2011 Volkswagen Golf Oil Type & Capacity
The 2011 Volkswagen Golf oil type depends on the engine: the Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 A, Automatic takes 5W-40 (5.8 quarts qt with filter); the Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 A, Standard takes 5W-40 (5.8 quarts qt with filter); the Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 B, Automatic takes 5W-40 (5.8 quarts qt with filter); the Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 B, Standard takes 5W-40 (5.8 quarts qt with filter); the Base, 4D Hatchback, 2.5 A takes 5W-40 (5.8 quarts qt with filter); the Base, 4D Hatchback, 2.5 B takes 5W-40 (5.8 quarts qt with filter); the TDI, 2D Hatchback, Automatic DCT takes 5W-40 (4.5 quarts qt with filter); the TDI, 2D Hatchback, Standard takes 5W-40 (4.5 quarts qt with filter); the TDI, 4D Hatchback, Automatic DCT takes 5W-40 (4.5 quarts qt with filter); the TDI, 4D Hatchback, Standard takes 5W-40 (4.5 quarts qt with filter), per the factory service manual.
Factory-spec answer
It depends on the engine:
- Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 A, Automatic: 5W-40, 5.8 quarts with filter
- Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 A, Standard: 5W-40, 5.8 quarts with filter
- Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 B, Automatic: 5W-40, 5.8 quarts with filter
- Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 B, Standard: 5W-40, 5.8 quarts with filter
- Base, 4D Hatchback, 2.5 A: 5W-40, 5.8 quarts with filter
- Base, 4D Hatchback, 2.5 B: 5W-40, 5.8 quarts with filter
- TDI, 2D Hatchback, Automatic DCT: 5W-40, 4.5 quarts with filter
- TDI, 2D Hatchback, Standard: 5W-40, 4.5 quarts with filter
- TDI, 4D Hatchback, Automatic DCT: 5W-40, 4.5 quarts with filter
- TDI, 4D Hatchback, Standard: 5W-40, 4.5 quarts with filter
Oil capacity by engine
| Engine | Oil Type (viscosity) | Capacity w/ Filter | Capacity w/o Filter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 A, Automatic — 2.5L Eng | SAE 5W-40 or SAE 5W-30. Synthetic oils. Engine oil must conform to the exact specification in VW publication VW 502 00 or VW 504 00. See TSB No. 17 09-07 (2012855). | 5.80 QTS. | — | Use only a high-quality engine oil that expressly complies with the Volkswagen oil quality standard specified for your vehicle's engine. Using any other oil can cause serious engine damage that will not be covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. DO NOT mix any lubricants or other additives into the engine oil. Doing so can cause engine damage. Damage caused by these kinds of additives are not covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. Quantities are approximate. DO NOT overfill. |
| Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 A, Standard — 2.5L Eng | SAE 5W-40 or SAE 5W-30. Synthetic oils. Engine oil must conform to the exact specification in VW publication VW 502 00 or VW 504 00. See TSB No. 17 09-07 (2012855). | 5.80 QTS. | — | Use only a high-quality engine oil that expressly complies with the Volkswagen oil quality standard specified for your vehicle's engine. Using any other oil can cause serious engine damage that will not be covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. DO NOT mix any lubricants or other additives into the engine oil. Doing so can cause engine damage. Damage caused by these kinds of additives are not covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. Quantities are approximate. DO NOT overfill. |
| Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 B, Automatic — 2.5L Eng | SAE 5W-40 or SAE 5W-30. Synthetic oils. Engine oil must conform to the exact specification in VW publication VW 502 00 or VW 504 00. See TSB No. 17 09-07 (2012855). | 5.80 QTS. | — | Use only a high-quality engine oil that expressly complies with the Volkswagen oil quality standard specified for your vehicle's engine. Using any other oil can cause serious engine damage that will not be covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. DO NOT mix any lubricants or other additives into the engine oil. Doing so can cause engine damage. Damage caused by these kinds of additives are not covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. Quantities are approximate. DO NOT overfill. |
| Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 B, Standard — 2.5L Eng | SAE 5W-40 or SAE 5W-30. Synthetic oils. Engine oil must conform to the exact specification in VW publication VW 502 00 or VW 504 00. See TSB No. 17 09-07 (2012855). | 5.80 QTS. | — | Use only a high-quality engine oil that expressly complies with the Volkswagen oil quality standard specified for your vehicle's engine. Using any other oil can cause serious engine damage that will not be covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. DO NOT mix any lubricants or other additives into the engine oil. Doing so can cause engine damage. Damage caused by these kinds of additives are not covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. Quantities are approximate. DO NOT overfill. |
| Base, 4D Hatchback, 2.5 A — 2.5L Eng | SAE 5W-40 or SAE 5W-30. Synthetic oils. Engine oil must conform to the exact specification in VW publication VW 502 00 or VW 504 00. See TSB No. 17 09-07 (2012855). | 5.80 QTS. | — | Use only a high-quality engine oil that expressly complies with the Volkswagen oil quality standard specified for your vehicle's engine. Using any other oil can cause serious engine damage that will not be covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. DO NOT mix any lubricants or other additives into the engine oil. Doing so can cause engine damage. Damage caused by these kinds of additives are not covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. Quantities are approximate. DO NOT overfill. |
| Base, 4D Hatchback, 2.5 B — 2.5L Eng | SAE 5W-40 or SAE 5W-30. Synthetic oils. Engine oil must conform to the exact specification in VW publication VW 502 00 or VW 504 00. See TSB No. 17 09-07 (2012855). | 5.80 QTS. | — | Use only a high-quality engine oil that expressly complies with the Volkswagen oil quality standard specified for your vehicle's engine. Using any other oil can cause serious engine damage that will not be covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. DO NOT mix any lubricants or other additives into the engine oil. Doing so can cause engine damage. Damage caused by these kinds of additives are not covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. Quantities are approximate. DO NOT overfill. |
| TDI, 2D Hatchback, Automatic DCT — 2.0L Eng | SAE 5W-40 or SAE 5W-30. Synthetic oils. Engine oil must conform to the exact specification in VW publication VW 507 00 or VW 505 01. See TSB No. 17 09-07 (2012855). | 4.50 QTS. | — | Use only a high-quality engine oil that expressly complies with the Volkswagen oil quality standard specified for your vehicle's engine. Using any other oil can cause serious engine damage that will not be covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. DO NOT mix any lubricants or other additives into the engine oil. Doing so can cause engine damage. Damage caused by these kinds of additives are not covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. Quantities are approximate. DO NOT overfill. |
| TDI, 2D Hatchback, Standard — 2.0L Eng | SAE 5W-40 or SAE 5W-30. Synthetic oils. Engine oil must conform to the exact specification in VW publication VW 507 00 or VW 505 01. See TSB No. 17 09-07 (2012855). | 4.50 QTS. | — | Use only a high-quality engine oil that expressly complies with the Volkswagen oil quality standard specified for your vehicle's engine. Using any other oil can cause serious engine damage that will not be covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. DO NOT mix any lubricants or other additives into the engine oil. Doing so can cause engine damage. Damage caused by these kinds of additives are not covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. Quantities are approximate. DO NOT overfill. |
| TDI, 4D Hatchback, Automatic DCT — 2.0L Eng | SAE 5W-40 or SAE 5W-30. Synthetic oils. Engine oil must conform to the exact specification in VW publication VW 507 00 or VW 505 01. See TSB No. 17 09-07 (2012855). | 4.50 QTS. | — | Use only a high-quality engine oil that expressly complies with the Volkswagen oil quality standard specified for your vehicle's engine. Using any other oil can cause serious engine damage that will not be covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. DO NOT mix any lubricants or other additives into the engine oil. Doing so can cause engine damage. Damage caused by these kinds of additives are not covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. Quantities are approximate. DO NOT overfill. |
| TDI, 4D Hatchback, Standard — 2.0L Eng | SAE 5W-40 or SAE 5W-30. Synthetic oils. Engine oil must conform to the exact specification in VW publication VW 507 00 or VW 505 01. See TSB No. 17 09-07 (2012855). | 4.50 QTS. | — | Use only a high-quality engine oil that expressly complies with the Volkswagen oil quality standard specified for your vehicle's engine. Using any other oil can cause serious engine damage that will not be covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. DO NOT mix any lubricants or other additives into the engine oil. Doing so can cause engine damage. Damage caused by these kinds of additives are not covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. Quantities are approximate. DO NOT overfill. |
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Buy the right oil & filter for your Golf
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More factory specs & repair guides for your Golf
🛞 2011 Volkswagen Golf Tire Size & Pressure →🌧️ 2011 Volkswagen Golf Wiper Blade Sizes →💡 2011 Volkswagen Golf Light Bulb Sizes →📖 2011 Volkswagen Golf Factory Service Manual →All fluid capacities (transmission, coolant, brakes)Powered by factory manual data from our partner network AllOEMManuals.com.
Coolant capacity
9.5 quarts (8.99 L) — G 012 A8G or G 012 A8F. Part numbers are for reference only. Approximate capacity.
Frequently asked questions
What type of oil does a 2011 Volkswagen Golf take?
It depends on the engine: Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 A, Automatic uses 5W-40; Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 A, Standard uses 5W-40; Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 B, Automatic uses 5W-40; Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 B, Standard uses 5W-40; Base, 4D Hatchback, 2.5 A uses 5W-40; Base, 4D Hatchback, 2.5 B uses 5W-40; TDI, 2D Hatchback, Automatic DCT uses 5W-40; TDI, 2D Hatchback, Standard uses 5W-40; TDI, 4D Hatchback, Automatic DCT uses 5W-40; TDI, 4D Hatchback, Standard uses 5W-40.
What is the oil capacity of a 2011 Volkswagen Golf?
Oil capacity depends on the engine: Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 A, Automatic holds 5.8 quarts with filter; Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 A, Standard holds 5.8 quarts with filter; Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 B, Automatic holds 5.8 quarts with filter; Base, 2D Hatchback, 2.5 B, Standard holds 5.8 quarts with filter; Base, 4D Hatchback, 2.5 A holds 5.8 quarts with filter; Base, 4D Hatchback, 2.5 B holds 5.8 quarts with filter; TDI, 2D Hatchback, Automatic DCT holds 4.5 quarts with filter; TDI, 2D Hatchback, Standard holds 4.5 quarts with filter; TDI, 4D Hatchback, Automatic DCT holds 4.5 quarts with filter; TDI, 4D Hatchback, Standard holds 4.5 quarts with filter.
How often should I change the oil in my 2011 Volkswagen Golf?
Most 2011 Volkswagen Golf owners follow a 5,000–7,500 mile interval with conventional oil, or up to 10,000 miles with full synthetic. Always check the oil life monitor if equipped, and consult your owner's manual — Volkswagen recommends intervals based on driving conditions, not just mileage.
Can I use synthetic oil in my 2011 Volkswagen Golf?
Yes. 5W-40 is widely available as a full synthetic, and synthetic is safe (often recommended) for the 2011 Volkswagen Golf. What matters most is matching the factory viscosity and specification, then changing the oil and filter on schedule.