2009 AUDI S6 Owners Manual

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•
& WARNING
B efo re you c heck anythin g in th e engine comp artme nt, a lways
r e ad and heed all WARNING S
~ & in "Workin g in the en gine
co mp art m ent " o n page 301 . •
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 . Choos ing the right oil and
changing oil within the time and mileage intervals printed in your
vehic le'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
t he lubr ication it needs for proper operation .
Modern engine lubrication has taken a quantum leap in the last few
years . Many synthetic oi ls availab le 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 oi l, the oi l
that you use must conform to Audi's oi l quality standard VW 502 00
t o help keep your vehic le's engine running smoo th ly and help
prevent the formation of harmful deposits, sometimes called
"s ludge," that over time can lead to expensive repairs.
At the time of printing, engine oi ls avai lable 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
a lways be sure tha t you use an approved o il.
To help prevent the formation of harmful deposits use only oil with
the fo llowing specifications printed on the oil container:
Audi oil standard VW 50 2 00
Oil container labels may carry the specification singly or in combi ­
nation with other designa tions and oil quality standards .
Viscosity
Engine oils are graded according to their viscosity. The proper
viscosity grade oi l for your engine depends on c limactic or seasona l
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 a lso use viscos ity grade SAE 5W-30 or SAE 0W -40 as long as it
meets Audi oil qua lity standard VW 502 00 specifications .
Because engine o il that meets the Audi o il standard may not be
avai lable everywhere when you need it, we strongly recommend
that you a lways carry with you an extra quart (l iter) of oil that
express ly 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 o il is at or be low the minimum mark on the
oi l dipstick - and no oil that expressly conforms to Audi oi l standard
VW 502 00 specifica tions is avai lable -may you top off wit h a high
quality engine oi l, preferably synthetic-based, that meets ACEA A3,
ACEA A5 or ACEA 85, AP I SL or ILSAC GF -3 spec ifications, but even
then, only in viscosity grades SAE 5W-40 , SAE 5W -30, or SAE 0W -40 .
However, during the enti re time between oi l cha nge interva ls, never
top off with more than a total of 0.5 qt/ liter engine oi l that does not
conform to Audi oil specification VW 502 00.
For more information about engine oi l that has bee n approved for
your vehicle, p lease contact either your authorized Audi dea ler or
Audi C ustomer 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 .._
Vehicle care I t •

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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 271) 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 305. Top off the oil at your
ea rliest convenience => page 306 .
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment , always
read and heed all WARNING S
=> & in "Working in the engine
compartment " on
page 301.

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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. 239 Illustration of
principle 1: Markers on
oil dipstick
Fig . 240 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 301.
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. 239 or
=> fig.
240. Top off the engine oil, if applicable
=>
page 306.
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

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Oil l ev el within r ange
©
- 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 tr ips.
Depending on the way the vehicle is driven and the operating condi­
tions, oil consumption can be up to 1 quart per 1 .200 miles (1 liter
per 2.000 km) . Consumption may be higher within the first 3 .000
miles (5.000 km) .•
Adding engine oil "l=:7:
Fig . 2 41 Engine
co mp artm ent: Oil filler
ca p loc ation
Before you check anything in the e ngine compartment,
alw ay s read and h eed all WARNINGS ==> & in "Work ing in
the engi ne compartment" on page 301.
- Unscrew the cap
:::::> fig .241.
Carefully top off with the approp riate o il in 0.5 liter doses .
- Check the oil level again after two minutes
==> page 305.
- Top off the oil agai n, if necessary . - Sc
rew the cap back on the filling hole and slide the oil
dipstick in as far as it will go .
& WARNING
• Whil e topping o ff, the oil mu st not come in cont act with h ot
eng ine p arts -fire haza rd!
• The o il filler cap mu st be properly se cured to pr event oil from
b ei ng spr ayed on th e hot engi ne and e xhau st sy stem when the
engine i s running · fire ha zard !
• If y our skin has com e in contac t with the eng ine oil, you mu st
s ub sequently clean se it thoroughly.
0 Not e
• The oil level must not be above range @- danger of converter or
engine damage! Contact an authori zed dealership to draw off oi l, if
necessary.
• Audi do es not re comm end the use of oil add it ives. They may
d a mage the engi ne and adversely affe ct you r New Vehicle W arra nty.
cj? For the sake of the environment
• Under no circumstances can the oil come in co ntact with the
sewage network or the soil.
• 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 compartment, a lways r ead
a nd h eed all W ARNIN GS=:>
& in "Working in the engine compart-
ment" on
page 301 . .,_

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•
T he engine oil must be changed according to the intervals specified
in your Warranty
& Maintenance book le t. This is very important
because the lubricating properties of oi l diminish gradually during
normal vehicle use .
Under some circumstances the engine oil should be changed more
frequently. Change oil more often if you drive most ly short
distances, opera te the vehic le in dusty areas or under predomi ­
nant ly stop-and-go traffic conditions, or have your vehicle where
t emperatures remain below free zing for extended periods.
Detergent additives in the oil wil l make fresh oi l look dark after the
engine has been running for a sh ort time . This is normal and is not
a reason to chan ge the oi l more often than recommended.
Because of the problem of proper disposal, along with the specia l
t ools and necessary expertise requ ired, we strongly recommend
that you have your oi l changed by an authorized
Audi de aler or a
qualified se rvice statio n.
If you choo se to change your oil yourself , please note the following
important information:
& WARNING
To reduce the risk of per sonal injury if you mu st ch ange the engine
o il in you r veh icle your self :
• Wear eye protection.
• To reduce the ri sk of burns from hot engine oil , let the eng ine
c ool down to the touch.
• Wh en remo ving the oil dra in plug with your fingers , stay a s far
aw ay as po ssible. Alway s keep your forearm parallel to the ground
to help prevent hot oil from ru nning do wn your arm .
• Drain t he o il into a container designed for thi s purpo se , one
large enough to hold at lea st the total amount of oil in your eng ine.
• Engine oil i s poi sonous . K eep it well out of the rea ch of children .
& WAR N IN G ( continued )
• Continuous contact with used engine oil i s harmful to your
sk in. Al way s prote ct your skin b y was hing oil off thorough ly w ith
soap and water .
0 Note
Never mix oil additives with your engine oil. These additives can
damage your engine and adversely affect your Aud i Limited New
Vehicle Warranty.
• Before changing your oil, 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 ope n strea ms or down sewage
drains .
• Recycle used engine oil by taking it to a used engine oil collec ­
tion facility in your area, or contact a service station. •
Engine cooling system
Coolant
The engine coolan t per for ms two functions: i t kee ps the
engine from ove rhe ating and it prot ects the e ngine from
freezing in the winter.
The cooling system is sea led and general ly requires litt le attention.
The coo ling system has been fi lled at the fac tory with a per manent
coolant which does not need to be changed. The coo lant consists of
a m ixture of water and the manufacturer's glycol -b asedco olant
additive G 12++ antifreeze with anti corrosion additives (50% for USA .-,
Vehicle care I t •

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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 30 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 . 2 42 E ngin e
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 301.
- Turn off the ignition.
- Read the e ngine coo lant level from the coo lant expan -
sion tank~ fig. 242. With a cold engi ne, the coolant level
sho uld be between the "min" and "max" markings. W hen
the engine is warm, the level may be slightly above the
"max" marking .
The location of the coolant expansion tank can be seen in the
engine compartment illustration~
page 302.

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•
T o obtain an accurate reading, the engine must be switched off .
The expansion tank in your vehic le is equipped with an e lectric
coolant level sensor.
When the coolant level is too low, the warning light in the Auto ­
Check System ~
page 37 will blink until you add coo lant and the
level has been restored to normal. Even though there is an electric
coolant level sensor, we still recommend you check the coo lant level
from time to time .
Coolant loss
Coolant loss may indicate a leak in the cooling system. In the event
of coolant loss, the cooling system should be inspected immedi­
ately by your authorized Audi dealer . It is not enough merely to add
coo la nt.
In a sealed system, losses can occur only if the boiling point of the
coolant is exceeded as a result of overheating .
0 Note
Do not add any type of radiator leak sealant to your vehicle's engine
coolant . Adding radiator repair fluid may adversely affect the func­
tion and performance of your cooling system and could result in
damage not covered by your New Vehicle Limited Warranty. •
Adding coolant
Be very careful when adding engine coolant.
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS~ & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 301.
- Turn off the engine.
- Let the engine cool down. Place
a thick rag over the coolant expansion tank
~ page 308, fig. 242 and carefully twist the cap counter­
clockwise ~& .
Add coolant.
- Twist the cap on again
tightly .
Replacement engine coolant must conform to exact specifications
~ page 307, "Coolant". Even in an emergency, if coolant additive
G12++ , G12 + or G12 is not availab le, do not use a different additive .
Use plain water instead until you can get the correct add itive and
can restore the correct ratio. This shou ld be done as soon as
possible.
If you have lost a considerab le amount of coolant, then you should
add cold antifreeze and cold water only when the engine is cold .
A lw ays use
new engine coolant when refilling.
Do not fill coolant above the "MAX" mark. Excess coolant will be
forced out through the pressure relief valve in the cap when the
eng ine becomes hot.
& WARNING
• The cooling system is under pressure and can get very hot.
Reduce the risk of scalding from hot coolant by following these
steps.
-Turn off the engine and allow it to cool down .
- Protect your face , hands and arms from escaping fluid and
steam by covering the cap with a large , thick rag.
- Turn the cap slowly and very carefully in a counter-clockwise
direction while applying light , downward pressure on the top
of the cap.
- To avoid being burned, do not spill antifreeze or coolant on
the exhaust system or hot engine parts. Under certain condi-
tions , the ethylene glycol in engine coolant can catch fire . ...
Vehicle care
I t •

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& WARNING (continued )
• Antifreeze is poi sonous. Alway s store antifreeze in its original
container and well out of the rea ch of children.
• If you drain the coolant , it must be caught and safely stored in
a proper container clea rly marked "poi son ".
0 Note
• Coo lant po llutes the env ironment and could cause an engine
fire . Excess coolant will be forced out through the pressure relief
valve in the cap when the engine becomes hot.
• If, in an emergency, on ly wa ter ca n be added, the correc t rati o
between water and antifreeze=>
page 307 must be restored as soon
as possible .
~ For the sake of the environment
Drained coolant should not be reused. Always dispose of used
co olant whi le observ ing all e nvir o nmen tal regula tions .•
Radiator fan
The radi ator fan s wit ches on automa tically by i tsel f.
The radiator fan is driven by t he engine v ia the V -belt. The v iscous
clutch regulates the speed of the fan according to the temperature
of the coo lant .
An aux iliary e lectric radiator fan* switches on and off depending on
c oo lant temperature and other vehicle opera tin g co ndi tions.
After you switch the engine off, the aux iliary fan can continue
running for up to 10 minutes -even with the ignition off. It can even
switc h on again later by itself=>&, if
• the temperature of the engine coolant rises due to the heat
bui ld-up fr om the eng ine in the engine c ompartmen t, or •
the engine compartment heats up because the vehicle is parked
in in tense s un ligh t.
& WARNING
• To reduce the ri sk of personal injury never touch the radiator
fan .
• The auxiliary e lectric fan is temperature controlled and can
switch on suddenly even when the engine is not running .
• The au xiliary radiator fan switches on automatic ally when the
engine coolant reaches a ce rtain temperature and will continue to
run until the coolant temperature d rops .•
Brake fluid
Checking brake fluid level
T he brak e fluid level can be checked wit h a quick glance.
F ig . 243 Engine
c o mp artment : B ra ke
fluid re servoir
Befo re you c heck anything in the e ngi ne compartme nt,
always read and heed all WARNINGS=> & in "Working in
t h e e ngin e com part ment" on
page 30 1. ~