2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Oil Type & Capacity
The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan takes 5W-40 motor oil — 4.9 quarts with a filter change, per the factory service manual.
Factory-spec answer
5W-40 — 4.9 quarts with filter
Oil capacity by engine
| Engine | Oil Type (viscosity) | Capacity w/ Filter | Capacity w/o Filter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S 4Motion | 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). | 4.90 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. |
| S, Automatic Trans | 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). | 4.90 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. |
| S, Standard Trans | 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). | 4.90 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. |
| SE | 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). | 4.90 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. |
| SE 4Motion | 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). | 4.90 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. |
| SEL | 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). | 4.90 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. |
| SEL 4Motion | 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). | 4.90 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. |
Buy the right oil
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More specs & repair guides for your Tiguan
2012 Volkswagen Tiguan factory service manualAll fluid capacities (transmission, coolant, brakes)Powered by factory manual data from our partner site AllOEMManuals.com.
Coolant capacity
11.6 quarts (10.97 L) — G 12 plus-plus (TL-VW 774 G) Part No. G 012 A8G or G 12 plus (TL-VW 774 F) Part No. G 012 A8F.
Frequently asked questions
What type of oil does a 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan take?
The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan takes 5W-40 motor oil (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).), per the factory service manual.
How much oil does a 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan take?
The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan holds 4.9 quarts with a filter change.
Can I use synthetic oil in my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Yes. 5W-40 is widely available as a full synthetic, and synthetic is safe (often recommended) for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. What matters most is matching the factory viscosity and specification, then changing the oil and filter on schedule.
Other Volkswagen Tiguan years
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