2009 AUDI S8 check engine

-Checking and filling ------=-------------------
to help keep your vehicle's engine running smoothly and help
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 specificat ions 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 oi l 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 oi ls 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 v iscosity 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 Oiterl 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 oil is at or below the minimum mark on the
oil dipstick -and no oil that expressly conforms to Audi oi l standard
VW 502 00 specifications is available -may you top off with a high
quality engine oi l, 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 s ite 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 oi l decrease gradua lly 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 eng ine 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 interva ls
using only engine oil that complies with Audi oil standard
VW 502 00. Your Limited New Vehicle 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 dea ler wi ll have
to deny warranty coverage unless you present to the dealer proof in
~

Checkin g and fillin g -
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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 279) consume
more oil during the break-in period than they consume after 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.
With 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 313 . Top off the oil at your
earliest convenience~
page 314.
& 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 309 .
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 oi l, we recommend tha t you consult your Audi dealer to
have the cause of your concern properly diagnosed . Keep in mind
that the accurate measureme nt 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
Vehicle care I t •
Fig. 2 65 Illu stra tion of
pri nciple 1 : Mar ker s on
oi l d ips tick ...

llffl __ C _h_ e_ c_k _in --== g'-- a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ..:::g:::..- ___________________________________________ _
Fig . 266 Illustr atio n of
p rin ci pl e 2: Marke rs o n
oi l d ips tick
Before you check anything in the e ngine compartment,
always read and h eed all WARNING S=>
& in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 309.
D ete rmining oil l ev el
Park your vehicle so that it is horizontally level.
- While at operat ing state temperature, briefly let the
engine run at id le and then shut it off .
- Wait approx. two minutes.
- Pull ou t the oil dipst ick. Wipe off the oil dipstick with a
clean cloth, and s lide it back in as far as it will go .
- Pull it back out and read off the oil level =>
page 313,
fig. 265 or ::::> fig. 266 . Top off the engine oil, if applicable
=>
page 314 .
Oil level with in range @
- Do not add oil.
Oil l evel within rang e
@
-You can add oil. Aft erwards, the oil level sho uld be wit hin
range @. Oil l
evel within ran ge
©
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 refue l and prior to long trips .
Depending on the way the vehicle is driven and the operating condi­
tions, oil consumption can be up to 1 quart per 1.200 mi les (1 liter
per 2.000 km). Consumption may be higher within the first 3 .000
miles (5.000 km) .•
Adding engine oil "l=:7:
Fi g. 2 67 O il filler cap
l ocat ion: 4.2 L 8-
c ylin der
Fig . 2 6 8 O il filler ca p
l ocatio n: 6. 0 L 12-
cylin der ...

Checkin g and fillin g -
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•
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 309.
- Turn off the engine.
- Unscrew the oil filler cap from the cylinder head cover
~ page 314, fig. 267 or~ page 314, fig. 268.
- Carefully top off with the appropriate o il in 0 .5 liter doses .
- Check the oil level again af te r two minutes~
page 313.
- Top off t he o il agai n, if necessary.
- Screw the cap back on the filling hole and slide the oil
dipstic k in as far as it will go .
& WARNING
• While toppi ng off , th e oil mu st n ot come in con tact w ith hot
e ngin e par ts -fir e ha zard!
• The oil filler cap mu st be p roperl y se cured t o pre vent o il fr om
be ing sprayed on the ho t engin e and exhau st s yste m wh en the
e ng ine is runni ng -fi re hazar d!
• If your skin h as come in co ntac t with th e engine oil , you mu st
s ub sequ entl y c lea nse it thor oug hl y.
0 Note
• T he oil level must not be above range @-danger of converter or
engine damage! Contact an authorized dealership to draw off oi l, if
necessary.
• Audi d oes n ot recommend the u se of o il a ddi tives . The y m ay
d am age th e eng in e and adv ers el y af fec t yo ur Ne w Vehicle Warr anty.
<£' 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 309.
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 chang e your oil your self , please note the following
important information : .,_
Vehicle care I t •

-~_C_ h_e _c _ k_ i_n ...:::g::;...._ a_n_ d_ f_ i_ll _in -'g:::;.._ ___________________________________________ _
& WARNING
To reduce the risk 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 you r engine and adve rsely affect you r Audi Limited New
Vehicle 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 t he
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 G 12 + + coolant additive wit h other additives (G12 +
or G12). A lways check with your authorized Audi dealer .
& WARNING
Before 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 30 9.

Checking and filling -
------------------------------------------- -=----- =------
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 especially 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 coolant additive to your cooling system,
remember:
-We recommend using only coolant additive G12+ + (check the
label) for your vehicle. This coolant additive is available 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 sealant to your vehicle's
engine coolant. Adding radiator repair fluid may adversely affect the
function and performance of your cooling system and cou ld 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.
Fig . 269 Engine
compartment : Coolant
expansion tank
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS==> & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 309.
Turn off the ignition .
Read the engine coolant level from the coolant expan­
sion tank==> fig. 269. With a cold engine, the coolant level
should be between the "min" and "max" markings. When
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 310.
To obtain an accurate reading, the engine must be switched off .
The expansion tank in your vehicle is equipped with an electric
coolant level sensor.
When the coolant level is too low, the warning light in the Auto­
Check System =>
page 31 will blink until you add coolant and the
level has been restored to normal. Even though there is an electric
coolant level sensor, we still recommend you check the coolant 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
coolant.
In a
sealed system, losses can occur only if the boiling point of the
coolant is exceeded as a result of overheating.
& WARNING
The cooling system is under pressure and can get very hot. Reduce
the risk of scalding from hot coolant
by following these steps. ~
Vehic le care I I Technical data

-~_C_ h_e _c _ k_ i_n ...:::g::;...._ a_n_ d_ f_ i_ll _in -'g:::;.._ ___________________________________________ _
& WARN ING (c o ntinued )
• Turn off the engine and all ow it to c ool down .
• Protect your f ace, hand s and arms from e scaping flu id and
s te am by covering the cap w ith a large , thick rag .
• Turn the cap slowly a nd ve ry ca re fu lly
in a c ounter -clockw ise
dire ction while applying light , downward pres sure on the top of
the cap.
• To avoid being burned , do not spill antifree ze or coolant on the
e x hau st sy stem or hot eng ine parts . U nde r certain conditions , the
ethylene glycol in engine coolant can cat ch fire .
0 Note
Do not add any type of radiator leak sealan t to your vehic le's engine
coolant. Adding radiator repair fluid may adversely affect the func ­
tio n and performance of your coo ling system and could resu lt in
damage not covered by your New Vehicle Limited Warranty .
[ i J Tips
On vehicles with the 12 -cylinder engine, the expansion tank is
located under a cover .•
Adding coolant
Be very careful when adding engine coolant.
Before you check a nything in the e ngine compartment,
alway s read and heed all WARNINGS=:> & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 309.
Turn off the engine.
Let the engine coo l down. -
Pla ce a t hick rag over t he co ola nt expansio n tank
=:> page 317, fig . 269 and carefully tw ist the cap cou nter ­
clockw ise
=:> & .
- Add cool ant.
Twist the cap on again
tightly .
Replacement engine coolant mus t conform to exact specifications
=> page 316, "Coolan t". Even in an emergency, if coolant additive
G 12+ +, G12 + or G12 is not availab le, do
not use a different additive.
Use plain water instead until you can get the correct additive and
can restore the correct ratio . This should be done as soon as
possible.
I f you have lost a cons iderable amount of coolant, then you should
add cold antifreeze and cold water only when the engine is cold .
A lways use
new engine coolant when refil ling .
Do not fi ll coo lant above the "MAX" mark . Excess coolant wil l be
f orced out through the p ressure relief valve in the cap when the
eng ine becomes hot.
& WARNING
• The cooling system i s under pre ssure and can g et very hot .
Redu ce th e risk of scalding from hot coolant by following these
s tep s.
- Turn off the e ngine a nd allo w it t o cool down .
- Protect your fac e, hand s and arms from e sc a ping fluid and
steam by covering the cap with a large, thi ck rag .
- Turn the cap slo w ly and very caref ully in a counter -clockwi se
dire ction while applying light , downward pres sure on the top
of the cap .
- To avoid being burned , do not sp ill antifreeze or cool ant on
the e xhau st sy stem o r hot e ngine part s. Under ce rtain condi -
tions , the ethylene glycol in engine cool ant can catch fire. _.,,

Checking and filling 111111 _______________________________ =..:..:..::...:::...:...:~:....:...;_.:....::___--:::-------J
& WARNING !continued )
• Antifr eeze is po isonous. Always store antifreeze in it s original
c ontainer and well out of the re ach of children .
• If you drain the coolant, it must be caught and safely stored in
a proper co ntainer cle arly m arked "poi son ".
0 Note
• Coolant po llutes the environment and cou ld cause an engine
fire. Excess coolant will be forced out through the pressure relief
valve in the cap when the engine becomes hot.
• I f, in an emergency, only wa ter can be added, the correct ratio
between water and antifreeze=>
page 316 must be restored as soon
as possib le .
W For the sake of the environment
Drained coolant should not be reused. A lways dispose of used
coolant while observing all environ mental regula tions . •
Radiator fan
The radiator fan switches on au tomatically by i tself.
T he radiator fan is driven by the engine via the V-belt. The viscous
clutch regulates the speed of the fan according to the temperature
of the coo lan t.
An auxiliary electric radiator fan * switches on and off depending on
coolant tem perature and o ther vehic le opera ting condi tions.
After you switch the engine off , the auxiliary 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
bu ild -up from the engine i n the engine c ompar tment, or •
the engine compartment heats up because the vehicle is parked
in intense sunligh t.
& WARNING
• To reduce the ri sk of personal injury never touch the radiator
f a n .
• The aux iliary electric fan i s te mperature controlled and can
switch on suddenly even when the engine is not running .
• The au xiliary radiato r fan switche s on automatic ally when th e
eng ine coolant reache s a certain temperature and
will continue to
r un until the coo lant tempe rature drop s. •
Brake fluid
Checking brake fluid level
T he brake fluid level can be checked with a quick glance.
-w ;:;
Fig . 270 Engin e
c o mpartm ent: B ra ke
fluid r ese rvo ir
Before you check anything in the e ngine comp artmen t,
always read and heed all WARNINGS:::::> & in "Working in
t h e engi ne compartment" on
page 3 09. .,_
Vehicle care I I irechnical data