2013 AUDI A6 brake fluid

234 Checking and filling
scalding from hot coolant by following
these steps .
- Turn off the eng ine and a llow it to cool
down.
- Protect your face, hands and arms from escaping flu id and steam by cover ing
the cap with a large, thick rag .
- Turn the cap slowly and very carefully
i n a counter-clockwise direction while
apply ing l ight, downwa rd p ress ure on
the top of the cap .
- To avo id being burned, do not sp ill an­
tifreeze or coolant on the exhaust sys­
tem or hot engine parts . Under certain
conditions, the ethylene glyco l in en­
gine coolant can catch f ire .
- Antifreeze is poisonous . Always store an­
tifreeze in its or iginal container and we ll
out of the reach of children .
- If you drain the coolant, it must be
caught and safely stored in a proper con­
tainer clear ly marked "poison".
@ Note
- Coolant po llutes the env ironment and
could cause an engine fire . Excess coo l­
ant will be forced out through the pres­
sure re lief valve in the cap when the en­
gine becomes hot.
- If, in an emergency, on ly water can be
added, the correct ratio between water
and antifreeze
c::> page 232 must be re­
stored as soon as possible .
@ For the sake of the environment
Drained coolant should not be re used. Al­
ways dispose of used coolant while observ­
ing all environmental regulat ions .
Radiator fan
The radiator fan switches on automatically by
itself
An auxiliary e lectr ic radiator fan switches on
and off depending on coolant temperature
and other vehicle operating cond itions. After you switch the engine off, the aux
iliary
fan can cont inue running for up to 10 minutes
- even w it h the ignition off. It can even switc h
on again later by itself
c::> .&. , if
- the temperatu re of the engine coo lant rises
due to the heat build-up from the engine in
the engine compartment, or
- the engine compartment heats up because
the vehicle is parked in intense sunlight.
A WARNING
-- To reduce the risk of persona l injury nev-
er touch the radiator fan.
- The a uxiliary electric fan is temperat ure
contro lled and can sw itch on suddenly
even when the engine is not running.
- The auxiliary radiator fan switches on a u­
tomatically when the engine coo lant
reaches a certain temperature and will
continue to run until the coolant temper­
ature drops .
Brake fluid
Checking brake fluid level
Fig. 1 88 En gin e compa rtme nt: cove r on t he brake fluid
reservoi r
Before you check anything in the engine com­
partment,
always read and heed all WARN­
INGS c:> A in Working in the engine compart­
ment on page 225.
.,. Read the brake fluid level from the brake
fluid reservoir
c::> fig. 188, c:> fig . 184. The
brake fluid level must be between the "MIN"
and "MAX" markings.
IJ>

The location of the brake fl uid reservo ir can be
seen in the engine compartment illustration
c::> page227.
The fl uid level may drop slightly after some
time due to the automatic adjustment of the
brake pads. This is not cause for alarm .
If the brake fluid level falls considerably be­
l ow the "MIN" mark, the bra ke wa rning/ind i­
cator light
1111 (U .S . models)/ . (Canadian
models) will come on
c::> page 15. Do not con­
tinue to operate the vehicle. The comp lete
brake system sho uld be thoroughly checked
by an author ized Audi dealer or other quali­
fied fac ility and the cause corrected . If the
brake fluid level is too low, the brake warn ing/
i ndicator light w ill illuminate . Contact an au­
thor ized Audi dealer
imm ediately .
Changing brake fluid
Have the brake fluid changed by an experi­
enced technician .
Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the a ir. If
the water content in the brake fluid is too
h igh, corrosion in the brake system may result
after a per iod of t ime . The bo iling po int of t he
brake fluid w ill also decrease consider ably and
dec rease b raking per formance.
Therefore, the brake flu id must be changed
ever y two years . Always use new b rake fluid
whi ch confo rms to Fede ral Motor Vehicle
Standard "FMVSS 1 16 DO T 4".
The brake flu id rese rvoir ca n be difficult to
r eac h, therefo re , we re commend that yo u
have the brake fl uid changed by y our autho r­
i z ed
Audi dealer . Your deale r has the correct
too ls, the right brake fluid and the know -how
to do this for you .
A WARNING
-Brake fluid is po isonous . It must be stor­
ed only in the closed orig inal container
out of t he reac h of children!
- Brake fa ilure can result from old o r inap ­
propr iate brake fluid. Observe these pre­
caut ions:
Checkin g and fillin g 235
-Use only brake f luid that meets SAE
spec ificat ion
J 1703 and conforms to
Federal Motor Ve hicle Standard 116.
Always check with your autho rized Audi
dealer to make sure yo u are using the
correct brake fluid . The correct type of
brake f lu id is also ind icated on the
brake flu id rese rvoi r.
- The bra ke fluid must be new. Heavy us e
of the brakes can cause a vapo r lock if
the b ra ke fluid is left i n the system too
l ong . This can se riously affec t the effi ­
ciency of the b rakes as well as your
safety . This co uld resu lt in an accident.
(D Note
B rak e fluid wi ll damage the pa int o f you r
vehicle .
~ For the sake of the environment
Because o f the p rob lem of pro per disposal
of bra ke fluid as well as the spe cial too ls
r equired an d the necessary exper tise, we
r ecommend that yo u have the brake flu id
changed by yo ur authorized Aud i dea le r.
Battery
General information
U nder normal ope ra ti ng cond itions , the bat­
te ry in yo ur Audi doe s not need any ma inte ­
nance. With
high outside tempera tures or
l ong daily drives we recommend that you have
the e lectrolyte level checked by a service fa­
c ili ty. The electrolyte leve l should a lso be
checked each t ime the battery is charged
c:> page 237.
Have the battery checked when yo u take your
vehicle in for service. You are well advised to
replace a batte ry that is older than 5 years .
Wi th certain types of airbag deployment, the
battery is disconnected from the vehicle elec­
trical system for safety reasons
c> & in Re­
pair , care and disposal of the airbags on
page 161.
~
•
•

Unbalanced whee ls must be rebalanced to
avoid excessive wea r on steering, suspension
and tires. A wheel must a lso be rebalanced
when a new tire is installed .
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect whee l alignment can cause exces­
sive tire wear, impairing the safety o f the vehi­
cle. If tires show excess ive wear, have the
wheel alignment checked by an authorized
Audi dealer or qualified workshop .
All-wheel d rive
Vehicles w ith quattro ® must always have tires
of the same size, construction and tread type .
F or detai ls see
r=!:> page 196 .
A WARNING
Sudden tire failure can lead to loss of con­
trol, a crash and serious persona l injury!
- Never drive a veh icle when the tread on
any tire is worn down to the wear indica­
tors.
- Worn tires are a safety hazard, they do not grip well on wet roads and increase
your risk of"hydrop lan ing" and loss of
co ntrol.
- Always keep chemicals that can cause
tire damage, such as grease, oil , gasoline
and brake fluid away from t ires.
- Tires age eve n if they are not be ing used
and can fail suddenly, especially at high
speeds. T ires that are more than 6 years
o ld can only be used in an emergency
and then with spe cial care a nd at lower
s peeds.
- Never mount used ti res on yo ur vehicle if
yo u a re not s ure of their "prev ious histo­
ry." Old used ti res may have been dam­
aged even though the damage cannot be
seen that can lead to s udden tire failure
and loss of vehicle control. Tires and wheels 251
New tires and replacing tires and wheels
New tires and wheels have to be broken in
.
Fig. 19 5 Tir e spec ificat io n codes on t he s idewall o f a
tire
No. De sc ription
CD Passenger car tire (where applicable)
@ Nomina l w idth of t ire in mill imeters
® Ratio of height to width (aspect ratio)
© Rad ial
® Rim diameter code
® Load index and speed rating
(f) U.S. DOT tire identification number
® Aud i Origina l tire
® Sever snow conditions
@ T ire ply composition and mater ials
used
@ Maximum load rating
@ Treadwear, traction and temperat ure
grades
@ Maximum permissible inflation pres-
sure
T he tires and rims are essential parts o f the
vehicle's design . The ti res and rims app roved
by Audi a re spec ia lly matched to the charac­
teris tic s of the ve hicl e and can m ake a major .,.
•

-Always make sure the transm ission se­
lector lever (automatic transmiss ion) is
in P (Park position) and the park brake is
applied.
@) For the sake of the environment
- Changing the eng ine settings w ill ad­
versely affect em ission levels. This is det­
rimental to the environment and increas­
es fuel consumption .
- Always observe env ironmental regula­
tions when d isposing of old engine oil,
used brake fluid, dirty engine coolant,
spent batter ies or worn out t ires.
- Undeployed airbag modules and preten­
s ioners might be classified as Perchlo­
rate Material -specia l hand ling may ap­
ply, see www.dts c.ca .gov/hazardous­
waste/perch lorate. When the veh icle or
parts of the restraint system includ ing
airbag modules safety belts wit h preten­
sioners are scrapped, all applicable laws
and regulations must be observed. Your
a uthorized Audi dea ler is familiar w ith
these requirements and we recommend
that you have your dea ler 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 ac ­
tive and passive safety.
This safety could be compromised by non-ap­ proved changes to the veh icle. For this reason,
if parts have to be replaced, please observe
the following points when install ing addition­
a l accessories:
Con sumer In formation 287
Approved Audi accesso ries and genuine Audi
parts are available from authorized Audi deal­
ers.
T hese dea lers a lso have the necessary facili­
ties, tools and trained specialists to install the
parts and accessories proper ly.
A WARNING
Using the wrong spare parts or using non­
approved accessories can cause damage to
the vehicle and serious persona l injury.
- Use on ly accessories express ly approved
by Audi and genu ine Audi spare parts
- These parts and accessories have been
specially designed to be used on your ve­
hicle .
- Never install accessories such as tele­
phone cradles or beverage holders on air­
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 all
WARNINGS
r:::;. page 219.
(D Note
-If items other than genuine Audi spare
parts, add-on equipment and accessory
items are used or if repair work is not
performed accord ing to spe cified meth­
ods, this can result in severe damage to
yo ur vehicle's engine and body (such as
corrosion) and adversely affect your vehi ­
cle's warranty .
- If emergency repairs must be performed
elsewhere, have the vehicle examined by
an authorized Audi dealer as soon as
possible.
- The manufacturer cannot be held liable
for damage wh ich occurs due to failure
to comply with these stipulations.
•
•

Automatic climate control Air vents ... ..... ..... ... .. .. .. .... 68
Automatic recirculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Setup ... .. ................. .. .... 69
synchron izing ............... ... ... . 68
Automatic Shift Lock (ASL) . ... .. .. .. . 106
Automatic t ransmission
Automatic Sh ift Lock (ASL) . .. .. .. .. . 106
D nvrng .. .. ............. .. .. .. .. . 10 7
Emergency mode . ..... ... .. .. .. .. . 110
Emergency release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 11
Kick-dow n .. .. .... .... ... .. .. .. ... 110
Manual shift program ..... .. .. .. .. . 109
multitronic ® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Selector lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
S tron ic ® ...... ........... ... ... .. 105
tiptronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Automatic wipers .......... .... .. .... 46
Auto Safety Hotline ........ .. .. .. .. . 134
Average consumption ............ .... . 24
Average speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Avoid damaging the vehicle .. .. .. .. .. . 200
B
Battery ... ... ............. ...... .. 235
C ha rging ................... ... ... 237
I mportan t war nings ...... .. .. .. .. . 236
Ju mp s tarting . ........... .. .. .. ... 274
L ocat ion ... ... .. ..... ... .. .. .. ... 236
l ow ..... .. .. .. ... . .... ... .. .. ... 197
Replacing the battery .. ... .. .. .. .. . 239
State of charge ........... .. .. .. ... 197
W inter operation ......... .. .. .. .. . 235
Working on the battery .... .. .. .. .. . 236
B efore driving . ... .. .... ... .. .. .. ... 126
B lended gasoline . ............. ... .. 220
Blower (automatic climate control) . . . . . . 68
B lower ( climate con trol) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Body cav ity sealing .......... ... ... .. 214
Booster seats . .. .. ..... ... .. .. .. ... 180
B rake fl uid
Changing the brake fl uid ... .. .. .. .. . 235
C heck ing the bra ke fluid level . .. .. .. . 234
What is the cor rect brake fl uid leve l? .. 234
What should I do if the bra ke fl uid warn-
ing light comes on? ....... .. .. .. .. . 234
Inde x 291
Brake system
Anti- lock b raking system ..... ... .. .. . 20
B rake assist system .. .. ..... ... .. .. 192
Brake booster .. .. ................. 195
Brake fluid .. .. .. .... ............. 234
B rake fluid specifications fo r refill and re -
placeme nt .. .. .. .. . .. .... .... .. .. 235
B ra ke light defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Br ake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
El ec tromech an ic al par king br ake . .. .. . 74
Fl uid reservo ir ... .. .. .. ...... ... .. 23 4
How does moist ure or roa d salt affect the
brakes? ... .. .. .... . ... ...... ... .. 194
Warning/ind icator lights ........ .... . 15
Worn brake pads symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
braking gu ard
Set tings . ... .. .... . ... ...... ... .. . 89
B rak ing guard ..... .. ................ 82
Messages . .. .. .. .... ........... .. . 89
Break-in per iod .. .. .. ............... 199
B rake pads .. .. .. .... ... .... .... .. 199
T ires ........ ... .. ..... .......... 199
Bu lbs . ... .. .. .... .. . .. .. ..... ... .. 273
C
Cali forn ia Proposition 65 Warn ing ... .. 226
Battery specific .... . .. ..... ... .. .. 237
Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
E ngine o il . .. .. .. ................. 227
Car care .... .. .. .. ................. 208
Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Inter ior ... .. .. .. .. . .. .... .... .. .. 214
Car carrier Transporting your vehicle ....... .. .. 278
Cargo area . ... .... .. . .. ... .... ... .. 132
Cargo ne t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Catalytic converter ... . ... .... ... .. .. 200
Center armre st
Cockpit ... .. .. .. ................. . 52
Central lock ing .. .... ... ....... ...... 33
E mergency locking .. ... ....... .... .. 37
Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Ch ang ing a wheel .. .... ......... .... 263
Changi ng engine oil .. ... ....... .... . 231
Chassis (undercoating) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
•
•

294 Index
------------------------------------
Data .... ....... ......... ... .... . 282
Start-Stop-System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
start ing .. .. ................ ..... .. 71
Startingwithjumpercables .. .. ..... 274
Stopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Engine compartment ........ .... ... . 227
C losing the hood .......... ... .... . 226
Opening the hood ................. 225
Safety instructions ........ .. .. .... . 225
Working in the engine compartment .. 225
Engine coolant .................... . 232
Adding coolant ............ ... .... . 233
Checking the engine coolant level .... . 232
Expansion tank ........... .. .. .. .. . 232
Malfunction symbol ....... .. .. .... .. 16
Radiator fan .............. ... .. .. . 234
Temperature gauge ........ ..... .. .. 11
Engine oil ... ................ ..... . 227
Adding .. .... ........... .... .... . 230
Additives . .. ............. .. .. .. ... 230
Changing .... ... .... .... .. .. .. .. . 231
Check ing the engine oil level .. .. .. .. . 230
I ndications and cond it ions requ iring ex-
tra checking .. ........... .. .. .... . 230
I ndicator light ........... .. .. .. .. .. 18
O il consumption .......... .... .... . 229
Oil grades . ................. ..... . 227
Oil level symbol .................... 21
Pressure malfunction ....... ... .. .. .. 17
Recommended oil check intervals ..... 230
Sensor defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Specification and viscosity .. .. .. .. .. . 227
Engine sound .............. ... .... .. 98
E ng ine speed limitation ....... .. .. .. . . 21
Engine start-stop mode
refer to Star t-Stop-System ... .. .. .. .. 78
Engine start system (indicator lights) . ... 18
Environment Break-in period ......... .. .. .. .. .. . 199
Cata lytic converter ........ .. .. .. .. . 200
Disposing of your vehicle battery . ... . 239
Driving at high speeds .............. 202
Driving to minimize pollution and noise 201
Fuel . .. .. ............... .. .. .... . 222
Fuel economy ............ .... .... . 201
Leaks under your vehicle ... .. .. .. .. . 225
Lett ing the vehicle stand and warm up . 202
Proper disposal of drained brake fluid . 235 Proper disposal of d
rained engine cool-
ant ..... ..... .. .. .............. . 233
Proper disposal of drained eng ine
oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230,231
Recycling used engine oil ........ .... 230
Unleaded fuel .. .. ................ . 220
What should I do with an old battery? . 239
ESC (Electronic Stabilization Control) Warning/indicator lights ........ .. .. . 19
Event Data Recorder (EDR) ........ .. .. 192
Exhaust tail pipes .. .......... ...... . 214
Expansion tank .... ................ . 232
Exterior lighting . ... ............ .. .. . 41
Exterior mirrors Adjusting ..... .. .. ........ ...... .. 48
Dimming .. .. .. .. .. ..... ...... .. .. . 48
Heating ...... ... .. .............. .. 48
Exterior temperature display ...... .. .. . 23
F
Fastening
Booster seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Convertible child safety seats . . . . . . . . 178
Infant seats ... .. ............. .... 177
Floor mats . ..... .. ................ . 131
Foot pedals ..... .. ..... ........... . 131
For the sake of the environment Gasoline fumes and the environment .. 222
Reducing engine noise by early upshift-
ing ...... .... ... .. ................ 11
Refueling ... .. .. ....... ...... .. .. 222
Sav ing fuel by early upsh ifting . .. .. .. . 11
Four- zone automatic climate control . .. . 67
Front airbags
Description .... .. ................ . 149
How they work ... ................ . 155
Frontal coll is ions and the laws of phys ics 137
Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Adjusting ... .. .. ....... ...... .. .. 128
Child restraints in the front seat ...... 147
Fuel Additives .. .... .. ............. .... 220
Blended gasoline .............. .... 220
Current consumption .............. .. 24
Economy messages (efficiency program) 26
Fuel filler flap emergency release ... .. 223