2009 AUDI Q7 checking oil

Instruments and warning/indicator lights
Warning light in the instrument cluster -t
When the _L warning light in the instrument cluster starts to flash,
this can mean one of two things: either the coolant
temperature is
too high, or the coolant
level is too low~ page 33.
If the needle is well in the upper area of the gauge, the coolant
temperature is too high.
Stop the vehicle, switch the engine off and
allow the engine to cool.
If the warning light comes on again after
driving a short distance, contact an authorized dealer.
& WARNING
• Always observe the warning in ~ page 324, "Engine compart­
ment", before opening the hood and checking the engine coolant
level.
• Never open the engine hood if you see or hear steam, or if you
see engine coolant dripping from the engine compartment . You
could burn yourself. Let the engine cool off first so that you cannot
hear or see any steam or engine coolant.
0 Note
• Mounting additional lights or accessories in front of the air inlets
reduces the cooling effect of the radiator. At high outside tempera­
tures or high engine load, the engine could overheat.
• The front spoiler has been designed to properly distribute the
cooling air when the vehicle is moving. If the spoiler is damaged,
this could reduce the cooling effect and the engine could then
over­
heat. Ask your authorized Audi dealer for assistance. •
Tachometer (engine rev counter)
The tachometer indicates the engine RPM (revolutions per
minutes).
The tachometer 0 ~ page 13, fig. 2 is the left of the two large clock ­
type displays. The
engine turns at a speed
1,000 times the single digit in the
display, e.g. if the needle is pointing at the "2" the engine is turning
at 2,000 RPM.
If engine RPM drops below 1,500, you should downshift to the next
lower gear. The red area at the end of the scale indicates maximum
permissible engine RPM after the break -in period. Before reaching
this area, move the selector lever to position "D (Drive)" or ease your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
0 Note
The tachometer needle should not move into the red range. If it
does, then only for a
very short period of time. You could damage
your engine by driving at high RPM .
'£> For the sake of the environment
Upshifting early saves fuel and reduces engine noise.•
Digital clock with date display
Date and time of day can be set in the MM/.
Fig . 3 Instrument
cluster with digital
clock
The date, time of day, and time and date format can be set in the
MMI. You can find out more in the MMI manual. .,_

-Checking and filling PW---=---------------
& WARNING (continued )
-Always u se extreme caution to prevent cloth ing , jewelry, or
long hair from getting caught in the radiator fan , V-belt s or
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 chemical hazards
::::> & .
& WARNING
California Proposition 65 W arn ing :
• Engine exhaust , some of its constituents , and certain vehicle
c omponents cont ain or emit chemicals known to the State of Cali­
fornia to cause cancer and birth defects and reproductive harm. In addition , certain 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 defect s or other reprodu c­
tive harm.
• Battery posts , terminals and related ac cessories conta in 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 ope ning, otherwise serious damage to
vehic le systems wi ll occur.
ci> 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 fro m oil o r o th e r v eh icle flu ids, hav e
your vehicle inspected by an author ized Audi dea ler. •
Engine compartment
These are th e m ost im porta nt items th at you can ch ec k.
Fig. 283 Typical layout for containe rs, engine oi l d ipstick and engine oil filler
cap
0 W indsh ield/headligh t was her conta iner ( 9 ) . . . . . . . . 346
0 Coolant e xpansion tank (- L l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
G) Engin e oil fi ller cap ("l::r.) . . . . • . . . . . . • • • • . . . • . . • . . 336
© Engine oil d ips tick (orange) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
© Brake fluid reservo ir ( ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
© Pow er steer ing r eser voir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 93
0 Jump sta rt connector( +) u nder a cover,( -) w ith hex
head screw .... ... ..... .... ... .... ... ..... .... . 344 , 387
The positi on of t he e ngin e oil fi lling hole and t he engine oil dipstick
=> fig . 283 (position G) and ©l can vary according to the type of
eng ine. .,_

-~_C_ h_e _c _ k_ i_n ...:::g::;...._ a_n_ d_ f_ i_ll _in -'g:::;.._ ___________________________________________ _
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
Warranty
& Maintenance 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 Warranty
& Maintenance 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 2971 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 335. Top off the oil at your
ea rliest convenience =>
page 336.
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment , always
read and heed all WARNING S
=> & in "Working in the engine
compartment " on
page 331.

Checking and filling -
---------------------=----"=---------
0 Note
Driving with an insufficient oil level is likely to cause severe damage
to the engine.
[ i] Tips
• The oil pressure warning display~ is not an indicator of the oil
level. Do not rely on it. Instead, check the oil level in your engine at
regular intervals, preferably each time you refuel, and always before
going on a long trip.
• If you have the impression your engine consumes excessive
amounts of oil, we recommend that you consult your Audi dealer to
have the cause of your concern properly diagnosed. Keep in mind
that the accurate measurement of oil consumption requires great
care and may take some time . Your Audi dealer has instructions
about how to measure oil consumption accurately. •
Checking the engine oil level
Fig. 284 Illustration of
principle 1: Markers on
oil dipstick Fig
. 285 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 331.
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=> fig. 284 or
=> fig. 285. Top off the engine oil, if applicable
=>
page 336.
Oil level within range @
- Do not add oil.
Oil level within range @
-You can add oil. Afterwards, the oil level should be within
range @. _,,,
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

___ C_h_ e_ c_k _in --== g'-- a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ..:::g:::..- ___________________________________________ _
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 also raises
the boiling point of the coolant.
Do not reduce the concentration of the coolant in the summer by
adding plain water.
Th e pro port io n of coo la nt additi ve mu st be at
lea st 50 % but n ot mor e th an 60 %
to maintai n ant ifreeze protection
and cooling efficiency. If the coolant frost protection is too low , the
coolant could free ze and damage the veh icle heating and engine
cooling system .
For year-round driving , antifreeze is added at the factory for temper ­
atures down to:
• -31 °F ( -35 °c1 usA
• - 40 °F ( - 40 °C) Canada.
You can mix the
Gl 2+ + coolant additive with other additives (G12+
or G12). Always check w ith your authorized Audi dealer.
& WARNING
B efo re you che ck anyt hing in th e eng ine compartmen t, alway s
re ad a nd he ed all WARN ING S~
& in " Working in the engine
c ompar tm ent " on
page 33 1.
0 Not e
• Before winter sets in, have the coolant checked to see if the
coo lant 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 proportion of
coolant additive to 60%.
• When adding coolan t 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
riz ed 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 sealant to your vehicle's
engine coolan t. Adding radiator repair fluid may adversely affect the
function and performance of your cooling system and could result
in damage not covered by your New Vehicle Limited Warranty. •
Checking the engine coolant level
The engine coolant level can be checked with a quick
glance.
F ig . 287 E ngine
com partm ent : Cool ant
ex pans io n tank
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
alw ays read and h eed all WARNINGS ~
& in "Working in
the eng ine compartment" on page 331.
- Turn off the ignition.
- Let the engine coo l dow n.
Place a thick rag over the coola nt expansio n tank
~ fig . 287 and carefully twist the cap counter-c lockwise
~ & - .,

_____________________________________________ C_h_ e_ c _ k_in -= g_a _ n_d _ f_il _li _n ..;::g =-- ____.•
& WA RNING ! continued )
• The auxiliary ele ctric fan is temperature controlled and can
s w itch on suddenly even wh en t he engine is not runn ing .
• The auxiliary radiator fan swit ches on automatic ally when the
engin e coolant rea che s a cer tain temperature and will con tinue to
run until the coolant temperature drop s. •
Brake f luid
Checking brake fluid level
The brake fluid level c an be checke d with a quick gl ance .
Fig. 288 E ngine
comp artm ent: B ra ke
flui d rese rvoir
Be fore you check a nything in th e en g in e co mpart ment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS=> & in "Working in
t h e eng ine compartment" on
page 331.
- Read the brake fluid l eve l from the brake fluid reservoir
=> fig. 288. The brake flu id level mus t be between the
"MIN" and "MAX" markings.
The brake fluid reservoir is locate d at the rear partition of the engine
compartment on the left side=>
page 332.
The fluid level may drop slightly after some time due to the auto ­
ma tic adjustment of the brake pads. This is not cause for alarm .
If the brake fluid leve l falls
considerably below the "MIN" mark , the
brake warning/indicator light (U.S. models:
BRAKE , Canadian models:
«D> l will come on=>
page 23 and=> page 32 . Do not continue to
operate the vehicle. The complete brake system should be thor ­
oughly checked
by an author ized Audi dealer or qua lif ied workshop
and the cause corrected . If th e brake fluid level is too low, the brake
warning/indicator light w ill illumi nate. Contact an authorized Audi
dea ler
immedi ately .
[ i ] Tips
The brake fluid reservoir is located underneath the cover .•
Changing brake fluid
Have the brake fluid changed by an experience d techni ­
cian.
Brak e fluid absorbs mois ture from the air. If the wate r conten t in the
brake fluid is too high, corrosion in the brake sys tem may res ult
after a period of time . The boiling point of the brake fluid will also
decrease conside rably and decrease braking performance .
Therefore , the brake fluid mus t be changed
every two year s. Always
use new brake fluid which conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle S tan ­
da rd "FMVSS 116 DOT 4".
The brake fluid reservoir can be difficul t to reach, therefore , we
recommend that y ou have the brake fluid changed by your autho ­
rized
Audi deal er. Your dealer has the correct tools, the right brake
fluid and the know -how to do this for you .
& WARNING
• Brak e fluid is poi sonou s. It mu st be stored only in the clo sed
o riginal conta iner out of the rea ch of children! ..,.
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

___ A_l.:,. p _h_ a_ b_e _t _ic _ a_l _in _ d_e _x ____________________________________________ _
Brake fluid
Changing the brake fluid ... ... ... .
341
Checking the brake fluid level . . . . . . 341
Reservoir ...... .. .... .... ....... 341
What is the correct brake f luid level? 341
What should I do if the brake fluid warning
light comes on? ........ .... ....
341
Brake light
Defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27
Brake system ....................... 341
Anti-lock brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Brake f luid specifications for refill and
replacement ...... ...... ...... .
341
Brake pads ..................... . 298
General information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
How does moisture or road salt affect the
brakes? ..... .... ....... .... ...
291
Malfunction ........ ... .. .... .... . 32
Park ing brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Warning/indicator lights ... ...... .. 23
Worn brake pads symbol . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Braking guard
See Audi braking guard ... ... .... . 168
Break-in period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Brake pads .... .................. 298
Tires .... ... .. .... .... ......... . 297
Breakover angle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Bulbs ..... ....... .. .... .... ...... . 385
Bumper cover
Caution when parking near a parking bar -
rier or curb .. ... ..... ........ ..
147
C
Ca lifornia Proposition 65 Warning 332
Battery specific .... .... .... .... .. 344
Capac,t,es ... .............. ...... .. 399
Car -Systems
Background lighting . ...... .... ....
79
Lighting profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Car care ........................... 312
Interior .... .... .... .... ....... .. 319
Plastic and vinyl ........... ... ... 316
Weatherstrips ... .. .... .... ...... 317
Care of exterior ..................... 312
Cargo area
See Loading the luggage compartment . .
227
Cargo floor ......... .... ........ ... 109
Cargo net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
107
Catalytic converter .. ....... ........ . 298
Center conso le in rear
Central locking 103
Emergency locking ............ .... 57
Panoramic s liding sunroof ...... .... 69
Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404
Changing a flat tire .... .... ....... ... 373
Changing a wheel ................... 373
Changing engine oil ... ........ ...... 336
Chassis
Undercoating ... .. .... .... .... ...
318
See also Adaptive Air Suspension . .. 206
CHECK button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Checking
Engine coolant level
338
Checking tire pressure ............. .. 353
Child restraints
Danger of using ch ild restra ints in the
front seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
243
What types of child restraint anchors are
available? ... ......... ......... .
276
Where can I get additional information
about child restraints? .... .... .. .
277
Child safety .................... 263, 268
Additional information .. ... .... ... 282
Booster seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Convertible child safety seats ... ... 269
Convertible locking retractor .... ... 273
Guidance fixtures for lower anchorages ..
279
Important safety instructions for using
chi ld safety seats ...............
266
Important things to know when driving
with children .. .... ... ..... .....
263
Infant seats ......... ........ .... 268
Install ing a child restraint using the
LATCH system .. ...... ....... ...
281
Lower anchorages ... .. .... .... ... 278
Mounting and releasing the anchorage
hook ..... ........ .... ....... ..
282
Older children and safety belts 272
Safety belts and older children ..... 272
Tether anchors .. ...... .... ...... 282
Tether strap ... .... .... ...... .... 283
Which restraint system should my older
chi ld wear? ... ....... .... .... ..
272

______________________________________________ A_ l_,_ p _h_ a_ b_e _t_ic _ a _ l _in _ d_e _ x __ lllll
Starting with jumper cables ... .... . 387
Stopp ing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Engine compartment Safety instructions . ...... ..... .. . 331
Working the engine compartment .. 331
Engine coolant system ...... .... .... . 337
Adding coolant ....... .... .... ... 339
Checking coolant level .. .... .. .... 338
Checking the engine coolant level . .. 338
Malfunction ..... .... .... ......... 33
Radiator fan ........ ............ . 340
Engine coolant temperature Temperature gauge ...... .... ...... 13
Engine data ............... ......... 399
Engine hood
Closing ..................... .... 331
How to rel ease the hood .... .... ... 330
Engine oil . ... .. ..... ........... .... 333
Adding .............. .... .... ... 336
Additives ... .. .... .... .... .... ... 336
Changing .... .... .... ........... 336
Checking the engine oil level ... .... 335
Indications and condit ions r equiring ext ra
checking .... .... .... ... .... .... 335
Oil consumption . .... ... .... ..... 334
Oil grades .. ...... .... ........... 333
Recommended oil check intervals .. . 335
Specification and viscosity .. ....... 333
Engine oil level .. .... .... .... .... .... 37
Engine oi l pressur e
Mal func tion ....... ..... .... ... ... 33
Engine oil sensor defective . .......... . 37
Engine speed limitation ............ ... 37
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first
Entry assist
Rear seats .... ...... ........ ... .. . 99
Environment Break -in period ...... ...... .... ... 297
Catalytic conv erter .... .... .... .... 298
Disposing o f your v ehicle battery ... 346
Driving a t high speeds ............ 299
Driving to minimi ze pollution and noise .
299
Fuel . .... ........ .... .... ... .... 327
Fuel economy .... ..... .. .... .... . 299
L e aks under your v ehicle .. ........ 331
L etting th e ve hicle stand and warm up ..
300
Proper disposal of drained brake fluid
341
P roper disposal of drained engine
coolant .. ...... .. .. .... .... .... 339
Proper disposal of drained engine o il 336
Recycl ing us ed engine o il .... ...... 336
Unl eaded fuel ... .. ...... ..... ... . 325
What should I do with an old battery? 346
EPC
See Electronic power control .. .. .... 19
ESP
S ee Electronic stabilization program
(ESP) .. .... ... .................. 19
Event Data Recorder (EDR) ... ....... .. 288
Expansion tank ........... ...... .... 338
Explanation of some technical terms .. . 302
Ext erior lighting in the mirror hous ing . .. 76
Eyeglasses compartment ............. 121
F
Fall line ... .. .... .... ...... .... ... .. 302
Fan Four -zone automatic comfort a ir
conditioning ... .. .... ........... 133
Radiator ..... .. ... ....... ... ..... 340
Flat tire Changing . .... .... .... .... ...... . 373
Floor mats . ... ...... .... ........ ... 226
Fog lights ........... ... .... .... ..... 75
Fo lding chocks .. ... ... .. .... .... .... 370
Fo ldin g master key with remote control .. 48
Foot pedals . ...... .. .... .... .... .... 226
For the sake of the environment Gasoline fumes and th e environment 327
L et ting your eng ine warm up ... ....
143
Reducing engine noise by early
upshifting . ...... ....... .... .. . .. 13
Refueling ..... .... .... .. .. ... .. .. 327
Saving fuel by early upshifting .... . .. 13
Using the rear window defogg er ... . 129
Fording depth ........... .. . ........ 302
Four -zone automa tic comfort a ir
conditioning ... .. .... ........... 131
Automatic mode in rear . ........ .. 132
Heated rear seats ...... .... ....... 137
Rear air distribution ... .... .... .... 133
Rear con trols .... .... .... .... ... . 131
Rear fan . .... ... .... ... .. .... .... 133
Rear operation .... ...... .... .... . 135
Rear temperatu re ............ ... .. 133
Vehicle operation Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data