Checking and topping up fluids157
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Engine oilGeneral notesWe recommend that you have the oil change carried out by an
Audi R8 dealership or qualified workshop according to the intervals
stated in the Service Schedule or according to the service interval
display in the instrument cluster.
Whether your vehicle is serviced at flexible service intervals or fixed
service intervals is shown in the Service Schedule.
The correct oil specifications for your engine are listed in the Te c h -
nical data section ⇒page 198, “Performance, weights and dimen-
sions”.
Check that the specifications quoted (VW standards) appear on the
container either singly or in combination with other specifications.
Flexible service intervals (LongLife Service*)
Special engine oils ⇒page 198, “Performance, weights and dimen-
sions” have been developed as part of the Audi LongLife Service
(⇒“Service Schedule”).
This type of oil must be used if you intend to take advantage of the
extended maintenance intervals allowed by Audi's LongLife Service.•
Do not mix the LongLife oil with oil intended for fixed service
intervals, as the requirements for the extended service intervals are
then no longer guaranteed.
•
In exceptional circumstances, if the engine oil level is too low
⇒page 157 and you cannot obtain the specified LongLife oil, you
can put in a small quantity of oil for fixed service intervals -
⇒page 198, “Performance, weights and dimensions”. This should
not be done more than once and no more than 0.5 litres should be
used.Fixed service intervals (Inspection Service*)
If you do not take advantage of the LongLife service for your car, you
can use the oils for fixed service intervals - ⇒page 198, “Perform-
ance, weights and dimensions”. In this case, your car must be serv-
iced after a fixed interval of 1 year / 15,000 km (10,000 miles) – see
Service Schedule.
•
In exceptional circumstances, if the engine oil level is too low
⇒page 157 and you cannot obtain the oil specified for your vehicle,
you can put in a small quantity of oil conforming to the specification
ACEA A2 or ACEA A3. This should not be done more than once and
no more than 0.5 litres should be used.
Checking the oil level
Fig. 117 Instrument
cluster: Engine oil
temperature displayFig. 118 Markings on
oil dipstick
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Checking and topping up fluids 158
Checking oil level
– Warm up the engine by driving the vehicle until the oil
temperature shown in the instrument cluster is between
100 °C and 110 °C ⇒page 157, fig. 117.
– Park your vehicle on a level surface.
– Allow the warm engine to run for about two minutes at
idling speed.
– Switch off the engine and wait for two minutes.
– Check the oil level using the dipstick ⇒page 157,
fig. 118.
Oil level in area
–Do not top up oil.
Oil level in area
– Add 1 litre of oil ⇒page 158. After topping up the oil level
should be in area .Depending on how you drive and the conditions in which the car is
used, oil consumption can be up to 1.0 ltr./1000 km. Oil consump-
tion is likely to be higher for the first 5000 km.
Topping up the engine oil
–Unscrew cap
from oil filler opening ⇒fig. 119.
– Top up carefully using the correct oil ⇒page 198.
– Check the oil level again ⇒page 157.
– Top up with oil if necessary.
– Replace the oil filler cap carefully and push the dipstick
all the way in.
WARNING
•
Ensure that no oil comes into contact with hot engine compo-
nents when topping up: this could cause a fire.
•
Wash your skin thoroughly if it comes into contact with engine
oil.Caution
•
The oil level must never be above area , as this may result in
damage to the catalytic converter or to the engine. Contact a quali-
fied workshop to extract the engine oil if necessary.
AaAbAa
Fig. 119 Engine
compartment: Engine
oil filler cap
Aa
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Checking and topping up fluids 160Checking coolant level
Be careful when checking the coolant.– Switch off the ignition.
– Cover the cap on the expansion tank with a cloth, and
carefully unscrew the cap anti-clockwise ⇒.
– Read off the coolant level on the inside of the radiator
expansion tank ⇒fig. 120. When the engine is cold it
must be above the “min” mark. When the engine is hot it
may be slightly above the marked area.The expansion tank is located in the engine compartment on the
right. Its location is also shown in the illustration of the engine
compartment ⇒page 156.
The coolant level should be checked with the engine switched off.
The coolant level is monitored by a warning lamp in the instrument
cluster ⇒page 35. However, we recommend that it should be
checked occasionally.
Coolant losses
Any loss of coolant normally indicates a leak in the cooling system.
In this case the cooling system should be inspected by a qualified workshop without delay. It is not sufficient merely to top up the
coolant.
If there are no leaks in the system, a loss of coolant can only occur
if the coolant boils and is forced out of the system as a result of
overheating.
WARNING
•
The cooling system is under pressure. Do not unscrew the cap
on the expansion tank when the engine is hot: you could be
scalded by escaping steam
•
The coolant and coolant additive can be a health hazard. Store
the coolant additive in the original container in a safe place out of
reach of children – risk of poisoning.Caution
Radiator sealants must not be added to the coolant. Such additives
could seriously impair the function of the cooling system.Topping up the coolant– Add coolant.
– Turn the cap clockwise until it engages.Make sure that the coolant meets the required specifications
⇒page 159, “Coolant”. Do not use a different type of additive if anti-
freeze additive G12++ is not available. In this case use only water
and bring the coolant concentration back up to the correct level as
soon as possible by putting in the specified additive.
Always top up with fresh, unused coolant.
Fill up only to the top edge of the marked area. Excess coolant is
forced out of the system through the valve in the filler cap when the
engine gets hot.
Fig. 120 Engine
compartment: Mark-
ings on radiator expan-
sion tank
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Index 204
Red symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Service interval display . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Yellow symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Driver messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Unleaded fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Driving away on a slope
hill hold assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Driving safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Driving time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Dry sump lubrication system . . . . . . . . . 137
Dust filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
EElectric fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Electric seat adjustment
SeeSeat adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Electric voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Possible malfunctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Electrical socket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Electronic differential lock . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Electronic immobiliser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Electronic stabilisation program . . . . . . 132
Emission control systems . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Emissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196Engine compartment
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Engine compartment layout . . . . . . . . . . 156
Engine data
SeePerformance, weights and
dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Engine hood
SeeEngine lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Engine lid
Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Checking oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Dry sump lubrication system . . . . . . . 137
LongLife Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Temperature gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Topping up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
See alsoPerformance, weights and
dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Engine oil capacity
SeePerformance, weights and
dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Engine oil pressure (too low) . . . . . . . . . . 36
Engine oil sensor defective . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Environmental compatibility . . . . . . . . . . 139
Environmental tips
Filling the tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Leaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Warming up the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
EPC warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16ESP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
See alsoElectronic stabilisation program
132
Ethanol fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
FFilling the tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Releasing the tank flap manually . . . 154
First-aid kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Floor mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Foreign countries
SeeDriving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Four-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Front passenger
SeeSitting position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Fuel
Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Current consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Ethanol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Fuel gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Fuel level low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Fuel consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Fuel gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Fuel range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Fuses
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Fuse list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
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Index 206Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Switching on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Locking and unlocking the vehicle from in-
side
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Locking passenger's door manually . . . . . 46
Long periods of non-use
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
LongLife Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Luggage compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Luggage lid
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Manual release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48MMain beam headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52, 56
Make-up mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Manual operation
Fuel tank flap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Luggage lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Maximum speed
SeePerformance, weights and
dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Menu button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Menu display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Menu, changing settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Mileage recorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Mirrors
Anti-dazzle setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Automatic anti-dazzle exterior mirrors 64
Automatic anti-dazzle interior mirror . 63
Exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Interior mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Make-up mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Mobile phones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
NNatural leather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
No R gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38OOctane rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Oil
SeeEngine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Oil consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Oil dipstick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
On-board computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Opening
Engine lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Outside temperature display . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9PPaint damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Paint No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196Parking
R tronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Parking aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Parking lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Parking the car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Pedals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Performance figures
SeePerformance, weights and
dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Performance, weights and dimensions . 198
Personalised remote control key . . . . . . . 41
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Polishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Pollen filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Pollution filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Power steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Pressure (tyres) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
QQuartz clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
quattro
SeeFour-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136RR tronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Backup programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Kick-down feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Launch control programme . . . . . . . . . 93
Manual mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Steering wheel with paddle levers . . . 93
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Index 208Tyre pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167, 172
Tyre pressure monitoring system . . . . . 172
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 36
Tyre repair kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Tyres
Inflation pressures . . . . . . . . . . . 167, 172
Tread wear indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Tyre pressure monitoring system . . . 172
Tyre service life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167UUniversal transmitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Unleaded fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44VVehicle battery
SeeBattery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Vehicle data sticker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Vehicle identification data . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Vehicle identification number . . . . . . . . . 196
Vehicles with automatic gearshift
SeeR tronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Voltmeter display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
WWarning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Alternator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Anti-lock brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Audi magnetic ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Clutch overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Electronic differential lock . . . . . . . . . . 19
Electronic stabilisation program . . . . . 16
Emission control system . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Engine management (EPC) . . . . . . . . . . 16
No R gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Rear spoiler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Red symbols in central display . . . . . . 33
Seat belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Selector lever defective . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Tyre pressure monitoring system . 16, 36
Yellow symbols in central display . . . . 33
Warning triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Washer fluid level low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Washing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Waxing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Weights
SeePerformance, weights and
dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Wheel imbalance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147, 166
Rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166Windows
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Defrosting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
De-icing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Windows (electric)
SeeElectric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Windscreen washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Windscreen wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Changing blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Service position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Winter conditions
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Care of vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Cooling system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Defrost function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
De-icing windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Snow chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Windscreen washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Winter operation
Seat heating (air conditioner) . . . . . . . 80
Winter tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Wiper and washer system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Wiper blades
SeeWindscreen wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
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