2015 AUDI R8 SPYDER engine

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This can cause a temporary reduction in braking
force compared to dry brakes. You can compen­
sate for this by pressing the brake pedal harder.
Cor ro sion
There may be a tendency for dirt to bui ld up on
the brake pads and corrosion to fo rm on the discs
if the car is not driven regularly or only for short
trips with little use of the brakes.
If the b rakes are not used frequently, or if corro­
sion has formed on the discs, it is advisab le to
clean off the pads and discs by braking firmly a
few times from a moderately high speed
c:> &. .
Faults in the brake sy stem
If you should notice a sudden increase in brake
pedal travel, then one of the two brake circuits
may have fai led
c:> .&, .
Low brak e flu id le vel
Malfunct ions can occur in the brake system if the
brake fluid level is too low. The brake flu id leve l is
monitored e lectronically.
Br ake power assis t un it
T he brake power assist unit increases the pres­
sure that you generate with the brake pedal.
It
works only when the eng ine is running .
Brak e lining wear sta tu s
Brake lining wear may be checked by visual in­
spection of the condition of the brake pads
through the openings in the wheel. If necessary,
the wheel may be removed for this inspection
c:> page 203 .
.8, WARNING
-New brake pads don't have the best stop­
ping power and must be "broken-in" during
the init ial 250 mi les ( 400 km) of normal city
driving. The break -in period can be consider­
ably longer for vehicles with ceramic brake
rotors *. You can compensate for this by
pressing the brake pedal more firmly. This
also applies later when new pads are instal­
led .
- You should perform brak ing maneuvers for
the purpose of clean ing the brake system
Int elli ge nt te chn olo gy
only if road conditions permit. Other road
users must not be put at r isk -you may
cause an accident!
- Before descending a steep grade, reduce
speed and sh ift transmission into a lower
gear or lower dr iving range. Do not ride the
brakes or hold the pedal down too long or
too often. This could cause the bra kes to get
hot and dimin ish braking effic iency .
- Do not "ride the brakes" by rest ing your foot
on the pedal when you do not intend to
brake. This may cause the brakes to over­
heat, premat ure wear and increased stop­
ping distance.
- Under certain cl imatic and operat ing condi ­
tions such as passing thro ugh water, dr iv ing
in heavy rain or after washing the vehicle,
the effectiveness of the brakes can be re­
duced . In winter, ice can accumulate on the
brake pads, lin ings, discs and drums. Care­
fully 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 t ime on
salt-covered roads without using your brakes can also affect braking efficiency .
Clean off accum ulated salt coating from
b rake discs and pads with a few cautious
brake applications.
- If you damage the front spoiler, or if you in­
stall a different spoiler, be su re the air flow
to the front brakes is not obstructed . O ther­
wise the brake system could overheat reduc­
ing the effectiveness of the entire brake sys­
tem .
- Fai lure of one brake circuit will impai r the
braking capability resu lting in an increased
stopping distance . Avoid driving the vehicle
and have it towed to the nearest Aud i dea ler
or qualif ied workshop.
- Never let the vehicle roll to a stop with the
engine shut off.
- If the brake booster is not working, for ex­
ample when towing your veh icle, or because
the brake booster has somehow been dam­
aged, the brake pedal must be pressed con ­
siderably harder to make up for the lack of booster assistance.
1 37

Intelligent technology
Rear spoiler
The rear spoiler improves vehicle handling and
enhances driver control.
SPORT •
Fig. 127 Switch for rear spoiler
The rear spoiler deploys and retracts. Spo iler op­
eration can be set for automatic or manual oper­
ation.
Automatic mode (normal operation)
-Extending automatically: This occurs when driv­
ing faster than approximately
62 mph (100
km/h) or at a certain engine compartment tem­
perature1l.
- Retracting automatically: This occurs when
driv ing s lower than approximate ly
22 mph (35
km/h) or at a certain engine compartment tem­
perature1l.
Manual mode
- Extending manually: Press the switch
~ fig. 12 7 briefly to extend the rear spoi ler
completely.
- Retracting manually: When dr iving at speeds
below approximately
12 mph (20 km/h), press
and hold the switch to retract the rear spoiler.
When dr iving at speeds between
12 mph and
62 mph (20 km/h and 100 km/h), press the
switch briefly to retract the rear spoiler com­
pletely. You cannot retract the rear spoiler if it
extended due to the engine compartment tem­
perature.
1 > The rear spoiler only extends or retracts above a certain
e ngine temperature in some mode ls.
138
Indicator light
When the indicator light I-· appears, there is a
system malfunction. The rear spoi ler may not be
able to extend. This could change the vehicle's
driving character istics at high speeds. Do not ex­
ceed 87 mph
(140 km/h). Drive to your author­
i zed Audi dealer immediately to have the mal­
function corrected.
A WARNING
-
Driving at h igher speeds without the rear
spoiler deployed can impair handling charac­
ter istics, making the vehicle harder to control.
- Improper operation of the rear spoiler can
cause crushing injuries. A lways make sure
that nobody , especial ly children, is in the
way when the rear spoiler is deployed or re­
tracted.
- Always obey speed limits and other traffic
laws.
- Hot air from the engine compartment can
escape through the rear spoiler when it is
open and it could burn you.
(D Note
-Never push the vehicle or apply force to the
rear spoiler -it could be damaged.
- To prevent damage to the rear spo iler do
not lean or place anything on it.
- Only operate the rear spo iler manually when
the engine compartment lid is closed and
the rear spoiler moving parts are not
bloc ked. Otherwise, damage could occur.
(D Tips
Clean the spoiler compartment every 2 to 3
months. The spoiler compartment must al­
ways be free of ice, snow, leaves or other de­
bris.

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Power steering
When the engine is running, power steering
makes i t easier for the driver to steer.
Power steering helps the driver steer the vehicle
with litt le physical effort.
If the engine is not running, the power steering
system is also not working. In this case, you will
find it extremely difficult to turn the steering
wheel.
If you turn the steering fully to the left or right
when the vehicle is stationary, you place a very
heavy load on the power steering system. Turning
the steering wheel fully to the left or right wi ll
cause noise in the system . It also reduces engine
idle speed.
(D Note
Do not hold the steering turned fully to the
left or right for more than 10 seconds when
the engine is running. There is a risk of dam­
age to the power steering system.
@ Tips
- In the event of a power steering system fail­
ure, or if the engine is not running (while
being towed), you will still be able to steer
the vehicle. However, you will require more
effort to do so.
- If the power steering system has a leak or is
defective, you should immediately contact a
qualified workshop .
- The power steering system requires a spe­
cial hydraul ic fluid . The power steering fluid
reservoir is located in the engine compart­
ment. The correct hydraulic fluid level is im­
portant for proper operation of the power
steering system. The power steering fluid
l evel is checked according to the Audi main­
tenance service schedule.
Dry sump lubrication
High lateral and longitudinal forces affect the en­
gine and the vehicle during sporty driving. Dry
sump lubrication ensures that your engine is sup-
Intelligent technology
plied with oil and properly lubricated even under
these conditions.
In a "norma l" vehicle the oil pump sends the oil
from the oil pan to the lubrication points in the
engine . The oil then returns to the oil pan. In ex­
treme situations, the oil pump may draw in air,
wh ich results in insufficient oi l pressure .
With dry sump lubrica tion, the oil is not in the oil
pan (it is "dry"), but in a separate oi l tank. While
one pump supplies the engine with oil, a second
pump suct ions the oil out of the engine and re­
turns it to the o il tank. Because the oil tank is tall
and narrow, oil pressure is constant even under
extreme conditions .
In add ition, the oi l pan in vehicles with dry sump
lubrication is noticeably shallower . This allows
the engine to be installed lower in the vehicle,
bringing down the center of gravity . This im ­
proves your vehicle's handling.
Driving with your quattro
With oil-wheel drive, all four wheels are driven .
General information
With all-wheel drive, power is distributed to all
four wheels . This happens automatically depend­
ing on your driving style and the road conditions
at the time . See also
c:::.> page 134.
The all-whee l drive concept is designed for high
engine power . Your vehicle is exceptionally pow­
erful and has excellent driving characterist ics
both under normal driving conditions and on
snow and ice. Always read and fo llow safety pre­
cautions
c:::.> .&_ .
Winter tires
When driving in the winter, your vehicle with all­
wheel drive has an advantage, even with regular
t ir es . In winter road condit ions it may be advisa­
ble to mount winter tires (or all-season t ires) for
improved driveability and brak ing: these tires
must be mounted on
all four wheels. See also
c:::.> page 193 , Winter tires.
139

Intelligent technology
Snow chain s
Where tire cha ins are mandatory on certai n
roads, this normally a lso applies to vehicles with
all-wheel drive
¢ page 194, Snow chains .
Replacing wheels /tires
Vehicles w ith all-whee l drive must a lways have
tires of the same si ze. Also avoid t ires with differ ­
ent tread depths. Fo r deta ils see page
¢ page 186, New tires and replacing tires and
wheels.
Off-Road driving?
Your Audi does not have enough ground clear­
an ce to be used as an off-road veh icle.
It is there ­
fore best to avo id rough tracks and uneven ter­
rain as m uch as possible . A lso re fer to
¢ page 142.
A WARNING
-Always adjust your driving to road and traf­
fic cond itions. Do not let the extra safety af·
forded by all-whee l dr ive tempt you into tak­
ing extra r isks .
- Althoug h the all-wheel dr ive is very effec­
t ive, always remember that brak ing capac ity
is limited by tire tract ion. You should there­
fore not dr ive at excessive speeds on icy o r
slippery road su rfaces.
- On wet road su rfaces, be careful not to drive
too fast because th e front whee ls cou ld be­
gin to slide o n top of the water (aquap lan­
ing).
If t his s hou ld o cc ur , you will have no
warning from a sudde n increase in engine
speed as with a front -whee l drive vehicle .
Always drive at speeds which are s uited to
the road conditions. -ris k of crash.
Energy management
Starting ability is optimized
Energy management controls the distribution of
electrical energy and thus optimizes the availa­
bility of electrical energy for starting the engine.
If a vehicle w it h a conventional energy system is
not drive n for a long per iod of t ime, the battery
is discharged by idli ng cur rent consumers (e.g .
140
immob ili zer). In certain c ircumstances it can re ­
s ul t in the re being insufficient energy available to
start the eng ine.
I ntelligent energy managemen t in your veh icle
hand les the d istribution of electrical energy .
Starting ability is markedly improved and the life
of the battery is extended.
B asically, energy managemen t consis ts of
bat­
tery diagnosi s, idling current management
and
dynamic energy management.
Battery diagnosis
Battery diagnosis continuously dete rm ines t he
st ate of the bat tery. Sensors dete rm ine battery
vo ltage, batte ry cur rent and battery tempera­
ture . This de termines the current state of cha rge
and t he power of the battery.
Idling current management
Idli ng cur ren t management reduces energy con­
sumption whi le the vehicle is s tanding. W it h the
i gni tion swi tched off, it contro ls the energy s up­
ply to the various electrical components . Data
from battery d iagnosis is considered.
Depend ing o n the ba tte ry's st ate of ch arge, indi­
vidual consumers are gradua lly tur ned o ff to pre­
vent excessive discharge of the batte ry and thus
maintain starting capa bility .
Dynamic energy management
While t he ve hicle is being driven, dynamic e ne rgy
m anag eme nt dis trib utes the energy ge nerated
accord ing to the needs of the individ ua l compo ­
nents . It regu lates consumption, so that more
e lectrica l ene rgy is not be ing used than is being
generated and ens ures an optima l state of
c h arge for the battery.
(D Tips
- But even ene rgy management cannot neg­
ate the lim its of physics. Cons ider that the
p ower and life of a batte ry are lim ited.
- If start ing ability is threa tened, you are in ­
formed by a warning ¢
page 141, Driver
notification in the instrument cluster dis ­
play.

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What you should know
The highest priority is given to maintaining start­
ing capability .
The battery is severely taxed in short-distance
driving, in city traffic and during the cold time of
year . Abundant electrical energy is required, but
only a little is generated . It is also critical if the
engine is not running and electrical components
are turned on. In this instance energy is being
consumed but none is being generated.
It is in precisely these situations that you w ill no­
tice energy management actively regulating the
d istribution of ene rgy.
Vehicle stands for an extended period
If you do not drive your vehicle over a period of
several days or weeks , electr ical components are
gradually cut back or switched off . This reduces
energy consumption and maintains starting ca­
pability over a longer pe riod .
Take into consideration that when you unlock
your veh icle, some convenience functions, such
as the remote key or power seat adjustment, may
not be available. The convenience functions will
be available again when you turn on the ignition
and start the engine .
With the engine turned off
If you listen to the radio, for example, with the
engine turned off, the battery is being dis­
charged .
If starting capability is jeopardized due to energy
consumption, a message appears in the driver in­
formation display .
You have to start the engine to charge the bat ­
tery .
With the engine running
Although electrical energy is generated when the
vehicle is being driven, the battery can become
discharged. This happens mostly when little en­
ergy is be ing generated and a great deal con­
sumed and the battery's state of charge is not
optimal.
Intelligent technology
To bring the energy balance back into equilibri­
um, consumers which require especially large
amounts of energy are temporar ily cut back or
switched off. Heating systems in part icu lar re­
quire a great deal of energy. If you notice, for ex­
ample, that the heated seats* or the heated rear
window are not heating, they have been tempo­
rarily cut back or switched off . These systems w ill
be available again as soon as the energy balance
has been restored.
You w ill also not ice that engine idle speed has
been increased slightly . This is normal and not a
cause for concern. By incr easing eng ine idle
speed the additional energy required is generated
and the battery is charged.
Driver notification in the instrument
cluster display
If battery power drops in to the range where it
can limit the ability of the engine to start, this is
shown in the instrument cluster display w ith the
following driver message :
[•] low battery charge: battery will be charged
while driving
This notification reminds you that the starting
capability of the engine may be limited. As soon
as you start driving again, the battery will be re­
charged and the notificat ion will go out .
Driver notification appears and goes out
again
If this driver notification appears after the igni­
tion is turned on or while driv ing and it goes out
again after a while, the battery has been ade ­
quately recharged .
Driver notification appears and does not go
out again
If this driver notif ication appears after the ign i­
t ion is turned on or while dr iv ing and does not go
out again, the battery's state of charge is not in
t h e optimal range. Starting ability is restricted .
Have the battery checked as soon as possible by
an authorized Audi dea le r or qualified workshop.
141

Driving and en vironment
Driving and environment
Break-in period
A new vehicle must be broken in, and the break-in
period shou ld be 1 ,500 miles (2,500 km) . Do not
use full acceleration for the first 600 miles
(1 ,000 km) and do not exceed the maximum en­
gine speed of 6,000 rpm You must also not use
full accelerat ion between 600 and 1,200 miles
(1,000 to 2,000 km) . From 1,200 to 1,500 miles
(2 ,000 to 2,500 km), you can gradually increase
maximum eng ine speed to 8,250 rpm for brief
pe riods.
During the first hours of operation, there is
greater fr iction in the eng ine and the transmis­
sion than later when all the moving pa rts have
b roken in .
The way you drive during the first 1,500 miles
(2 ,500 km) affects engine quality . If you drive at
modera te engine speeds thereafter, part icu larly
when the engine is cold, yo u red uce eng ine wea r
and increase the potential mileage o f the engine.
Do not dr ive at RPMs that a re too
low. Shift down
when the engine is no longe r runni ng "smooth­
ly". Extremely high RPMs are gover ned automati­
cally.
Avoid damaging the
vehicle
W hen 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 .
This is especially true for vehicles with low-slung
chassis (sports chassis) and fully loaded vehicles.
Driving through water on
roads
Note the following to avoid vehicle damage when
d riving through water, for examp le on flooded
roads:
- The water must no t be any h igher than the bot­
tom of the vehicle body.
142
- Do not drive faster than walk ing speed .
A WARNING
After driv ing through water, mud, s lush, etc .,
the brakes may be s low to take effect because
of wet brake rotors and pads. Dry the brakes
first by brak ing carefully to restore the full
braking effect.
(D Note
Vehicle components such as the eng ine,
transmission , suspension or e lectrical system
can be severe ly damaged by dr iv ing t hrough
water .
(D Tips
- Check the dept h of the water before driving
through it.
- Do not stop the vehicle, drive in reverse or switch the engine off when driv ing through
water.
- Keep in mind that oncoming veh icles may
create waves that raise the water level and
make it too deep for your vehicle to d rive
through safely .
- Avoid driving through salt water because it
can cause corrosion.
Catalytic converter
It is very important that your emission control
system (catalytic converter) is functioning prop­
erly to ensure that your vehicle is running in an
environmen tally sound manner.
.,. Always use lead-free gasoline ~ page 151,
Fuel supply.
.,. Never r un the tank down all the way to empty.
.,. Never put too much mo tor o il in yo ur engi ne
~ page 160, Adding engine oil 'l::r..
.,. Never try to push- or tow-sta rt your vehicle .
The cata lytic converter is an effi cien t "clean -up"
device built in to the exhaust system of the vehi ­
cle. The cata lytic conve rter burns many of the
po llutants in the exhaust gas before they are re­
l eased into the atmosphere.
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The exclusive use of unleaded fuel is critically im­
portant for the life of the catalytic converter and
proper functioning of the engine.
A WARNING
- Do not park or operate the vehicle in areas where the hot exhaust system may come in contact with dry grass, brush, fuel spill or
other material which can cause a fire .
- Do not apply additional undercoating or
rustproofing on or near the exhaust mani­
fold, exhaust pipes, catalytic converter or
heat shields. During driving, the substance
used for undercoating could overheat and
cause a fire.
([) Note
-Be aware that just one tank filling with lead­
ed
fuel will already seriously degrade the
performance of the catalytic converter.
- Do not exceed the correct engine oil level
~page 160.
- Do not drive until the fuel tank becomes
completely empty. The engine could misfire.
Unburned fuel could also get into the ex­
haust system and this could cause the cata­
lytic converter to overheat.
- Do not turn off the ignition while the vehicle
is moving.
- Do not continue to operate your vehicle un­
der these conditions, as otherwise fuel can
reach the catalytic converter. This could re­
sult in overheating of the converter, requir­
ing its replacement.
- To assure efficient operation of the Emission
Control System:
- Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with the service recommen­
dations 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.
Driving and environment
{® For the sake of the environment
Even when the Emission Control System is op­
erating properly, the exhaust gas can have a
sulfur-like exhaust gas smell under some op­
erating states. This depends on the sulfur
content of the fuel being used. Using a differ­
ent brand of fuel may help, or filling the tank
with lead-free super grade gasoline .
Shutting down vehicle
If you would like your vehicle to remain inopera­
tive for a longer period of time , contact an Audi
or other specialized dealer. They can advise you
on necessary precautions e.g. corrosion preven­
tion, maintenance and storage. Pay attention to
additional information concerning the battery.
Refer to~
page 164.
Operation and
maintenance
Fuel economy, environmental impact, and wear
on your engine, brakes and tires largely depend
on three factors:
-your personal driving style
- operating conditions
- technical limitations
By having your vehicle regularly serviced by an
authorized Audi 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 also affects
fuel consump­
tion.
The amount of oil used is related to engine load
and speed.
It is normal for the oil consumption of a new en­
gine to reach its lowest value after a certain mile­
age has been driven.
You must drive your vehicle about 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometers) before you can properly as­
sess oil consumption .
This also applies to fuel consumption and engine output . .,,.
143

.....
Vehicle care and cleaning General information
Regular, proper care helps to maintain your vehi ­
cle's value.
It can a lso be a req uirement when
submitting warranty claims for corrosion damage
and paint defects on the body.
The required cleaning and care products can be
obtained from your authorized Audi dea ler or a
qualified workshop. Read and follow the instruc­
tions for use on the packaging.
A WARNING
-Us ing clean ing and care products incorrectly
can be dangerous to your health.
- Always store cleaning and care products out
of reach of children to reduce the r isk of poi­
soning.
@ For the sake of the environment
- Preferably use environmentally-friendly products when buying cleaning agents.
- Do not dispose of leftover cleaning and care
products with household trash.
Car washes
The longer deposits remain on the vehicle, the
more the surface can be damaged. High tempera­
tures such as those caused by sunlight increase
the damaging effect .
Before washing, wet heavy deposits with plenty
of water.
Stubborn depos its such as bird droppings or tree
sap are best removed with plenty of water and a
microfiber cloth .
A lso, was h the underside of your vehicle once
road salt stops being used for the season.
Pressure washers
When washing your veh icles w ith a pressure
washer, always follow the operating instructions
"' provided with the pressure washer. This is espe-
r--
~ cially important in regard to the pressure and
; spraying distance . Do not aim the spray directly
~ at seals on side windows, doors, the engine com -,.... Vehicle care and cleaning
partment lid, the front lid
or the convertible top
or at tires, rubber hoses, insulating material
orsensors* or camera lenses *. Keep a distance of
at least 16 inches (40 cm).
Do not remove snow and ice with a pressure
washer .
Never use rotary nozzles or high pressure noz­
zles.
The water temperature must not be above 140 °F
(60 °().
Automatic car washes
Spray off the veh icle before washing.
Make sure that the windows are closed and the
windshield wipers are off. Follow instructions
from the car wash operator, especially if there are
accessor ies attached to your vehicle .
If possible, use car washes that do not have
brushes .
Only use car washes where the vehicle remains
stationary and the washing equipment moves
around t he vehic le when washing and drying. Car
washes that move the vehicle through the car
wash using a chain are not recommended.
Washing by hand
Clean the vehicle starting from the top and work­
ing down using a soft sponge or cleaning brush.
Use solvent-free cleaning prod ucts .
Washing vehicles with matte finish paint by
hand
To avoid damaging the paint when washing, first
remove dust and large particles from your vehi ­
cle. Insects, grease spots and fingerprints are
best removed with a spec ia l cleaner for matte
finish paint.
Apply the prod uct using a microfiber cloth . To
avo id damaging the paint surface, do not use too
much pressure.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with water. Then
c lean using a neutral shampoo and a soft micro­
fiber cloth.
Rinse the vehi cle thoroughly again and let it air
dry. Remove any water residue using a sham my . .,.
145