Answer
Mar 14, 2025 - 03:16 PM
Getting the upper oil pan off on the Tiguan may seem a bit tricky since it’s sandwiched between the engine and transmission. But trust me, it’s totally doable if you take your time.
First, drain the oil and remove the lower oil pan — just a handful of bolts and comes off pretty easily. Once that’s out of the way, you’ll need to unbolt the front subframe and possibly support the engine to get proper clearance. The A/C compressor and alternator might also need to be unbolted and moved slightly, depending on your engine variant.
The upper pan itself is held on with a series of bolts, some of which are a bit tricky to reach, especially near the transmission side. Once all bolts are out, the pan is usually stuck in place from the factory sealant, so you may need to gently pry it loose, but don’t gouge the mating surfaces.
Make sure you clean the surfaces thoroughly and apply a fresh bead of approved VW sealant before installing the new oil pan. Bolt everything back up, torque it to spec, and refill with fresh oil. Also, don’t forget to check for leaks after running the engine for a bit. Easy peasy!
That said, to do this properly, you'll need the exact torque specs, bolt patterns, and diagrams/illustrations — all of which you can find in this repair manual. Here you can also find the step-by-step procedure for oil pan replacement recommended by VW. Honestly, it's a no-brainer if you want to do it yourself 😉✌🏻
Good luck!
