2011 AUDI Q7 warning

Driving and environment
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Driving and environment
The first 1,000 miles (1,500 km)
and afterwards
New engine
The engine needs to be run-in during the first 1,0 00 miles
(1,50 0 km) .
For the first 600 miles (1,000 kilometers):
- Do not use fu ll thrott le .
- Do not drive at engine speeds that are more than 2/3 of
the maximum permitted RPM .
From 600 to 1,000 miles (1 ,000 to 1 ,500
kilometers):
- Speeds can
gradually be increased to the maxim um
perm iss ible road or engine s peed .
During and after break-in period
- Do no t rev the eng ine up to high speeds when it is co ld.
T h is app lies w hether th e t ransmission is in N ( Neutral) o r
1 n gear .
After the break-in period - Do not exceed maximum engine speed under any circum ­
stances.
- U pshift i nto the nex t higher gear
before reach ing t he red
area at t he end of the tachometer scale==>
page 10.
Dur ing the first few hours of driving, the engine's interna l friction is
hig her than later w hen all the moving pa rts have been broken in. How
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation we
ll th is b reak-in p rocess is done depends to a cons iderab le extent on
the way the veh icle is d riven dur ing the f irst 1,000 miles (1,500 kilo­
meters).
0 Note
E x tremely high e ngine speeds are automatic ally reduced. However,
these rpm limits are programmed for an engine well run- in, not a new
engi ne.
~ For the sake of the environment
Do no t dr ive with u nnecess arily hig h engine speeds -upshift ing early
saves f uel, reduces noise and protects the environme nt.•
New tires
If y our veh icle is run nin g on n ew tir es, dr ive parti cula rl y
carefu l for the fi rst 35 0 mil es (500 kil ometer s) af ter fit ting.
& WARNING
New tires tend to be slippery and must also be "broken -in ". Be
sure to remember this dur ing the first 350 miles (500 kilome ­
ter s) . Brake gently. Avoid following closely behind other vehicles
or other situations that might require sudden, hard braking.
u
New brake pads
Remember tha t new brak e pa ds d o no t hav e a fu ll braki ng
eff ect d uri ng the first 250 mi les (400 k ilomet ers) after they
are i nsta lled.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Driving and environment
New brake pads have to be "burnished in" before they have optimal
grab ~& .
Dur ing the break-in period, you should avoid putting severe loads on
the bra kes. Severe loads incl ude, for example, sudden hard braking,
in part icu lar at very high speeds or, for examp le, on mountain passes .
& WARNING
New brake pads don't have the be st stopping power and must be
" b roken-in " du ring the initial 100 to 150 miles (150 to 200 kilo­
meters ) of normal city driving . You can compensate for this by
pressing the brake pedal more firml y. This also applies later when
new pad s are installed.
'1
Ap plies to veh icles : w it h gasoline eng ine
Catalyt·c converter
It is very important tha t your emission con trol system
(catalytic c onverte r) is f unctioning properly to ensure
that your vehicle is running in an environmentally sound
manner.
- Always use lead-free gasoline~ page 291, "Gasoline" .
- Never ru n the tan k down a ll the way to empty .
- Nev er put to o mu ch mot or oil in y our engin e~
pag e 306,
"Add ing engin e oil~" -
- Neve r try to push -or tow-start yo ur vehicle .
The catalytic converter is an efficient "clean-up" dev ice built into the
exhaust system of the ve hicle. The catalytic converter burns many of
the pollutants in the exhaust gas before they are released into the
atmosphere. The exclusive
use of unleaded fuel is critically important for the life of
t he c atal ytic converte r and proper f unct ion in g of t he engi ne.
& WARNING
• Do not park or operate the vehicle in areas where the hot
e x haust system may come in contact with dry grass , brush , fuel
s pill or other material whi ch can cau se a fire.
• Do not apply additional undercoating or rustp roofing on or
near the exhau st manifold, exhaust pipe s, catalytic converter or
heat shields. During driving , the substance used for undercoating
c ould overheat and cau se a fire .
0 Note
• Be aware th at just one tank fi lling wit h le aded fu el w ill alre ady
ser iously degrade the performance of the catalytic co nverter.
• Do not excee d the correct engine oil leve l~
page 306.
• Do not drive unti l the f uel tank becomes complete ly empty . The
eng ine could misfire. Unbu rned fuel could also ge t into the exha ust
system and th is could cause the catalytic converter to overheat.
• Do not tu rn off the igni tion whi le the veh icle is moving .
• Do not contin ue to operate your vehicle under these conditions, as
o therwise fuel can reach the cata lytic converter . This could result in
overheating of the converte r, requiring its rep lacement.
• To assu re eff icient operat ion of the Emission Co ntrol System:
- Have yo ur vehicle main taine d pr operly and in a ccordan ce wi th
the service recommendations in your Warranty
& Maintenance
booklet .
- Lack of p roper maintenance as well as improper use of the
veh icle w ill imp air the f unction of the emiss io n con trol syste m and
could lead to damage. ..

• Driving and environment
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ffi For the sake of the environment
Even when the Emission Control System is operating properly, the
exhaust gas can have a sulfur-like exhaust gas smell under some
operat ing states. This depends on the sulfur content of the fue l being
used. Using a different brand of fuel may help, or filling the tank with
lead-free supe r grade gasoline. •
Applies to vehicles: with d iesel engine
Diesel particulate filter
The diesel particulate filter filters nearly all of the soot particles out
of the exhaust. The filter cleans itself automatica lly under norma l
driving conditions. If the filter cannot clean itself (for example,
because you are only driving short distances), the fi lter becomes
clogged with soot and the symbol for the diesel particulate filter
illuminates ~
page 40.
& WARNING
• Do not park your vehicle over flammable materials such as
grass or leaves because the high temperature of the diesel partic­
ulate filter could start a fire.
• Do not apply an underbody protectant in the exhaust system
area or a fire could start. •
Avoid damaging the vehicle
When you are driving on poor roads, or over curbs, steep ramps, etc.,
make certain that low-lying parts such as spoilers and exhaust system
parts do not bottom out and get damaged.
Thi s is espec ially true for vehicles with low-slung chassis (sports
chassis)" and fully loaded vehicles. •
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Operate your vehicle economically
and minimize pollution
General
Your personal
style of driving will determine the economy
of your vehicle, as well as exhaust and noise levels.
Fuel economy, environmental impact, and wear on your engine,
brakes and tires largely depend on three factors:
• your personal dr iv ing style
• operating conditions
• technical limitations
If you anticipate what you need to do next and drive economically,
you can easily cut your fuel consumption by 10-15 percent. This
section will give you some tips on how you can he lp the environment
and your pocketbook.
(I) Tips
The consumption est imates as published by ENVIRONMENTAL
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.
-Avoid unnecessary accelerating and braking.
Vehicles use the most fuel when they are accelerating . 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 light is red. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Driving and environment
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 emiss ions and eng ine no ise increase
disproportionately at high speeds . If you drive at approximately three
quarte rs of top speed, fuel consumption will be reduced by one ha lf.
Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather condi­
tions permit. •
Reducing unnecessary idling
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel.
- Shut the engine off when you are not driving the vehicle.
- Do not warm up the vehicle by letting the engine run at
idle .
It makes sense to shut off the engine in traffic jams, when waiting for
trains to pass at railroad crossings , or at traffic lights that have long
waits on red. Turning the engine off for just 30-40 seconds saves
more fuel than is burned starting the engine aga in.
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up fully when it is running
at idle . However, wea r and noxious emiss ions are especially high
when the engine is warming up. So you should drive away as soon as
you start the engine and avoid running at high rpms while the engine
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 could result in
ove rheating or other damage to the vehicle or other property. •
Regular maintenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lot of fuel .
-Have your vehicle serviced at regular intervals .
By having your vehicle regularly serv iced by an authorized Aud i dealer
helps to ensure that it runs properly and economically. The condition
of your vehicle not only affects its safety and ability to hold its value,
it a lso affects
fuel consumption.
Check your oil each time you fill your tank.
The amount of oil used is related to engine load and speed .
It is norma l for the oil consumption of a new engine to reach its
lowest value after a certain mileage has been d riven.
You must drive your vehicle about 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometers) befo re you can properly assess oi l consumption.
This also app lies to fuel consumption and engine output .
0 Note
• Have your veh icle ma inta ined properly and in accordance w ith the
service recommendations in your Warranty
& Maintenance booklet.
Lack of proper maintenance as well as im proper use of the vehicle will
impair the function of the emission control system and could lead to
damage .
• Do not alter or remove any component of the Emission Control
System un less approved by the manufacturer. ._

Driving off road
Driving off road
Driving in difficult road conditions
and offroad
General information
T he ope ra ti on of the Ele ctro nic Stabilization P rogr am ( ESP ) is
expanded for operation away from paved roads. In s ituations where
slip or a different ia l lock in g f unct io n is requ ired, t he ESP offroa d
mode can be activated~
page 256. Hill descent control is also avail­
able in the ESP offro ad mode, wh ich a utomatically bra kes the vehicle
and thereby keeps speed consta nt when d ifferent whee l speeds are
de te cted when descend ing a hill~
page 257. Your Audi also has
permanent all-wheel drive in add ition.
However , your Audi is not a pure offroad ve hicle.
It was not bui lt for
dr iv ing un der extreme cond it ions, e.g. for t rips that ar e in th e natur e
of an exped it io n.
Drive only on road s and offroad sections which match the design of
your vehicle and your abilities as a driver. Never take risks!
Before driving offroad
• Check the eng ine oi l level, tire pressure, coolant level, and the
fluid level in the w indshiel d wa sher rese rvoir.
• Stow luggage items and other objects in the luggage compart ­
me nt, and sec ure t hem agains t slid ing ar ound.
After driving offroad
• After tr ips offroad, remove a ny tw igs and other foreign objects
from the gr ill, the underbody an d the whee ls. Pay special attention to
fore ign obje cts (sto nes) wh ich have be come lodge d in the tire tr ead.
• Clean the body and the vehicle unde rside, and ins pect t he vehicle
for possib le dam age. •
Clean dirty w indows, headlamp lenses, rear lights, and lic ense
plates.
• Perform a bra ke check (pa rticul arly afte r travell ing t hrough
wate r).
& WARNING
• Drive especially attentively and plan ahead in difficult road
condit ions and when offroad. E xcessive speed or incorrect maneu­
vers can cau se injurie s and damage to the vehicle .
• Always adapt your speed and driving style to road, offroad,
traffic, and weather condition s. Drive especially slowl y offroad
when your view is restricted.
• Please be aware that in ESP offroad mode, particularly on a
smooth and slippery road, the wheels may have an increased
tendency to spin and the vehicle may break away - danger of skid­ ding!
• Stability i s limited in the ESP offroad mode.
Avoid dama ge to t he e nvir onment and respect nature .
[ i ] Tips
O nly drive where i t is permi tted and st ay on mar ke d roads an d
paths .
Explanation of some technical terms
The follow ing data refer to ideal conditions. Depending on vehicle
load and g round condi tions a nd the enviro nment, t he num bers may ...

Driving off road
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vary. It is the driver's responsibility to decide whether a vehicle can
overcome a specific situation
=> &-
Gradient angle
The number of meters in altitude gained over a distance of 109 .4
yards or 100 meters (grade) are given as a percentage or degrees.
Information about the gradient the vehicle can climb under its own
power (depends in part on the road surface and engine power).
Maximum permitted grade: 31
°
Lateral angle (slope of vehicle)
Indicates the angle up to which the vehicl e can be driven diagonally
or across the fall line on a slope without the vehicle tipping over s ide­
ways (depends on center of gravity). Maximum permitted late ral
angle: 35°
Breakover angle
Indicates the angle up to which the vehicle can dr ive over a ramp at
low speed without the underside of the vehicle hitting the edge of the
ramp.
• Vehicles without air springs: maximum breakove r angle: 21, 1 °
• Vehicles with adaptive air suspension*: maximum breakover
ang le: 23.8° (at high level 2)
Approach /departure angle
Transition from the horizontal plane to a gradient or from a grade
back to level ground. Indicates the angle up to which the vehicle can
drive onto or off a slope at low speed without striking the bumper or
the underbody.
• Vehicles without air springs: maximum approach/departure
ang le: 21.0° (front), 23.4° (rear)
• Vehicles with adaptive air suspension*: maximum
approach/departure angle at high level 2: (front) 23,5°, (rear) 25 .4°
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Ground clearance
Th
e distance between the road surface and the lowest point of the
vehicle underbody.
• Vehicles without air springs: ground clearance: 8.1 in
(204 .8 mm)
• Vehicles with adaptive air suspension*: maximum ground clear­
ance: 9.4 in (239.8 mm) at high leve l 2
& WARNING
Exceeding the stated maximum figures can result in severe inju­
ries or vehicle damage.
• All the information was gathered on level, firm and non-slip­
pery road surfaces, and under dry weather conditions.
• Ideal conditions do not prevail offroad. Never utilize the
maximum readings to their fullest, always leave a safety
reserve.
u
Driving tips
On poor road and off road, there is always only one
motto: Plan ahead and drive slowly!
Please observe the following when driving away from paved
roads:
- Drive only on roads and offroad sections which match the
design of your vehicle and your abilities as a driver. Never
take risks!
- Drive slowly and plan ahead!
- Take into consideration the
ground clearance of your
vehicle .
- Activate the
ESP offroad mode~ page 256 as needed.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Driving off road
- Use the hill descent control~ page 257 when dr iving
down steep sections on hills .
Unpaved roads and offroad
Drive slowly on unfamiliar roads and unknown offroad sections, and
loo k ou t for unexpec ted obsta cles (e.g. potho les, rocks, t ree st umps,
etc.).
T o prevent the vehicle from bottoming and avoid damage to the
unde rbody, you should d rive st raight ac ross severe b umps in the
ground with on ly one s ide of the vehicle so that on ly two of your
w heels cross the bumps.
Drive brisk ly throug h sandy or marshy offroad sections and do not
stop, if at all possible.
Driv ing th rough water
N ote the following to avoid vehicle dam age when driving throug h
water, for example on flooded roads:
• T he wate r must not be any higher than the bottom of the ve hicle
body .
• Do not drive faste r th an wal king speed .
Driving on a slope
If yo u ever find you rsel f not able to climb a slope, do not t ry to turn
around, drive back down in
re verse . Otherw ise, you run t he risk of
t ipping over .
If the vehicle threatens to t ip over when driving across a slope, you
must immediately steer downhill in the direction of the slope.
Do not park yo ur vehicle o n steep s lopes o r gr ad es.
To red uce the risk of tipp ing over, drive on s lopes in the di rect io n of
t he downward slo pe (fa ll line) -
not crosswi se .
Driv ing on snow-covered ground
T he s tandard tires fi tted to yo ur vehi cle are not snow t ires. So yo u
should mount wheels with snow t ires in good t ime where winter road
conditions p revail. Befo re dr iv ing on unp lowed stretches o f deep snow, install tire chains
. For tech nica l reasons, t ire chains may only
be ins talle d on the re a r wheels -never on the front whee ls.
& WARNING
After driving through water , mud, slush, etc. , the brakes may be
slow to take effect because of wet brake rotors and pads.
Dry the
brake s first by braking carefully to re store the full braking effe ct.
0 Note
Vehicle components such as the engine, trans mission, s uspension or
electrical system can be severely damaged by dr iv ing through water.
(I) Tips
• Check the dept h of the water before dr iv in g through it.
• Do not stop the vehicle, dr ive in reverse or sw itch the e ngine off
when driving through water.
• K eep in m ind th at on coming vehicles m ay cre ate w aves t hat ra ise
the water level and make it too deep for your vehicle to drive through
safe ly.
• Avoid dr iving through sa lt water because it ca n cause corrosion .•

Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information Your Audi was design ed primarily for passenger transpor ­
tation .
If you plan to tow a t rai ler, p lease rem emb er that the add itiona l load
wi ll affect durab ility, economy and performance.
T railer tow ing not on ly p laces mo re s tress on the vehicle, it a lso calls
for more concentrat ion from the driver.
For this reason, a lways follow the ope rating and dr iv ing instr uctions
prov ided and use common sense .
(D Note
If you are going to tow a t ra iler , you must ac tivate the tra ile r ope ra­
tion mode ::::;,
page 182, "Towing a trailer". •
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch
Use a we igh t-car rying hit ch confo rm ing to the g ross tra ile r weig ht.
The hitch must be suitable for your vehicle and tra iler and must be
mou nted secure ly o n th e veh icle's chassis a t a
te chnically sound loca­
tion. Use only a trailer hitch with a removab le ba ll mount. Always
check w ith the tra iler h itch manufacturer to ma ke sure tha t you are
using the correct hitch .
Do not use a bumper hitch .
The hitch must be i nstalled in such a way t hat i t does not interfe re
w ith the impact-absorbing bumper system. No mod ificat ions should
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
be made to the vehicle exhaust and b
rake systems. From time to
time, check that all hitc h mounting bo lts rema in securely fastened.
Whe n you are no t towing a trai ler, remove the trailer hi tch ba ll
mount. This prevents the hitch from caus ing damage should your
vehicle be s truck from behind::::;,& .
Trailer brakes
If your trailer i s eq uipped w ith a b raking system, che ck to be s ure that
it conforms to all regulat ions.
T he tra iler hyd raulic brake system must not be directly connected to
the vehi cle's hydraul ic brake system ::::;, & .
Safety chains
Always use safety chains betwee n your vehicle and t he tra iler .
Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all regulat ions. Be sure to check w ith your
au thor ized A udi deale r for co rrect wi ring, switc hes, and re lays.
Mirrors
If you are unab le to see the traff ic beh ind you us ing t he regular
outside m irro rs, then you
must install extended mirro rs. It is impor­
t an t th at yo u
always have cle ar vision to the re a r.
& WARNING
• If a trailer has electrical brakes please note that these brakes
are not activated by the factory-fitted control unit -ri sk of acci ·
dent!
• Afte r removing the trailer hitch, do not store it in your vehicle .
In case of sudden braking, the hitch could fly forward and injure
you or your passengers .
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data