After one of the guys missing a show one Sunday when his sump decided to lose an argument with the tarmac it prompted us to get on the case of VW’s finest 2 piece shallow sumps. These are a Bi-metal design meaning the bottom section is made from steel so will NOT crack if any contact is made to the road on those spirited B road driving experiences. Here is the official blurb released on a VW bulletin –
Volkswagen Aluminum Oil Pans
Volkswagen has issued technical bulletins regarding aluminum oil pans on some of their vehicles. In their words, the bulletins are for “vehicles with damaged oil pans due to outside influences which are not covered by warranty.” Wonder what they mean by that?
The bulletins cover vehicles from model year 1999 to 2005, and are for Jetta and New Beetle models with 1.8L and 2.0L engines.
When changing the oil on one of these vehicles, Volkswagen recommends cleaning the threads on both the drain plug and the pan. The drain plug should be inspected for damaged threads. If any threads are damaged, Volkswagen recommends replacing the plug.
To clean the oil pan, the bulletin says to use a wire brush (you can find one at your local plumbing supply store). Insert the brush by twisting it into the oil pan. To remove, simply reverse your twisting.
If the drain plug is leaking when the vehicle comes into your shop (and especially if it’s the customer’s first visit), it’s best to show them the problem immediately and write it up on the work order. Remember, these threads are damaged when the plug is inserted, not when it’s removed.
And aluminum oil pans get pretty expensive. The technical service bulletin (VW TSB 04-05) lists a “Hybrid Oil Pan” replacement that’s available for order. The new pan for the 1.8L engine (part number 1JM@@@@@@AA) costs around $1@@ while the new pan for the 2.0L engine (part number 1JM@@@@@@T) costs around $@@. And that doesn’t include installation.
One last thing. Before you reinsert the drain plug on one of these vehicles, tighten it by hand. Then grab your torque wrench and make sure to tighten it only to the recommended torque.
So there you have it..Its official that the stock Ali sumps are known to be shocking!
Included is also the shorter pickup pipe* (there is no oil sensor mount on these)
£129.99 all inc for the sump.
*Some of you may find on the turbo applications that your return hose is now at the wrong angle to the sump itself and will not mount up correctly. We are also able to supply a new return hose for the 2WD which will mount up perfectly to the new sump. Please also order this below if necessary.
Golf Mk4 Shallow Sump Return Hose (£71.99) -
