111'1...__C_ h_ e_c _k _ i_n ..::g ,_ a_n_ d_ f_il _li _n....: g=-- --------------------------------------------
Checking and filling
Engine hood
Releasing the engine hood
The engine hood is released from inside the vehicle.
Fig. 259 Driver's side
footwell: engine hood
release lever
-Pull the release lever on the left under the instrument
panel ~ fig. 259 in the direct ion of the arrow.
The hood pops up slight ly under spring pressure. •
Opening the engine hood
Fig. 260 Release lever
under the engine hood
Before opening the engine hood, make sure that the wind
shie ld wipers are flat against the windshield. Otherwise,
they could damage the paint on the hood.
Li ft the hood
slightly~ &.
-Pull up on the release under the hood:=} fig. 260. Thi s
releases the catch.
-Open the hood all the way.
The hood is kept in the open position by two gas struts.
& WARNING
Hot engine coolant can burn you.
• To reduce the risk of being burned , never open the hood if you
see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the engine compart
ment . Wait until no steam or coolant can be seen or heard before
carefully opening the hood . •
___________________________________________ C=..:...: h:.:e :.: c:.: k.:.: i.:.: n :3:g ~ a:.:.n .:.: d::......:. f..:..:il ..:..:li .:.:n3g !._ _9I
•
Closing the engine hood
- Pull the hood down until the pressure from the struts is
reduced .
- Let the hood
drop down and latch in place. Do not try to
push it shut;
it may fail to engage =>& .
& WARNING
A hood that is not completely latched could fly up and block your
view while driving.
• When you close the engine hood, check it to make sure the
safety catch has properly engaged. The hood should be flush with
the surrounding vehicle body parts.
• If you notice while driving that the hood is not secured prop
erly, stop at once and close it. •
Working in the engine compartment
Be especially careful whenever you work in the engine
compartment.
Whenever you must perform any work in the engine compartment,
for example checking and filling different fluids, there is a risk of injury, burns and accidents. To prevent personal injury always
observe the following WARNINGS. The engine compartment of any
vehicle is a hazardous area
~ & .
& WARNING
To help avoid injury, before you check anything under the hood :
• Turn off the engine. • Remove the ignition key.
• Apply the parking brake.
• I I • • I
& WARNING (continued)
• Move selector lever to "P" (Park).
• Always let the engine cool down. Hot components will burn
skin on contact.
• To reduce the risk of being burned, never open the hood if you
see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the engine compart
ment. Wait until no steam or coolant can be seen or heard before
carefully opening the hood.
• Keep children away from the engine compartment .
• Never spill fluids on hot engine components. They can cause a
fire.
• Never touch the radiator fan. The auxiliary electric fan is
temperature controlled and can switch on suddenly.
• Never open the coolant reservoir cap when the engine is still
warm. The coolant system is pressurized and hot coolant could spray out.
• Protect your face, hands and arm from steam or hot engine
coolant by placing a thick rag over the cap when you open the
coolant reservoir.
• If work on the fuel system or the electrical system is necessary:
- Always disconnect the battery.
- Never smoke or work near heaters or open flames . Fluids in
the engine compartment could start a fire.
- Keep an approved fire extinguisher immediately available.
• To avoid electrical shock and personal injury while the engine
is running or being started, never touch:
-Ignition cables
- Other components of the high voltage electronic ignition system.
• If you must perform a check or repair with the engine running: -First, fully apply the parking brake, move selector lever to
"P"
(Park). .,_
Vehicle care
111'1...__C_ h_ e_c _k _ i_n ..::g ,_ a_n_ d_ f_il _li _n....: g=-- --------------------------------------------
& WAR N ING (continued )
-Always use extreme caution to prevent clothing , jewelry, or
long ha ir from getting caught in the radiator fan , V -belts o r
other moving parts , or from contacting hot parts . Tie back hair
before starting , and do not wear clothing that will hang or
droop into the engine .
• Minimize exposure to emis sion and chemi cal hazards
=> & .
& WARNING
Californ ia Proposition 65 W arning :
• Engine exhaust , some of its constituents , and certain vehicle
c omponents conta in or emit chemicals known to the State of Cali
fornia to cause cancer and birth defects and reproductive harm. In addition , ce rtain fluids contained in vehi cles and certa in products
of component wear contain or emit chemicals known to the State
of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reprodu c
tive harm.
• Battery posts , terminals and related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds , chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harms. Wash hands after
handling.
0 Note
When adding f luids, always make sure that they are poured into the
proper container or filler opening, othe rwise serious damage to
vehicle systems wi ll occur.
For the sake of the environment
To detect leaks in time, inspect the vehicle floor pan from under
n eath regu larly. If you see spots from oil o r o ther ve hicle flu ids, have
your vehicle ins pected
by an autho rized Audi dea ler. •
Engine compartment
Ap plies to vehi cles : wi th 8 -cy lind er e ngi ne
Engine compartment overview : 8-cylinder
engine
T hese are the m ost i mpor tant i tems th at yo u c an ch eck .
Fig. 261 Typical l ayout for containe rs, engine o il d ip stic k a nd engine oil fille r
c a p
G) Winds hield/headlight washer containe r(~ ) ...... . .
© Brake fluid reservo ir ( ) ) . . .. .. .. ...... .... ... .. .
© En gine oi l filler cap ("t::r.) .. .. .... ...... ....... . _.
© Eng ine oil d ipstick (orange) .... ..... ....... ... .. .
© Power steering reservoir ...... ....... .... .. ... .. .
© Coolant expansion tank (_ L J ... ...... .... ... .... . .
323
317
312
3 11
2 7 3
315
..
_____________________________________________ C_h_ e_ c
_ k_in --= g'-a
_ n_d _ f_il _li _n ..::g ::.-__.ffllll
& WARNING
B efor e you che ck an ything in the eng ine comp artm ent, a lw ays
read and heed all WARN ING S
~ & in "W orkin g in the engin e
c omp artment " on
page 30 7. •
Appl ies to vehicles: with 12- cy linder engine
Engine compartment overview : 1 2-cyl inder
engine
These are the most important items that you can check.
F ig . 262 Ty pi cal layout for c ontain ers, en gine oil dip st ic k a nd e ngine o il filler
ca p
G) Windshield/head light washer container ( Q ) . . . . . . . . 323
@ Brake fluid reservoir ( ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
© Engine oi l dipstick (orange) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
© Engine oil filler cap ('t=:11) .. ...... .... ... ... ... .. . .
© Coolant expansion tank (- L l ..................... .
& WARNING
Before you check anything in th e engine co mpartment , alway s
read and he ed all W ARNI NGS
~ & in "Wo rking in t he engin e
c ompartm ent " on
page 307.
[ i ] Tip s
The coolant expansion tank is located under a cover .•
Engine oil
Engine oil specifications
312
315
The engine oil us ed 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 re liably. Choosing the righ t oil and
changing oil within the time and mileage interva ls printed in your
vehicle's Warranty
& Ma intenance book let matters a lo t more today
than it did years ago. Audi has developed a special quality standard
for engine oil that wil l help assure that your vehicle's engine wi ll get
the lubrication it needs for proper operation .
Mode rn engine lubrication has taken a quantum leap in the last few
years . Many syn thetic oils available 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 oil, the oi l
that you use must conform to Audi's oi l qua lity standard VW 502 00
..,
Vehic le care I I irechnical data
___ C_ h_e _c _ k_ i_ n ~g~ a_ n_ d_ f_ i_ll _in _g~--------------------------------------------
to help keep your vehicle's engine running smoothly and help
prevent the formation of harmfu l deposits, sometimes called
"sludge, " that over time can lead to expensive repairs .
At the time of printing, engine oils available in the U.S. and Canada
that meet the exacting specificat ions of Audi oil standard VW 502 00
are synthetic engine oils. This does not mean, however, that every
synthetic engine oil will meet Audi oi l standard VW 502 00. So
a lways b e sur e that you use an approved oil.
To help prevent the formation of harmful deposits use only oi l with
the following specifications printed on the oil container :
Audi oil sta nda rd VW 502 00
Oil container labels may carry the specification singly or in combi
nation with other designations and oil quality standards.
V iscosi ty
Engine oi ls are graded according to their viscosity . The proper
viscosi ty grade oi l for your engin e depends on climactic or seasonal
conditions where you drive . You can use o il with a v iscosity grade of
SAE 5W40 across all temperature ranges for normal driving condi
tions.
However , if eng ine oil viscosity grade SAE 5W40 is not available, you
can a lso use viscosity grade SAE 5W -30 or SAE 0W -40 as long as it
meets Audi oil quality standard VW 502 00 specifications.
B ecause engin e oil that meets the Audi oi l standard may not be
avai lable everywhere when you need it, we strongly recommend
that you a lways carry with you an extra quart !liter) of oil that
express ly conforms to t he VW 502 00 specification, in case you have
to top off the oil while on the road.
Only if th e level of the oil is at or be low the minimum mark on the
oi l dipstick -and no oil that express ly conforms to Audi oi l standard
VW 502 00 specifications is avai lable -may you top off with a high
quality engine oi l, preferably synthetic -based, that meets ACEA A3,
ACEA A5 or ACEA B5, API SL or ILSAC GF -3 specifications , but even
t hen, only in viscosity grades SAE 5W -40, SAE 5W -30, or SAE 0W -40.
However, during the entire time betwe en oil change int erva ls, nev er top off with more than a total of 0
.5 qt/ liter engine oil that does not
conform to Audi oil specifica tion VW 502 00.
For more information about engine oil that has been approved for
your vehic le, please contact either your authorized Audi dealer or
Aud i Customer Relat ions at 1 (800) 822-2834 or v isit our web s ite at
www.audiusa.com or www.audicanada.ca. Here you will also find a
current list of o ils (manufacturers, brand names
etc.I that conform
to Audi oi l standard VW 502 00.
Ch an g in g t he en gin e oil
The engine oil and o il filter must be changed according to the
mileage (ki lometers) and time intervals specified in your vehic le 's
Warranty & Maintenance booklet . Do not exceed these intervals -
harmful deposits from old engin e oil can reduce engin e perfor
mance and can lead to expensive eng ine repa irs.
Changing the oil at the recommended intervals is so very impor tant
because the lubricating properties of oi l decrease gradua lly during
normal vehicle use. If you are not sure when you have your o il
changed, ask your authorized Audi Service Advisor.
Under some circumstances the eng ine oil should even be changed
mor e frequen tly . Change oil more oft en if you drive most ly short
distances, operate the vehicle in dusty areas or mostly under stop
and -go traffic conditions, or when you use your vehicle where
t emperatures stay be low freezing po int for long per iods .
Detergent add it ives in the oi l wi ll make fresh oil look dark after the
engine has be en running for a short time. This is normal and is not
a reason to change the oi l more often than recommended .
Dam age or malfun ction s du e to lack of m aint enan ce
It is essential that you change your oil 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 malfunctions due to fai lure to follow recommended
maintenance and use requirements as set forth in the Audi Owner's
Manual and Warranty
& Maintenance booklet. Your dea ler wi ll have
to deny warranty coverage un less you pr esent to the dea ler proof in
.,_
Checkin g and fillin g 1111
-------------~~~
•
the form of Service or Repair Ord ers that all scheduled maintenance
was perfo rmed in a t imely man ner. •
Engine oil consumption
The engin e in your vehicle d ep ends on an adequate
amount of oil to lubricate and cool all of its moving parts.
In order to provide effect ive lubrication and cool ing of internal
engine components, all internal combustion engines consume a
certain amount of o il. Oil consumption varies from engine to eng ine
and may change significantly over the life of the engine . Typically,
eng ines wi th a specif ied break -in period
(see => page 2771 consume
more oil during the break -in period than they consume after oi l
consumption has stabi lized .
Under normal conditions, the rate of oil consumption depends on
the quality and viscosity of the oil, the RPM (revolutions per minute)
at which the engine is operated, the ambient temperature and road
conditions. Further factors are the amount of oil dilution from water
co ndensation or fue l residue and the oxidation level of the o il. As
any engine is subject to wear as mileage builds up, the oil consump
t io n may increase over time until rep lacement of worn components
may become necessary .
With all these variables coming into play, no standard rate of oil consu mption can be estab lished or specified. T here is no a lternative
to regular and frequent checking of the oil level, see
Note .
If the yellow eng ine o il level warni ng symbol in the instrume nt
cluster ~ lights up, you should check the oil level as soon as
poss ible
with the oil dipstick => page 311 . Top off the oil at your
earliest
convenience=> page 312.
& WARNING
Bef ore you che ck anything in the eng ine comp artment , alw ay s
read and heed all WARNINGS
=> & in "Working in the engine
c ompartment " on
page 307 .
0 Note
Driving with an insuff ic ie n t o il level is l ikely to cause severe damage
to the engine.
[ i ] Tip s
• The oil pr es sure warning displ ay
regular inter vals, preferably ea ch time you refuel , and al ways before
going on a long trip.
• I f you have the impression your engine consumes excessive
amounts of oi l, we reco mmend that you consult your Audi dealer to
have the cause of your concern properly diagnosed . Keep in mind
t hat t he acc urate measureme nt of oil consump tion requ ires g reat
care and may take some time. Your Audi dealer has instructions
about how t o measure oil consumpt ion accurately. •
Checking the engine oil level
Vehicle care
Fig. 26 3 Illu stration of
prin cipl e 1: Mar ker s on
o il dip sti ck ...
-
Checking and filling
..._--=--=--------------
Fig. 264 Illustration of
principle 2: Markers on
oil dipstick
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all
WARNINGS ~ & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 307 .
Determining oil level
-Park your vehicle so that it is horizontally level.
-While at operating state temperature, briefly let the
engine run at idle and then shut it off.
-Wait approx. two minutes.
Pull out the oil dipstick. Wipe off the oil dipstick with a
clean cloth, and slide it back in as far as it will go.
-Pull it back out and read off the oil level ~ page 311,
fig. 263 or~ fig. 264. Top off the engine oil, if applicable
~ page 312.
Oil level within range @
-Do not add oil.
Oil level within range
@
-You can add oil. Afterwards, the oil level should be within
range @. 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 trips. •
Adding engin e oil 'l:::7:
Fig. 265 Oil filler cap
location: 4.2 L
8-
cylinder
Fig . 266 Oil filler cap
location : 6.0 L
12 -
cylinder
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all
WARNINGS ~ & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 307.
-Turn off the engine . .._
Checkin g and fillin g -
-----------------=-----------"'---
•
-Unsc rew the oil filler cap f rom the cylinde r head cover
=>
page 312, f ig . 265 or=> page 312, fi g. 266 .
-Carefully top off with the appropriate o il in 0.5 liter doses.
-Check the oi l level again after two minutes => page 311 .
-Top off the oil again, if necessary .
-Screw the cap bac k on the filling hole and slide the oil
dipstick in as fa r as i t will go .
& WARNING
• Whil e topping off , the oil mu st not com e in c ontact with hot
e ng ine p art s
-fire h azard!
• The oil filler cap mu st be prop erly se cur ed to pr even t oil from
be ing spr aye d on the hot en gi ne a nd exha ust sys te m when the
engin e is running
-fir e haza rd!
• If your skin h as c ome in cont act wi th the engine oil , you mu st
s ubs equen tly c leanse it thoroughl y.
0 Not e
• The o il level must not be above range @- da nger of converter or
engine damage! Contact an authorized dealership to draw off oi l, if
necessary.
• Audi d oes no t re commend the u se of o il a ddit ives. The y m ay
damage th e engine and adv erse ly a ffect y our New Vehicle Warr ant y.
<£> For the sake of the environment
• Under no circumstances can the o il come i n contact w ith the
sewage network or the soil.
• Observe and fol low legal regulat ions when d ispos ing of empty
oi l containers. •
Changing the engine oil
We recommend that have your oil changed by an auth o
rized Audi dealer or a qualified service station.
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always rea d
and heed all
WARNING S=> & in "Working in the engine co mpart
ment" on
page 307.
The engine oi l must be changed according to the interva ls specified
in your Warranty
& Maintenance booklet . This is very important
because the lubricating properties of oi l diminish gradua lly during
normal vehicle use.
Under some circumstances the engine oil shou ld be changed more
frequently . Change oil mo re often if you drive most ly short
distances, operate the vehicle in dusty areas or under predomi
nantly stop -and -go traffic conditions, or have your ve hicle where
temperatures remain below freezing for extended periods.
Detergent additives in the oil will make fresh oi l look dark after the
eng ine has been runn ing for a short t ime . Th is is normal and is not
a reason to change the oil more often than recommended .
Because of the problem of proper disposal, along with the spec ial
tools and necessary expertise required, we strong ly recommend
that you have your oi l ch anged by an authorized Audi dealer or a
qualified service station .
If you choo se to ch ang e y our oil your self, please note the following
important information:
& WARNING
To r edu ce the ri sk of per son al inju ry if you mu st change th e engine
oil in your v ehicl e your self :
• Wear eye prote ction .
• To r educ e the ri sk of burn s from hot en gine oil , le t the engine
c ool do wn t o th e tou ch . .,_
Vehicle care