2009 AUDI S6 check engine

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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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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. ~

Checkin g and fillin g Ill
--------------~-
•
-Read the brake fluid level from the brake fluid reservoir
~ fig. 243. The brake fluid level must be between the
"MIN" and "MAX" markings.
The brake fluid reservoir is located at the rear partition of the engine
compartment on the left side=> page 302.
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 l ight (U.S. models:
BRAKE , Canadian models:
CCD> l will come on=> page 22 and=> page 30. Do not continue to
operate the vehicle . The complete brake syste m shou ld 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 dea ler
immedi ately. •
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 po int of the brake fluid will also
decrease considerably and decrease braking performance.
T herefore, the brake fluid must be changed
ever y two yea rs. Always
use new brake fluid which conforms to Federa l Motor Veh ic le Stan­
dard "FMVSS 116 DO T 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 deal er. Your dealer has the co rrect tools, the right brake
fluid and the know-how to do this for you.
& WARNING
• Bra ke fluid i s poi sonou s. It m ust be stor ed only in the closed
or iginal container out of the reach of children!
• Brake f ailur e can result fr om old or in approp riat e bra ke fluid .
Ob serve the se pre cauti ons:
- Use o nly br ake fluid that me ets SAE specifi cation
J 1703 and
c onfo rm s t o Fed eral Mo to r V ehicle Standard 116 . Alway s check
w ith your auth oriz ed A udi de aler t o m ake sure you are usin g
the correct b rake flu id . The corre ct ty p e of brake flu id i s al so
indi cate d on the br ake fl uid r eservo ir .
- The brake f luid mu st be new . Heav y use of the brake s can
ca us e a va por lo ck if the brake fluid is left in the sy stem too
long. Thi s ca n seriou sly affect th e effic iency of the brake s as
well as your safe ty. T his co uld r esult i n an a ccide nt.
0 No te
Brake fluid wil l damage the paint of your vehicle .
'£> For the sake of the environm ent
Because of the problem of proper disposal of brake fluid as well as
the special too ls required and the necessary expertise, we recom ­
mend that you have the brake fluid changed by your authorized Audi
dea ler. •
Battery
General information
Under norm al operating conditions, the battery in your Audi does
not need any maintenance . With high outside temperatures or long
daily drives we recommend that you have the electrolyte level ._
Vehicle care I t •

-Checking
and filling
---=---------------
checked by a service facility . The electrolyte level should also be
checked each time the battery is charged
~ page 314.
Have the battery checked when you take your vehicle in for service.
You are well advised to replace a battery that is older than 5 years.
With certain types of airbag deployment, the battery is discon­ nected from the vehicle electrical system for safety reasons~
& in
"Repair, care and disposal of the airbags" on
page 229.
Disconnecting the battery terminals
Some vehicle functions (power window regulators, for example) are
lost if the battery terminals are disconnected . These functions have
to be relearned after the battery terminals are connected again . To
prevent this, the battery should only be disconnected from the
vehicle electrical system when absolutely necessary for repairs.
Vehicles not driven for long periods
If you do not drive your vehicle over a period of several days or
weeks, electrical components are gradually cut back or switched off.
This reduces energy consumption and maintains starting capability
over a longer period
~ page 269.
Take into consideration that when you unlock your vehicle, some
convenience functions , such as the master key remote function or
power seat adjustment, may not be available. The convenience
functions will be available again when you turn on the ignition and
start the engine.
Winter operation
During the winter months, battery capacity tends to decrease as
temperatures drop . This is because more power is also consumed
while starting, and the headlights, rear window defogger, etc., are
used more often.
Avoid unnecessary power consumption, particularly in city traffic or
when traveling only short distances. Let your authorized Audi dealer
check the capacity of the vehicle battery before winter sets in
~ page 314. A well charged battery will not only prevent starting
problems when the weather is cold , but will also last longer .
[ i] Tips
If your vehicle is left standing for several weeks at extremely low
temperatures, the vehicle battery should be removed and stored
where it will not freeze. This will prevent it from being damaged and
having to be replaced. •
Working on the battery
Be especially careful when working on or near the battery.
Fig. 244 Luggage
compartment : Battery
The battery is located in the luggage compartment under
the floor. Before you check anything in the luggage
compartment,
read and heed all WARNINGS=>& .
Lift the floor by the plastic handle.
Hook the handle into the luggage compartment weather
strip.
Always heed the safety warnings, when working on the vehicle
battery or the vehicle electrical system to prevent injury.

Checkin g and fillin g -
--------------~-
•
-Now remove the clamps fo r the charging eq uipment.
- Close t he red cover on the positive pole.
- Close the hood~
page 301.
A discharged battery can freeze at temperatures of only O °C. A llow
a frozen battery to thaw completely before attempting to charge it
~ & .However, we recommend not using a thawed battery again
because the battery casing can be cracked due to ice formation and
can leak battery acid.
Batt ery c harg ing (Ma ximum ch arging rate of 30
a mps /14 .8 Volt )
When charging at /ow voltages (e.g. with a trickle charg er), the
ba ttery cables do not have to be disconnected first. The battery caps
should
not be opened when charging a battery.
I t is not necessary to remove the battery from the luggage compart­
ment .
Fa st cha rging the batt ery (chargi ng ra te ab ove 14 .8
Volt s)
For technical reasons do not use a battery charger that uses vo ltage
greater than 14.8 Volts to charge your vehic le's battery.
& WARNING
C harging a battery can be d angerou s.
• Alwa ys follo w the oper ating instruct ions pro vided b y the
battery charger manuf acturer when charging your b attery .
• Neve r charge a frozen battery. It m ay explode be cau se of gas
tr apped in the i ce. Allow a frozen battery to thaw out fir st.
• Do not reuse batteries wh ich were fro zen. The battery housing
m ay hav e crac ked and wea kened when the b atte ry fro ze .
• Charge the battery in a well ventilated area. Keep away from
open fla me or ele ctri cal s par k. Do not smok e. Hydrogen ga s gener ­
ated by the battery is explo sive.
&_ W ARN ING (c ontinued )
• To redu ce the danger of explo sion, never connect or d isconnect
c h ar ger cable s while the charger is ope rat ing .
• Batte ry acid that may spill durin g charging should be w ashed
off with a sol ution of warm water and b aking soda to neutralize
the acid .
0 Note
Never use a fast charger as a booster to start the engine . This wi ll
seriously damage sensitive electronic components, such as control
units, re lays, radio, etc ., as well as the battery charger. •
Battery replacement
The new battery must have the same specifications and
dimensions as the original equipment battery.
Intelligent energy management in your vehicle is responsib le for
distributing the e lectrica l energy throughout your vehicle
~ page 269 . The intelligent energy management system will keep
the engine battery charged better then vehicles without this system.
To make sure the additional electrical energy is availab le once again
after you have changed the battery, we recommend that you insta ll
batteries of the same type and manufacture only (the same as those
insta lled at the t ime your vehicle was de livered). Specif ications are
listed on the battery housing . Your authorized Audi dealer wi ll then
code the battery management con trol unit.
I f it is not possib le to use a battery of this type, the new battery must
have the same capacity, voltage (12 volts), amperage, construction
and p lug sealing .
When installing the battery, make sure the ignition and all electrical consumers are tur ned off.
~
Vehicle care I t •