
________________________________________ __;I:..: n~ t -=-e .=.:.: ll:.:.;igent technology .__==-
On steep s lopes , you shou ld use the brak ing effect of t he e ngine. This
w ay, y ou p revent unne ce ss ary we ar o n t he bra ke sys te m . If you mus t
use your brakes , do not ho ld the brakes down conti nuously . Pump the
bra kes at intervals.
Moisture or road salt
Under cer ta in c on di tions, for ex ample, when drivin g thr ough w at er or
very heavy rain, or e ve n after was hing your veh icle, the braking effect
c an be re duced due to moi st ur e (o r in freezi ng condi tio ns ice) o n the
bra ke pads . A few care ful b rake app lica tions should dry off the bra ke
pads or
remove any ice coatings .
Th e effec tiveness of the bra ke s ca n be re d uced whe n the vehicle is
driven on a salt-covered road and the brakes are not used . He re too,
yo u sh ould clean off a ccumula ted sa lt c oat ing from brake disc s and
pads with a few caref ul app lications of the brake::::;,&.
Corrosion
The re may be a tendency fo r dirt to build up on the bra ke pads and
cor ro si on t o fo rm on the di scs if t he c ar is not driven re gularly or o nly
for short t rips w ith litt le use of the bra kes.
If the bra kes are not used fre quent ly, o r if corrosion ha s fo rme d on
t he d iscs, i t is advisable to clean off t he pads and d is cs by bra king
fi rm ly a few t imes from a mo derately high speed ::::;,& .
Faults in the brake system
If yo u shou ld no tice a sudden in cre ase in b rake ped al t ravel, t hen one
o f t he two brake circ uits may have failed::::;,&.
Low brake fluid level
Malfunctions can occ ur in the brake system if the brake fluid level is
t o o low. The bra ke f lui d level is mon itored e lectroni cally.
Brake lining wear status
Brak e lining we ar may be checked by v isual inspec tio n o f the condi
tion of the brake pads throug h the openings in the wheel. If neces
sa ry, t he wheel m ay be re m oved f or this in spection ::::;,
page 335,
"C hanging a w hee l" .
Controls and equip
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
& WARNING
•
You should perform braking maneuvers for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system only if road condition s permit. Other
road users must not be put at risk -you may cause an accident!
• Before descending a steep grade, reduce speed and shift trans
mission into a lower gear or lower driving range. Do not ride the
brakes or hold the pedal down too long or too often. This could
cause the brakes to get hot and diminish braking efficiency.
• Do not "ride the brakes " by resting your foot on the pedal when
you do not intend to brake. This may cause the brakes to overheat,
premature wear and increased stopping di stan ce.
• Under certain climatic and operating conditions such as
passing through water, driving in heavy rain or after washing the
vehicle, the effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced. In winter,
ice can accumulate on the brake pads , linings, discs and drums .
Carefully apply brakes for a test . Brakes will dry and ice coatings
will be cleaned off after a few careful brake applications.
• Driving for an extended period of time on salt-covered roads
without using your brakes can also affect braking efficiency. Clean
off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and pads with a few
careful brake applications.
• If you damage the front spoiler, or if you install a different
spoiler, be sure the air flow to the front brakes is not obstructed.
Otherwise the brake system could overheat reducing the effective
ness of the entire brake system .
• Failure of one brake circuit will impair the braking capability
resulting in an increased stopping di stance . Avoid driving the
vehicle and have it towed to the nearest Audi dealer or qualified
workshop .•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
![AUDI S8 2010 Owners Manual Driving and environment
(I] Tip s
The consumption estimates as pub lished by ENV IRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) and Transport Canada may not corre
spond to your actual consump AUDI S8 2010 Owners Manual Driving and environment
(I] Tip s
The consumption estimates as pub lished by ENV IRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) and Transport Canada may not corre
spond to your actual consump](/manual-img/6/57617/w960_57617-265.png)
Driving and environment
(I] Tip s
The consumption estimates as pub lished by ENV IRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) and Transport Canada may not corre
spond to your actual consumption on the road, which will vary
depending upon vehicle load and speed, road and weather conditions,
trip length, etc. •
Drive smoothly and keep a lookout ahead
Vehicles use the most fuel when they are accelerating .
-Avo id unnecessary accelerating and braking.
Vehicles use the most fue l when they a re accele rating. If you antici
pate what is going to happen next, you will need to brake less and,
thus, accelerate less. Let the vehicle coast whenever possible -for
example when you see that the next traffic l ight is red. •
Avoid full throttle
Driving at moderate speeds saves fuel and improves your
mileage.
- Try and keep well below your car's maximum speed .
Accelerating gently reduces fuel consumption, engine wear, and does
not disturb the environment.
Fuel consumption, exhaust emissions and engine noise increase
disproportionately at high speeds . If you drive at approx imately three
qua rters of top speed, fuel consumption will be reduced by one half.
Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather condi
tions permit.
a Reducing unnecessary idling
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel.
-
Shut the engine off when yo u are not driving the vehicle.
- Do not warm up the vehic le by letting the eng ine run at
idle.
It makes sense to shut off the engine in traffic jams, when waiting for
trains to pass at rai lroad crossings, o r at traffic lights that have long
wa its on red . Turn ing the eng ine off for just 30-40 seconds saves
more fuel than is burned starting the engine again.
It takes a long t ime for the engine to warm up fully when it is running
at idle. Howeve r, wear and noxious emissions are espec ially high
when the eng ine is wa rm ing up. So you sho uld d rive away as soon as
you start the engine and avoid running at hig h rpms while the eng ine
is still warming up.
0 Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after starting . If warning
lights should come on to indicate improper operation, they would go
unheeded. Extended idling also produces heat, which cou ld result in
overheat ing o r othe r damage to the vehicle or other p roperty. •
Regular maintenanc_e ____________ _
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lot of fuel .
- Have your vehicle serviced at regular intervals .
By having yo ur vehicle regularly se rviced by an Audi dealer helps to
ensure that it runs properly and economically . T he condition of your
vehicle not only a ffects its safety and ability to ho ld its va lue, it a lso
affects
fu el con sumption .
Check your o il e ach tim e you fill you r tank.
~

_____________________________________________ C_h _ e_ c_ k_in --= g'-- a_n _d_ f_i _ll _i_n -=g ::;__ ____..
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment , always
read and heed all WARNINGS=>
& in "Working in the engine
c ompartment " on
page 289 . •
Applies to vehicles : w it h 12-cylin der engine
Engine compartment overv iew: 12-
cylinder engine
These are the most important items that you can check .
Fig. 242 T ypic al la yo ut fo r co nta iner s, engi ne oil dip stick and e ngine o il fill er
cap
(D W indsh ield/ headligh t washer con tainer (Q ) . . . . . . . . 305
@ Brake fluid reservoir(' ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
® Engine oil dipst ick (o range) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
~ehicle OP-eration
© Engine oil filler cap (~) .. . ...... ............. . .
© Coolant expansion tank (-1- ) .................... .
& WARNING
294
297
Before you check anything in the engine compartment , alw ay s
read and heed all WARNINGS=>
& in "Working in the engine
c ompa rtment " on
page 289 .
[ i ] Tips
The coo la nt expansion tank is located under a cover. •
Engine oil
Engine oil specifications
The engi ne oil used in your Audi needs the right k ind of oil .
The eng ine in your Audi is a soph isticated powerplant that was built
to exacting specificat io ns. This engine needs the r ight kind of engine
oil that meets sp ecifications regard ing qua lity and viscosity so that it
can run smoothly and reliably . Choosing the right oil and chang ing oi l
with in the time and mi leage intervals prin ted in your veh icle's
Warranty
& Maintenance booklet matters a lot more today than it did
years ago . Audi has dev eloped a special quality st andard for engine o il
that wi ll help assure that your vehicle's engine will get the l ubrication
i t n eed s fo r proper ope ration .
Modern engine lubrication has taken a quantum leap in the last few
years . Many sy nthet ic oils available today provide bette r engine lubri
cat ion that can outlast t raditional petroleum- based oi ls, mak ing
them a smart choice for use throug hout the life of your Audi.
Whethe r you u se syntheti c or pet roleum-b ase d engine o il, the oil that
you use must conform to Aud i's o il quality standard VW 502 00 to
help keep you r ve hicl e's engine run ning smooth ly and help prevent ..,.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

lffl) __ C_ h_ e_c _k _i _ n _g ~ a_n _d_ f_i l_ l_i n_ g _________________________________________ _
the formation of harmful deposits, sometimes ca lled "sludge," that
over time can lead to expensive re pairs.
At the time of pr int ing, engine o ils available in the U .S . and Canada
that meet the exacting s pecifications 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 s ure that you use an approved o il.
To help prevent the format ion of harmful deposits use only oil with
the following specifications printed on the oil container:
Audi oi l stand ard VW 502 00
Oil container labels may carry the specification singly or in comb ina
tion with other designations and o il quality standards.
Vi sco sit y
Engine oils are graded according to their viscosity . The proper
viscos ity grade oil for your eng ine depends on climactic or seasonal
conditions where you drive. You can use oi l with a v iscosity grade of
SAE SW40 across all tempera ture ranges for norma l driving cond i
tions.
However, if engine o il viscosity grade SAE SW40 is not avai lable, you
can a lso use viscos ity grade SAE SW-30 or SAE OW-40 as long as it
meets Audi oil quality standard VW 502 00 specifications .
Be cause eng ine oil that meets the A udi oil standard may not be avail
able everywhere when you need it, we strongly recommend that you
always carry w ith you an extra quart (liter) o f oi l that expressly
conforms to the VW 502 00 specif ication, in case you have to top off
the oi l while on the road.
On ly if the level of the o il is at or be low the min imum mark on the oil
dipstick - and no oil that expressly conforms to Audi oi l standard
VW 502 00 spec ificat ions is ava ilable - may you top off with a high
quality engine oil, preferably synthetic-based, that meets ACEA A3,
ACEA AS or ACEA BS or AP I SL spec ifications, but even then, on ly in
viscos ity grades SAE SW-40, SAE SW-30, or SAE OW-40. However,
dur ing t he entire time between oil change intervals, neve r top off w
ith more tha n a total of 0 .5 qt/liter eng ine o il that does not
con form to Audi o il specification VW 502 00.
For more information abo ut eng ine oil that has been approved for
your vehicle, p lease contact either your authorized Audi dealer or
Audi Customer Relat ions at 1 (800) 822-2834 or v isit our web site at
www.audiusa.com or www .audicanada.ca. Here you will also find a
cur rent list of oils (manufacture rs, brand names e tc.) t hat co nform to
Audi oil standard VW 502 00.
Chan ging the e ngine oil
T he eng ine oil and oil fi lter must be changed according to the mileage
(kilometers) and time interva ls specified in your vehicle's Warranty
&
Maintenan ce boo klet. Do no t exceed these interva ls - harmful
deposits from old eng ine oil can reduce engine performance and can
lead to expensive engine repairs.
Chang ing t he oil at the recommended intervals is so very important
because the lubricating properties of oil decrease gradually d uring
normal veh icle use. If you are not sure when you have your o il
changed, ask your authorized A udi Service Advisor.
Under some circumsta nces the engine oil should even be changed
more frequently. Change oil more often if you drive most ly short
dis tances, ope rate the vehicle in dusty areas or mostly under stop
and-go traffic conditions, or when you use your vehicle where temper
a tures stay below freezi ng point for long periods .
Detergent add itives in the oil will make fres h oil look dark after the
engine has been running for a short t ime . This is normal and is not a
reaso n to cha nge the oil mo re often than recommended.
Damage or malfunctions due to lack of maintenance
It is essentia l that you change your o il at the recommended intervals
using only engine o il that comp lies w it h Aud i oil standard
VW 502 00 . Your Limited New Vehicle Warranty does not cover
damage or ma lfunctions due to fa ilure to follow recommended main
tenance and use requirements as set forth in the Aud i Owner's
Ma nual and W arra nty
& M ai ntenance book let. Your deale r will have
to deny warranty coverage unless you present to the dealer proof in ._

___________________________________________ C_ h_e _c _k_ i_n ~g_ a_n_ d_ f_ i_ll _i_n _g __ _
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS==> & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 289.
- Turn off the engine.
- Unscrew the oil filler cap from the cylinder head cover
==>
page 294, fig. 245 or==> page 294, fig. 246.
- Carefully top off with the appropriate oil in 0.5 liter doses.
- Check the oil level again after two minutes==>
page 293.
- Top off the oil again, if necessary.
- Screw the cap back on the filling hole and slide the oil
dipstick in as far as it will go.
& WARNING
• While topping off, the oil must not come in contact with hot
engine parts - fire hazard!
• The oil filler cap must be properly secured to prevent oil from
being sprayed on the hot engine and exhaust system when the
engine is running - fire hazard!
• If your skin has come in contact with the engine oil, you must
subsequently cleanse it thoroughly.
0 Note
• The oil leve l must not be above range@- danger of converter or
eng ine damage! Contact an authorized dealership to draw off oil, if
necessary.
• Audi does not recommend the use of oil additives. They may
damage the engine and adversely affect your New Vehicle
Warranty.
Safety first
<£' For the sake of the environment
• Under no circumstances can the oil come in contact with the
sewage network or the soil.
• Observe and follow legal regulations when disposing of empty oil
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, always read
and heed all WARNINGS=>
& in "Working in the engine compart
ment" on
page 289.
The engine oil must be changed according to the intervals specified in
your Warranty
& Maintenance booklet. This is very important because
the lubricating properties of oil diminish gradually during normal
vehicle use.
Under some circumstances the engine oil sho uld be changed more
frequently. Change oil more often if you drive mostly short distances,
operate the vehicle in dusty areas or under predominant ly stop-and
go traffic conditions, or have your vehicle where temperatures remain
below freezing for extended 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 .
Because of the problem of proper disposal, along with the special
tools and necessary expertise required, we strongly recommend that
you have your oil changed by an authorized
Audi dealer or a qualified
serv ice station.
If you choose to change your oil yourself, please note the following
important information: .,_
Vehicle care Technical data

________________________________________________ T_ i_ re _ s_ a_ n_d_ w_ h_ e_ e_l _s _ ....... JIII
Tire service Life
The service life of tires depends on a lot of different
things including proper installation and balancing,
correct tire pressure and driving style.
_/l
l '-------- ,)
Tread Wear Indic ator (TWI )
Fig. 2 54 T ir e t read :
t rea d we ar i ndicators
( T WI)
Fig . 255 Rotati ng
t ir e s fo r mo re e ve n
w ea r
Th e or iginal t ires on your veh icle have 1/16 inch ( 1.6 mm) high "wear
ind icators"=> fig . 254 running across the tread . Depending on the
make, there w ill be six to e ight of them evenly placed around the tire.
Marks on the t ire sidewall (for example "TWI" or other symbols) indi
cate the posit ions of the tread wear indicators . Worn tires must be
replaced. Different fig ures may apply i n other countr ies => ,& .
Vehicle OP-eration
Tire pres sur e
Incorrect tire pressure ca uses premature wear and can cause sudden
tire blow-out . For this reason, tire pressure m ust be checked at least
once a mo nth =>
page 313.
Driv ing style
Driving fast around curves, heavy acceleration 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 fron t and rear tires a re rotated accord ing to the
t ire manufact urer's suggested tire rotation intervals . Please
remember the follow ing:
• T ire ro tat ion interva ls may differ from the ve hicle service in tervals
outlined in your Warranty
& Maintenance book let.
• The longer one tire is used in one location on the veh icle, the more
i t wears at certain points; therefore, we recommend that you follow
the t ire manufacturer's suggested tire rotation intervals.
• Vehicles with front-whee l drive experience more tread wear on the
front wheels compared to all-wheel dr ive (quattro
® ).
• Please rotate tires as sh own => fig. 255.
• Extra care must be taken when rotat ing d irection-spec ific tires
=:> page 341.
Wheel balancing
The w heels on new vehicles are balanced . H oweve r, various sit uat ions
dur ing everyday dr iving can cause them to become unbalanced,
resulting in vibrations yo u can usu a lly fee l through the s teering
wheel.
Unbalanced whee ls must be rebalanced to avoid excessive wear on
steering, suspension and t ires . A wheel must also be rebalanced
when a new tire is installed. _,,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

___ C_ o_n_ s _ u_m_ e_ r_ I_ n_ f_o _r_ m_ a_ t_io _ n _____________________________________________ _
reliability. For detailed vehicle maintenance consult your Warranty &
Maintenance booklet.
Under difficult operating conditions, for example at extremely low
outside temperatures, in very dusty regions, when towing a trailer
very frequently, etc., some service work shou ld be performed
between the intervals specified. This app lies particularly to:
• oil changes, and
• cleaning or replacing the air filter.
<£> For the sake of the environment
By regularly maintaining your vehicle, you help make sure that emis
sion standards are maintained, thus minimizing adverse effects on
the environment. •
Important considerations for you and your
vehicle
T he increasing use of electronics, sophisticated fuel injection and
em ission control systems, and the generally increasing technical
complexity of today's automobiles, have steadily reduced the scope
of mai ntenance and repai rs which can be carried out by vehicle
owners.
Also, safety and environmental concerns place very strict
limits on the nature of repairs and adjustments to engine and trans
mission parts which an owner can perform.
Maintenance, adjustments and repairs usually require special tools,
testing devices and other equipment available to spec ially trained
workshop personnel in order to assure proper performance, reli
ability and safety of the vehicle and its many systems.
Improper maintenance, adjustments and repairs can impair the oper
ation and reliability of your vehicle and even void you r vehicle
warranty . Therefore, proof of servicing in accordance with the ma in
tenance schedule may be a condition for upholding a possible
warranty claim made w ith in the warranty period . Above all, operat
ional safety can be adversely affected, creating
unnecessary r isks for you and you r passengers.
If in doubt about any serv ic ing, have it done by your authorized Audi
dealer or any other properly equipped and qualified workshop. We
st rongly urge you to give your authorized Audi dealer the opportunity
to perform all scheduled maintenance and necessary repairs. Your
dealer has the facilities, original parts and trained specialists to keep
your vehicle running properly.
Performing limited maintenance yourself
The following pages describe a limited number of procedures which
can be performed on your vehicle with ord inary tools, should the need
arise and trained personne l be unavailable. Before performing any of
these procedures, always thoroughly read all of the applicable text
and carefully follow the instructions given. Always rigorously observe
the
WARNINGS prov ided .
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always read
and heed all WARNINGS ~
& and~ & in "Working in the engine
compartment" on
page 289.
& WARNING
• Serious personal injury may occur as a result of improperly
performed maintenance, adjustments or repairs.
• Always be extremely careful when working on the vehicle.
Always follow commonly accepted safety practices and general
common sense. Never risk personal injury.
• Do not attempt any of the maintenance, checks or repairs
described on the following pages if you are not fully familiar with
the se or other procedures with respect to the vehicle, or are uncer
tain how to proceed.
• Do not do any work without the proper tools and equipment.
Have the necessary work done by your authorized Audi dealer or
another properly equipped and qualified workshop .
~

___ A_ l_. p_ h _ a_b_ e_ t_ic _a_ l_ in_ d_e _ x ____________________________________________ _
Driver's seat memory .. ... ..... ... . 84 Side airbags
Front passenger's seat . .. ... ... .... 77 Description . .................... 225
Front seats .................. .... 76 How they work .................. 226
Head restraints . .. .. .. .. .. .... 81, 191 Side assist
Lumba r support .. .. .............. 80 Activating and deactivating . .. ..... 145
Power seat . .. .. .. .. .. .. .......... 77 Description . .. .... ......... .... . 145
Safety guidelines . ...... .......... 76 Informational and alert stage signals 147
Seat belts Messages in instrument cluster display . .
Why YOU MUST wear them ........ 197 152
Seat memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Seat position Inco rrect seat position . .. ......... 191
Seating capacity . .. .. .. .. .. ...... .. . 197
Seating position Driver ............. ...... .... ... 188
Front passenger ................. 189
How to adjust the front seats .. ..... 189
Occupants . ................... .. 188
Rear passengers
Seats Number of seats 190
197
Selective unlock feature ...............
44
Selector lever ... ................... 155
Service and disposal Safety belt pretensioner ........... 205
Service interval display .. .. .... ........ 25
Service position Windshield wipers ............. ... 72
Servotronic MMI
settings ............. .. .. .. . 150
Operation .. ............. .... .. . 147
Safety tips .... ........... .. ..... 152
Sensor detection area ...... .. .... . 146
Side curtain airbags ... .............. 228
Description ... ................. . 228
How they work ...... ...... ..... . 229
Safety instructions ... ..... .. .. ... 229
Side marker l ights ........... .. .. .. .. 60
Ski sack . .. .... ............. ...... .. 91
Snow chains ....................... 324
Sockets ......................... 97, 98
So lar blower fan/solar roof .... .. .... . 112
Sound system disp lay
Dr iver information display ...... .. .. 23
Sources of in formation about child restraints
and their use ................... 251
Spare wheel . ............. .. ... ... . 334
Speed control system
See Adaptive Cruise Control . .. .. .. . 128
Power steering .................. 257 Speed rating letter code ........ .. .. . 320
Shift buttons . .. ..... ... ........ ... 159 Speed warning system .............. .. 35
Ship Speedometer ....
................ ... 12
Transporting you r vehicle ........ .. 353 Sport Suspension
See Adaptive A
ir Suspension ....... 176
Starting off with a trai ler .......... ... 125
Starting the engine ............. 118, 119
What should I do if the engine does not start? .... .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 119
Steering . .. .. .. ................. .. 117
Adjusting steering column .. ..... .. 117
Easy entry feature ......... ... .. .. 118
Locking the steering .............. 118
Malfunction . ... .. .. .............. 31
Steering wheel heating ...... .. .. .. .. 108
Steps for determining correc t load limit 315
Stopping the engine .... ............. 120
Storage .. .. .. .. ...... ............. . 98
Compartments in the door trim panels ...
100
Compartments in the rear doors .. .. 100
(upholder . .. ...... .............. 94
(upholder rear center armrest ....... 95
Glove compartment .......... ... .. 99
Luggage compartment . .. ... .... .. 102
Ski sack ....... ... .... .. .. .. .. .. . 91
Small objects ....... ...... .... .. 100
Sun shade ................ .... ... ... 68
Sun visors .................. ... .. .. . 68
Switches Emergency flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Power sunroof ............. .. .. .. . 57
Rear window defogger ...... .... .. 113
Symbols Red ..... ............. .......... 28
Yellow .................. ... ... .. 32