1988 Volkswagen Jetta Oil Type & Capacity
The 1988 Volkswagen Jetta takes 5W-20 motor oil — 4.3 quarts with a filter change, per the factory service manual.
Factory-spec answer
5W-20 — 4.3 quarts with filter
Oil capacity by engine
| Engine | Oil Type (viscosity) | Capacity w/ Filter | Capacity w/o Filter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base, 2D Sedan, Automatic — 1.8L Eng | SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 (20Deg.F to -20Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 or 15W-50 (10Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F) | 4.30 QTS. | 3.70 QTS. | — |
| Base, 2D Sedan, Standard — 1.8L Eng | SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 (20Deg.F to -20Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 or 15W-50 (10Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F) | 4.30 QTS. | 3.70 QTS. | — |
| Base, 4D Sedan, Automatic — 1.8L Eng | SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 (20Deg.F to -20Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 or 15W-50 (10Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F) | 4.30 QTS. | 3.70 QTS. | — |
| Base, 4D Sedan, Standard — 1.8L Eng | SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 (20Deg.F to -20Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 or 15W-50 (10Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F) | 4.30 QTS. | 3.70 QTS. | — |
| Carat, PF, Automatic — 1.8L Eng | SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 (20Deg.F to -20Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 or 15W-50 (10Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F) | 4.30 QTS. | 3.70 QTS. | — |
| Carat, PF, Standard — 1.8L Eng | SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 (20Deg.F to -20Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 or 15W-50 (10Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F) | 4.30 QTS. | 3.70 QTS. | — |
| Carat, RD, Automatic — 1.8L Eng | SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 (20Deg.F to -20Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 or 15W-50 (10Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F) | 4.30 QTS. | 3.70 QTS. | — |
| Carat, RD, Standard — 1.8L Eng | SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 (20Deg.F to -20Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 or 15W-50 (10Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F) | 4.30 QTS. | 3.70 QTS. | — |
| GL, 1.8 A, Automatic — 1.8L Eng | SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 (20Deg.F to -20Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 or 15W-50 (10Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F) | 4.30 QTS. | 3.70 QTS. | — |
| GL, 1.8 A, Standard — 1.8L Eng | SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 (20Deg.F to -20Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 or 15W-50 (10Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F) | 4.30 QTS. | 3.70 QTS. | — |
| GL, 1.8 B, PF, Automatic — 1.8L Eng | SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 (20Deg.F to -20Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 or 15W-50 (10Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F) | 4.30 QTS. | 3.70 QTS. | — |
| GL, 1.8 B, PF, Standard — 1.8L Eng | SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 (20Deg.F to -20Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 or 15W-50 (10Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F) | 4.30 QTS. | 3.70 QTS. | — |
| GL, 1.8 B, RD, Automatic — 1.8L Eng | SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 (20Deg.F to -20Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 or 15W-50 (10Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F) | 4.30 QTS. | 3.70 QTS. | — |
| GL, 1.8 B, RD, Standard — 1.8L Eng | SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 (20Deg.F to -20Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 or 15W-50 (10Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F) | 4.30 QTS. | 3.70 QTS. | — |
| GLI — 1.8L Eng | SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 (20Deg.F to -20Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 or 15W-50 (10Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F) | 4.30 QTS. | 3.70 QTS. | — |
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More specs & repair guides for your Jetta
1988 Volkswagen Jetta factory service manualAll fluid capacities (transmission, coolant, brakes)Powered by factory manual data from our partner site AllOEMManuals.com.
Coolant capacity
1.7 quarts (6.43 L) — 50/50 mixture of Ethylene Glycol Base Antifreeze and water
Frequently asked questions
What type of oil does a 1988 Volkswagen Jetta take?
The 1988 Volkswagen Jetta takes 5W-20 motor oil (SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 (20Deg.F to -20Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (0Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 15W-40 or 15W-50 (10Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 90Deg.F)), per the factory service manual.
How much oil does a 1988 Volkswagen Jetta take?
The 1988 Volkswagen Jetta holds 4.3 quarts with a filter change, or 3.7 quarts without changing the filter.
Can I use synthetic oil in my 1988 Volkswagen Jetta?
Yes. 5W-20 is widely available as a full synthetic, and synthetic is safe (often recommended) for the 1988 Volkswagen Jetta. What matters most is matching the factory viscosity and specification, then changing the oil and filter on schedule.
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