Same deal, where the dealer she purchased it from had just serviced it. Upon draining the oil it was clear the car had some kind of 5w20 in it and the filter was not tight at all, but actually super loose and practically fell off the car. I replaced it with a MANN filter and Castrol 0w40.

My other sister bought a 2003 Acura TL 2 years ago from an older gentleman who had it dealer serviced it's whole life. The engine is spotless inside and has documentation from every oil change. The filter on the other hand was a bear to get off. I pretty much destroyed it getting it off.

My neighbor bought a 2009 Ford Escape used from a Ford dealer and had me change the oil. The filter came off pretty easily (it was hand tight) but the drain plug was completely stripped and had been glued in with epoxy.
33.gif


Every time someone in my family or circle of friends buys a used vehicle and I get to service it for the first time I fear the worst.
 
I think you misunderstood me, we bought it USED from a Dodge dealer used car department. I do my own work if not under new car warranty. My other son has a Passat and he brings it to the dealer for oil change. You almost can't do it yourself for what he pays. He brought his diesel Jetta (bought back by VW) there too and you could not buy the oil and filter for what they charged to change it.
 
I'm with you jeepmann3071. I had no worse experience to date than I had with a 95 Landrover Discovery and their 100 point certified used check and service. Upon checking, nothing was done except for an oil change. Than one went right back and they did everything on that list.
 
I always change the oil and filter myself when I get a different car too. A friend of mine has a Chevrolet pickup he bought brand new and the oil change place that serviced the vehicle didn't change the filter and didn't tell him. The next time he had the oil changed the guy told him it was the original filter. He went back to the first oil change garage and they told him if they can't get a filter to come off they just leave it on. The problem is they never told him about it. Good to know everything worked out ok.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top