Volkswagen Passat Oil Type & Capacity
GarageDex's oil-spec data shows the Volkswagen Passat takes 5W-40 engine oil, about 6 qt with a filter change, on 2021-2022 models. Older ones take a different grade - 2019-2020 models use 0W-20 (6 qt) - so check your year in the table below.
Oil by model year
| Model years | Oil type | Capacity | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | 5W-40 | 6 qt | Shop 5W-40 |
| 2019-2020 | 0W-20 | 6 qt | Shop 0W-20 |
| 2018 | 0W-20 / 5W-40 | 5.8-6 qt | Shop 0W-20Shop 5W-40 |
| 2015-2017 | 5W-30 | 5.8 qt | Shop 5W-30 |
| 2013-2014 | 5W-30 | 4.5-6.3 qt | Shop 5W-30 |
| 2012 | 5W-30 | 4.5-6.3 qt | Shop 5W-30 |
| 2010 | 5W-30 | 4.9 qt | Shop 5W-30 |
| 2009 | 5W-30 | 4.4 qt | Shop 5W-30 |
| 2006-2008 | 5W-30 | 4.9-5.8 qt | Shop 5W-30 |
| 2005 | 5W-30 | 3.8-6.3 qt | Shop 5W-30 |
| 2004 | 5W-30 | 3.8-9 qt | Shop 5W-30 |
| 2003 | 5W-30 | 4.1-9 qt | Shop 5W-30 |
| 2002 | 5W-30 | 3.9-9 qt | Shop 5W-30 |
| 2000-2001 | 5W-30 | 4.3-6.6 qt | Shop 5W-30 |
| 1998-1999 | 0W-40 / 10W-40 | 3.7-6 qt | Shop 0W-40Shop 10W-40 |
| 1997 | 10W-30 / 10W-40 | 4.8-5.8 qt | Shop 10W-30Shop 10W-40 |
| 1995-1996 | 10W-40 | 4.2-5.8 qt | Shop 10W-40 |
| 1993-1994 | 10W-40 | 4.2-5.8 qt | Shop 10W-40 |
| 1992 | 10W-30 | 4.2 qt | Shop 10W-30 |
| 1990-1991 | 5W-30 | 4.2 qt | Shop 5W-30 |
Capacity is with a filter change and can vary by engine - open your exact year below for the per-engine figures and our sources. Shop links go to Amazon, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Every Passat year
Frequently asked
What kind of oil does a Volkswagen Passat take?
GarageDex's oil-spec data shows the Volkswagen Passat takes 5W-40 engine oil, about 6 qt with a filter change, on 2021-2022 models. Older ones take a different grade - 2019-2020 models use 0W-20 (6 qt) - so check your year in the table below.
How many quarts of oil does a Volkswagen Passat take?
About 6 qt with a filter change on 2021-2022 models, and 6 qt on 2019-2020 models. Capacity varies by engine, so check your exact year for the per-engine figure - and finish on the dipstick rather than pouring in the full amount.
Does the oil type change by year on the Volkswagen Passat?
Yes. We record 20 different factory specs across the years we cover - 2021-2022: 5W-40; 2019-2020: 0W-20; 2018: 0W-20/5W-40. Use the table above and confirm against your owner's manual.
Sources. The oil grade and capacity for 32 of 32 model years is checked against a cited source, most often cararac - Volkswagen Passat, CarSpecFinder - Volkswagen Passat oil and AMSOIL lookup guide - 2022 Volkswagen Passat, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo (DTDA). Each year page lists its own sources.
Last verified 2026-06-21. Maintained by Matan B., who runs GarageDex. How we verify.