198 Driving and the environment
Driving through water
on roads
Note the following to avoid vehicle damage
when driving through water, for example on
flooded roads:
- The water must not be any higher than the
bottom of the vehicle body.
- Do not drive faster than wa lking speed.
A WARNING
After driving through water or mud, the
braking effect can be reduced due to mois
ture on the brake discs and brake pads. A
few careful brake applications should dry off the brakes.
@) Note
Vehicle components such as the engine, transmiss ion, suspension or electrical sys
tem can be severely damaged by driving
through water.
- Determ ine the depth before driving
through water.
- Do not stop the vehicle, drive in reverse
or switch the engine off when driving
through water .
- Keep in mind that oncoming vehicles may create waves that raise the water
level and make it too deep for your vehi
cle to drive through safely.
- Avoid dr iving through salt water (corro
s ion).
Catalytic converter
App lies to vehicles: with gasoline engine
It is very important that your emission con
trol system (catalytic converter) is function
ing properly to ensure that your vehicle is run
ning in an environmentally sound manner.
> Always use lead-free gaso line r=;, page 210,
Fuel supply .
> Never run the tank down all the way to emp-
ty.
> Never put too much motor o il in your engine
r=;, page 223, Adding engine oil
The catalytic converter is an efficient "clean
up" device built into the exhaust system of
the vehicle . The cata lytic converter burns
many of the pollutants in the exhaust gas be
fore they are released into the atmosphere.
The exclusive use of unleaded fuel is critica lly
important for the life of the catalytic convert
er and proper functioning of the engine.
A WARNING
-
The temperature of the exhaust system is high, both when driv ing and after stopping
the eng ine .
- Never touch the exhaust tail pipes once
they have become hot . This could result
in burns.
- Do not park or operate the vehicle in
areas where the hot exhaust system may
come in contact with dry grass, brush,
fue l spill or other material wh ich can
cause a fire.
- Do not app ly additional undercoating or
rustproofing on or near the exhaust manifold, exhaust pipes, catalytic con
verter or heat shields . Dur ing driving, the
substance used for undercoating could
overheat and cause a fire.
(D Note
- Be aware that just one tank filling with
leaded fuel will already seriously de
grade the performance of the catalytic
converter.
- Do not exceed the correct engine oil level
r=;, page 223.
-Do not drive until the fuel tank becomes
completely empty. The engine could mis
fire . Unburned fuel could also get into
the exhaust system and this cou ld cause
the catalytic converter to overheat.
- Do not switch off the ignition while the
vehicle is moving.
- Do not continue to operate your vehicle
under these conditions, as otherwise fuel
IIJ,,
M N
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M 1.1"1 ,....,
can reach the catalytic converter . This
could result in overheating of the con
verter, requ iring its replacement.
- To assure efficient operation of the Emis
sion Control System :
- Have your veh icle ma inta ined properly
and in accordance with the service rec
ommendations in your Wa rranty
&
Ma intenance booklet.
- Lac k of proper maintenance as well as
improper use of the vehicle will impa ir
t he funct ion of the emission control
system and cou ld lead to damage.
@) For the sake of the environment
Even when the Emission Cont ro l System is
operating properly, t he exhaus t gas can
have a s ulfu r-like exhaust gas smell unde r
some operating states. This depends on
the s ulfur content of the fue l being used .
Using a different brand of fuel may help,
or filling the tank w ith lead-free super
grade gasoline.
Diesel particulate filter
Applies to vehicles: with d iesel eng ine
The diesel particulate filter fi lters nearly a ll of
the soot part icles out of the exhaust. The fil
ter cleans itse lf automatically under normal
driving conditions. If the filter cannot clea n it
self (for examp le, because you are only driving
short d istances) , the fil ter becomes clogged
with soot and the
II symbo l for the diesel
particulate f ilter illum inates ~ page 23.
A WARNING
- Do not park yo ur vehicle ove r flammable
materials such as g rass or leaves because
the high temperature of the diesel par
t icu late filter could start a fire .
- Do not apply an underbody protectant in
the exhaust system area or a fire could
start.
Dri ving and the en vironm ent 199
Placing your vehicle
out of service
If you would like to take your vehicle out of
se rv ice for a longer time, contact your author
ized Audi dealer or qualified repair fac ility .
They w ill advise yo u of impo rtant measures,
such as corrosion p rotection , maintenance
and storage p roced ures. Also follow the infor
ma tion about the battery ~ page 228 .
Operate your vehicle
economically and
minimize pollution
General
Your personal style of driving will determine
the economy of your vehicle, as well as ex
haust and noise levels .
Fuel economy, env ironme ntal impact, and
wea r on your eng ine, b rakes and tires la rgely
depend on three factors:
- your personal d riving s tyle
- operating conditions
- technical limitat ions
If you ant ic ipate what you need to do next and
drive economically, you can easily cut your
fuel consumpt ion by 10-15 percent. This sec
tion w ill give you some tips on how you can
help t he env ironment and your pocketbook.
@ Tips
The consumption estimates as published
by ENVIRONME NTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
(EPA) and Transpo rt Canada may not corre
spond to your actual consumption on the r oad, which will va ry depending upon vehi
cle load and speed, ro ad and weather con
ditions, trip leng th, etc.
Drive smoothly and keep a lookout
ahead
Vehicles use the most fuel when they are ac
celerating .
.,. Avo id unne cessary acceler ating and bra ki ng . .,..
•
•
•
200 Driving and the environment
Vehicles use the most fuel when they are ac
celerati ng. If you anticipate what is going to
happen next, you will need to brake less and,
thus, accelerate less. let the vehicle coast
whenever poss ible -for example when you see
that the next traffic light is red.
Avoid full throttle
Driving at moderate speeds saves fuel and
improves your mileage.
.. Try and keep well be low your car's max imum
speed.
Accelerating gently reduces fuel consump
tion, engine wear, and does not disturb the
environment. F ue l consumption, exhaust emissions and en
gine noise increase disproportionately at hig h
speeds . If you drive at approximately three
quarters of top speed, fue l consumption will
be reduced by one half. Never dr ive faster
tha n the posted speed limit and weather con
d itions permit.
Reducing unnecessary idling
Even when your car is just idling it burns up
fuel.
.. Sh ut the engine off when you are not dr iving
the vehicle.
.. Do not warm up the vehicle by letting the
engine run at idle.
It is efficient to switc h off the engine when
stopped at railroad crossings and long red
lights. Turning the engine off for just 30-40
seconds saves mo re fuel than is burned by
start ing the eng in e again.
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up
fu lly when it is running at idle. However, wear
and nox ious em issions are especially high
when the engine is warming up. So you should
d rive away as soon as you sta rt the eng ine and
avoid ru nning a t high RPM wh ile the engine is
still warming up .
(D Note
Do not leave engine i dling unattended af
ter start ing. If wa rning lights sho uld come
on to indicate improper operation, they
would go unheeded. Extended idling also
produces heat , w hich could result in over
hea ting o r othe r damage to the veh icle or
othe r property.
Regular maintenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a
lot of fuel.
.. Have your ve hicle serviced at regu lar inter-
vals.
Having your veh icle regu larly serviced by an
authorized Aud i dealer helps to ensure that it
runs properly and econom ica lly. The cond it io n
of your veh icle not on ly affects its safety and
ability to ho ld its va lue, i t also affects
fuel
c onsumption .
Check your oil each t ime you fill your tank.
The amount of oi l used is re lated to engine
l oad and speed.
It is normal for the oil consump tion of a new
engine to reach its lowest value after a certain
mileage has been driven .
You m ust drive your ve hicle abou t 3,000 m iles
(5,000 kilometers) before you can properly
assess oil consumpt ion .
T his also ap plies to fue l consumption and en
gine o utp ut.
(D Note
- Have your veh icle ma inta in ed properly
and i n acco rdance with the service rec
ommendations in you r W arranty
& Main
t enance boo klet. l ack of proper ma inte
nance as well as im proper use of the ve
hicle will impair the function of the
em iss ion cont ro l system and cou ld lead
to damage.
M N
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M 1.1'1 ,....,
-Do not alter or remove any component of
the Emission Contro l System unless ap
proved by the manufacturer.
- Do not alter or remove any device, such
as heat shields, switches, ignition wires,
valves, wh ich are designed to protect
your vehicle's Emission Control System and other important veh icle compo
nents.
Fewer short trips
Fuel consumption will always be relatively
high on short trips .
~ Try to avoid driving short distances with a
cold eng ine.
The engine and catalytic converter have to
reach their optimal
operating temperature to
reduce fuel consumption and noxious emis
sions effectively.
Just after starting, a cold engine in a mid -size
car only achieves a fuel economy of 6-8 miles
per gallon (30-40 l/100 km). After about a
half a mile, fuel economy climbs to 12 mpg
(20 l/100 km). After about
2 .5 m iles (4 km),
the engine is at its proper operating tempera
ture and fue l economy has reached a normal
l eve l. So you can see that you should avoid
short trips wheneve r possible.
The
outside temperature is also critical in this
regard . Your car consumes more fuel in the
winter than in the summer.
Driving and the environment 201
•
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•
M N
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M ..,., ,....,
Care and cleanin g 207
Component Situ ation Solution
D eco ra ti ve
Deposits Mild soap solution a) if necessary a cleaning solution
part s/ suitable for stain less steel
t ri m
P ai nt
Paint damage Refer to the paint number on the vehicle data label, re-
pair with touch up paint¢
page 286
Spilled fuel Rinse with water immediately
Surface rust Rust remover, then protect with hard wax; for ques-
tions, refer to an authorized Audi dea ler .
Corrosion Have it removed by an authorized Audi dealer.
Water no longer Protect with hard wax (at least twice per year)
beads on the surface
of clean paint
No shine even Treat with suitable po lish; then app ly paint protectant if
though paint has the polish that
was used does not contain any protec-
been protected/ tant
paint looks poor
Deposits such as in- Dampen with water immediately and remove with a m i-
sects, bird drop- crofiber cloth
pings, tree sap and
road salt
Grease-based con -Remove ii mmediately with a mild soap solution al and a
taminants such as soft cloth
cosmetics or sun-
blo ck
C arb on p art s Deposits clean the same way as painted parts¢ page 205
Deco rati ve d ee-Deposits Soft sponge with
a m ild soap solutiona >
als
a) Mild soap solution: maximum two tablespoons of neu tral soap in 1 quart ( l lit er) of water
Int ernal cleaning
Component Situ ation Solution
Wind ows
Deposits Glass cleaner, then wipe dry
Deco ra tiv e Deposits Mild soap solutional
parts/
tri m
Pl as tic part s
Deposits Damp cloth
Heavier deposits Mild soap solution a>, detergent-free plastic clean ing
so lution, if necessary
D ispla ys Deposits Soft cloth with LCD cleaner
Cont rols Deposits Soft brush,
then a soft cloth with a mild soap sol utional
Saf ety b elt s Deposits Mild soap solution a), allow to dry before letting them
retract
...
•
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•
210 Checking and Filling
Checking and Filling
Gasoline
Fuel supply
Applies to vehicles: with gasoline engine
Using the right fuel helps keep the environ
ment clean and prevents engine damage .
Fuel recommendation
The fuel recommended for your vehicle is un
leaded premium
grade gasoline . Audi recom
mends using TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline
with a minimum octane rating of91 AKI (95
RON) . For more information on TOP TIER De
tergent Gasol ine, please go to the official
website (www .toptiergas.com).
The recommended gasoline octane rating for
your engine can also be found on a label locat
ed on the ins ide of the fuel filler flap. This rat
ing may be specified as AKI or RON .
Your vehicle may also be operated using un
leaded regular gasoline with a minimum oc
tane rating of 87 AKI/91 RON . However, using
87 AKI/91 RON octane fuel w ill slightly re
duce engine performance.
Use unleaded gasoline only. Unleaded gaso
line is available throughout the USA, Canada,
and in most European countries. We recom
mend that you do not take your vehicle to
areas or countries where unleaded gasoline
may not be available.
For more information on refueling your vehi
cle, see
~ page 212.
Octane rating
Octane rating ind icates a gasoline's ability to
res ist engine damaging "knock" caused by
premature ign ition and detonation . Therefore,
buying the correct grade of gasoline is very
important to help prevent possible engine
damage and a loss of engine performance.
Gasoline most commonly used in the United
States and Canada has the following octane
r atings that can usually be found on the filler
pump : - Premium Grade: 91
-96 AKI
- Regular Grade: 87 -90 AKI
Explanation of the abbreviations:
AKI= Anti Knock Index= (R+M)/2 = (RON
+MON)/2
RON= Research Octane Number
MON = Motor Octane Number .
@ Note
-Do not use any fuel w ith octane ratings
lower than 87 AKI or 91 RON otherwise
expensive engine damage w ill occur.
- Do
not use leaded gasoline. The use of
leaded gasoline will severely damage
your vehicle's catalytic converter and its
ability to control exhaust emissions.
Blended gasoline
Applies to vehicles: with gasoline engine
Use of gasoline containing alcohol or
MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether)
You may use unleaded gasoline blended with
alcohol or MTBE (commonly referred to as
oxygenates) if the blended mixture meets the
following criteria:
Blend of gasoline methanol (wood alcohol or
methyl alcohol)
-Anti-knock index must be 87 AK I or higher.
- Blend must contain no more than 3% meth-
anol.
- Blend must contain more than 2% co-sol-
vents.
Blend of gasoline and ethanol (grain alcohol
or ethyl alcohol)
-Anti-knock index must be 87 AKI or higher.
- Blend must not contain more than 15%
ethanol.
Blend of gasoline and MTBE
-Anti-knoc k index must be 87 AK I or higher.
- Blend must contain not more than 15%
MTBE.
Seasonally adjusted gasoline
Many gasoline grades are blended to perform
especially well for winter or summer driving. During seasonal change-over, we suggest that
you fill up at busy gas stations where the sea sonal adjustment is more likely to be made in
time.
Q;) Note
- Methanol fuels which do not meet these requirements may cause corrosion and
damage to plastic and rubber compo nents in the fuel system .
- Do not use fuels that fail to meet the
specified criteria in this chapter .
- If you are unable to determine whether
or not a particular fuel blend meets the
specificat ions, ask your service station or
i ts fuel supp lier.
- Do not use fuel for which the contents cannot be identified.
- Fuel system damage and performance
problems resulting from the use of fuels
different from those specified are not
the responsibility of Audi and are not
covered under the New Vehicle or the
Emission Control System Warranties.
- If you experience a loss of fuel economy
or driveability and performance prob
lems due to the use of one of these fuel
blends, we recommend that you switch
to unblended fuel.
Gasoline additives
A major concern among many auto manufac
turers is carbon deposit build-up caused by
the type of gasoline you use .
Although gasoline grades differ from one manufacturer to another, they have certain
things in common. All gasoline grades contain substances that can cause deposits to collect
on vital engine parts, such as fuel injectors
and intake valves. Although most gasoline
brands include additives to keep engine and
M
N fuel systems clean, they are not equally effec-o
iii tive. ,...., \!) ..,.,
M ..,., ,....,
Checking and Filling 211
Audi recommends using TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline . For more information on TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline, please go to the official
website (www.toptiergas .com).
After an extended period of using inadequate
fuels, carbon deposit build-ups can rob your engine of peak performance.
CJ) Note
Damage or malfunction due to poor fuel
quality is not covered by the Audi New Ve
hicle Limited Warranty.
Diesel fuel
App lies to vehicles : wit h diese l eng ine
Always use ULSD (Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel)
No. 2 . The ULSD No. 2 meets the ASTM D975.
Diesel fuel with concentrations of biodiesel
higher than 5
% such as B11, B2O or B1OO are
strictly prohibited.
Service station fuel pumps are labeled with
the correct fuel information for easy recogni
tion by the user.
If the diesel fuel pump is not
labeled ask the station operator what fuel is
being dispensed before filling up your vehicle.
ULSD No. 2 may not be available outside the
USA and Canada. Be sure to check before trav
eling to other countries.
ULSD No. 2 can become thicker in very cold
temperatures, and this can impair the en
gine's starting and running. Depending on the
season, gas stations provide ULSD No . 2 that
flows better in cold temperatures so that you
can continue operating your vehicle as usual.
(D Note
- Your vehicle's diesel engine was de
signed solely for use with ULSD No. 2.
Therefore, never use gasoline, heating
oil, other fuels or flow improvers. These
contain substances that will severely
damage the fuel system and the engine.
Such damage will not be covered by your
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
ll>
•
•
•
212 Checking and Fill in g
- If you put any amount of incorrect fue l in
the fue l tank, do not start the engine un
der any circumstances. Immediately con
tact the nearest authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility for as
sistance. These fuels contain substances
that can severely damage the fuel sys
tem and the engine if the engine is start
ed.
- If the diesel fuel quality is poor, it may
be necessary to have the water drained
from the water sepa rator in the
f ue l fi l
te r
more often than specified in the
maintenance schedu le . This can help re
duce engine ma lfunctions
Q page 24.
Fuel tank
Fuel filler neck
The fuel filler neck is located on the right rear
side panel behind the fuel fi ller flap.
If the power locking system should fail, you
can st ill open the flap manually- for detailed
instructions
seer:::.> page 214.
You can find the fuel tank capacity of your ve
hicle in
Qpage 288.
The label on the inside of the fuel filler flap
tells you the correct fuel for your vehicle. For
more information about fuel specifications,
see
c;,page 210.
Your veh icle fuel tank has an onboard refue l
ling vapor recovery system . This feature helps
to prevent fuel vapors from escaping from the
tank and polluting the environment while you refuel your vehicle . In order to fill the tank
properly while protect ing the env ironment,
p lease follow t his refueling procedure careful
ly.
.&_ WARNING
Under norma l operating conditions, neve r
carry additiona l fuel containers in your car .
Gas can isters and other containers used to
transport fue l can be dangerous. Such con
tainers, full or empty, may leak and cou ld
cause a f ire in a collision. If you must transpo
rt fuel to use for your lawn mower,
snow b lower, etc., be very careful and al
ways observe local and state laws regard ing the use, transportation and storage of
such fuel containers. Make certa in the con
tainer meets industry standa rds (ANSI/
ASTM F8S2 -86).
(D Note
Neve r drive your veh icle until the fue l tank
i s completely empty. The irregular supply
of fue l can cause misfir ing. Gasoline cou ld
enter the exhaust system and damage the
catalytic converter.
Fueling procedure
F ig. 15 1 Righ t rear side of the vehicle: opening the
fuel filler flap
Fig . 1 52 Fue l filler door w ith attached fuel cap
Read and follow the information and warn
ings when filling Ad B lue
c;, page 215.
T he fue l filler door is u nlocked or locked by
the centra l locking sys tem.
Openin g the fuel c ap
" Press the left side of the fuel f iller door to
open it -arrow-
Q fig. 151.
"Unscrew the tank cap counterclockw ise .
-;:;
> a, a,