2009 AUDI S3 service

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© Brake fluid reservoir ( ) . ....... ... ............ .
© Battery .. ... ................................. .
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always
read and heed all WARNINGS
~ & in "Working in the engine
compartment" on
page 225. •
3.2 liter , 6 -cylinder engine (250 hp)
Fig. 170 Engine compartment: 3.21 250-hp engine
G) Coolant expansion tank (-L ) ................. .... .
@ Windshield washer container (,$ ) . ... ... .. .... ... .
@ Engine oil dipstick (orange) ...... ... ... .... .. ... .
© Engine oil filler cap ("1::r.) ..... .... .............. .
© Brake fluid reservoir ( ) . ...... ...... .......... .
© Jump start points(+) under a cover,(-) bolt head ... .
235
236
233
241
229
230
235
290
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always
read and heed all WARNINGS
~ & in "Working in the engine
compartment" on
page 225.
[ i] Tips
The battery on vehicles with the 6-cylinder engine is located in the
luggage compartment. Have any work on this battery performed by
a qualified service facility.•
Engine oil
Engine oil specifications
The engine oil used 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 reliably. Choosing the right oil and
changing oil within the time and mileage intervals printed in your
vehicle's Warranty
& Maintenance booklet matters a lot more today
than it did years ago. Audi has developed a special quality standard
for engine oil that will help assure that your vehicle's engine will get
the lubrication it needs for proper operation .
Modern engine lubrication has taken a quantum leap in the last few
years. Many synthetic 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 oil
that you use must conform to Audi's oil quality standard VW 502 00
to help keep your vehicle's engine running smoothly and help
ti,,,
Vehic le care I I irechnical data

-~_C_ h_e _c _ k_ i_n ...:::g::;...._ a_n_ d_ f_ i_ll _in -'g:::;.._ ___________________________________________ _
prevent the formation of harmful 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 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 following specifications printed on the oil container:
Audi oil standard VW 502 00
Oil container labels may carry the specification singly or in combi­
nation with other designations and oil quality standards.
Viscosity
Engine oils are graded according to their viscosity. The proper
viscosity grade oil for your engine depends on climactic or seasonal conditions where you drive. You can use oil with a viscosity grade of
SAE 5W40 across all temperature ranges for normal driving condi­
tions .
However, if engine oil viscosity grade SAE 5W40 is not available, you
can also use viscosity grade SAE 5W-30 or SAE 0W-40 as long as it
meets Audi oil quality standard VW 502 00 specifications.
Because engine oil that meets the Audi oil standard may not be
available everywhere when you need it, we strongly recommend
that you always 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 oil while on the road.
Only if the level of the oil is at or below the minimum mark on the
oil dipstick -and no oil that expressly conforms to Audi oil standard
VW 502 00 specifications is available -may you top off with a high
quality engine oil, preferably synthetic -based, that meets ACEA A3,
ACEA A5 or ACEA B5, 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, during the entire time between oil change intervals, never top off with more than a total of 0
.5 qt/liter engine oil that does not
conform to Audi oil specification VW 502 00.
For more information about engine oil that has been approved for
your vehicle, please contact either your authorized Audi dealer or
Audi Customer Relations at 1 (800) 822-2834 or visit our web site at
www.audiusa.com or www.audicanada.ca. Here you will also find a
current list of oils (manufacturers, brand names etc.) that conform
to Audi oil standard VW 502 00.
Changing the engine oil
The engine oil and oil filter must be changed according to the
mileage (kilometers) and time intervals specified in your vehicle 's
Warranty
& Maintenance booklet. Do not exceed these intervals -
harmful deposits from old engine oil can reduce engine perfor­
mance and can lead to expensive engine repairs.
Changing the oil at the recommended intervals is so very important
because the lubricating properties of oil decrease gradually during
normal vehicle use. If you are not sure when you have your oil
changed, ask your authorized Audi Service Advisor.
Under some circumstances the engine oil should even be changed
more frequently . Change oil more often if you drive mostly short
distances, operate the vehicle in dusty areas or mostly under stop ­
and-go traffic conditions, or when you use your vehicle where
temperatures stay below freezing point for long periods.
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 .
Damage or malfunctions due to lack of maintenance
It is essential that you change your oil at the recommended intervals
using only engine oil that complies with Audi oil standard
VW 502 00 . Your New Vehicle Limited Warranty does not cover
damage or malfunctions due to failure to follow recommended
maintenance and use requirements as set forth in the Audi Owner's
Manual and Warranty & Maintenance booklet. Your dealer will have
to deny warranty coverage unless you present to the dealer proof in
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•
the form of Service or Repair Orders that all schedu led maintenance
was performed in a time ly manner .•
Engine oil consumption
The engine in your vehicle depends on an adequate
amount of oil to lubricate and cool all of its moving parts.
In order to provide effective lubrication and cool ing of internal
engine components , all internal combustion engines consume a
certain amount of oil. Oil consumption varies from engine to engine
and may change significantly over the life of the engine. Typically,
engines with a specified break -in period (see~
page 197) consume
more oil during the break-in period than they consume af ter oi l
consumption has stabi lized .
Unde r 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
condensation or fuel residue and the oxidation level of the o il. As
any engine is subject to wear as mileage builds up, the oil consump ­
tio n may increase over time unt il rep lacement of worn components
may become necessary.
W ith all these variables coming into play, no standard rate of oil
consu mption can be estab lished or specified. There is no a lternative
to regular and frequent checking of the oil level, see
Note .
If the yellow engi ne oil level warning symbol in the instrume nt
cluster lights up, you should check the oil level as soon as
poss ible
with the oil dipstick~ page 229 . Top off the oil at your
earliest convenience~
page 230.
& WARNING
Before 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 22 5.
0 Note
Driving with an insufficie nt o il level is l ikely to cause severe damage
to the engine.
[ i ] Tip s
• The oil pressure warning displ ay ce,. is not an indi cat or of the oil
level . Do not rely on it. Instead , check the oil level in your engine at
regular interv als , prefe rably ea ch time you refuel , and always before
going on a long trip.
• If you have the impression your engine consumes excessive
amoun ts of oil, we recommend that you consu lt your authorized
Audi dealer to have the cause of your concern proper ly diagnosed .
Keep in mind that the accura te m easuremen t of oil consumption
requires great care and may take some time . Your authorized Audi
dea ler has instructions about how to measu re oil consumption
accurately .•
Checking the engine oil level
Vehicle care I t •
Fig . 171 Dip sti ck
( V ersio n A):
Oil le vel
ran ges

Checkin g and fillin g ---------------~-!':WIii
•
Before you check a nything in the e ngine compartment,
alw ay s re ad and heed all WARNINGS ~
& in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 225.
- Unscrew the cap~ to the engine oil filli ng hole
~ page 230, fig . 173 or~ page 230, fig. 174 .
Carefully top off with the appropriate o il in 0 .5 liter doses .
- Check the oil level again after two minutes~
page 229.
-Top off t he o il a gai n, i f n ecessary .
- Screw the cap back on the filling hole and s lide the oil
dipstic k in as far as i t will go.
& WARNING
• While topping off , th e oil mu st n ot com e in c ont act with h ot
e ng ine part s -fire h aza rd!
• The oil fill er cap mu st b e prope rly sec ured to pre vent oil fr om
b ei ng spr ay ed on th e hot eng ine and e xha ust s yste m when th e
engine i s runni ng -fire haz ard!
• If you r skin h as come in co ntac t wi th th e engin e oil , you mus t
s ub sequ entl y c leanse it tho rou ghl y.
0 Note
• The oil level must not be above range @- danger of converter or
engine damage! Contact a qualified workshop to draw off oi l, if
necessary.
• Audi d oes no t r ecommend th e use of o il a ddit iv es . The y may
d am age the engin e and adver sely aff ect y our New Vehi cle Limited
Warr ant y.
<£' For the sak e of th e environment
• Under no circumstances can the oi l come in contact with the
sewage network or the soi l.
• Observe and follow legal regulations when disposing of empty
oi l containers. •
Changing the engine oil
We recommend that have your oil changed by an autho­
rized Audi dealer or a qualified service station.
Before you check anything in the engine co mpart ment, always re ad
an d heed all WARN INGS=>
& in "Working in the engine compart­
ment" on
page 225.
The engine oi l must be changed according to the interva ls specified
in your Warranty
& Maintenance booklet. This is very important
because the lubricat ing properties o f oi l d im inish g radua lly during
normal vehicle use.
Under some circumstances the engine oil shou ld be changed more
frequently . Change oil more often if you drive mostly short
distances, operate the vehicle in dusty areas or under predomi­
nantly stop -and -go traffic conditions, or have your vehicle where
temperatures remain below freezing for extended periods .
Detergent additives in the oil w ill make fresh oi l 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 .
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 changed by an authorized
Audi de aler or a
qualified service station .
If you choose to ch ang e yo ur oil your self , please note the following
important information : .,_
Vehicle care I t •

-Checking and filling
P'N:1--------=-------------------
& WARNING
To reduce the ri sk of personal inju ry if you mu st change the engine
oil in your vehicle your self:
• Wear eye prote ction .
• To reduce the ri sk of bu rn s from hot engine oil , let the engine
c ool down to the tou ch .
• When remo ving th e oil dr ain pl ug w ith your fing ers, s tay a s fa r
a w ay as po ssibl e. Alw ays keep your forearm p arallel to the grou nd
to help prevent hot oil from running down your arm .
• Drai n the oil into a container de signed for th is purpose , one
l a rg e enough to hold at le ast the tot al a mount of oil in your eng ine .
• Engine oil is poi sonou s. Keep it well out of the rea ch of children .
• Continuous contact with used engine oil i s harmful to your
skin. Always prote ct your skin by wa shin g oil off thoroughly with
s oap and water .
0 Note
Never mix oil additives with your engine oil. These additives can
damage your engine and adversely affect your Audi New Vehicle Limited Warranty .
~ For the sake of the environment
• Before changing your oil, first make sure you know where you
can proper ly dispose of the used oil.
• Always dispose of used engine oil properly . Do not dump it on
garden soil, wooded areas, into open st reams or down sewage
drains .
• Recycle used engine oi l by taking it to a used engine oi l collec ­
tion facility in your area, or contact a service station .•
Engine cooling system
Coolant
The engine coolan t perf orms two func tions: it keeps the
engine from overheating an d it protects the engine from
freezing in the winter.
The cooling system is sealed and general ly requires litt le attention.
The coo ling system has been fi lled at the factory with a permanent
coo lant which does not need to be changed. The coolant consists of
a mixture of water and the manufacturer's glycol -basedcoolant
additive G12+ + antifreeze with anti corrosion additives (50% for USA
models; 60% for Canadian mode ls) . 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 boil ing point o f the coolant.
D o not reduce the concentration of the coo lant in the summer by
adding pla in water.
Th e proporti on of coolant additive must b e at
l e as t 50 % but not more than 60 %
to maintain antifreeze protection
and cooling efficiency . If the coolant frost protect ion is too low, the
coo lant could freeze and damage the vehicle 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 ++ coolan t additive with other additives G12 + or
G12. Always check with your authorized Audi dealer.
& WARNING
Bef ore you che ck anything in the engine compartment , alwa ys
read and heed all WARNING S
~ & in "Working in the engine
c ompartment " on
page 225.

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Ap plies t o vehicles: w ith 6 -cylin d er engine
Charging of battery 6 -cylinder engine )
All work on the battery requires specialized knowledge!
The battery is maintenance-free and is inspected regu ­
larly as part of vehicle service.
If starting problems occur because the battery charge is too low,
this may indicate a defective battery. In this case we recommend
having a qualified workshop inspect and charge the battery or
replace it if necessary. A discharged battery can
freeze at tempera ­
tures of only O °C. A thawed battery must be replaced, as the battery
housing may be cracked due to freezing and could therefore leak
acid.
Charging the battery
Battery charging should be performed by a qualified workshop,
since batteries employing a special technology are used which
require current-limited constant voltage charging.
0 Note
The vehicle may be optionally equipped with a gel battery, which can only be charged at a constant current-limited voltage.
• To prevent damage to the battery and the electronics system, a
gel battery that is connected must under no circumstances be
charged with a quick charger.
[ i] Tips
The vehicle battery must not be charged with a standard small
charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter or outlet. •
Windshield washer container
Using plain water is not adequate for filling the wind­
shield washer system.
Fig . 179 Engine
compartment : wind­
shield washer fluid
container
The windshield washer fluid container is located on the
right side of the engine compartment~ fig. 179. The
washer fluid container is marked with the symbol %Pis on
its cap.
- Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always
read and heed all WARNINGS~ & in "Working
in the engine compartment" on
page 225.
-Lift the filler cap tongue to add washer fluid. You can fill
the container to the top.
- Press the cap back onto the filler neck after filling the
container.
You can find the reservoir capacity in the table in~ page 300.
To prevent lime residue from building up on the spray jets, use
distilled water when refilling. Always add a glass cleaner solution
(with frost protection in the winter}. .,._
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

Tires and wheels -
----------------
•
• The tire pressures should only b e chec ked and ad just ed wh en
t he tire s are co ld. The s lig ht ly rai se d pre ss u res of w arm tires mu st
not b e reduced .
• Adjust t he tire pressure to the lo ad you ar e carrying.
• Reinstal l the va lve stem cap on the va lve .
When should I check the tire pressure?
The correc t ti re p ress ure is es pec ially im portant a t high speeds. The
press ure s hou ld t here fore be checked at least once a mo nth and
a lways before starting a journey. Do not forget to check the tire pres ­
su re for t he spare whee l=>
page 2 71.
When should I adjust the tire pressures?
Ad just the tire pressure to the load you are carryin g. After c han ging
a whee l
or replacing whee ls you have to adj ust th e tire pre ssu re s on
a ll w he el s. In add itio n, you must the n initialize the new t ire pres ­
su res in the tire pressure monitoring system*=>
page 264.
& WARNING
Incorrect tire pressures and /or underinflation can lead sudden tire
failure , loss of control, collision, serious personal injury or even
death .
• When the warning symbol
l.J appears in the instrument
cluster , stop and inspect the tires .
• Incorrect tire pressure and /or underinflation can cause
increased tire wear and can affect the handling of the vehicle and
stopping ability .
• Incorrect tire pressures and/or underinflation can also lead to
sudden tire failure , including a blowout and sudden deflation ,
causing loss of vehicle control .
• The driver is responsible for the correct tire pressures for all
tires on the vehicle. The applicable pressure values are located on a st icker on the dr iver 's side B -pillar or on the inside of the fuel
filler flap.
& WARNING (continued )
• Only when all tires on the vehicle are filled to the correct pres­
sure, the tire pressure monitoring system * can work correctly.
• The use of incorrect tire pressure values can lead to accidents
or other damage . Therefore it is essential that the driver observe
the specified tire pressure values for the tires and the correct pres­
sures for the function of the tire pressure monitoring system *.
• Always inflate tires to the recommended and correct tire pres­
sure before driving off.
• Driving with underinflated tires bend more , letting them get
too hot resulting in tread separation , sudden tire failure and loss
of control.
• Excessive speed and /overloading can cause heat build -up ,
sudden tire failure and loss of control.
• If the tire pressure is too low or too high , the tires will wear
prematurely and the vehicle will not handle well .
• If the tire is not flat and you do not have to change a wheel
immediately, drive at reduced speed to the nearest service station
to check the tire pressure and add air as required .
0 Note
Driving without valve stem caps can cause damage to the tire
va lv es. To p revent this, a lways mak e su re that fac to ry insta lled va lve
stem caps on al l wheels a re sec urely mounted on the va lve .
Underinflated t ires wi ll a lso increase the fue l consumption. •
Tires and vehicle load limits
There are limits to the amount of load or weight that any vehicle and
any tire can ca rry. A ve hicle tha t is ove rlo ade d wi ll not h and le w ell ..,
Vehicle care I t •

___ T_ i_ r_e _s_ a_ n_ d_ w_ h_ e_ e _ ls _________________________________________________ _
Tire service life
The service life of tires depends on a Jot of different things
including proper installation and balancing, correct tire
pressure and driving style .
(r
l \._ _____ ;)
Tread Wear I nd ica tor ( TWll
Fig. 182 Tire tread:
tr ea d wea r ind ica tors
( TWIJ
Fi g. 1 83 Ro tati ng tir es
for mor e even wea r
The or iginal tires on your vehicle have 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) high "wear
indicators":::::, fig. 182 running across the tread . Depending on the
make, there will be six to eight of them evenly placed around the
tire . Marks on the tire sidewall (for example "TWI" or other symbols)
indicate the positions of the tread wear indicators . Worn tires must
be replaced. Dif ferent figures may apply in other countries:::::,&.
Tir e p re ss ure
Incorrect tire pressure causes premature wear and can cause
sudden tire blow-out . For this reason, tire pressure must be checked
at least once a month :::::,
page 250.
Drivin g sty le
Driving fast around curves, heavy acce leration and hard braking
increase tire wear .
Rotating tires for more even wear
For all four tires on your vehicle to have the same service life, we
recommend that the front and rear tires are rotated according to the
tire manufacturer's suggested tire rotation intervals . Please
r emember the following:
• Tire rotation interva ls may differ from the vehic le service inter ­
vals outlined in your Warranty
& Maintenance Booklet.
• The longer one tire is used in one location on the vehicle, the
more it wears at certain points; therefore, we recommend that you
follow the tire manufacturer's suggested tire rotation intervals.
• Vehicles with front -wheel drive experience mo re tread wear on
the front wheels compared to all-wheel drive (quattro®) .
• Please rotate tires as shown :::::, fig . 183.
• Extra care must be taken when rotating direction -specific tires
:::::, page 279.
Whe el b ala n cing
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced. However, various situa­
tions during everyday driving can cause them to become unba l­
anced, resulting in vibrations you can usual ly feel through the
steering wheel.
Unba lanced whee ls must be rebalanced to avoid excessive wear on
steering, suspension and tires. A wheel must a lso be reba lanced
when a new tire is installed.
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