2008 AUDI TT ROADSTER Owners Manual

Checkin g and fillin g -
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•
At the time of printing, engine oils available in the U.S . and Canada
t hat 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
always be sure that you use an approved oil.
To help prevent the formation of harmful deposits use only oil with
the follow ing spec ifica tions pr inted on the oil container:
Au di oi l stan dar d VW 502 00
Oil container labels may carry the specification singly or in combi­
nation with other designations and o il quality standards.
V isc osit y
Engine oils are graded according to their viscosity . The proper
viscosity grade oi l for your engine depends on climactic or seasona l
conditions where you drive . You can use oil 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 qua lity standard VW 502 00 specifications .
Because engine oil that meets the Audi oil standard may not be
available everywhere when you need it, we s trong ly recommend
that you a lways carry with you an extra quart ( liter) of oil that
expressly conforms to the VW 502 00 specification, in case you have
to top off the o il while on the road.
On ly if the level of the oil is at or below the minimum mark on the
oi l dipstick -and no oil that express ly conforms to Audi oi l standa rd
VW 502 00 specifications is available -may you top off with a high
qual ity engine oi l, preferably synthetic -based, t hat meets ACEA A3,
ACEA A5 or ACEA 85, API SL or ILSAC GF -3 specifications, but even
then, only in viscosity grades SAE 5W -40, SAE 5W -30, or SAE 0W -40.
However, dur ing the entire time between oi l change intervals, never
top off w ith more than a total of 0.5 qt/liter engine oil that does not
confo rm to Audi oil specificat ion VW 502 00. For more information about engine oil that has been approved for
your vehicle, p lease con tac t ei the r your authorized Audi dea ler or
Aud i Customer 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
current list of oils (manufacturers, brand names etc.l that conform
to Audi oi l standard VW 502 00 .
Changing the engine oil
The engine oil and oil filter must be changed according to the
mi leage (k ilometers) and time intervals specified in your vehic le's
Maintenance
& Warranty booklet. Do not exceed these intervals -
harmfu l deposits from old engine oil can reduce engine perfor­
mance and can lead to expens ive eng ine repairs.
Changing the oil at the recommended interva ls is so very important
because the lub ricating properties of oi l decrease gradua lly during
normal vehicle use. If you are not sure when you have your oil
changed, ask you r authorized Audi Service Advisor .
Under some circumstances the engine oil should even be changed
more frequently. Change oi l mo re often if you drive mostly short
distances, operate the vehicle in dusty areas o r mostly under stop­
and -go traffic conditions, or when you use your vehicle where
temperatures stay below freezing point for long per iods.
Detergent additives in the oil will make fresh oi l look dark after the
engine has been running for a sho rt time. Th is is normal and is not
a reason to change the oil more often than recommended.
D amag e or malfun ctions due to la ck of mai nten ance
It is essential 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 War ranty does not cover
damage or malfunctions due to failure to fol low recommended
maintenance and use requirements as set forth in the Audi Owner's
Manual and Maintenance
& Warranty booklet . Your dealer wi ll have
to deny warranty coverage unless you present to the dealer proof in
the form of Service or Repair Orders that all scheduled maintenance
was performed in a timely manner. •
Vehicle care I t •

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Engine oil consumption
The engine in your vehicle de pen ds on an ade quate
amount of oil to lubric ate and co ol all of its moving parts.
In order to provide effective lubrication and cooling of interna l
engine components, al l internal co mbustion engines consume a
certain amount of oil. Oil consumption varies from engine to engine
and may change sign ificant ly over the life of the engine . Typ ical ly,
engines with a specified break -in period (see=>
page 192) consume
more oil duri ng the brea k-in period than they consume afte r oil
consumption has stabi liz ed.
Unde r no rmal conditions, the rate of oil consumption depends on
the quality and viscosity of t he oil, the RPM ( revo lutions per m inute)
at which the engine is operated, the ambient temperature and road
co nd itions. Further factors are the amount of oi l dilut io n from water
condensation or fue l residue and the oxidation leve l of the oil. As
any e ng ine is subject to wear as mil eage builds up, the o il consump ­
tion may increase over time until replacement of worn components
may become necessary .
With all these var iables com ing into p lay, no standard rate of oil
consu mption can be es tab lished or speci fied. There is no a lternative
t o regular and frequent checking of the oi l leve l, see Note.
If the yellow engine oi l level warning symbol in the instrumen t
cluster _ lights up, y ou should check the oil level as soon as
possible
with the oil dipstick=> page 224. Top off the oil at your
ea rlies t conve nience =>
page 225.
ln. WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment , alway s
re ad and heed all WARNINGS =>
& in "Working in the engine
c ompartment" on
page 220.
0 Note
D riving with an insufficient o il level is lik ely to cause seve re damage
to the engine .
[ i ] Tips
• The oil pressure warning display 't!:r. is not an indicator of the oil
level. Do not rely on it. Instead , check the oil level in your engine at
regular intervals , preferab ly ea ch time you refuel , and alw ays before
going on a long trip.
• I f you have the impression your engine consumes excessive
a m oun ts o f oi l, we recommend tha t you consu lt your Audi dealer to
have the cause of your concern properly diagnosed . Keep in mind
that the acc urate measure ment o f oil co nsum ptio n requires grea t
care and may take some time . Your Audi dea ler has instructions
about how to measu re oil consump tion accurately. •
Checking the engine oil level
Fig . 151 Illust rat ion of
principle 1 : Marker s on
oil dip stic k
~

Checking and filling -
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M ....
9
i
Fig. 152 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 220.
Determining oil level
- Park your vehicle so that it is horizontally level.
- Wh ile 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 224,
fig. 151 or~ fig. 152. Top off the engine oil, if applicable
~ page 225.
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 ~
Fig . 153 Engine
compartment : Oil filler
cap location
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS~ & in "Working in
the engine compartment " on
page 220.
- Unscrew the cap "l=:7': to the engine oil filling hole
~ fig. 153.
- Carefully top off with the appropriate oil in 0.5 liter doses.
- Check the oil level again after two minutes ~
page 224.
-Top off the oil again, if necessary.
- Screw the cap back on the filling hole and slide the oil dipstick in as far as it will go . .,_
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

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& WARNING
• While topp ing off , the oil mu st not come in c ont act with hot
engine part s -fire h azard!
• The oil filler cap mu st be p rope rly se cured to prevent o il from
be ing spra yed on the hot engine and exhau st sy stem when the
engine is running -fire ha zard!
• If your skin has come in conta ct w ith the engine oil , you mu st
su bse quentl y cleanse it th oroughly .
0 Note
• The oil level must not be above range @-danger of converter or
engine damage! Contact an authorized dealership to draw off oi l, i f
necessary .
• Audi does not recommend the use of o il additives. They ma y
damage the engi ne and adver sel y affe ct yo ur Ne w Vehi cle W arra nty.
• Under no circumstances can the oil come in contact with the
sewage network or the soil.
• Observe and fol low legal regulations when disposing of empty
o il containers .•
Changing the engine oil
We recommend that have your oil changed by an autho­
rized Audi dealer or a qualified service s tation.
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, alway s read
and heed all WARNINGS=>
& in "Working in the engine compart ­
ment" on
page 220.
The engine oil must be changed according to the intervals specified in your Maintenance
& Warranty book let. This is very important because the lubricating properties of oil diminish gradually during
n
ormal vehicle use .
Under some circumstances the engine oil should be changed more
frequently. Change oil more often if you drive most ly short
distances, operate the vehicle in dusty areas or unde r predomi­
nant ly stop -and -go traffic conditions, or have your vehic le where
t emperatures remain below freezing for extended per iods .
Detergent additives in the oi l wi ll 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 oi l more often than recommended.
Because of the problem of proper disposal, along with the special
t ools and necessary expertise required, we strong ly recommend
that you have your oil changed by an authorized
Aud i de aler or a
qualified serv ice stat ion.
If you choo se to change your oil your self , please note the fo llowing
i m portan t information:
& WARNING
To reduce the ri sk of personal injury if you m ust change th e engine
oil in y our v eh ic le you rself:
• Wear eye protection.
• To reduce the risk of burns from hot engine oil , let the engine
cool down to the touch.
• Wh en removing the oil dra in plug with your fingers , st ay as far
away as possible . Al way s keep your fore arm p ara llel to the ground
to help pre vent hot oil from running down your arm.
• Drain the oil into a contain er de signed for thi s purpo se , o ne
large enough to hold at lea st the total amount of oil in your engine .
• Engine oil is pois onou s. Keep it well o ut of the reach of children .
• Con tinuou s contact with used engine oil i s harmful to your
s kin. Al ways pr ote ct your s kin b y was hing oil off th oroughl y with
s oap and w ater . .,_

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•
0 Note
Never mix oil additives with your engine oil. These additives can
damage your engine and adversely affect your Audi Limited New
Vehicle Warranty .
W For the sake of th e environm ent
• Before changing your oi l, first make sure you know where you
can properly dispose of the used oil.
• Always dispose of used engine oil properly. Do not dump it on
garden soil, wooded areas, into open streams or down sewage
drains .
• Recycle used engine oi l by taking it to a used engine oil collec ­
tion fac ility in your area, or contact a service station. •
Engine cooling system
Coolant
The engine coolant performs two functions: it keeps the
engine from overheating and it protects the engine from
freez ing in the winter.
The coo ling system is sealed and generally requires little attention.
T he coo ling system has been filled at the factory with a permanent
coolant which does not need to be cha nged . The coolant consists of
a mixture of water and the manufacturer's glycol-basedcoolant
addit ive G 12 + antifreeze with an ticorrosi on addit ives (50% for USA
models; 60% for Canadian models). This mixture both assures the
necessary frost protection and protects metal components in the
engine's cooling system from corrosion and scaling . It a lso raises
the boiling point of the coo lant .
Do not reduce t he concentration of the coolant in the summer by
adding plain water.
The prop ort ion of coolant additi ve mu st be at le
as t 50 % but not more th an 60 %
to maintain antifreeze protection
and co oling effic iency . If the coo lant fros t protect ion is too low, the
coolant could freeze and damage the vehic le heating and engine
coo ling system.
For year-round driving, antifreeze is added at the factory for temper ­
atures down to:
• - 31 °F ( - 35 °C) USA
• -40 °F ( -40 °C) Canada.
You can mix the G12 + coo lant additive with other additives (f or
examp le G11 or G12l. Always check with your authorized Audi
dea ler .
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment , alway s
read and heed all WARNIN GS
=:> & in "Working i n the engine
c ompartment " on
page 220.
0 Note
• Before winter sets in, have the coolant checked to see if the
coolant additive in your vehicle is sufficient to meet the climate
conditions . This is especia lly important if you live in a region where
the winter is extremely cold. If necessary, increase the proport ion o f
coo lant additive to 60%.
• When adding coolant additive to your coo ling system,
remember :
- We recommend using only coolant additive G12+ (check the
label) for your vehicle. This coolant additive is avai lable at autho ­
rized Audi dealers. Other types of antifreeze can significantly
reduce corrosion protection. The resulting corrosion can cause a
loss of coolant and serious engine damage.
• Do not add any type of radiator leak sea lant to your vehicle's
engine coolant. Adding radiator repair fluid may adverse ly affect the _.,
Vehicle care I t •

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function and performance of your cooling system and could result
in damage not covered by your New Vehicle Limi ted Warranty .•
Checking the engine coolant level
The engine coolant level can be checked with a quick
g lance .
Fig. 154 Engin e
co mpartment : coo lan t
e xpansio n tank
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS =>
& in "Working in
the engi ne compa rtment" on
page 2 20.
- Switch t he ignition off.
- Rea d the coo lan t leve l at th e co ola nt e xpansion tank
=> fig . 154. Wit h a c old engine , it must be a b ove the
"min" mark . With a hot engine, it can be a little a bove t he
indicated range .
The location of the coo lant expansion tank can be seen in the
engine compartment i llustration.
To obtain an accurate reading, the engine must be switched off .
The expans io n tank in your vehicle is equipped with an electric
coo lant level sensor . When the coolant leve
l is too low , the warning light in the Auto­
Check System ~
page 32will blink un til you add coolant and the
level has been restored to normal. Even though there is an electric
coo lant level sensor, we still recommend you check the coolant level
from time to time .
Coolant los s
Coolant loss may indicate a leak in the cooling system . In the event
of coo lant loss, the cooling system should be inspec ted i mmedi ­
a tely by your authorized Audi dealer . It is no t enough mere ly to add
coolant.
In a
sealed system, losses can occur only if the boi ling point of the
coolant is exceeded as a result of overheating.
0 Note
Do not add any type of radiator leak sea lant to your vehicle's engine
coo lant. A dding ra diator repair fluid may adversely affec t the func ­
tion and performance of your cooling system and could result in
damage not cove red by your New Veh icle Limi ted War ranty. •
Adding coolant
Be very careful when adding en gine coolant.
Before you c heck anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS =>
& in "Working in
the eng ine compa rtment" on
page 220 .
-Turn off the engine.
- Let the engine coo l dow n.
- Place a t hick rag
over th e coola nt expansio n tank
=> fig . 154 and carefully twist the cap cou nter -c lockwise
=> & .
- Add coolant .

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•
- Twist the cap on again tightly.
Replacement engine coolant must conform to exact specifications
=>
page 227, "Coolant ". If in an emergency coolant additive G12 + is
not avai lab le, do
not use a d ifferen t addit ive. Use p lain water
instead until you can get the correct additive and can restore the
correct ratio . This should be done as soon as possib le .
If you have lost a considerable amoun t of coolant, then you should
add cold antifreeze and cold water only when the engine is cold.
Always use
new engine coolan t when refilling .
Do not fi ll coolant above the "MAX" mark. Excess coo lant will be
forced out through the pressure relief va lve in the cap when t he
engine becomes hot.
& WARNING
• The cooling system is under pres sure a nd can g et very hot.
Reduce the ri sk of scald ing from ho t co olant b y following the se
s tep s.
- Turn off the engine and allow it to cool d own .
- Prote ct your fa ce , hand s and arm s from e scaping fluid and
st eam b y covering the cap with a l arge , thick rag .
- Turn the cap slo wly and very carefully in a count er-c lockw ise
dire ction while applying light , do wnward pres sure on th e top
o f the cap.
- To avoid b eing burned , do not spill antifre eze or coolant on
th e ex haus t syste m or hot e ngine parts . Under cert ain co nd i­
tion s, the eth yle ne gly col in en gine co ola nt can cat ch fire .
• Antifr ee ze is poison ous. Alw ay s s tore antifr ee ze in its origi nal
c ontainer and well out of the re ach of children.
• If you dr ain th e coola nt , it mu st be caught and safe ly stored in
a proper contain er cle arly m ark ed "p oison ".
0 Note
• Coolant po llutes the env ironment and could cause an engine
fire . Excess coo lant wil l be forced out through the pressure relief
valve in the cap when the engine becomes ho t.
• I f, in an emergency, only water can be added, the correct ratio
between water and antifreeze=>
page 227must be restored as soon
as possib le .
<£> For the sake of the environment
Drained coolant should not be reused . Always dispose of used
coolant while observi ng all environmental regulations. •
Radiator fan
The radiator fan switches on automatically by itself.
The electric radiator fan is controlled by thermoswitches that switch
on and off depending on coolant and engine compartment temper­
atures.
An auxiliary electric radiator fan * switches on and off depending on
coolant temperature and other vehic le operation conditions .
After you switch the eng ine o ff, the aux iliary fan can continue
running for up to 10 minutes -even with the ignition off. It can even
switch on again later by itself=>& , if
• the temperature of the engine coolant rises due to the heat
build -up from the engine in the engine compar tment, or
• the engine compartment heats up because the vehicle is parked
in intense sunlight.
& WARNING
• To reduc e the ri sk of per sonal in jur y nev er t ouch t he radiato r
f a n . .,_
Vehicle care
I t •

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& WARNING (continued)
• The auxiliary electric fan is temperature controlled and can
switch on suddenly even when the engine is not running.
• The auxiliary radiator fan switches on automatically when the
engine coolant reaches a certain temperature and will continue to
run until the coolant temperature drops. •
Brake fluid
Checking brake fluid level
The brake fluid level can be checked with a quick glance.
Fig. 155 Engine
compartment: brake
fluid reservoir
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS =>
& in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 220.
- Read the brake fluid level from the brake fluid reservoir
~ fig. 155. The brake fluid level must be between the
"MIN" and "MAX" markings.
The brake fluid reservoir is located behind the rear partition of the
engine compartment on the left side~
page 221 .
The fluid level may drop slightly after some time due to the auto­
matic adjustment of the brake pads. This is not cause for alarm.
If the brake fluid level falls
considerably below the "MIN" mark, the
brake warning/indicator light (U .S. models:
BRAKE , Canadian models:
ill) will come on~ page 20 and~ page 32. Do not continue to
operate the vehicle . The complete brake system should be thor­
oughly checked by an authorized Audi dealer or other qualified
facility and the cause corrected. If the brake fluid level is too low, the
brake warning/indicator light will illuminate. Contact an authorized
Audi dealer
immediately .•
Changing brake fluid
Have the brake fluid changed by an experienced techni­
cian.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air. If the water content in the
brake fluid is too high, corrosion in the brake system may result
after a period of time. The boiling point of the brake fluid will als o
decrease considerably and decrease braking performance.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be changed
every two years. Always
use new brake fluid which conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle Stan ­
dard "FMVSS 116 DOT 4".
The brake fluid reservoir can be difficult to reach, therefore, we
recommend that you have the brake fluid changed by your autho­
rized
Audi dealer . Your dealer has the correct tools, the right brake
fluid and the know -how to do this for you.
& WARNING
• Brake fluid is poisonous. It must be stored only in the closed
original container out of the reach of children!
• Brake failure can result from old or inappropriate brake fluid.
Observe these precautions : .,,_