2008 AUDI S8 warning

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New brake pads
Remember that new brake pads do not have a full braking
effec t during the first 250 miles (400 kilometers) after they
are installed .
New brake pads have to be "burnished in" before they have optimal
grab =>& .
During the break -in period, you s hou ld avoid putting severe loads
on the brakes . Severe loads include, for examp le, sudden hard
braking, in particular at very high speeds or, for example, on moun ­
t ain passes.
& WARNING
N ew brake p ad s don 't h ave the be st stopping po wer and mu st be
"broken -in " during the initial 100 to 150 mile s (150 to 200 kil ome ­
t e rs) of norm al c ity dri ving . You can comp en sa te for thi s by
pr ess ing the brake ped al more firmly . Thi s al so appli es later when
ne w pad s a re in sta lled. •
Catalytic converter
It is very important tha t your emission control sys tem
(catalytic converter) is functioning properly to e nsure that
y o ur vehicle is running in an environmentally sound
manner.
-Always use lead-f ree gasoli ne :=> page 301, "Fuel supply".
-Never run the tank down a ll the way to empty.
-Never put too much motor o il in your engine :=> page 312,
"Adding eng ine oil 'l=;r111
•
-Never try to push -or tow -s ta rt yo ur vehic le.
T he catalytic converter is an efficient "clean -up" device built into the
exhaust system of the vehicle. The catalytic converter burns ma ny
of the po llutants in the exhaust gas before they are released into the
atmosphere.
The exclusive use o f un leaded fue l is critica lly important for the l ife
of the cata lytic converter and proper functioning of the engine.
& WARNING
• Do not park or operate th e veh icle in ar ea s where the hot
e x hau st sys tem m ay come in cont act w ith dr y grass, brush , fuel
s pill or other material which can cau se a fire .
• Do not appl y additi ona l u ndercoating or ru stpr oofing on or
near the exhau st manifol d, exhau st pipe s, ca tal ytic converter or
h ea t shield s. Du ring dri ving , the sub sta nce u sed f or under coating
c ould overhe at and cau se a fir e.
0 Note
• Be aware that just one tank filling with leaded fue l wi ll already
seriously degrade the performance of the catalyt ic converter.
• Do not exceed the correct engine oil
level => page 312 .
• Do not drive until the fuel tank becomes comp letely empty . The
engine cou ld misfire. Unburned fuel could also get into the exhaust
system and this could cause the catalytic converter to overheat .
• Do not turn off t he ignition wh ile the vehicle is moving.
• Do not continue to operate your vehicle under these conditions,
as otherwise fuel can reach the cata lyt ic converter . This cou ld result
in overheating of the converter, requiring its rep lacement .
• To assure eff ic ient operat ion of the Emiss ion Contro l System:
- Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
the service recommendations in your Warranty
& Maintenance
booklet. _,.

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one half. Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather
co nditions permit. •
Reducing unnecessary idling
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel.
- Shut the eng ine off when you are not driving the vehicle .
- Do not warm up the vehicle by letting the engine run at
id le .
It makes sense to shut off the engine in traff ic jams, when waiting
for trains to pass at rai lroad crossings, or at traffic lights that have
long waits on red. Turning the engine off for just 30 -40 seconds
saves more fue l than is burned starting the engine again .
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up fu lly when it is
running at idle. However, wear and noxious em issions are espec ially
high when the engine is warming up . So you should drive away as
soon as you start the engine and avoid running at high rpms while
the engine is sti ll warming up.
0 Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after starting . If warning
lights should come on to indicate improper operation, they would
go unheeded. Extended idling also produces heat, which could
result in overheating or other damage to the vehicle or other
property .•
Regular maintenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lot of fuel.
- H ave your vehicle serviced at regular intervals .
By having your vehicle regularly serviced by an Audi dealer helps to
ensure t hat it runs properly and economical ly . The condit ion of your
vehic le not only affects its safety and abi lity to hold its va lue, it also
affects
fuel con sumpt ion .
C hec k your oil each time you fill your tan k.
The amount of oil used is related to engine load and speed.
I t is norma l for the oi l consumption of a new engine to reach its
lowest va lue after a certain mileage has been driven.
You must drive your vehicle about 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometers) before you can properly assess oil consumption .
T his also applies to fuel consump tion and engine output .
0 Note
• Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
t he service recommendat ions in your Warranty
& Maintenance
booklet. Lack of proper ma intenance as well as improper use of the
vehic le wi ll impair the function of the emission control system and
cou ld lead to damage.
• Do not alter or remove any component of the Emission Contro l
System unless approved by the manufacturer.
• Do not alte r or remove any device, such as heat sh ields,
switches, ignition wires, valves, which are designed to protect your
vehic le's Emission Control System and other important vehic le
components .•
Fewer short trips
Fuel consumption will always be relatively high on short
trips.
- Try to avoid driving short dista nces with a cold engine. ~

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Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger transpor­
tation.
If you plan to tow a trailer, please remember that the add it ional load
wi ll affect durability, economy and performance.
Tra iler towing not on ly p laces more stress on the vehicle, it a lso ca lls
for more concentration from the driver.
For this reason, always fol low the ope rating and driv ing instruc tions
provided and use common sense.
(D Note
If you are go ing to tow a trai ler, you must activate the trailer opera ­
tion
mode => page 189, "Towing a Trailer". •
Technical requirements
Traile r hit ch
Use a we ight-carrying hitch conforming to the gross trai ler weight.
The hitch must be suitable for your vehic le and trailer and must be
mounted secure ly on the ve hicle's chass is at a
technically sound
location. Use only a trailer hitch with a removable ball mount.
Always check wit h the trai ler hitch manufacturer to make s ure that
you are using the correct hitch .
Do not use a bumper hit ch.
The hitc h must be installed in such a way t hat it does not interfere
with the impact-absorbing bumper system. No modifications
should be made to the veh ic le exhaust a nd brake systems. F rom time to time, check that all hitch mounting bolts remain secure
ly
fastened .
When yo u are no t towing a trailer, re move the tra ile r hitch ball
mount. This prevents the hitch from causing damage shou ld your
vehic le be struck from
behind =>& .
Traile r br ake s
If your tra iler is equipped with a braking syste m, check to be sure
that it conforms to al l regu lations .
The tra iler hydraul ic brake sys tem must not be di rect ly co nnected to
t he vehic le's hydrau lic brake system .
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your vehicle and the trailer.
Trailer light s
Trai ler lights must meet a ll regulations. Be sure to check with your
Aud i dea ler for correc t wir ing, sw itch es and relays .
Mirrors
If you are unable to see the traf fic behind you using the regu lar
outside mirrors, then you
must instal l extended mirrors. It is impor ­
t ant that you
always have c lear v ision to the rear.
& WARNING
After removing the tr ailer hitch , do not store it in your vehi cle . In
ca se of sudden braking , the hitch could fl y forward and injure you
or your p assenger s.•

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Speed
The higher the speed, the more difficu lt it becomes for the driver to
control the rig. Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed. Reduce your speed even more if load, weather or wind conditions
are unfavorable
-particularly when going downhi ll.
Reduce vehicle speed
i mm edia te ly if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not try t o stop the sway ing by accelerating.
Observe speed lim its. In some areas, speeds for vehicles towing
trai lers are lower than for regular ve hicles .
Always apply brakes ear ly. When driving down hill, shift into a lower
gear to use the engine braking effect to slow the vehicle. Use of the
brakes a lone can cause them to overheat and fail.
Cool ant temp era tu re
The coolant temperature gauge=> page 12 must be observed care­
ful ly. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the scale, reduce
speed immed iately and/or turn off the air conditioner.
If the coolant temperature warning light in the instrument cluster
starts flas hing
-F- , pul l off the road, stop and let t he engine idle for
about two m inutes to prevent heat build-up.
& WARNING
An yone n ot properl y re str aine d in a mo ving vehi cle is at a mu ch
g re ate r ri sk in an accid ent . N ever let any on e rid e in y our car who
i s not properl y wea rin g th e res tra int s pr ov ided by Audi.
•
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differently when towing a trailer because of
the additional weight and different weight distribution. Safety, performance and economy wi
ll greatly depend on how carefully you
l oad your trailer and opera te your r ig.
Before you actual ly tow your trailer, practice turn ing, stopping and
backing up in an area away from traffic . Keep practicing unti l you
have become comp letely fam iliar with the way your vehicle-trai ler
combination behaves and responds.
Backing up is di fficult and requires practice. Backing up with a
trai ler generally requires steering action opposite to that when
backing up your veh ic le without a tra iler.
Ma inta in a greater distance between your veh ic le and the one in
front of you . You will need more room to stop. To compensate for
the trai ler, you w ill need a larger than norma l turning radius.
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you n or mally wou ld because of t he added load . Make su re you have
enough room to pass . After passing, al low plenty of room for your
t rai ler befo re changing lanes again .
Avo id jerky starts, sharp turns or rapid lane changes.
[ i ] T ips
• Do not tow a tra iler during the break-in period o f your veh ic le.
• I f you tow a trailer, your Audi may require more frequent main te­
nance due to t he extra
load=> page 380. •
Parking on a slope
Do n ot park on a slope with a trailer. If it cannot be
avoided, do
so o nly after doing the followi ng:
When p arking :
-Apply the foot b rake.
- Have someone p lace chocks under both the vehicle and
the trailer wheels. _,,,

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Cleaning and protection
General information
Regular care preserves vehicle value.
Any automobile is exposed to industrial fumes, corrosive road salt,
muddy dog feet, etc . A well cared for Audi can look like new many
years a fter purchase. Regu lar a nd correc t ca re will contribu te to
maintaining the beauty and va lue of your Audi.
Furthermore, good care may be a condition for substantiating a
warr anty claim should corrosion d amage or paint defect s occur .
Your authorized Audi dealer has a variety of dedicated vehicle- care
product s
and can adv ise whic h ones to use fo r clea ning the exterior
and interior of your vehicle.
Whether you use prod ucts recom mended by Audi or o ther commer ­
cia lly availab le cleaning agents, please make sure you app ly them
correctly.
& WARNING
• Cleaning agents may be poi sonous . Keep them out of the reach
o f children .
• Heed all cau tion label s.
• Always read directions on the container before u sing any
p rodu ct. Follo w the di re ction s carefully .
• Most chemical cleaners are concentrated and have to be
diluted.
• Use spot removing fluids only in well ventilated area s.
• Do not use gasoline , kerosene , die sel fuel , n ail polish remo ver
or other vol atile fluids . They may be toxic , flammable or ha zardous
in other way s. Do n ot wash , w ax or dry the vehicle with the igni ­
tion on or the engine running.
& WARNING (continued )
• Do not clean the under sides of chassis , fenders , wheel cover s,
etc . without protecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself
on sha rp -edged metal parts .
• Moisture and ice on brakes may impair braking effi ciency
=> page 270 , "Gener al info rm ation ". Test the brake s carefully each
time you wash the vehicle .
~ For the sake of the environment
Select only enviro nmen ta lly friend ly c leaning pr oducts . Leftover
clean ing products should not disposed of in the household waste. •
Care of exterior
Washing
Frequent washing protects the vehicle.
Th e best p rotection aga inst environmental influe nces is frequent
washing and waxing . How often this is required depends on:
• Ho w much the vehic le is used
• Where the vehic le is parked (garage, in the open under trees,
etc.)
• T he seasonal and weather conditions
• E nvironmenta l influences
T he longer bird droppings, insects, tree resin, road and industrial
gri me, ta r, soot, road salt and ot her mater ials rema in on the ve hicle
body, the more lasting their destruc tive effects will be . High temper­
atu res caused by exp osu re to in tense s un ligh t inte nsify the c orro -
s ive effect, particularly when hum idity is high as well .
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Under certain circumstances, weekly washing may be necessary.
Under other conditions, a monthly washing and waxing may be
adequate .
After the winter, the
underside of the vehicle should be thoroughly
washed, preferably in a professional car wash.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288. •
Automatic car wash
The vehicle can be washed in almost any modern auto­
matic car wash.
The vehicle paint is so durable that the vehicle can normally be
washed without problems in an automatic car wash . However, the
effect on the paint depends to a large extent on the design of the
facility, the filtering of the wash water, the type of wash and care material, etc. If the paint has a dull appearance after going through
the car wash or is scratched, bring this to the attention of the oper­ ator immediately. If necessary, use a different car wash.
Before going through a car wash, be sure to take the usual precau­
tions such as closing the windows and power roof . Factory installed
antennas must not be removed.
If you have installed add itional accessories on the vehicle -such as
spoilers, roof rack, etc. -it is best to ask the car wash operator if
these should be removed .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288. •
Washing the vehicle by hand
A lot of water is needed when washing a vehicle by hand.
-Before you start washing, make sure you have read and
understood the
WARNINGS=> & in "General informa­
tion" on
page 288.
-First soak all dried dirt until it is soft, then rinse it off.
-As you clean your vehicle, start with the roof and work
your way down to the bottom, using a sponge, a sponge glove or a clean brush.
-Rinse the sponge or the sponge glove often, flushing it
clean each time.
-Use special car shampoo only for very persistent dirt.
-Rinse the car thoroughly with water.
-Use a chamois leather to gently wipe the exterior dry.
Use a separate sponge for cleaning the wheels, door sills and other
regions exposed to road dirt. In this way, you will not scratch the
paint with coarse particles imbedded in the sponge the next time
you wash the car.
& WARNING
• 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 other information
=> page 288. ~
Vehicle care

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0 Note
• Never try to remove dirt, mud or dust if the surface of the vehicle
is dry. Never use a dry cloth or sponge, since this could scratch your
vehicle 's paint or windows.
• Never wash your car in bright sunlight. Drops of water act as
magnifying lenses and may damage your paint.
• When you wash your car in the winter: if you rinse your vehicle
wi th a hose, be ca reful not to aim the stream of wa ter direc tly at
locks, or at door or hatch openings -they can freeze shut.
• Never use sponges designed to remove insects, or any kitchen
scouring sponges or similar products. They can damage your paint
finish .
• Never use a dry cloth or sponge to clean the headlights. Only use
wet cloths or sponges to prevent sc ratches . It is best to use soapy
water .
~ For the sake of the environment
In the interest of the environment, the vehicle should only be
washed in special wash bays. •
Washing your vehicle with a power washer
Cleaning the exterior of your car with a high-pressure
power washer is safe as long as you observe a few simple
rules.
- Before using the power washer, make sure you have read
and understood the WARNINGS :::>
& in "General infor­
mation" on
page 288.
- Always follow the operating instructions for the power
washer. - Make
sure that the jet on the spray hose produces a "fan
shaped spray".
- Do
not hold the spray nozzle too close to soft materials.
When cleaning the vehicle w ith a power washer always follow the
operating instructions. This applies particularly to the
operating
pressure
and the spraying distance. Maintain a sufficient distance
to soft materials such as rubber hoses and sound/vibration dead ­
ening materials (particularly on the underside of the engine hood).
Do not use a jet which sprays water in a
direct stream or one that
has a
rotating jet.
Water temperature should no t exceed 140 °F (60 °Cl.
& WARNING
Never wash tires with a jet that sprays water in a direct stream.
This could cause invisible damage to the tires and weaken them,
even if the spray is from a relatively long distance and for a short
time. Damaged and weakened tires can fail and cause accidents
and personal injury .
0 Note
To avoid damaging your vehicle, always make sure that there is
sufficient distance between the spray head and soft materials like
rubber hoses, plastic parts and sound-deadening materials . Never
aim the spray head at the same point for a long time. This also
applies to cleaning headlights and painted bumpers . Remember:
the closer the nozzle is to the surface of the material , the greater the
stress on the material. •

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Waxing
Wax protects the vehicle's paint.
-Use a m anually ap plied car wa x occasion ally to protect
t h e p aint.
A good wax coat ing protects t he vehicle paint to a large extent
against th e environm ental factors listed
under => page 288,
"Washi ng" and eve n against slight scratches .
You can use a liquid car wax to protect your paint as soon as one
wee k after you r vehic le has been delivered.
E ven i f you regularly use a
waxing process in automatic ca r washes,
we recommend that you manua lly app ly a coat of wax to give the
paint extra protection, part icu lar ly if water no longe r beads on the
clean paint.
P rotec t plastic body parts wi th ca r wax in the same way as the
vehic le body.
During warm weather dead insects tend to col lect on the front
bumper and on t he forward area o f the hood. They are much easier
to remove from paint that is waxed
often.
& WARNING
Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288 .
0 Note
Do not use car wax on
• matte or anod ized meta l trim
• rubber or rubber -like trim. •
Polishing
Polishi ng restores the gl oss t o the pain t.
Po lish your vehic le on ly if the paint has lost its shine and the g loss
ca nnot be broug ht back wi th wax .
I f the polish used does not contain preservat ive compounds, the
pai nt must be waxed
afterwards => page 291, "Waxing".
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288 .
0 Note
Do not treat matte anodized metal trim, plastic or rubber parts with
polish or wax .•
Trim strips
Metal trim needs special c are.
Fo r envi ronmental reasons, Audi fab ricates the br ight trim st rips
and trim pieces from pure chromium -free aluminum .
Dirt and marks on the trim strips should be removed with a
pH­
balanced
clean ing agent (d o not use a chrome clea ner). Audi
dea lers carry c leaning products which have been tested for use on
your vehicle and are not ha rm fu l to the e nvi ron ment.
T o avoid corrosion on the exterior trim strips, on ly a pH -ba lanced
solution shou ld be used for the windshield washer.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288 . •
Vehicle care