2008 AUDI A4 AVANT Owners Manual

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soiling, etc.I, you will need to be somewhat careful with these
leathers, and a certain type of care is required. For example, dark
clothing materials can discolor leather seats (especially if such
clothing is damp and was not dyed correctly). Dust and dirt particles
in pores, folds, and seams can have an abrasive effect and can
damage the leather surface as well as weaken seams.
The leather shou ld be c leaned regularly as needed. After having
been used for a relatively long time, your leather seats will acquire
a rich aged finish . This is a characteristic of natural leather and a
sign of true quality.
In order to maintain the value of this natural product over the life of
your vehic le , you should fo llow the recommendations below:
0 Note
• To keep your leather from bleaching out, do not allow it to be
exposed to bright sunlight for long periods of time. If you have to
leave the vehicle parked outside for long periods, cover the leather
to protect it from direct exposure to sunlight.
• Sharp objects on c lothing, such as zippers, rivets or sharp pieces
on belts can leave permanent scratches or scrape marks on the
surface of the leather.
[ i ] Tips
• After each time you clean the leather and at regu lar intervals, use
a leather preservative creme that contains UV -blockers and that
works into the leather. This creme wil l nourish and moisturize the
leather, helping it to breathe and stay supple . It also helps to build
up a protective coating on the surface .
• Clean the leather every 2 -3 months, and clean any areas that get
soiled.
• Remove fresh marks made by ballpoint pens, ink, lipstick, shoe
polish, etc . as soon as possible.
• Preserve the color of the leather as needed by using a special
colored leather care creme to touch up areas of uneven color .•
• I I • • I
Ap plies to veh ic les : wi th n atural leat her
Cleaning and caring for leather upholstery
and trim
Natural leather requires special care and attention.
Normal cleaning
-Clean soiled areas with a slightly moistened cotton or
woolen cloth.
More stubborn dirt
-More stubborn dirt can be removed using a cloth satu­
rated with a mild soap solution (2 tablespoons mild
liquid soap).
-Never allow the soap solution to saturate the leather, and
make certain that no water soaks into the seams.
Wipe off the soap solution with a soft, dry cloth .
Cleaning spots
-Remove fresh water-based spots (such as coffee, tea,
juices, blood) with an absorbent cloth or paper towel.
-Remove fresh grease or oil-based spots (such as butter,
mayonnaise, chocolate) with an absorbent cloth or paper
towel, or use the cleaner from the leather care kit if the
spot has not yet penetrated into the surface of the
leather.
-Use an oil/grease dissolving spray, if oil/grease spots
have dried on.
-Remove specific kinds of spots (ballpoint pen, felt
marker, fingernail polish, water-based paint, shoe polish,
etc.) with a spot remover specifically formulated for
leather. _.,
Vehicle care

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Leather care
- Every half year use an approved leather care product
(available from your Audi dealer) to care for the leather.
- Apply the product very sparingly .
- Wipe it off with a damp cloth.
If you have any questions about cleaning and caring for the leather
in your vehicle, it is best to contact your authorized Audi dealer, who
will be glad to help you and tell you about our full range of leather
care products, such as:
• Leather cleaning and care kit
• Cremes to care for colored leather
• Spot removers for ballpoint pens, shoe polish, etc.
• Oil/grease dissolving spray
• New and upcoming products.
_& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 254.
0 Note
• Never use chemical solvents (e.g. lighter fluid, turpentine),
waxes, shoe polish or similar products on the leather surfaces in
your Audi.
• To avoid damage, have stubborn stains removed by a commer­
cial cleaning specialist. •
Applies to vehi cles : wi th A lcanta ra up hols te ry
Cleaning Alcantara ® (synthetic suede)
Removing dust and dirt
- Moisten a cloth,
squeeze out excess water and wipe down
the seat surfaces.
Removing stains
- Moisten a cloth with lukewarm water or with diluted
ethyl (rubbing) alcohol.
- Dab at the stain. Start at the outside and work inwards.
- Once the stain is no longer visible, use a soft dry cloth or
tissue to soak up the moisture.
Do not use leather cleaning products on Alcantara.
You may use a suitable shampoo for removing dust and dirt.
Dust and grit in the pores and seams can scratch and damage the
surface. If the car is left standing in the sun for long periods, the
leather should be protected against direct sunlight to prevent it
from fading. Slight color variations will develop in normal use and
are not an indication of material deterioration .
0 Note
• Never use chemical solvents (e .g . lighter fluid, turpentine) ,
waxes, shoe polish or similar products on Alcantara ® surfaces.
• To avoid damage, have stubborn stains removed by a commer­
cial cleaning specialist.
• Do not use brushes, stiff sponges or similarly abrasive cleaning
aids. •

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Safety belts
Only well-maintained safety belts work reliably when
needed.
- Keep belts clean.
- For cleaning, use a mild soap and water solution. Let
belts dry thoroughly and away from direct sunlight.
- Do not allow inertia reel safety belts to retract before
they are completely dry.
- Check the condition of your safety belts
regularly.
Heavily soiled safety belts may not retract properly.
& WARNING
Damaged safety belts can break in a crash.
• Anything that might damage your safety belts could mean that
you and your passengers would not be adequately protected in an
accident.
• Safety belt performance depends on correct installation. Never
remove belts from the vehicle to clean them.
• Do not use chemical cleaning agents, bleach or dyes. They have
corrosive properties which weaken the webbing.
• When cleaning your safety belts, inspect them for damage. If
you discover damage, see your Audi dealer.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
=> page 254. •
Engine compartment
Be especially careful when cleaning the engine compart­
ment.
Always switch off the ignition before cleaning the engine => &.
Plenum panel
Remove leaves from the plenum panel in front of the windshield
under the engine hood. This prevents the water drain holes from
becoming blocked, and it prevents debris from entering the vehicle
interior through the heating and ventilation ducts .
Corrosion protection
The engine compartment and transmission have been corrosion­
protected at the factory.
Good anti-corrosion treatment is very important, particularly in the
winter. If the vehicle is frequently driven on salt treated roads, the
entire engine compartment and plenum panel should be thor ­
oughly cleaned at the end of winter and retreated to prevent salt
damage. At the same time, the underside of the vehicle should be
washed as well.
If the engine compartment is cleaned at any time with grease
removing solutions
21 , or if you have the engine washed , the anti­
corrosion treatment is almost always removed as well. It is therefore
essential to have a long-lasting corrosion protection reapplied to all
surfaces, seams, joints and components in the engine compart ­
ment.
& WARNING
Be aware: the engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a
potentially hazardous area.
• Before working in the engine compartment, be sure to read the
information
=> page 265 . .,,_
21 Use only the corr ect cleaning solutions. Never use gasoline or diesel fuel.
Vehicle care

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&, WARNING (continued)
• Before reaching into the front plenum panel, always remove the
ignition key. Otherwise, the windshield wiper system could unin ­
tentionally be switched on , possibly causing personal injury from
the moving wiper linkage .
• Never reach into the area around or touch the radiator fan. The
auxiliary fan is temperature controlled and can switch on suddenly
- even when the ignition is off.
• Do not wash, wax or dry the engine with the engine running .
Moving or hot parts could injure you .
• Do not clean the underside of the chassis , fenders , wheel
covers, or other hard to reach parts without protecting your hands
and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp-edged metal parts .
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and the information
~ page 254. •

Fuel supply and filling your fuel tank
Gasoline
Fuel supply
Using the right fuel helps keep the environment clean and
prevents engine damage.
F u el re comm end ati on
The fuel recommended for your vehic le is unle ad ed pr em ium grade
gaso line . See
a lso => page 343, "Data". Audi recommends using TOP
TIER Detergent Gaso line with a minimum octane rating of 91 AKI (95
RON). For more informat ion on TOP TIER Detergent Gaso line, p lease
go to the official website (www .toptiergas .com) .
The recommended gasoline octane rating for your engine can also be found on a label located on the ins ide of the fuel fi ller flap. This
rating may be specified as A KI o r RON .
Your vehicle may also be operated us ing u nleaded regular gasoline
with a minimum octane rating of 87 AKl/91 RO N. However, using 87
A Kl/9 1 RON octane fuel w ill sl ight ly reduce engine performance.
U se unleaded gasoline only. Unleaded gaso line is avai lable
throughout the USA, Canada, and in most European countries. We
recommend that you do not take your vehicle to areas or countr ies
where un leaded gasoline may not be available .
For more informati on on refueling yo ur vehicle,
see => page 268 .
Octan e ra ting
Octane rating indicates a gaso line's abil ity to res ist engine
damaging
" k nock" caused by premature ign ition and detonation.
Therefore, buying t he correct grade of gasoline is very i mpo rtant to
help prevent possible engine damage and a loss of engine perfor ­
mance.
Fu el supply and fillin g your fu el tank
Gasol ine most common ly used in the Un ited States and Canada has
the fo llowing octane ratings that can usua lly be found on the filler
pump :
• Premium Grade : 91 - 96 AKI
• Regu lar Grade: 87 -90 AKI
Explanation of t he abbrev iat ions:
AKI = Anti Knock Index= (R +Ml/2 = (RO N+MON)/2
RO N= R esearc h Octane Num ber
MON = M otor Octane Number .
0 Note
• Do n ot use any fue l with octane ratings l ower than 87 AKI o r 91
RO N otherwise expensive engine damage wi ll occur.
• Do
not use leaded gasoline! The use of leaded gaso line wi ll
severe ly damage your vehic le's catalytic converter and its abi lity to
co ntr ol exhaus t em issions. •
Blended gasoline
Use of ga soline containing alcohol or MTBE (m ethyl
tert iary but yl ether )
You may use unleaded gaso line blended with alcohol or MTBE
(commonly referred to as oxygenates) if the blended mixture meets
the fo llow ing criteria:
Blend of ga soline meth anol (wood alcohol or methyl alc ohol)
• Anti-knock index must be 87 AKI or higher .
• Blend must contain no more than 3% methanol.
• Blend must contain more than 2% co-solvents.
Vehicle care

Fue l su pply and fillin g yo ur fu el tank
Ble nd of g aso line and ethanol (grain alco hol or ethyl alco ho l!
• Anti-knock index must be 87 AKI or higher.
• Blend must not contain more than 10% ethanol.
Blend of ga solin e and MTBE
• Anti-knock index must be 87 AKI or higher.
• Blend must contain not more than 15% MTBE.
Sea sonall y adj usted ga soline
Many gasoline grades are blended to perform especia lly we ll for
winter or summer drivi ng . Dur ing seasona l change -over, we suggest
that you fil l up at busy gas stations where the seasonal adjustment
is more likely to be made in time .
0 Note
• Methanol fuels which do not meet these requirements may
cause corrosion and damage to plastic and rubber components in
the fue l system.
• Do not use fuels that fail to meet the specified criteria in this
chapter .
• If you are unable to determine whether or not a particu lar fuel
b lend meets the specifications, ask your service station or its fuel
supplier.
• Do not use fuel for w hich the contents ca nnot be identified.
• Fue l system damage and performance problems resulting from
t he use of fuels different fro m those specified are no t the responsi ­
bility of Audi and are not covered under the New Vehicle or the
Em ission Control System Warranties .
• If you experience a loss of fue l economy or driveabi lity and
performa nce problems due to the use of o ne of these fuel blends,
we recommend that you switch to unblended fuel. •
Gasoline additives
A major concern among many auto manufacturers is carbon
depos it build-up caused by the type of gasoline you use.
A lthough gasoline grades differ from one manufacturer to another,
they have certain things in common. All gaso line grades contain
substances that can cause deposits to co llect on vital engine parts,
such as fue l injectors and intake valves. A lthough most gaso line
brands include additives to keep engine and fue l systems clean,
they are not equal ly effective .
Audi reco mmends using TOP TIER De tergen t Gasoline. For more
information on TOP T IER Detergent Gasoline, please go to the offi ­
cia l website (www.toptie rgas .com).
After an extended period of using inadequate fuels, built-up carbon
deposits can rob your engine of peak performance .
(D Note
Damage or malfunction due to poor fuel qua lity is not covered by
the Aud i New Veh ic le Limited Warranty. •
Fuel tank
Fuel filler neck
The fue l fi ller neck is located o n the r ight rear side pane l be hin d the
fuel filler flap.
I f the power locking system shou ld fail, you can stil l open the flap
manual ly - for detai led instructions
see=> page 271 .
You can find the fuel tank capacity of your vehicle in Techni cal Dat a
=> page 343. ~

The label on the inside of the fuel filler flap tells you the correct fuel
for your vehicle . F o r m ore information abou t fuel specif ications, see
=> page 267 .
Your vehicle fue l tank has an on -board refuelling vapor recovery
system. Th is feature helps to prevent fuel vapors from escapin g
from the tank and polluting the environment wh ile you refue l your
veh ic le . I n order to fi ll the ta nk properly whi le protect ing the envi­
ronment, please follow this refueling procedure care fully .
& WARNING
Under normal operating conditions , never carry additional fuel
container s in your car. Gas canisters and other containers used to
transport fuel can be dangerous . Such conta iners , full or empty ,
may leak and could cause a fire in a collision . If you must transport
fuel to use for your lawn mower , snow blower , etc. , be very c areful
and always ob serve local and state law s regarding the u se , trans ­
port ation and storage of su ch fuel containers . Make certain the
container meets industry standards (ANSI/ASTM F852 -86 1.
0 Note
Never drive you r ve hicle unti l the fue l tank is comp le tely dry . The
irregular supply of fuel can cause misfiring . Gasoline cou ld enter
into the exha ust system and damage the catalytic c onverter. •
Fuel supply and fill ing your fuel tank
Refuelling
The fuel filler fl ap is unl ocked f rom a button in the dri ver's
door.
Fig . 2 00 Driv er's door :
Unl ocking fuel filler
flap
Fig . 201 Fu el c ap
hooked on the opened
fu el
fill er flap
When add ing fuel, the ign ition and an y cellular p hones in
t h e vehicle must be sw itched
off. .,.
Ve hic le care irechnical data

Fuel supply and filling your fuel tank
Taking the fuel cap off
- To open the fuel filler flap, pull the button~ page 269,
fig. 200.
- Unscrew fuel filler cap counter-clockwise and hang it on the fuel filler flap.
Refuelling procedure
- Insert the fuel nozzle from the gasoline pump into the
fuel filler neck as far as it will go.
- Select a medium refuelling rate so that the nozzle
switches off automatically when the tank is full.
Putting the fuel cap back on
- After filling your tank, twist the fuel filler cap clockwise
until you hear a definite click.
- Close the fuel filler flap.
To avoid fuel spilling or evaporating from the fuel tank always close
fuel filler cap properly and completely. An improperly closed fuel
filler cap may also cause the MIL lamp => page 27to come on.
& WARNING
Improper refueling or handling of fuel can cause fire, explosion
and severe burns .
• Fuel is highly flammable and can cause severe burns and other
injuries.
• Failure to shut the engine off while refueling and/or to insert
the pump nozzle fully into the car's filler neck could cause fuel
overflow and fuel spray. Fuel spray and overflowing fuel are
dangerous because they can cause fire or serious injury.
& WARNING (continued)
• Never use a cellular telephone while refueling. The electromag­
netic radiation can cause sparks that can ignite fuel vapors and
cause a fire .
• Never get back into your vehicle while refueling. If in excep­
tional circumstances you must get back in your vehicle while refu­
eling, make certain that you close the door and touch metal to
discharge static electricity before touching the filler nozzle again .
Static electricity can cause sparks that can ignite fuel vapors
released during refueling .
• Never smoke or have an open flame anywhere in or near your
vehicle when refueling or filling a portable fuel container.
• For your safety, we strongly recommend that you do not travel
with a portable fuel container in your vehicle. The container, full or
empty may leak and could cause a fire, especially in a crash.
• If, under exceptional circumstances, you must transport a
portable fuel container, please observe the following:
- Never fill a portable fuel container while it is anywhere in or
on the vehicle (for example, in the luggage compartment, or on
the trunk). Static electricity can build up while filling and can
ignite fuel vapors causing a fire.
- Always place a portable fuel container on the ground before
filling.
- Always keep the filler nozzle completely inside the portable container before and during filling.
- If filling a portable container made of metal, the filler nozzle must always be in contact with the container. This will help
prevent static electricity from discharging and cause a fire.
- Never spill fuel inside the vehicle or luggage compartment .
Fuel vapors are highly flammable.
- Always observe local and state/provincial laws regarding the
use, storage and transportation of fuel containers
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