2012 AUDI A8 Owners Manual

Data
500 hp, 12-cylinder engine, with all wheel drive
Engine data
Maximum output SAE net
Maximum torque SAE net
No. of cylinders
Displacement
Stroke
Bore
Compression ratio hp@rpm
lb-ft@ rpm
CID (cm
3 )
in (mm)
in (mm) 500@6200
463@4750 12 cylinder
384.39 (6299)
3.39 (86.0)
3 .56 (90.4)
11. 8:1
Fuel
Premium unleaded (91 AKI) Recommended for maxi­
mum engine performance. Further details¢
page 215,
Gasoline
Dimension s (approx .)
Length (with license plate bracket)
Width (across mirrors)
He ight (unloaded) in (mm)
in (mm)
in (mm)
T urning circle diameter (curb to curb) ft . (m)
Capacities (approx.)
Fuel tank
- Total capacity gal (liters)
- Reserve (of total capacity) gal (l iters)
Windshield and headlight washer quarts (liters)
fluid container
Engine oil
with filte r change quarts (liters)
ASL
207 .52 (5267)
83.17 (211 1)
57 .96 (1471)
41.67 (12,7)
23.78 (90 .0)
3.17 (12)
5.29 (5)
12 .16 (11.5)
279
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280 Consumer Information
Consumer Information
Warranty coverages
You r Audi is covered by the following war­
ranties:
- New Vehicle Limited Warranty
- Limited Warranty Against Corrosion Perfo-
ration
- Emissions Control System Warranty
- Emissions Performance Warranty
- California Emissions Control Warranty (USA
vehicles only)
- California Emissions Performance Warranty
(USA vehicles only)
Detailed information regarding your warran­
ties can be found in your
Warranty & Mainte­
nance booklet .
Operating your vehicle
outside the U.S.A. or
Canada
Government regu lations in the United States
and Canada require that automobiles meet
specific emission regulations and safety
standards. Therefore, veh icles built for the
U.S.A . and Canada differ from vehicles sold in
other countries .
If you p lan to take your vehicle outside the
continental limits of the United States or Can­
ada, there is the possibility that
- unleaded fuels for vehicles with cata lytic
converter may not be available;
- fuel may have a considerably lowe r octane
rating. Improper fuel may cause engine
damage ;
- service may be inadequate due to lack of
proper service facilities, tools or testing
equipment ;
- replacement pa rts may not be readily availa­
ble.
- Navigation systems for vehicles built for the
U.S.A. and Canada will not necessar ily work
in Europe, and may not work in other coun­
tries outside North America .
(D Note
Audi cannot be responsible for mechanical
damage that could result from inadequate
fuel, service or parts availability.
Audi Service Repair Manuals and Literature
Audi Official Factory Service Manuals and Lit­
erature are published as soon as possible after
model introduction. Service manuals and lit­
erature are available to order from the Audi
T echnical Literature Ordering Center at:
www.audi.techliterature.com
Maintenance
General
Your vehicle has been designed to help keep
maintenance requirements to a minimum.
However, a certain amount of regular mainte­
nance is still necessary to assure your vehicle's
s afety, economy and rel iability. For detailed
vehicle maintenance consult your Warranty &
Maintenance booklet.
Under difficult operating conditions, for ex­
ample at extremely low outside temperatures,
i n very dusty regions , when towing a trailer
very frequently, etc., some service work
should be performed between the intervals
specified. This applies 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 emission standards
are maintained, thus minimizing adverse
effects on the environment.
Important considerations for you and
your vehicle
The increasing use of electronics, sophisticat­
ed fuel injection and emission contro l sys-
tems, and the genera lly increasing technical
liJJ,

complexity of today's automobi les, have
steadi ly reduced the scope of maintenance
and repairs which can be carried out by vehicle
owners.
Also, safe ty and e nvir onm en tal con­
cerns p lace very strict limits on the na ture of
repairs and adjustments to engine and trans ­
miss io n pa rts which an owner can perform .
Maintenance, adjustments and repa irs usua lly
require special tools, testing dev ices and oth­
er equipment avai lab le to specially trained
workshop personnel in order to assure prope r
performance, reliab ility and safety of the vehi­
cle and its many systems .
Improper ma intenance, adjustments and re ­
pa irs can impair the operation and reliability
of your vehicle and even void your vehicle war­ ranty. The refo re, p roof of servici ng in accord­
ance w ith the maintenance sched ule may be a
condition for upholding a poss ible war ranty
claim made within the warranty period.
Above all, operational safety can be adversely
affected, crea ting unnecessary risks for you
and your passengers.
If in doubt about any servicing, have it done
by your authorized Audi dealer or any other
properly equipped and q ualified workshop .
We strong ly urge you to give you r a uthorized
Audi dealer the opportunity to perform all
schedu led maintenance and necessary repairs .
Your dea ler has the facilities, or iginal parts
and trained spec ialists to keep your vehicle
running properly .
Performing limit ed m aintenance you rself
The fo llowing pages describe a limited num­
ber of procedures which can be performed on
your vehicle with ordinary too ls, should the
need arise and trained personnel be unavaila­
b le. Before performing any of these proce­
dures, always thoroughly read all of the app li­
cable text and carefully follow the instruc­
tions given . Always rigorously obse rve the
WARNINGS provided .
Before you check anything in th e engine
compartment, a lway s re ad and heed all
Con sumer In formation 28 1
WARNINGS ¢ & and¢ & in Working in the
engine comportment on page 219 .
A WARNING
-Ser ious personal injury may occur as a re­
sult of improperly performed mainte­ nance, adjustments or repa irs.
-Always be extremely careful when work­ ing on the vehicle. Always follow com­
mon ly accepted safety pract ices and gen­
eral common sense . Never r isk personal
lnJU ry .
- Do not attempt any of the ma intenance ,
checks or repairs descr ibed on the fol­
lowing pages if you are not fully fam iliar
wit h these or othe r pro cedures with re­
spect to t he veh icle, or are uncerta in how
to p roceed .
- Do not do any work without the proper
too ls and equipment. Have the necessary
work done by your authorized A udi deal ­
er or another proper ly equipped and
qualified workshop .
- The engine compartment o f any motor
veh icle is a potentially hazardous area.
Never reach into the area around or
touch the rad iator fan. It is temperature
contro lled and can switch on suddenly -
even when the engine is
off . The radiator
fan switches on automat ically when the
coo lant reaches a certai n temperature
and will cont inue to run until the coo lan t
temper ature drops.
- Always sw itch
off the ignition before any­
one gets under the vehicle.
- Always support your veh icle with safety
stands if it is necessary to work under­
neath the vehicle . The j ack s upplied with
the vehicle is not adequate for this pur­
pose and cou ld collapse causing serio us
personal i njury .
- I f you must work unde rneath the vehicle
with the wheels on the ground, a lways
make sure the vehicle is on leve l ground,
that the wheels are a lways securely
blocked and that the engine cannot be
started.
•
•

28 2 Con sum er Inf ormation
-Always make sure the transmission se­
lector lever (automatic transmiss ion) is
in "P" (Park position) and the park brake
is f irmly app lied .
@) For the sake of the environment
-Changing the engine settings wi ll ad­
versely affect em iss ion levels. This is det­
rimental to the environment and increas­
es fuel consumption .
- Always observe env ironmental regula­
tions when dispos ing of old engine oil,
used brake fluid, dirty engine coolant,
spent batteries or worn out tires.
- Undeployed airbag modules and preten­
s ioners might be classified as Perchlo ­
rate Material -spec ial handling may ap­
ply, see www.dtsc.ca .gov/hazardous­
was te/perch lorate . When the veh icle or
parts of the res traint system including
airbag modules safety belts wit h preten ­
sioners are scrapped, all applicable laws
and regulations must be observed. Your
authori zed Aud i dea ler is familiar with
these requirements and we recommend
that you have your dealer perform this
serv ice for you .
Additional accessories,
modifications and
parts replacement
Additional accessories and parts
replacement
Always consult an authorized Audi dealer be­
fore purchasing accessories.
Your veh icle incorporates the latest safety de­
sig n featu res ensu ring a high standard of a c­
tive and passive safety .
This safety could be comp romised by non-ap­
proved changes to the ve hicle. For this reason ,
if pa rts have to be replaced , please obse rve
the following points when install ing addition­
a l accessories: Approved Audi accessories and genuine Aud
i
parts are available from authorized A udi deal­
ers.
T hese dea le rs a lso have the necessary facili­
ties, tools and tra ined specialists to install the
parts and acc essories proper ly .
A WARNING
-Using the wrong spare parts or using non-
approved accessories can cause damage to
the veh icle and ser ious persona l injury.
- Use on ly accessories express ly approved
by Audi and ge nuine Audi spare parts
- These parts and accessories have been
specia lly designed to be used on yo ur ve­
h icle .
- Never install accessor ies such as tele­
phone crad les or beverage ho lders on a ir­
bag covers or within the airbag deploy­
ment zones . Do ing so will increase the
risk of injury if a irbags are triggered in an
accident!
- Before you check anything in the engine
compa rtment, always read and heed a ll
WARNI NGS
9 page 213 .
(D Note
-If items other than genu ine Audi spare
parts, add-on equipment and accessory
items are used or if repair work is not
performed accord ing to specified meth­
ods, this c an resu lt in seve re damage to
your vehicle's eng ine and body (such as
corrosion) and adversely affect yo ur vehi ­
cle's warranty .
- T he innovative a luminium concept of
your Audi AB means that all servicing, re­
pairs or other work on the vehicle body
must be carr ied out exclusive ly by an Au­
di workshop .
- If emergency repairs must be performed
elsewhere, have the veh icle examined by
an authorized Audi dealer as soon as
possible .
- The manufacturer cannot be held liable
for damage wh ic h occurs due to failure
to comply with these stipulations .

Technical Modifications
Our guidelines must be complied with when
technical modifications are made.
Always consult an authorized Audi dealer be ­
fore starting work on any modifications.
This will he lp ensure that vehicle function,
performance and safety are not impaired
¢ .&..
Attempting to work on electronic components
and the software used with them can cause
malfunctions. Beca use of the way electronic
components are interconnected with each
other, such malfunctions can also have an ad­
verse affect on other systems that are not di­ rectly involved. Th is means that you r isk both
a substantial reduction in the operational
safety of you r vehicle and an inc reased wea r of
vehi cle parts¢ _&..
Author ized Audi dealers w ill perform th is
wo rk in a professiona l and competent ma nner
or, in spec ial cases, refer you to a p rofessional
company that specializes in such mod ifi ca­
tions .
_& WARNING t= -
Improper repairs and modifications can
change the way vehicle systems wo rk and
cause damage to the veh icle and ser ious
personal injury.
(D Note
If emergency repairs must be performed
elsewhere, have the veh icle examined by
an authorized A udi dealer as soon as possi­
ble.
Con sumer In formation 283
Declaration of
Compliance, Telecom­
munication or
Electronic Systems
Radio Frequency Devices and Radiocommuni­
cation Equipment User Manual Notice.
The manufacturer is not responsib le for any
radio or TV interference caused by unauthor­
ized modifications to this equipment.
Device s
The following devices each comply wi th FCC
Part 15 .19, FCC 15.2 1 and RSS -Gen Issue 1:
- Adaptive cru ise control
- Aud i side assist
- Cell phone package
- Convenience key
- Electron ic immobilizer
- Homelink ® universa l remote control
- Remo te control key
FCC Part 15.19
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC
Ru les. Operation is subject to the fo llow ing
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful in ter­
fere nce, and
(2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undes ired operation .
FCC Part 15.21
CAUTION:
Changes or mod ifi cat ions not expressly ap­
proved by the p arty responsible for compli ­
ance could vo id the user's autho rity to ope rate
the equipment .
RSS-Gen Issue 1
Operation is subject to the fo llow ing two con­
d it ions:
(1) this device may not cause interference,
and
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•

284 Consumer Information
(2) this device must accept any interference,
including interference that may cause unde­
sired operat ion of the device.

A
Accessories .................. ... ... 282
AC (automatic climate control) ... .. .. .. 76
Adaptive air suspension/sport ......... 103
adaptive cruise control Stop-and-go traffic ................. 91
Adaptive cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Request for driver intervention . . . . . . . . 92
Sensoren/Kamera reinigen .......... 205
Adaptive Light (defective) ... .......... 21
Adding Engine coolant .............. ... ... 228
Eng ine oil ........................ 225
Windshield washer fluid ............ 234
Additives Engine oil .. ................. .. ... 225
Adjustable steering column ............ 79
Adjusting Air distribution (automatic climate con-
trol) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Instrument illumination ............. 47
Steer ing column .............. ...... 79
Temperature (automatic climate control) 77
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142, 161
Advanced Airbag System ............ 146
Advanced Airbag System components . 149
Care ........................ ..... 155
Ch ildren ......................... 167
Ch ild restra ints ............... ..... 168
Components (front airbags) . ... .. .. . 149
Danger of fitting a child seat on the front
passenger seat .................... 144
Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146, 147
How do the front airbags work? ... .. . 151
How many airbags does my vehicle
have? ... ..... ........... ...... .. 149
H ow the Advanced Airbag System com-
ponents work together ............. 150
I mportant safety instructions on the
knee airbag system .......... ... .. . 159
Important things to know ... ... .. .. . 142
Knee airbags ...................... 157
Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light ...... . 153
Index 285
Repairs .......................... 155
Safety instructions .. .............. . 155
Side a irbags ... .. .. ............... 160
Side curtain airbags ................ 163
Warning/indicator lights ............. 18
Warning/Indicator lights .......... . 153
Weight-sensing mat ... .. ..... ..... 167
When must the system be inspected? 153
Aircraft Transporting your vehicle ........... 274
Alloy wheels .. .... .. ............... 208
All Wheel Drive ..................... 191
Winter tires ...................... 250
Ambience lighting ................... 46
Anti-freeze
refer to Engine coolant ............ . 227
Anti-lock braking system ............. 187
Warning/ind icator lights ............. 19
Anti-slip regulation ................. 187
Anti-theft systems Electronic immobilizer ............... 29
Audi braking guard
refer to b rak ing guard ............... 87
Audi drive select
refer to drive select 103
Audi Service Repair Manuals and Litera-
ture .............................. 280
AUTO Automat ic climat e control ............ 76
Automatic headlights ............... 43
Auto Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Automatic belt retractor ............. 137
Automat ic car wash ................. 204
Automatic climate control Air vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Automatic recirculation .............. 78
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Setup ............................ 78
Automatic climate control system
synchronizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Automat ic transmission (t iptronic) ..... 109
Emergency mode .................. 112
Kick-down ... ..................... 112
Manual shifting .. .. . .. .. ..... ..... 112
Parking lock emergency release ...... 113
Se lector lever positions ............. 109
Automatic wipers .................... 48
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•

286 Index .:..:..:..::....::.....:..._ ___________________________ _
Auto Safety Hotline ....... ... .. .... . 132
Average consumption ........... .. .... 24
Ave rage speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Avoid damaging the vehicle .. .. .. .... . 195
B
Battery ... .. .. . .. ..... ..... .. .. .. . 230
Charging . .. .. . ... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. . 233
Important warnings .. .... .. .. .... . 231
Location ... ... ............ .. .... . 231
low ..... .. ................ ..... . 192
Replacing the battery ....... ... ... . 234
State of cha rge .... .... ....... .. .. . 192
Winter operat ion .. ... .... .. .. .. .. . 230
Working on the battery .. ... ... .... . 231
Before driving .............. ... .... . 124
Blended gasoline ....... .... ... .. .. . 215
Blower (automatic climate control) . . . . . . 77
Body cavity sealing .. ..... .. .. .. .. .. . 208
Booster seats ................ ... ... 174
Brak e fluid
Ch anging the brake fluid ... .. .. .. .. .
230
Che cking the brake f luid level ... .. .. . 229
What is the correct brake flu id level? ..
229
What should I do if the brake fluid warn -
ing light comes on? ........ .... ....
229
Brake system
Anti-lock b raking sys tem ... .. .. .... ..
19
Brake a ssi st s ystem ...... ..... .. .. . 187
Brake booster ............. ... .. ... 190
Brake fluid .... ... .... ..... .. .. .. . 229
Brake fluid spec ificat ions for refill and re-
p lac ement ....... ....... .. .. .. .. .
230
Brake light defect ive .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 21
Brake pads ............... ... .... . 194
Electromechanica l parking brake .... .. 82
Fluid reservoir ............ ... .... . 229
How does moisture or road s alt affect the
br akes? .. ...... .. ... .... .. .. .. .. .
189
Warning/indicator lights .... .... ..... 14
Worn brake pads symbol ....... .. .... 19
braking guard .............. ... .... .. 87
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Se ttings . .. .. . .. ..... ..... .. .. .. .. 94
Break-in period .............. .. .... . 194
Brake pads ............... ... .... . 194
Tires 194
Bulbs ..... ..... .. ............. .... 269
C
Cal iforn ia Proposition 65 Warn ing . .. .. 220
Battery specific . .................. 232
Capacities .. .. .. .. .. ...... ..... .. .. 278
Engine oil ....... ................ . 222
Car care ...... .. .. .. ....... .... .... 203
Exterior ... .. .. .. ...... ..... .. .... 203
Interior .......... .... ........... . 209
Car carrier
Transporting your vehicle .......... .
274
Catalytic converter 195
Center armrest
Cockpit ...... ... .. .............. ..
5 7
Rear .... ... .. .. .. ...... ..... .. .. . 64
Central locking .. .. .... ... .. .. .. .. .. . 30
Eme rgency locking ... ... .... ... .. .. . 34
Certification .. .. . .. ... ..... ... ... .. 283
Chang ing a wheel .. .......... ...... . 259
Changing engine oil ................ . 226
Chassis (undercoating) .. ....... .... .. 208
Checking
Engine coolant level ............... .
227
Tire pressure ... .. ....... ...... .. .. 241
Child restraints
Danger of using child restraint s in the
front sea t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
144
Where can I get additional information
about child restraints and the ir use? ..
184
Child restraint system anchors ..... ... 178
Child safety . .. .. .. ...... ..... .. .... 166
Convertib le locking retractor ..... .. .. 175
Guidance fixtures for lower anchorages 180
Important safety instructions for using
child saf ety seats ................. .
169
Important things to know when driving
wi th children .. .. ....... ...... ....
166
Tether anchors ... ....... ...... .. .. 1 82
Tether straps .. .. ................ . 182
Child safety lock
Rear doors (mechanical) . ..... .. .... .
37
Rear doors (power) ...... ..... ..... . 38
Child safety seats . ................. . 171
Booster seats .... ................. 174
Convertib le child sea ts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172