2016 AUDI A6 warning

Checking and Filling
Engine compartment
Engine compartment overview
These are the most important items that you can check.
Fig. 186 Typical layout for containers and eng ine oil fille r cap
screw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228, 264
@ Jump start point(+) under a co ver
® Brake fluid reservoir ((0}) ...... .
@ Eng ine oil filler cap ('t::r.) ...... .
® Coolant expansion tank (-t) .... .
@ Windshield/headlight washer con -
t . (ffi) amer ~ ..................
. 228,264
225
220
222
229
The engine oil filler neck (item@) may be locat­
ed in a different area depending on the version of
the engine.
A WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine com­
partment, always read and heed all WARN­
INGS ~.&.
in Working in the engine compart­
ment on page 216.
218
Engine oil specifications
The engine oil used must conform to exact speci­
fications.
The serv ice interval display in the instrument
cluster of your vehicle will inform you when it is
time for an oi l chang e. We recommend that you
have your oil changed by an authorized Audi Serv­
i ce Advisor.
If you have to top off the oil between oil changes,
us e the Audi oil quality standard specified in the
ta ble.
~

....
Audi oil quality standard
Gas oline
VW 502 00 or
engi ne vw 504 00
Die sel vw 507 00
en gin e
Using the prope r engine oil is important for the
functiona lity and service life of the eng ine. Your
engine was factory-filled with a high -quality oil
which can usually be used throughout the entire
year.
@ Note
Your Limited New Vehicle Warranty does not
cover damage or malfunctions due to failure
to follow recommended maintenance and use
requirements as set forth in the Audi Owner's Manual and Warranty
& Maintenance booklet.
- Use only a high quality eng ine oil that ex-
pressly complies with the Aud i oil quality
standard specified for your vehicle's engine.
Using any other oil can cause serious engine
damage .
- Do not mix any lubricants or other additives
into the engine oil. Doing so can cause en­
gine damage.
(D Tips
If you need to add oil and there is none availa­
ble that meets the Audi o il quality standard
your eng ine requ ires, you may add a total of
no more than 0.5 quart/liter of a h igh-quality
"synthet ic"oil that meets the followi ng speci­
fications.
- Vehicles with gasoline eng ine: AC EA A3 o r
API SM wi th a viscosity g rade of SA E OW-30,
SAE SW-30 or SAE SW-40.
- Vehicles wit h diesel eng ine: ACEA C3 o r
API CF with a v iscosi ty grade of SA E OW-30
or SA E SW -30.
- Fo r more information abou t engine o il that
has been approved for your vehi cle, please
contact either you r a utho rized Audi dea ler
or A udi Customer Relations at
"' 1 (800) 822-2834 or visit our web site at
0
~ www.audiusa.com or www.aud icanada.ca.
.... M Ch eck ing and Filling
Engine oil consumption
The engine in your vehicle depends on on ade­
quate amount of oil to lubricate and cool oil of
its moving ports.
In order to provide effect ive lubrication and cool­
i ng of internal engine components, all internal
combust ion eng ines consume a certa in amount
of oil. Oil consumption varies from eng ine to en­
gine and may change s ign ificantly ove r the life of
the engine. Typ ica lly, engines w ith a specified
break-in period (see
¢ page 194) consume more
oi l during the break -in period than they consume
after oil consumption has stabilized.
Under normal cond itions, the rate of oil con­
sumption depends on the q uality and viscosity o f
the oil, the RPM (revol utions per minute) at
which the engine is operated, the ambient tem­
perature and road condit ions. Further factors are
the amount of oil dilution from water condensa­
tion or fuel residue and the oxidation level of the o il. As any engine is subject to wear as mileage
builds up, the oil consumption may increase over
time unt il replacement of worn components may
become necessary.
With all these variables coming into play, no standard rate of o il consumption can be estab­
li shed or spec ified . T he re is no alte rnative to reg­
u la r and frequent checking of the oi l level , see
Note .
If the yellow engine o il leve l warning symbo l in
the instrument cluster
II lights up, yo u should
c h eck the o il level as soon as possible
¢ page 220. Top off the o il at your earlies t con­
venience
¢ page 220.
A WARNING
--=-
Before you check anything in the engine com-
partment, always read and heed all WARN­
INGS
¢ &. in Working in the engine comport­
ment on page 216.
(D Note
Driving wit h an insufficient oil level is likely to
cause severe damage to the eng ine.
IJJ,,
219

Checking and Filling
@ Tips
-The oil pressure warning display. is not
an indicator of the oil level. Do not rely on
it. Instead, check the oil level in your en­
gine at regular intervals, preferably each
time you refuel, and always before going
on a long trip.
- If you have the impression your engine con­
sumes excessive amounts of oil, we recom­
mend that you consu Lt your Audi dealer to
have the cause of your concern properly di­
agnosed . Keep in mind that the accurate
measurement of oil consumption requires
great care and may take some time. Your
Audi dealer has instructions about how to
measure oil consumption accurately.
Checking the engine oil level
The engine oil level can be checked in the Info­
tainment system
Fig. 187 I n fo tai nme nt: oil level indic a to r
• Park your vehicle on a level surface.
" Shut the engine off when it is warm .
.. Switch only the ignition back on.
.. Wait approximately two minutes.
" Select : the
ICAR I function button > (Car)* Sys­
tems
control button > Service & control > Oil
level.
.. Check the oil level in the Infotainment system
display ¢
fig. 187. Add engine oil if the bar of
the oil level indicator is near "min"
¢page 220.
Depending on the way the vehicle is driven and
the operating conditions, oil consumption can be
up to 1/2 quart per 600 miles (0 .5 liter per
220
1,000 km). Consumption may be higher within
the first 3,000 miles (5,000 km).
Because of this, the engine oil level must be
checked regularly. It would be best to check each
time you refuel your vehicle and before long
drives.
{!) Tips
The oil level indicator in the instrument clus­
ter display is only an informational display. If
the oil level is too low, a minimum oil warning
appears in the instrument cluster. Add oil. If
the hood was opened, the current oil level is
shown in the instrument cluster the next time
the ignition is switched on.
Adding engine oil 'l:::1:
Fig. 188 En g in e compartment : cover on the engine oil fill­
er neck
Before you check anything in the engine compart­
ment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS
¢ .&. in Working in the engine compartment on
page 216.
"Shut the engine off .
"Unscrew the cap~ to the engine oil filling
hole
¢ fig. 188, ¢page 218, fig. 186.
.. Carefully top off with 0.5 quarts (0.5 liters) of
the appropriate oil ¢
page 218.
.. Check the oil level again after two minutes
¢ page 220, Checking the engine oil level.
"Top off the oil again, if necessary.
"Screw the cap back on the filling hole.
_&. WARNING
- While topping off, the oil must not come in
contact with hot engine parts - fire hazard!

-The oil filler cap must be properly secured
to prevent oil from be ing sprayed on the hot
engine and exhaust system when the engine
is running -fire hazard!
- If your skin has come in contact with the en­
gine oil, you must subsequently cleanse it
thoroughly .
@ Note
-Check the oil level using the MMI. If the
message
Pleas e reduce oil l evel appears,
contact your author ized Audi dealer or other
qualified workshop to have excess oil ex­
tracted if necessary.
- Audi do es not recommend th e use of o il
addit ive s. The y ma y damage the eng ine
and ad verse ly affect your New Vehicle
Wa rranty.
@ For the sake of the environment
- Under no circumstances can the o il come in
contact with the sewage network or the soil.
- Observe and follow legal regulations whe n
dispos ing of empty oil conta iners.
Changing the engine oil
We recommend that have your oil changed by an
authorized Audi dealer or a qualified service sta ­
tion.
Before you check anyth ing in the eng ine compart­
ment,
alw ays read and h eed all WARNING S c:> .&.
in Working in the engine compartment on
page 216.
The engine oil must be changed according to the
intervals specified in your Warranty
& Mainte­
nance booklet. This is very important because the
l ubricat ing propert ies of oil d iminish gradually
during normal vehicle use.
Under some circumstances the engine o il should
be changed more frequently . Change oil more of­
ten if you drive mostly short distances, operate
the veh icle in dusty areas or under predominant ly
stop-and -go traffic condit ions, or have yo ur vehi­
cle whe re temperatures remain below freezing
for extended periods.
Ch eck ing and Filling
Detergent additives in the oi l will make fresh oil
look dark after the engine has been running for a
short time . This is normal and is not a reason to
change the oi l more often than recommended.
Because of the problem o f proper disposal, along
with the specia l tools and necessary expertise re­
quired, we strongly recommend that yo u have
your o il changed by an authorized
Audi dealer or
a qual ified service stat ion.
If y ou choo se to chan ge your oil your self , please
note the following important information:
A WARNING "--
To reduce the risk of persona l injury if you
must change the eng ine oil in your vehicle
yourself:
- Wear eye protection.
-
-To reduce the r isk of burns from hot engine
oil, let the engine cool down to the touch.
- When remov ing the oil drain plug w ith your
f ingers, stay as far away as possible. Always
keep your forearm parallel to the ground to
he lp prevent hot oil from running down your
arm.
- Drain the oil into a container designed for
this purpose, one large enough to hold at least the tota l amou nt of oil in your engine.
- Engine oil is poisonous. Keep it well out of
the reach of children.
- Continuous contact with used engine o il is
harmful to your skin. Always protect your
skin by washing oil off thoroughly with soap
and water .
«I) Note
Never mix oil additives with your engine oil.
These additives can damage your engine and
adverse ly affect yo ur Audi limited New Vehi­
cle Warranty.
@ For the sake of the environment
- Before chang ing yo ur oi l, first make sure
you know where you can properly d ispose of
the used oil.
- Always dispose of used engine o il properly .
Do not dump it on ga rden soil, wooded
221

Checking and Filling
areas, into open streams or down sewage
drains.
- Recycle used engine oil by taking it to a used
engine oil collection facility in your area, or
contact a service station.
Cooling system
Coolant
T he engine coolant performs two functions: it
keeps the engine from overheating and it pro ­
tects the engine from freezing in the winter .
The cooling system is sealed and generally re­
quires little attention .
The cooling system has been filled at the factory
with a permanent coolant which does not need to be changed . The coolant consists of a mixture of
specially conditioned water and the manufactur ­
er's glycol-based coolant additive G13 antifreeze
with anticorrosion additives (50% for USA mod­
els · 60% for Canadian models). This mixture
'
both assures the necessary frost protection and
protects metal components in the engine 's cool­
ing system from corrosion and scaling. It also
raises the boiling point of the coolant.
Do not reduce the concentration of the coolant in
the summer by adding plain water.
The propor­
tion of coolant additive must be at least 50% but not more than 60%
to maintain antifreeze
protection and cooling efficiency. If the coolant
frost protection is too low, the coolant could
freeze and damage the vehicle heating and en­
gine cooling system .
For year-round driving, antifree ze is added at the
factory for temperatures down to:
- -31 °F ( -3 5 °C) USA
- - 40 °F ( - 40 °C) Canada.
If you must add coolant, use a mixture of water
and coolant additive. Mixing the coolant additive
with distilled water is recommended.
_& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine com­
partment, always read and heed all WARN-
222
INGS ~&. in Working in the engine compart­
ment on page 216.
(D Note
- Before winter sets in, have the coolant
checked to see if the coolant additive in your
vehicle is sufficient to meet the climate con­ ditions. This is especially important if you
live in a region where the winter is extreme­
ly cold . If necessary, increase the proportion
of coolant additive to 60%.
- When adding coolant additive to your cool­
ing system, remember:
- We recommend using only coolant addi­
tive G12++ or G13 (check the label) for
your vehicle. This coolant additive is avail­
able at authorized Audi dealers. Other
types of antifreeze can significantly re­
duce corrosion protection. The resulting
corrosion can cause a loss of coolant and
serious engine damage .
- Do not add any type of radiator leak sealant
to your vehicle's engine coolant. Adding ra ­
diator repair fluid may adversely affect the
function and performance of your cooling
system and could result in damage not cov­
ered by your New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Checking the engine coolant level
The engine coolant level can be checked with a
quick glance.
Fig. 189 Eng in e compar tment: cover on the cool ant expan­
s ion tank
Before you check anything in the engine compart­
ment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS
~ A in Working in the engine compartment on
page 216. ..,.

• Park your vehicle on a level surface.
• Switch
off the ignition.
• Read the engine coolant level from the coolant
expansion tank¢
fig. 189, ¢ page 218,
fig. 186.
With a cold engine, the coolant level
should be between the "min" and "max" mark­
i ngs . When the engine is warm, the level may
be s light ly above the "max " marking.
The location of the coolant expans ion tank can be
seen in the engine compartment illustrat ion
¢pag e 218.
To obtain an accurate reading, the engine must
be sw itched
off.
The expansion tank in your vehicle is equipped
with an electric coolant level sensor.
When the coo lant level is too low, the warning
light in the Auto-Check System
c:> page 15 wi ll il­
luminate until you add coolant and the level has
been restored to normal. Even though there is an
e lectric coolant level sensor, we still recommend
you check the coolant level from t ime to t ime.
Coolant loss
Coolant loss may indicate a leak in the cooling
system. In the event of coolant loss, the cooling
system should be inspected immediately by your
authorized Audi dealer. It is not enough merely
to add coolant.
In a
sealed system, losses can occur only if the
boiling point of the coo lant is exceeded as a re­
sult of overheat ing.
A WARNING
The cooling system is under pressure and can
get very hot . Reduce the risk of scalding from
hot coolant by following these steps.
- Turn off the eng ine and allow it to cool
down.
- Protect your face, hands and arms from es­
caping fluid and steam by covering the cap
with a large, thick rag.
- Turn the cap slowly and very carefully in a
counter-clockwise direction while applying
light, downward pressure on the top of the
cap.
Checking and Filling
-To avoid being burned, do not spill anti­
freeze or coolant on the exhaust system or
hot engine parts. Under certain cond itions,
the ethylene glycol in engi ne coolant can
catch fire.
(D Note
Do not add any type of radiator leak sealant
to your vehicle's engine coolant. Add ing radia­
tor repair fluid may adversely affect the func­
tion and performance of your cooling system
and could result in damage not covered by
your New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Adding coolant
Be very careful when adding engine coolant.
Before you check anything in the engine compart­
ment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS
¢.&. in Working in the engine compartment on
page 216.
• Requ irement: There must be a residual amount
of coolant in the expansion tank
c:> (D .
•Turnoff the engine .
• Let the engine cool down.
• Place a thick rag over the coolant expans ion
tank
c:>p age 222 , fig. 189 and carefully twist
the cap counter-clockwise
c:> _& .
• Add coo lant mixed in the correct ratio
c:> page 222, Coolant up to the MAX marking .
• Make sure that the fluid level remains stable.
Add more coolant if necessary.
• Twist the cap on again
tightly.
Replacement engine coolant must conform to ex ­
act specifications
c> page 222, Coolant.
We recommend using only coolant additive Gl2+
+ , Gl3
or in an emergency Gl2+. Do not use a
different additive. In an emergency use plain wa­
ter until you can get the correct additive and can
restore the correct ratio. This should be done as
soon as possible.
If you have lost a considerable amount of coo l­
ant, then you should add cold antifreeze and cold
water only when the engine is co ld.
Always use
new engine coolant when refi lling.
223

Check ing and F illing
Do not fill coolant above the "MAX" mark. Excess
coo lant wi ll be forced out through the pressure
relief valve in the cap when the eng ine becomes
hot.
A WARNING
- The cooling system is under pressure and
can get very hot . Reduce the risk of scald ing
from hot coolant by followi ng these steps.
- Tu rn off the engine and allow it to coo l
down.
- P rotect your face, h ands and arms from
escaping f lu id and steam by cover ing the
cap with a large, thick rag.
- Tu rn the cap slowly and very carefully in a
co unter -clockw ise direction while applying
light, downward p ressure on the top of
the cap.
- To avoid being bu rned, do not spill anti­
freeze or coolant on the exhaust system or
hot engine parts. Under certa in condi­
tions, the ethylene glycol in eng ine cool­
a nt can catch fire.
- Antifreeze is poisonous. A lways store anti­
freeze in its original container and well out
of the reach of children .
- If you dra in the coolant, it must be ca ught
and sa fely stored in a proper conta iner
clearly mar ked "poison".
(D Note
- Do not add coolant if the expansion tank is
empty . A ir cou ld enter the cooling system
a nd damage the eng ine. If this is the case ,
do no t continue dr iving. Seek professional
ass istance .
- Coolant pollutes t he e nvironment a nd could
cause an eng ine fire . Excess coolan t will be
fo rced o ut through th e pressure relief valve
i n the c ap whe n the eng ine be comes hot.
- If, in an emergency, o nly wate r can be add­
ed, the co rrect ratio between wate r and an­
ti fr ee ze ~
page 222 mu st be resto red a s
soon as possib le.
224
-
® For the sake of the environment
D raine d coolant should not be re use d. Always
d ispose of used coolant while observing a ll
environmental regulations.
Radiator fan
The radiator fan switches on automatically by it­
self
An a uxiliary e lectric ra diator fan switches on and
off depending on coo lant temperature and other
vehicle ope rating conditions .
A ft er yo u sw itc h t he engi ne off, the a uxi liary fan
can con tinue running for up to 10 m inutes -even
with t he ignitio n off .
It can even switch on again
l ater by itself~& . if
- t he tempera ture o f the engine coolan t rises d ue
to the heat build -up from the engine in the en­
gine compa rtment, or
- t he engine compar tment heats up beca use the
vehicle is pa rked in intense s unlight.
A WARNING
- To red uce the r is k of personal injury never
to uch the radiator fan .
- The a uxiliary e lectric fan is temperat ure
controlled and can switch on s uddenly even
when the engine is not running.
-
- The a uxiliary radiator fan switches on auto­
mat ically when the eng ine coolant reaches a
certain temperature and will continue to run
until the coo lant temperature d rops.

.... N
0 CJ ' M I.Cl ......
Brake fluid
Checking brake fluid level
Fig. 190 Engine compartment : cover on t he brake fluid
reservoir
N
N
-N ,::
~
Before you check anything in the engine compart­
ment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS
¢ A in Working in the engine compartment on
page 216.
.,. Read the brake fluid level from the brake fluid
reservoir
¢fig. 190, ¢page 218, fig. 186. The
brake fluid level must be between the "MIN "
and "MAX" markings.
The location of the brake fluid reservoir can be
seen in the engine compartment illustration
¢page 218.
The fluid 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 below
the "MIN" mark, the brake warning/indicator
light
1111 (U.S. models) ;II (Canadian models)
will come on¢
page 14. Do not continue to oper­
ate the vehicle. The complete brake system
should be thoroughly checked by an authorized
Audi dealer or other qualified facility and the
cause corrected. If the brake fluid level is too
low, the brake warning/indicator light will illumi ­
nate. Contact an authorized Audi dealer
immedi­
ately.
Checking and Filling
Changing brake fluid
Have the brake fluid changed by an experienced
technician .
Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air. If the
water content in the brake fluid is too high, cor­
rosion in the brake system may result after ape ­
riod of time . The boiling point of the brake fluid
will also decrease considerably and decrease
braking performance.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be changed
every
two years . Always use new brake fluid which con­
forms to Federal Motor Vehicle Standard "FMVSS
116 DOT 4" .
The brake fluid reservoir can be difficult to reach,
therefore, we recommend that you have the
brake fluid changed by your authorized
Audi
dealer. Your dealer has the correct tools, the
right brake fluid and the know-how to do this for
you.
A WARNING
- Brake fluid is poisonous. It must be stored
only in the closed original container out of
the reach of children!
- Brake failure can result from old or inappro­
priate brake fluid . Observe these precau­
tions:
- Use only brake fluid that meets SAE speci­
fication
J 1703 and conforms to Federal
Motor Vehicle Standard 116. Always check
with your authorized Audi dealer to make
sure you are using the correct brake fluid.
The correct type of brake fluid is also indi­
cated on the brake fluid reservoir.
- The brake fluid must be new. Heavy use of
the brakes can cause a vapor lock if the
brake fluid is left in the system too long.
This can seriously affect the efficiency of
the brakes as well as your safety. This
could result in an accident.
(D Note
Brake fluid will damage the paint of your vehi-
cle.
IJ>
225