Aargh!! German design Bol***cks

[sparkie]

I've just serviced the 1996 Tdi. I cannot believe the position of the oil filter, access is blocked by the air con hoses and fan and other oil pipes, and the only way I got it off was by removing the huge sound deadening piece under the engine and attacking it from there, and boy was it on tight, I broke one of my oil filter removal tools and in the end attacked it with a tyre lever. Also the replacement filter is apparently the Z89A, but the old filter is much longer, more like the Z9. The existing filter is a Mahle OC 51. Anyone know what I should be using, is the Z89A just a smaller filter, so should I change at 5,000kms?

[h100vw]

I've just serviced the 1996 Tdi. I cannot believe the position of the oil filter, access is blocked by the air con hoses and fan and other oil pipes, and the only way I got it off was by removing the huge sound deadening piece under the engine and attacking it from there, and boy was it on tight, I broke one of my oil filter removal tools and in the end attacked it with a tyre lever. Also the replacement filter is apparently the Z89A, but the old filter is much longer, more like the Z9. The existing filter is a Mahle OC 51. Anyone know what I should be using, is the Z89A just a smaller filter, so should I change at 5,000kms?

The filters really are designed to come off from underneath. I have a big socket for undoing them.

Maybe Arnold Schwarzenegger worked at the last place that did the oil change.

I only use German made filters on my VW/Audi/Seats.

Gavin

[Golf Loon]

T4s are designed to be worked on from underneath.
I wouldnt use a smaller filter on my TDI. They are not very much Genuine or OEM.

[gldgti]

Z89A is correct, but the shape of that filter varies with brand.... the good ones are long and fat.

its not that hard to get to, just use your imagination the dust tray underneath is a PITA if you work on your car urself, i took mine off and binned it since its no use to me.

first filter change on a new car is always the hardest, after that they are as tight as you make 'em.

[Greg Roles]

Yep you gotta wonder about those germans at times
Overall I think they are pretty good engineers!

I too have had my dust tray off the TDI, but after reading this

http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A_2159/article.html

I'm doing some measurements and probably putting it back on!

[Golf Loon]

Its more than a dusttray on a T4 it protects everything. I`d leave it on.

Doesnt matter so much on a car, but the way the engines are on the T4 makes em prone to flying debris.