2008 AUDI S6 maintenance

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& WARNING
B efo re you c heck anythin g in th e engine comp artme nt, a lways
r e ad and heed all WARNING S
~ & in "Workin g in the en gine
co mp art m ent " o n page 297. •
Engine oil
Engine oil specifications
The engine oil used in your Audi needs the right kind of
oil.
The engine in your Audi is a sophisticated powerplant that was built
to exacting specifications. This engine needs the right kind of
engine oil that meets specifications regarding quality and viscosity
so that it can run smoothly and reliably . Choos ing the right oil and
changing oil within the time and mileage intervals printed in your
vehic le's Maintenance
& Warranty booklet matters a lot more today
than it did years ago. Audi has developed a special quality standard for engine oil that will help assure that your vehicle's engine will get
t he lubr ication it needs for proper operation .
Modern engine lubrication has taken a quantum leap in the last few
years . Many synthetic oi ls availab le today provide better engine
lubrication that can outlast traditional petroleum-based oils,
making them a smart choice for use throughout the life of your Audi.
Whether you use synthetic or petroleum -based engine oi l, the oi l
that you use must conform to Audi's oi l quality standard VW 502 00
t o help keep your vehicle's engine running smoo th ly and help
prevent the formation of harmful deposits, sometimes called
"s ludge," that over time can lead to expensive repairs.
At the time of printing, engine oi ls avai lable in the U.S. and Canada
that meet the exacting specifications of Audi oil standard VW 502 00
are synthetic engine oils . This does not mean, however, that every synthetic engine oil will meet Audi oil standard VW 502 00
. So
a lways be sure tha t you use an approved o il.
To help prevent the formation of harmful deposits use only oil with
the fo llowing specifications printed on the oil container:
Audi oil standard VW 50 2 00
Oil container labels may carry the specification singly or in combi ­
nation with other designa tions and oil quality standards .
Viscosity
Engine oils are graded according to their viscosity. The proper
viscosity grade oi l for your engine depends on c limactic or seasona l
conditions where you drive. You can use oil with a viscosity grade of
SAE 5W40 across all temperature ranges for normal driving condi ­
tions .
However, if engine oil viscosity grade SAE 5W40 is not available, you
can a lso use viscos ity grade SAE 5W-30 or SAE 0W -40 as long as it
meets Audi oil qua lity standard VW 502 00 specifications .
Because engine o il that meets the Audi o il standard may not be
avai lable everywhere when you need it, we strongly recommend
that you a lways carry with you an extra quart (l iter) of oil that
express ly conforms to the VW 502 00 specification, in case you have
to top off the oil while on the road .
Only if the level of the o il is at or be low the minimum mark on the
oi l dipstick - and no oil that expressly conforms to Audi oi l standard
VW 502 00 specifica tions is avai lable -may you top off wit h a high
quality engine oi l, preferably synthetic-based, that meets ACEA A3,
ACEA A5 or ACEA 85, AP I SL or ILSAC GF -3 spec ifications, but even
then, only in viscosity grades SAE 5W-40 , SAE 5W -30, or SAE 0W -40 .
However, during the enti re time between oi l cha nge interva ls, never
top off with more than a total of 0.5 qt/ liter engine oi l that does not
conform to Audi oil specification VW 502 00.
For more information about engine oi l that has bee n approved for
your vehicle, p lease contact either your authorized Audi dea ler or
Audi C ustomer Relations at 1 (800) 822 -2834 or visit our web site at
www.audiusa.com or www.audicanada.ca . Here you will a lso find a .._
Vehicle care I t •

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current list of oils (manufacturers, brand names etc.) that conform
t o Audi oi l standard VW 502 00 .
Changin g the engine oil
The engine oil and oil filter must be changed according to the
mi leage (ki lometers) and time intervals specified in your vehicle's
Maintenance
& Warranty booklet. Do not exceed these interva ls -
harmful deposits from old engine oil can reduce engine perfor­
mance and can lead to expensive engine repairs.
Changing the oi l at the recommended intervals is so very important
because the lubricating prope rties of oi l decrease gradual ly during
normal vehicle use . If you are not sure when you have your oil
changed, ask your author ized Audi Serv ice Advisor.
Under some circumstances the engine oil should even be changed
more frequently. Change oil more often if you dr ive mostly short
distances, operate the vehicle in dusty areas or mostly under stop ­
and -go t raffic conditions, or when you use your vehicle where
temperatures stay be low freezing point for long per iods.
Detergent additives in the oil will make fresh oil look dark after the
engine has been running for a short time . This is normal and is not
a reason to change the oil more often than recommended.
Damag e or malfunctions due to lack o f mainten anc e
It is essentia l that you change your oi l at the recommended interva ls
using on ly engine oil that complies with Audi oil standard
VW 502 00. Your Limited New Vehicle Warranty does not cover damage or ma lfunctions due to failure to follow recommended
main tenance and use requirements as set forth in the Aud i Owner's
Manual and Maintenance
& Warranty booklet. Your dealer wi ll have
t o deny warranty cove rage unless you present to the dealer p ro o f in
the form of Service or Repair Orders that all schedu led maintenance
was pe rformed in a timely manner. •
Engine oil consumption
The engine in your vehicle depends on an adeq uate
amount of oil t o lubric ate and c ool all of its m oving parts.
In order to provide effective lubrication and coo ling of interna l
engine components, al l interna l combustio n eng ines consume a
certain amount of oil. Oil consumption varies from engine to engine
and may change significant ly over the life of the engine . Typ ically,
engines with a specified break-in period (see=> page 267) consume
more oil du ring the break-in period than they consume after oil
consumption has stabi lized .
Unde r normal conditions, the rate of oil consumption depends on
the quality and v iscosity of the oil, the RPM (revolutions per minute)
at which the engine is operated, the ambient temperature and road
cond itions. Fur ther factors are the amount of oil di lu tion from wate r
condensation or fue l residue and the oxidation leve l of the oi l. As
any engine is subject to wear as mileage bu ilds up, t he oil consump ­
tion may increase over time until replacement of worn components
may become necessa ry .
With all these variables coming into play, no standard rate o f oi l
consumption can be established or specified . There is no alternative
t o regula r and frequent checking of the oil level, see
Note .
If the yel low engine oil level warning symbo l in the instrument
clus ter lights up, yo u should check the oil level as soon as
possible with the oil dipstick=> page 301. Top off the oil at your
ea rliest convenience => page 302 .
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment , always
read and heed all WARNING S
=> & in "Working in the engine
compartment " on
page 297.

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Oil level within range
©
- You must add oil. Afterwards, the oil level should be
within range@.
The oil level needs to be checked at regular intervals. The best times
to do this are whenever you refuel and prior to long tr ips. •
Adding engine oil 'l:::1':
Fig. 234 Engine
compartment: Oil filler
cap locat ion
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS~ & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 297.
Unscrew the cap ~ fig. 234.
Carefully top off with the appropriate o il in 0.5 liter doses.
- Check the oil level again after two minutes ~
page 301.
Top off the oil again, if necessary.
Screw the cap back on the filling hole and slide the o il
dipstick in as far as it will go.
& WARNING
• While topping off, the oil must not come in contact with hot
engine parts -fire hazard!
• The oil filler cap must be properly secured to prevent oil from
being sprayed on the hot engine and exhaust system when the
engine is running -fire hazard!
• If your skin has come in contact with the engine oil , you must
subsequently cleanse it thoroughly.
0 Note
• T he oil level must not be above range @- danger of converter or
engine damage! Contact an au thorized dealership to draw off oil, if
necessary .
• Audi does not recommend the use of oil additives. They may
damage the engine and adversely affect your New Vehicle Warranty.
• Under no circumstances can the oil come in contact with the
sewage network or the soil.
• Observe and follow legal regulations when disposing of empty
oi l containers .•
Changing the engine oil
We recommend that have your oil changed by an autho­
rized Audi dealer or a qualified service station .
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always read
and heed all WARNINGS ~
& in "Working in the engine compart ­
ment" on
page 297.
The engine oil must be changed according to the intervals specified
in your Maintenance
& Warranty booklet. This is very important ...

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T he fluid level may drop slightly after some time due to the auto­
m atic adjustment of the brake pads. This is not cause for alarm .
If the brake fluid level fal ls
considerably below the "MIN" mark , the
brake warning/indicator light (U.S. models :
BRAKE, Canadian models:
{(j))) will come on~ page 23 and ~ page 32. Do not continue to
operate the vehic le. The complete brake system should be thor ­
oughly checked by an authorized Audi dealer or other qua lified
facili ty and the cause corrected . If the brake fluid level is too low, the
brake warning/indicator l ight will illuminate. Contact an au thorized
Audi dea ler
immediate ly .•
Changing brake fluid
Have the brake fl uid changed by an experienced techni­
ci an.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air. If the water content in the
brake fluid is too h igh, corrosion in the brake system may result
after a period of time. The boiling point of the brake fluid will also
decrease considerab ly and decrease braking performance .
Therefore , the brake fluid must be changed
e v ery tw o year s. Always
use new brake fluid which conforms to Federal Motor Vehic le Stan ­
dard "FMVSS 116 DOT 4".
T he brake fluid res ervoir can b e difficult to reach, th erefore, we
recommend that you have the brake fluid changed by your autho ­
rized
Audi de aler . Your dealer has the correct tools, the right brake
fl uid and the know -how to do t his fo r you .
& WARNING
• Brake fluid is poi sonous . It mu st be stored onl y in the clo sed
o riginal cont ainer out of the rea ch of children!
• Brake failure c an re sult from old or inappropri ate br ake flu id .
Obs erv e the se pre caution s:
& WAR N IN G (c ontinued )
-Use only brake fluid that meet s SAE specification J 1703 and
c onfo rm s to Feder al Moto r Vehicle St andard 116 . Al wa ys check
w ith your authori zed Audi dealer to make sure you are u sin g
the corre ct b rake flu id. The cor rect type of br ake fluid is als o
indic ated on the brake fl uid reservoir .
- The brake fluid mus t be ne w. Heav y use of th e brake s can
ca use a vapor lock if the bra ke fluid i s left in the sy stem too
long . Thi s can seriou sly affect the efficiency of the brake s as
w ell as your s afety . This could r esult in an a ccident .
0 Note
Brake fluid will damage the paint of your vehicle .
Because of the p rob lem of proper disposal of brake fluid as well as
the special too ls required and the necessary expertise, we recom­
mend that you have the brake fluid changed by your authori zed Audi
dea ler .•
Battery
General information
Und er n ormal operating conditions, the battery in your Audi does
not need any maintenance. With
high outside temperatures or long
daily drives we recommend that you have the electrolyte level
checked by a se rvice facility . The e lectrolyte level should a lso be
checked each time the battery is charged~
page 310 .
Have the batte ry checked when you take your vehic le in for service.
You are well advised to replace a battery that is o lder than 5 years . _,,
Vehicle care I t •

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Tire pressure
Incorrect tire pressure causes premature wear and can cause
sudden tire blow-out. For this reason, tire pressure must be checked
at least once a month~
page 319.
Driving style
Driving fast around curves, heavy acceleration and hard braking
increase tire wear.
Rotating tires for more even wear
For all four tires on your vehicle to have the same service life, we
recommend that the front and rear tires are rotated according to the
tire manufacturer's suggested tire rotation intervals. Please remember the following:
• Tire rotation intervals may differ from the vehicle service inter­
vals outlined in your Maintenance and Warranty Booklet.
• The longer one tire is used in one location on the vehicle, the
more it wears at certain points; therefore, we recommend that you
follow the tire manufacturer's suggested tire rotation intervals.
• Vehicles with front-wheel drive experience more tread wear on
the front wheels compared to all-wheel drive (quattro®l .
• Please rotate tires as shown ~
page 323, fig. 243.
• Extra care must be taken when rotating direction -specific tires
~ page 344.
Wheel balancing
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced. However, various situa­
tions during everyday driving can cause them to become unbal ­
anced, resulting in vibrations you can usually feel through the
steering wheel.
Unbalanced wheels must be rebalanced to avoid excessive wear on
steering, suspension and tires. A wheel must also be rebalanced
when a new tire is installed.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment can cause excessive tire wear, impairing
the safety of the vehicle. If tires show excessive wear, have the
wheel alignment checked by an authorized Audi dealer or qualified
workshop.
All Wheel Drive
Vehicles with quattro® must always have tires of the same size, construction and tread type. For details see~
page 264.
& WARNING
Sudden tire failure can lead to loss of control, a crash and serious
personal injury!
• Never drive a vehicle when the tread on any tire is worn down
to the wear indicators.
• Worn tires are a safety hazard, they do not grip well on wet
roads and increase your risk of "hydroplaning" and loss of control.
• Always keep chemicals that can cause tire damage, such as
grease, oil, gasoline and brake fluid away from tires.
• Tires age even if they are not being used and can fail suddenly,
especially at high speeds. Tires that are more than 6 years old can
only be used in an emergency and then with special care and at
lower speeds.
• Never mount used tires on your vehicle if you are not sure of
their "previous history." Old used tires may have been damaged
even though the damage cannot be seen that can lead to sudden
tire failure and loss of vehicle control. •

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General information
Explanation of technical data
Some of the technical data listed in this manual requires
further explanation.
The technical data for your vehicle is listed in the charts starting on
~ page 363. This section provides general information, notes and
restrictions which app ly to this data. •
Vehicle identification
The key data is given on the vehicle identification number
(VIN) pla te and the vehicle data st icker.
F ig. 269 Ve hicl e Id enti ­
fi ca tion Number (V IN)
pl ate : lo cation on
d riv er 's s ide das h
pan el F
ig . 2 70 The vehi cle
i d e ntifi cat ion la be l -
i nside the lug gag e
com partm ent
The Vehicle Id enti fication Numb er (V IN)
is located on the driver's side so that it is visible from the outside
through the windshield ~ fig . 269 .
The veh icle i de ntifi cat ion lab el
is located in the luggage compar tment near the battery.
The label~ fig. 270 shows the following vehic le data :
0 Production control No.
0 Vehicle identification No.
G) Type code number
© Type designation/engine output in Ki lowatts
@ Engine and transmission code letter
© Paint No./lnterior
0 Optiona l equipment No.'s
Vehicle data 2 to 7 are also found in your Maintenance
& Warranty
booklet.
Th e s afet y co mpli ance sti cker
is your assurance that your new vehicle complies with a ll app licable
Federa l Motor Vehicle Safety Standards which were in effect at the
time the vehicle was manu factured. You can find this sticker on the
left door jamb . It shows the month and year of production and the .._

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standards. Therefore, vehicles built for the U.S .A. and Canada differ
from vehicles sold in other countries.
If you plan to take your vehicle outside the continental limits of the
United States or Canada, there is the possibility that
• unleaded fuels for vehicles with catalytic converter may not be
available;
• fuel may have a considerably lower octane rating. Improper fuel
may cause engine damage;
• service may be inadequate due to lack of proper service facilities,
tools or testing equipment;
• replacement parts may not be readily available .
• Navigation systems for vehicles built for the U.S.A. and Canada
will not necessarily work in Europe , and may not work in other coun­
tries outside of North America.
0 Note
Audi cannot be responsible for mechanical damage that could
result from inadequate fuel , service or parts availability .•
Audi Service Repair Manuals and
Literature
Audi Official Factory Service Manuals are published as soon as
possible after model introduction. Service manuals are available
from :
Audi Technical Literature Ordering Center
Call toll -free:
Tel.: 1 (800) 544-8021
(from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, EST, Monday through Friday)
or access their website www.audi.ddsltd.com on the Internet to
order repair manuals and other Audi literature. •
Maintenance
General
Your vehicle has been designed to help keep maintenance require­
ments to a minimum. However, a certain amount of regular mainte­
nance is still necessary to assure your vehicle 's safety, economy and
reliability. For detailed vehicle maintenance consult your Mainte­
nance & Warranty booklet .
Under difficult operating conditions, for example at extremely low
outside temperatures, in very dusty regions, when towing a trailer
very frequently, etc., some service work should be performed
between the intervals specified. This applies particularly to:
• oil changes , and
• cleaning or replacing the air filter.
~ For the sake of the environment
By regularly maintaining your vehicle, you help make sure that emis ­
sion standards are maintained, thus minimizing adverse effects on
the environment. •
Important considerations for you and your
vehicle
The increasing use of electronics, sophisticated fuel injection and
emission control systems, and the generally increasing technical
complexity of today's automobiles, have steadily reduced the scope
of maintenance and repairs which can be carried out by vehicle
owners. Also, safety and environmental concerns place very strict
limits on the nature of repairs and adjustments to engine and trans­
mission parts which an owner can perform.
Maintenance, adjustments and repairs usually require special tools,
testing devices and other equipment available to specially trained .,_

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workshop personne l in order to assure proper performance, reli ­
abil ity and sa fe ty of the vehicle a nd i ts many sys te m s.
I mproper maintenance, adjustments and repairs can impair the
operation and reliabil ity of your vehicle and even void your vehicle
war ra nty. T here fore, proof o f serv ic ing in accorda nce with the main ­
tenance schedule may be a condition for uphold ing a possible
war ra nty claim made withi n th e warranty per iod .
Above all, operat ional safety can be adverse ly affected, creating
unnece ssary risks fo r you and you r passengers .
If in doubt about a ny servici ng, have it do ne by your authorized Aud i
dea ler or any other properly equipped and qua lified workshop. We
str ongly u rge you to give your auth orized Audi dealer the oppo rtu ­
nity to perform al l scheduled maintenance and necessary repairs.
You r deale r has the facil ities, origi nal par ts and trained special is ts
to keep your vehic le running proper ly.
Performing limited maintenance yourself
T he fo llow ing pages describe a limited numbe r of procedures which
can be perfo rme d on you r vehicle wi th ordi nary too ls, should the
need arise and trained personne l be unavailab le. Before performing
any of these proced ures, always thor oug hly read a ll of th e appli­
cable text and carefu lly fo llow the instructions given. Always rigor ­
ously observe the WARNINGS provided.
Before you check anything in the engine compartment , alway s read
and heed all WARNINGS:::>
& and:::> & in "Wo rking in the engine
compartment" on
page 297.
& WARNING
• Ser ious persona l injury may occur as a result of improperly
performed maintenance , adjustments or repairs.
• Always be e xtremely careful when working on the vehicle .
Always follow commonly accepted safety practices and general
c ommon sense . Never ri sk per sonal injury .
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first
Vehicle operation
& WARNING (continued )
• Do not attempt any of the maintenance , checks or repairs
described on the following pages if you are not fully familiar with
these or other pro cedures with respect to the vehicle , or are uncer­
tain how to proceed.
• Do not do any work without the proper tools and equipment.
Have the necessary work done by your autho rized Audi dealer or
another properly equipped and qualified workshop .
• The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a potentially
hazardous area . Never reach into the area around or touch the
radiator fan . It i s temperature controlled and can switch on
suddenly - even when the engine is off and the ignition key has
been removed . The radiator fan switche s on automatically when
the coolant reaches a certain tempe rature and will continue to run
until the coolant temperature drops .
• Always remove the ignition key before anyone gets under the
vehicle.
• Always support your vehicle with safety stands if it is neces­
sary to work underneath the vehicle. The jack supplied with the
vehicle is not adequate for this purpose and could collapse
causing serious personal injury .
• If you must work underneath the vehicle with the wheels on
the ground, always make sure the vehicle is on level ground , that
the wheels are always securely blocked and that the engine
cannot be started .
• Always make sure the transmission selector lever (automatic
transmission) is in "P " (Park position) and the park br ake is firmly
appl ied .
ffi For the sake of the environment
• Changing the engine settings wi ll adverse ly affect emission
leve ls. T his is detrimenta l to the envi ro nmen t and i ncreas es fu el
consumption.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Tec hn ica l da ta