What Gas Does A Volkswagen Passat Take? (Explained)

On this blog, we do a lot of research regarding specific questions about different cars. Today we’ll look at the Volkswagen Passat and answer what kind of gas this car requires. To find the answer, we’ve gone through the owners’ manuals of the Passats produced since 2012. Here’s a quick answer:

The Volkswagen Passat from 2012 onwards with a 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, or 3.6L engine is designed to use high-quality unleaded regular gasoline with an octane rating of 87. The Volkswagen Passat from 2012 onwards with a 2.0L diesel engine is designed to use Number 2 Ultra Low Sulfur diesel fuel

However, that doesn’t tell the whole story. Below we go into more detail about the kind of gas or diesel you should use for your specific type of Passat. We’ll also discuss if different types of gas are better or worse for the durability of your engine and its performance. Finally, we answer some other questions about the fuel requirements of the Passat. Read on!

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Also read: How Many Miles Can A Volkswagen Passat Last?

Fuel Requirements Based On Engine Type

Before we go into the details of the gasoline and diesel types of the Volkswagen Passat, it’s good to know that there’s a quick way to figure this out. Reason being that this information is displayed near the fuel cap. Please see the image below for this. This label will tell you the most basic things about the type of fuel that the Passat uses immediately.

2019 – Present

The 2019 – Present-day Volkswagen Passat with a 2.0L gasoline engine is designed to use high-quality unleaded regular gasoline with an octane rating of 87. Premium gasoline is not recommended for this vehicle because it does not have any benefit over regular gasoline. However, the Passat is also compatible with premium gasoline that has a minimum octane rating of 91.

2012 – 2019

The 2012 – 2019 Volkswagen Passat with a 1.5L, 2.5L, or 3.6L V6 gasoline engine is designed to use high-quality unleaded regular gasoline with an octane rating of 87. Premium gasoline is not recommended for this vehicle because it does not have any benefit over regular gasoline. However, the Passat is also compatible with premium gasoline that has a minimum octane rating of 91.

The 2012 – 2019 Volkswagen Passat with a 2.0L diesel engine is designed to use Number 2 Ultra Low Sulfur diesel fuel or Number 2 Ultra Low Sulfur Climatized diesel fuels. Number 1 Ultra Low Sulfur diesel fuel should only be used where extended arctic conditions ( 5°F to -10°F or -10°C to -23°C) exist.

Also read: What Type Of Fuel Does A Volkswagen Jetta Take?

What Types Of Gasoline Can And Can’t Be Used?

Oxygenated Gasoline Or E85

You may use unleaded gasoline blended with alcohol or MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether), commonly referred to as oxygenated fuels, if the blended mixture meets the following criteria:

Blends of gasoline and methanol (wood alcohol or methyl alcohol):

• Anti-Knock Index (AKI) must be 87 or higher.
• Blend must contain no more than 3% methanol.
• Blend must contain more than 2% co-solvents.

Blends of gasoline and ethanol (grain alcohol or ethyl alcohol):

• Anti-Knock Index (AKI) must be 87 or higher.
• Blend must contain no more than 15% ethanol.

Blends of gasoline and MTBE:

• Anti-Knock Index (AKI) must be 87 or higher.
• Blend must contain no more than 15% MTBE.

Gasoline With Additives

Fuel quality impacts the operating performance, efficiency, and service life of the engine. Therefore, use quality gasoline that the fuel supplier already blends with suitable gasoline additives that do not contain metal. The additives provide corrosion protection, clean the fuel system, and prevent deposits on the engine. Volkswagen recommends TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline, which you can find on toptiergas.com.

Seasonally Adjusted Gasoline

Many fuels are blended, especially for winter or summer conditions. When seasons change, Volkswagen suggests that you buy fuel at busy stations where the seasonal adjustment is more likely to be made earlier.

Biodiesel

The diesel engines of the Volkswagen Passat are designed to run on Ultra Low Sulfur diesel with a maximum of 5% biodiesel. The Passat is compatible with fuels containing a percentage of 20% biodiesel; however, precautions and extra care need to be taken. Using fuel that contains 20%+ biodiesel is strictly forbidden and will affect the warranty and lifespan of your car.

First off, it’s good to know that the use of B5 biodiesel is limited in Illinois. Volkswagen mentions in the owners’ manuals that your car still falls under warranty if this is the case. However, in this case, you do have to use fuel with 6-20% biodiesel (B6 – B20).

If you regularly use B6 – B20 biodiesel, then it’s wise to take the necessary precautions outlined by Volkswagen:

• Routinely check the engine oil level. A good time to do this is when you refuel, especially if you regularly do a lot of short distance or stop-and-go driving. This will help you see if the engine oil level is getting higher. (A rising oil level beyond the maximum indicator means an oil change is needed due to the dilution of the oil in the system; a potential characteristic of biodiesel use)
• If you ever notice that the engine oil level has risen or is above the maximum indicator, contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer, authorized Volkswagen Service Facility or Volkswagen Customer CARE to schedule an oil change – regardless of the time or mileage that has elapsed since you last had an oil change performed.
• Continue to follow the oil change intervals found in the Warranty and Maintenance booklet that came with your vehicle.
• Refuel only at trusted, commercial fueling stations that are located near main highways. These stations are more likely to have fresh biodiesel fuels that have not aged significantly.
• If your vehicle will be in storage (or not driven) for several weeks or months, please completely fill the fuel tank. If possible, fill the tank with Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel.

Also read: What Gas Does A Volkswagen Beetle Take?

What If I Hear A Knocking Noise From The Engine After Refilling?

If you hear a knocking noise from the engine after refueling, that’s a reason for concern depending on how loud the knock is. However, it’s advised to stop driving the car and bring it to a dealership in both cases. Engine knock should not happen in a Volkswagen Passat if the right type of fuel with a minimum octane rating of 87 has been used.

Engine knock indicates that the octane rating is lower than 87, which means the engine is damaged when burning this fuel. It’s advisable to have an expert look at this before you damage the engine permanently.

Also read: 16 Common Problems Of A Volkswagen Passat

Does The Volkswagen Passat Have A Good Gas Mileage?

2019 – Present

The 2019 – Present-day Volkswagen Passat with a 2.0L gasoline engine has a combined MPG of 28, a city MPG of 34, and a highway MPG of 36.

Engine	Combined MPG	City MPG	Highway MPG
2.0	28	34	36

2012 – 2019

The 2012 – 2019 Volkswagen Passat with a 1.5L gasoline engine has a combined MPG of 47, a city MPG of 39, and a highway MPG of 58. The 2.0 diesel has a combined MPG of 34, a city MPG of 30, and a highway MPG of 42. The 2.5L has a combined MPG of 28, a city MPG of 22, and a highway MPG of 32. The 3.6L has a combined MPG of 22, a city MPG of 19, and a highway MPG of 28.

Engine	Combined MPG	City MPG	Highway MPG
1.5	47	39	58
2.0	34	30	42
2.5	28	22	32
3.6	22	19	28

What’s The Gas Tank Size Of A Volkswagen Passat?

The 2012 – 2019 Volkswagen Passat has an 18.5 gallon (70 liters) tank for gasoline and diesel engines. This includes a reserve tank of 2.1 gallons (8 liters). The 2019 – present-day Passat has an 18.6 gallon (70 liters) tank with a variable amount of fuel in the reserve tank.

How Much Does It Cost To Fill Up A Volkswagen Passat?

On average, it will cost $58,90 to fill up a Volkswagen Passat produced in 2012 and has a gasoline engine. Mississippi is the cheapest state to fill up a Passat with an average cost of $51,61 for gasoline and $54,17 for diesel. California is the most expensive state, with an average of $81,34 per tank for gasoline and $81,10 for diesel.

Sources

• Ownersmanualvw.com
• Fueleconomy.gov
• AAAGas.com