2010 AUDI S8 engine coolant

Instruments and warning /indicator lights
Instruments and warning/indicator lights
Instruments
Instrument cluster and controls
The instrument cluster is your central source of informa ­
tion.
Fi g. 2 O ver view of th e in stru men t clust er
© Coolant temperature gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
@ Tachometer with t ime and date d isplay . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 11
® Warning/indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
© Driver information system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
© Speedomete r with odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
© Fuel gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
(j) Reset button for tr ip odomete r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
@ !CHECK] button .... ...... ..... ......... ...... .
® Instrument cluster illumination ................. .
(I) Tips 13
1
3
The illum inat ion for the instrument cluster lights up whenever you
switch o n the ignition with the
vehicle headlight s off. As the daylight
fades, the instrument cluste r illum ination likewise d ims automati­
cally and w ill go out completely when the outside light is very low .
T his featu re is mean t to remind you to switch on the headligh ts when
outs ide light conditions become poor .•
Engine coolant temperature gauge
The engine coo lant gauge ~ fig . 2 © only works when the ignition is
on. To p revent damage to yo ur engine, ple ase note the following
important po ints:
Engine cold
As long as the need le remains at the le ft end of the gauge, the engine
st ill has not re ached its operating tem perature. Avoid high eng ine
speeds, heavy engine loads and heavy throttle applicat ions.
Normal temperature
When the eng ine has reached its ope rating temperature, the needle
w ill move into the midd le of the gauge and remain t he re.
If the
eng ine is working hard at high outs ide temperatures, the needle may
go furthe r to the right. This is no need to wo rry as long as the _JL
wa rning light in t he instrument cluster does not illuminate .
Warning light in the instrument cluster -t
When the _ L warning light starts to flash, this ca n mean one of two
t hings: e ither the cool ant
temperature is too h igh, or the coolant
level is too low=> page 29. _,.

If the indicator goes all the way to the right side inside the coolant
t empe ra tu re ga uge, the n th e eng ine cool ant tempe rature is too high.
Pull off the road to saf e location , turn off the engine and let it cool
down.
If the warning lig ht comes o n aga in after yo u have driven a
short distance, contact a qualified workshop.
& WARNING
• Always observe the warning in ::::> page 281 , "Engine compart­
ment ", before opening the hood and checking the engine coolant
l e vel.
• Never open the engine hood if you see or hear steam, or if you
see engine coolant dripping from the engine compartment. You
c ould burn yourself. Let the engine cool off first so that you cannot
hear or see any steam or engine coolant .
0 Note
• Mounting additiona l lights or accessories in front of the a ir in lets
reduces the cooling effect of the radiator. At high outside tempe ra ­
tu res o r high engine load, the e ng ine could ove rheat .
• T he front spoi le r has bee n designed to properly distribu te the
cooling air when the vehicle is moving . If the spoiler is damaged, this
co uld reduce the coo ling effect and the eng ine could then overheat.
Ask your author ized A udi deale r for assistance. •
Tachometer (engine rev counter)
The tac home te r indicates the engine RPM (revoluti ons
pe r minu tes) .
The tachometer @::::> page 10, fig. 2 is the left of t he two large clock­
type displays .
Th e eng ine tu rns at a speed
1,000 times t h e si ng le dig it in t he
display, e .g. if the need le is pointing at the "2" the engine is tu rning
at 2, 000 R PM.
Controls and equip ­
ment Safety first
Instruments and warning
/indicator lights
If e ngine RPM drops below 1,500, you s hould dow nsh ift to t he next
lower ge ar. T he re d area at t he e nd of the s cale i ndic ates m aximum
permissible e ngine RPM after the break-in per iod . Before reaching
this area, move the selector lever to posit ion "D (Drive)" or ease yo ur
foot off the accelerator pedal.
0 Note
The tachome ter needle s houl d not move in to the red range. If it does,
then only fo r a very short period of time . You could damage your
e n g in e by driv ing at h igh RPM .
c£> For the sake of the environment
Upshifting early saves fuel a nd reduces e ngine noise. •
Digital clock with date display
Date and time of day can be set in MMI.
Fig. 3 Instrumen t
cluster with digital
clock
Th e da te, time o f day , an d time and date form at can be se t in MM I.
You can find out more in the MMI manual. ..,.
Vehicle care Technical data

Driver information displ ay
Red symbols
A red symbol means DANGER.
-Pull off the road.
- Stop the vehicle.
- Turn of f the engine .
Fig . 1 7 Display:
en gine coo lant le v el
w arning (pr ior ity 1)
- Check the malfunctioning system. Contact your autho -
rized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop for assistance .
Red symbols indicate a priority malfunction -Danger !
With a prior ity 1 malfunction , a large symbo l appears in the center
area of the display => fig . 17 . When the symbol appears,
three
warning tones sound in succession. The symbol co ntinues to blink
until the malfunction has been repaired.
After a few seconds, the large symbol is replaced by a small symbol
shown at the top left of the display. This symbol is d isp layed unti l the
fault is corrected.
If there are more than one priority 1 malfunctions, the symbols
appear one after the other for about 2 seconds .
An additional driver message can a lso be displayed by b riefly pressing
the
! CHECK ] button.
The red symbols mean:
BRAKE
USA mod els:
Brake system malfunction =>
page28
((D) Canada models:
Brake system malfunction
ll
=>page28
Engine coolant level too => page 29
low/engine coo lant temperature
too high
~ E ngine oil pressure too low
-
~ Faulty steering
~
© Faulty ignition switch
.....
(I) Tips
]I=> page 30
=> page 31
::::> page31
• If the warning/indicator light BRAKE (USA models)/ CCD) (Canada
mode ls) in the instrument cluster flashes, there is a b rake system
malfunction . By pressing the [
CHECK] button, you can bring up a
driver message w hich explains the ma lf u nction in more detail. Please
note=>
page 28 .
• Speed wa rnings threshold 1 8 (USA models)/ 8 (Canada models)
and threshold 2
8 , (USA models)/ 8. (Canada models) are also shown
as red symbols. The warning is always shown as a sma ll symbo l in the
upper area of the disp lay=>
page 35. •
Brake system malfunction BRAKE
A malfunction in the brake system must be repaired as
soon as possible.
If the warning /ind icator light BRAKE (USA models)/ (CD)
(Canada models) in the instrument cluster flas hes, there is a
brake system malfunction . By pressing th e [
CHECK] bu tton, ~

you can bring up a driver message which explains the malfunction in more detail.
Stop vehicle and check brake fluid Level
- Pull off the road .
- Stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine.
- Check the brake fluid level~
page 299.
-Contact your nearest authorized repair facility if neces-
sary.
Brake fault ! Drive carefully to nearest
workshop
- Drive carefully to the nearest authorized repair facility and
have the malfunction corrected~& .
Parking brake ! Please contact workshop
- If the warning/indicator light flashes when the vehicle is
stationary or after the ignition is turned on , check to see if
the parking brake can be released . Drive to an authorized
repair facility as soon as possible and have the malfunc­
tion corrected. If the parking brake cannot be released,
contact your nearest authorized repair facility.
- If the warning/indicator light flashes while you are driving, it is possible that the traction control or the emer­
gency brake has malfunctioned. It is possible that the parking brake cannot be applied . It is also possible that
the parking brake cannot be released after it has been
applied. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer to have the malfunction corrected.
Controls and equip ­
ment Safety first
Driver information display
I
f the ABS , ESP and the brake for ce distribution fail, the ABS
warning/indicator light and the ESP warning/indicator light come on
along with the brake system malfunction warning/indicator light
~ & -
& WARNING
• Always observe the warnings in ::::> page 281, "Engine compart­
ment", before opening the hood and checking the brake fluid.
• Driving with low brake fluid is a safety hazard. Stop the car and
get professional assistance.
• USA models: If the BRAKE warning light, the ~ warning light
and the warning light come on together, the rear wheels
could lock up first under hard braking. Rear wheel lock-up can
cause loss of vehicle control and an accident. Have your vehicle
repaired immediately by your authorized Audi dealer or a qualified
workshop. Drive slowly and avoid sudden, hard brake applica­
tions.
• Canada models: If the brake warning light(())), the r-warning
light and the ABS warning light come on together, the rear
wheels could lock up first under hard braking. Rear wheel lock-up
can cause loss of vehicle control and an accident. Have your vehicle
repaired immediately by your authorized Audi dealer or a qualified
workshop. Drive slowly and avoid sudden, hard brake
applications. •
Engine cooling system malfunction -1-
A malfunction in the engine cooling system must be
repaired as soon as possible.
When the - L symbol in the display blinks, then either the
engine coolant
temperature is too high, or the coolant level ~
Vehicle care Technical data

Driver information display
is too low. An additional driver message can also be displayed
by pressing the [CHECK) button:
Switch off engine and check coolant level
-Pull off the road .
- Stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine.
- Check coolant level=>
page 297.
-Add coolant if necessary=> page 298.
-Continue driving only after the engine coolant
warning/indicator light goes out.
- Contact your authorized Audi dealer for assistance if
necessary.
If the engine coolant level is correct, then the radiator fan may be the
cause of the malfunction.
If the generator warning/indicator light should also illuminate
=>
page 16, then the fan belt may be damaged .
& WARNING
• If your vehicle should break down for mechanical or other
reasons, park at a safe distance from moving traffic, turn off the
engine and turn on the hazard warning lights=>
page 63, "Emer­
gency flasher A".
• Never open the hood if you see or hear steam or coolant
escaping from the engine compartment -you risk being scalded.
Wait until you can no longer see or hear steam or coolant
escaping.
• The engine compartment of any vehicle is a dangerous area.
Before you perform any work in the engine compartment, turn of
& WARNING (continued)
the engine and allow it to cool. Follow the warning stickers
=> page 281, "Engine compartment".
0 Note
Do not continue driving if the -~-symbol illuminates. There is a
malfunction in the engine cooling system -you could damage your
engine. •
Engine oil pressure malfunction "t':::7':
The red engine oil pressure warning symbol requires
immediate service or repair. Driving with a low-oil-pres­
sure indication is likely to inflict severe damage to the
engine.
If the ~ symbol appears in the display and blinks, the oil
pressure is too low. An additional driver message can also be
displayed by pressing the [CHECK] button:
Switch off engine and check oil level
Immediate actions
-Pull off the road .
- Stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine .
-Check the engine oil level with the dipstick=> page 293.
Dipstick readings checks too low
- Top off oil to the proper level=> page 294.

_________________________________________________ W_.;,. a_r _m __ a_n .;,. d:.;__ c::.. o.::..:. ld.:.:..._fflll
Warm and cold
Climate controls
Description
The air conditioner is fully automatic and is designed to
maintain a comfortable and uniform climate inside the
vehicle.
We recommend the following settings:
- Set the temperature to 75
°F (+23 °C).
- Press the
[AUTO] button.
With this setting, you attain maximum comfort in the least amount
of time. Change this setting , as desired , to meet your personal needs.
The climate controls are a combination of heating, ventilation and cooling systems, which automatically reduce humidity and cool the
air inside your vehicle .
The air temperature, air flow and air distribution are automatically regulated to achieve and maintain the desired passenger compart­
ment temperature as quickly as possible.
The system automatically compensates for changes in outside
temperature and for the intensity of the sunlight entering the
vehicle. We recommend you use the
Automatic mode ~ page 106
for year-round comfort .
Please note the following:
Turn on the air conditioner to reduce humidity in the vehicle. This also
prevents the windows from fogging up.
When the outside temperature is high and the air is very humid,
condensation from the evaporator may drip under the vehicle . This is
normal and does not indicate a leak.
Controls and equip ­
ment Safety first
If the outside temperature is
low, the fan normally only switches to a
higher speed once the engine coolant has warmed up sufficiently .
The air conditioner temporarily switches off when you drive off from
a standstill using full throttle to save engine power.
The compressor also switches off if the coolant temperature is too
high, so that the engine can be adequately cooled under extreme
loads.
Air pollutants filter
The air pollutants filter (a combined particle filter and activated char­
coal filter) reduces or prevents outside air pollution (dust, or pollen)
from entering the vehicle.
The air pollutants filter must be changed at the intervals specified in
your Warranty
& Maintenance booklet, so that the air conditioner can
properly work.
If you drive your vehicle in an area with high air pollution , the filter
may need to be changed more frequently than specified in your Audi
Warranty
& Maintenance booklet. If in doubt, ask your authorized
Audi Service Advisor for advice.
Key coded settings
The air conditioner settings selected are automatically stored and
assigned to the key being used. When the vehicle is started, the air
conditioner automatically selects the settings assigned to that key.
This way every driver will maintain his/her own personal settings and
does not have to reset them manually.
If a different driver uses your key and changes the air conditioner
settings, the latest adjustments will erase and replace the settings
you have stored.
Energy management
To prevent the battery from being discharged and to restore the
balance of energy, components which require large amounts of
Vehicle care Technical data

1111..__0_ n_ t_h _e_ r_o _ a_ d _________________________________________________ _
Stopping the engine
-Turn the ignition key to position @::::} page 119, fig. 132.
& WARNING
• Never turn off the engine until the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
• The brake booster and servotronic only work when the engine
is running. With the ignition turned off, you have to apply more
force when steering or braking. Since you cannot steer and stop
normally, this can lead to accidents and serious injuries.
• The radiator fan can continue to run for up to 10 minutes even
after you have turned off the engine and removed the ignition key.
The radiator fan can also turn on again if the engine coolant heats up because of intense sunlight or heat build-up in the engine
compartment.
0 Note
Do not stop the engine immediate ly after hard or extended driving .
Keep the engine running for approximately two minutes to prevent
excessive heat build-up. •
Starting and stopping the engine
using the Convenience key
Applies to veh icles: with Conven ience ke y
Starting the engine using the [START]
button
Using this button, you can switch on the ignition and start
the engine.
C,
0
Fig. 133 Convenience
key :
START button
The [ST ART] button has a two position feature. ::::} fig . 133.
Switching on the ignition
- Press the [ST ART ) button to the first position. Only the
ignition switches on.
Starting the engine
- Depress the foot brake.
- Move the selector lever into the P or N position ~,& .
- Press the
[ST ART ) button to the second position. The
engine starts.

Trailer towing
"---------------------------------------------------
Speed
T he higher the speed, the more difficult it becomes for the driver to
control the rig. Do not dr ive at the max imum permiss ible speed.
Reduce your speed even more if load, weather or wind conditions are
unfavorable -part icu larly when go ing downhill.
Reduce vehicle speed
immediately if the tra iler shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not try to stop the swaying by accelerating.
Observe speed limits. In some areas, speeds for veh icles towing
trailers are lower than for regu lar vehicles.
Always apply brakes early. When driv ing dow nhill, shift in to a lower
gear to use the eng ine braking effect to slow the veh icle. Use of the
bra kes alone can cause them to overheat and fail.
Coolant temperature
Th e coolant temperature gauge~ page 10 must be observed care­
fully. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the scale, reduce
speed immediately and/or turn off the air conditioner.
If the coolant temperature warning light in the instrument cluster
starts flashing
_f_ , pull off the road, stop and let the engine idle for
about two m inutes to prevent heat build-up.
& WARNING
Anyone not properly restrained in a moving vehicle is at a much
greater risk in an accident. Never let anyone ride in your car who is
not properly wearing the restraints provided by Audi.•
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
------------
Your vehicle handles differently when tow ing a trailer because of the
additiona l weight and different weight distribution. Safety, perfor- mance and economy will greatly depend on how carefully you load
your trailer and operate your rig.
Before you actually tow your trailer, practice turning, stopp ing and
backing up in an area away from traffic. Keep practicing until you have
become completely familiar with the way your vehicle-t railer comb i­
nation behaves and responds.
Backing up is difficult and requires practice. Backing up with a trailer
generally requires steering action oppos ite to that when backing up
your vehicle without a trai ler.
Maintain a greater distance between your vehicle and the one in front
of you. You will need more room to stop. To compensate for the
trailer, you will need a larger than normal turning radius .
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you normally would because of the added load . Make sure you have
enoug h room to pass. After passing, allow plenty of room for your
trai ler before changing lanes again.
Avoid jerky sta rts, sharp tur ns or rapid lane changes.
W Tips
• Do not tow a trailer during the break-in per iod of your veh icle.
• If you tow a trai ler, your Audi may require more frequent mainte­
nance due to the extra load
~ page 361. •
Parking on a slope
Do not park on a slope with a trailer. If it cannot be
avoided, do so only after doing the following:
When parking:
- Apply the foot brake.
- Have someone p lace chocks under both the vehicle and the
trailer wheels . ._