2008 AUDI S8 Owners Manual

Vehicle care

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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

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Plastic and vinyl
Plastic needs special care.
Use a clean, damp cloth or spong e to remove dust and light surface
dirt. For other soil, use a lukewarm all -purpose cleaning solution or
a mild saddle soap for vinyl trim. Remove water spo ts and traces of
soap with a clean, damp cloth or sponge. Use a clean, soft cloth to rub dry .
Grease, tar or oil stains can be removed with a clean cloth or sponge
soaked with all-purpose cleaner or with a solvent designed espe­
cially to clean vinyl.
Occasionally apply a colorless vinyl or leather preservative to retain
the material's luster and pliability .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page288. •
Aluminum trim
Use only neutral-pH products to remove spots and deposits from
aluminum surfaces. Chrome care products and alkaline cleaners
will attack aluminum surfaces and can damage them over time.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 288 . •
Touch-up paint
Minor paint damages should be touched up immediately.
-Use either a touch-up paint stick or spray paint to cover
minor scratches and nicks.
Your Audi dealer has touch-up paint for minor scratches and stone
chips . Scratches should be touched up soon after they occur to
prevent corrosion.
If a spot starts to rust, however, a simple touch-up job will not be
enough. The affected surface must be sanded smooth and coated
with an anti-rust primer before the painted finish can be restored.
The number for the original vehicle paint can be found on the
vehicle identification
label~ page 374.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 288. •
Windows
Clear vision to all sides.
Clean all windows regularly to remove road film and car
wash wax buildup.
-Remove snow from windows using a brush.
-Use a plastic ice scraper to remove ice from windows and
mirrors.
-Remove other residue on the windows with a spray-on
glass cleaner.
-Wipe the windows dry with a clean piece of cloth or
kitchen paper towel.

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The best way to remove snow from windows and mirrors is to use a
brush. Use a non -abrasive
plastic ice scraper -better still, a spray
deicer -to remove
ice from windows and mirrors .
Oil, grease or silicone residue can be removed with
glass cleaner or
silicone remover . However, wax residue requires the use of a
specially formulated solvent. Please contact your Audi dealer for
advice on safe products for wax removal.
Windows should also be cleaned on the inside at regular intervals .
Never dry windows with the same chamois that you use to dry
painted surfaces . Wax residue on the chamois can impair vision
through the windows.
& WARNING
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288 .
• The windshield must not be treated with water-repellent mate­
rials . They can increase glare under poor visibility conditions such
as wetness, darkness, or when the sun is low on the horizon. In
addition, they can cause the windshield wipers to chatter.
0 Note
• Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from
windows and mirrors. This could cause the glass to crack.
• To prevent damage to the wires of the rear defogger, do not place
any adhesive stickers on the inside of the rear window over the
wires .
• To help prevent dirt from scratching the window, always scrape
in a forward direction -pushing the scraper away from you -never
back and forth. •
Weatherstrips
Complete car care includes the weatherstrips as well.
-Apply a suitable rubber conditioner to the weatherstrips
from time to time.
To be able seal properly, the weatherstrips around the hood, doors,
rear lid, etc . must remain pliable. Spray the weatherstrips with sili­
cone or coat them with talcum powder or glycerine to retain the
flexibility of the rubber and to protect them against freezing in the
winter.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288.
[ i ] Tips
Keep silicone sprays off the windshield to avoid wiper smear in
rain. •
Cast (light) alloy wheels
Cast (light) alloy wheels require special care.
-Wash the wheels with a sponge or hose brush every
other week.
-For deep cleaning afterwards, use only a dedicated acid­
free cast alloy wheel cleaner.
-Rub a coat of liquid wax onto the rims every three month.
Be sure to reach and treat all parts of the rim.
To preserve the decorative appearance of the cast alloy wheels,
some special care is necessary . In addition to road dirt and salt,
Vehicle care

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brake dust is also corrosive. If left on for too long, brake dust can
cause pitting.
Use on ly specia l
acid-free cleaners formu lated for a lloy r ims . Safe
products are availab le at your Audi dealer. Never leave the cleaner
on the ri ms longer than specified on the label. If not rinsed off
promptly, the acid contained in some c leaners can attack the
threads o n the wheel bo lts .
Never use abrasive or metal po lishing c leaning agents . If the protec ­
t ive coating has been chipped, e.g . by kicked up road dirt, touch i t
up as soon as possible .
& WARNING
• Moisture and i ce on b rake s ma y affe ct b raking effi ciency
=> page 270 , "General information ". Te st the brakes carefully ea ch
t ime you wa sh the vehi cle .
• Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288. •
Body cavity sealing
The body cavity sealing does not nee d to be checked.
A ll body cavit ies which could be affected by corrosion have been
t horough ly pr otected a t the factory .
This sealing does not require any inspection or additional treat ­
ment . If any wax should seep out of the cavity when the ambient
temperature is high, it can be removed with a plastic scraper and a suitable solvent .
& WARNING
Solvents can be d angerous.
• Ben zine is flammable and to xic . If you use benzine for removing
the wax , keep sparks, flame and lighted cigarettes away . Never
& W AR NING (continued )
dump benzine on the ground , into ope n streams or do wn sew age
drain s.
• Be sure to observe all safet y and env ironmental regulat ions .
Follow all in struction s on the cont ainer .
• Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288 . •
Chassis
Hav e the underc oating c hecked for damage from tim e to
time.
T he lower body shell of your Audi is also thoroughly protected
against corrosion .
Any damage to the undercoat ing caused by road hazards s hou ld be
repaired promptly.
& WARNING
Too much undercoating in the wrong place s can cau se a fire .
• Do not appl y additional undercoating or rustproofing on or
near the exhaust manifold , exhau st pipes , catalytic converter or
h eat shield s. Wh ile dr iving , the sub stan ce used for underco ating
could overheat and cau se a fire .
• Alway s re ad and heed all WARNINGS and other info rm ation
=> page 288 . •