2021 AUDI A4 oil change

Checking and Filling

Engine oil
If the engine oil level is too low
If you need to add engine oil, use an oil that is
listed on the sticker. The sticker is located at the
front of the engine compartment > page 223,
fig. 159. When using the engine oil listed on the
sticker, you can adjust the oil level as often as
needed.
If engine oil that meets the recommended speci-
fication is not available, in an emergency you
may add a maximum of 1 quart (1 liter) of
ACEA C3 or API SN engine oil one time until the
next oil change.
For more information on the correct engine oil
for your vehicle, contact an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility. Have the oil
changed by an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Service Facility.
G) Tips
Audi recommends using engine oils provided
by Audi Genuine Parts.
Messages
Hiturn off engine. Oil pressure too low
Stop driving and switch the engine off. Check the
engine oil level > page 225.
— If the engine oil level is too low, add engine oil
=> page 225. Only continue driving once the in-
dicator light turns off.
— If the engine oil level is correct and the indica-
tor light still turns on, turn the engine off and
do not continue driving. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
sistance.
Applies to: vehicles with oil level warning
2 Please add oil immediately.
Stop driving and switch the engine off. Check the
engine oil level > page 225 and add engine oil
immediately > page 225.
3 Add max. x qt (x l) oil. You can continue
driving
224
Add the amount of oil shown immediately
=> page 225.
EA Please reduce oil level
There is too much oil in the engine and there is a
risk of damaging the catalytic converter or en-
gine. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility immediately to have
engine oil extracted if necessary. Avoid high en-
gine speeds, full acceleration, and heavy engine
loads.
3 Oil level sensor: oil change necessary. Please
contact Service
Fuel has entered the engine oil. This will cause
the engine oil level to rise slowly and the engine
oil quality to decrease. Do not extract engine oil
to reduce the level, because this will increase the
risk of engine damage. Drive to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility im-
mediately to have engine oil extracted.
& Oil level system: malfunction! Please con-
tact Service
The sensor that checks the engine oil level has
malfunctioned. Drive immediately to an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty to have the malfunction repaired.
2 Oil pressure sensor: malfunction! Please
contact Service
The sensor that checks the engine oil pressure
has malfunctioned. Drive immediately to an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility to have the malfunction repaired.
i Please drive to warm up engine
Fuel has entered the engine oil, either due to low
outside temperatures or frequent short drives.
Drive until the engine is warm so that the fuel in
the engine oil will evaporate. Avoid high engine
speeds, full accelerating, and heavy engine loads
when doing this.
G) Tips
The oil pressure warning =} is not an oil level
indicator. Always check the oil level regularly.

8W1012721BC
Checking and Filling
Checking the engine oil level and the road conditions. The dilution of oil
from condensation or fuel residue as well as
the age of the oil also play a role. Because

The engine oil level can be checked in the MMI.
Observe the safety precautions > page 221, Gen- engine wear increases with mileage, oil con-
eral information. sumption will increase again over time until
it may be necessary to replace worn compo-
> Park the vehicle on a level surface.
> Shut the engine off when it is warm.
> Switch only the ignition back on.
> Wait approximately two minutes.
> Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Settings & Service > Oil level.
> Read the oil level in the display. Add engine oil
if the bar in the oil level indicator is just below
“min” > page 225.
nents.
— Because all these variables play a role, it is
not possible to define an oil consumption
standard. Therefore, the oil level must be
checked regularly.
— If you believe that your engine has in-
creased its oil consumption, contact an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility to determine the cause.
Please note that an exact oil consumption
© Note measurement must be done with the neces-
If the engine oil level is too low or too high, sary care and accuracy and may take time.
there is a risk of engine damage. An authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility is trained in accurately
@ Tips measuring the oil consumption.
The oil level indicator in the display is only an — You can find information on engine oil and
informational display. If the oil level is too engine oil capacities for the USA at www.
low, a minimum oil warning appears in the in- audiusa.com/help/maintenance, or for Can-
strument cluster. Add oil and close the hood. ada at www.audi.ca/ca/web/en/
The current oil level will be displayed on the customer-area/care-and-maintenance/
MMI the next time the ignition is switched on. audi-service-schedules.html, or call
800-822-2834.
@ Tips
The engine oil consumption may be up to Adding engine oil
0.5 quart/600 miles (0.5 liter/1,000 km), de-
pending on driving style and operating condi-
tions. Consumption may be higher during the
first 3,000 miles (5,000 km). The engine oil
level must be checked regularly. It is best to
check each time you refuel your vehicle and
before long drives.

B8K-2120
— Because of the lubrication and cooling of
the engine, combustion engines consume
oil. The oil consumption varies depending
on the engine and may change during the
service life of the engine. Engines generally
consume more oil at the beginning during Observe the safety precautions > page 221, Gen-
the break-in period. Then oil consumption eral information.
stabilizes after the break-in period.
— Under normal conditions, oil consumption
depends on the quality and viscosity of the
oil, the engine RPM, the climate conditions,



Fig. 160 Engine compartment: engine oil filler opening
cover
> Turn the engine off.
> Open the hood & page 222.
225

Checking and Filling

> Unscrew the cap %~ for the engine oil filler
opening > fig. 160.
> Carefully add 0.5 quart (0.5 liter) of the correct
oil > page 224.
> Close the engine oil filler opening cap.
> Close the hood > page 222.
> Restart the ignition after two minutes and read
the current oil level in the MMI > page 225,
Checking the engine oil level.
> Applies to: using engine oil that meets the rec-
ommended specification: Add some more en-
gine oil again if necessary.

ZA\ WARNING
— When adding oil, do not let oil drip onto hot
engine components. This increases the risk
of a fire.
— You must close the cap on the oil filler open-
ing correctly so that oil does not leak out on-
to the hot engine and exhaust system when
the engine is running, because this is a fire
hazard.
— Always clean skin thoroughly if it comes into
contact with engine oil.
—
Engine oil is poisonous and must be kept out
of reach of children.
— Store the engine oil securely in the original
container.

@) Note
— The New Vehicle Limited Warranty does not
cover damage or malfunctions if the recom-
mended intended use of the vehicle and
maintenance measures listed in the Audi
Owner's Manual and the Warranty & Main-
tenance Booklet were not followed.
— Only use high-grade engine oil that explicit-
ly meets the Audi oil quality standard for
your vehicle. Using another oil may cause
severe vehicle damage.
— Do not mix any additives with the engine oil.
Additives may cause engine damage that is
not covered by your New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
226
@) For the sake of the environment
— Oil should never enter the sewer system or
come into contact with the ground.
— Follow the legal regulations in the country
where you are located when disposing of
empty oil containers.
Changing engine oil
Audi recommends having the oil changed at an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Serv-
ice Facility.
Observe the safety precautions > page 221, Gen-
eral information.
The engine oil must be changed at the intervals
specified in the Warranty & Maintenance Book-
let. This is very important because the lubrication
function of the oil gradually declines during regu-
lar vehicle operation.
The engine oil should be changed more frequent-
ly under certain circumstances. Have the oil
changed more frequently if you often drive short
distances, your vehicle is predominantly in stop-
and-go traffic situations, is in very dusty environ-
ments, or is operated for long periods of time in
temperatures below zero.
Cleansing additives in the oil make fresh oil ap-
pear darker after the engine has run briefly. This
is normal and no reason to change the engine oil
more frequently than recommended.
Because correctly disposing of engine oil is diffi-
cult and special tools and technical knowledge
are needed for an oil change, Audi recommends
having your engine oil changed by an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.
If you change the engine oil yourself, please note
the following important information:

Z\ WARNING
If you change the engine oil on the vehicle
yourself, the following precautions must be
followed:
— Wear protective eyewear.
— Due to the risk of scalding, allow the engine

to cool down sufficiently. >

8W1012721BC
Checking and Filling


— Maintain enough distance when you are re-
moving the oil drain plug. While doing this,
keep your forearm parallel to the ground to
reduce the risk of hot oil dripping down your
arm.
— Drain the oil into a container designed for
this purpose that is large enough to hold the
full amount of oil in your engine.
— Engine oil is poisonous. Always store out of
reach of children.
— Prolonged contact of used engine oil with
the skin may cause skin damage. Always
wash oil off immediately with soap and wa-
ter to protect your skin.
@) Note
Do not mix any additives with the engine oil.
Additives may cause engine damage that is
not covered by your New Vehicle Limited War-
ranty.

() For the sake of the environment
— Before changing the engine oil, make sure
you can dispose of the used engine oil cor-
rectly.
— Engine oil must always be disposed of cor-
rectly. Do not dump it in the yard, in the for-
est, or in open water, river channels, or sew-
ers.
— Have your used engine oil recycled by bring-
ing it to a used oil collection site or contact
a gas station.
Cooling system
The engine cooling system is filled with a mixture
of purified water and coolant additive at the fac-
tory. This coolant must not be not changed.
The coolant level is monitored using the B indi-
cator light. However, occasionally checking the
coolant level is recommended.
Messages
/_E| Turn off engine and check coolant level. See
owner's manual
The coolant level is too low.
Stop driving and switch the engine off. Check the
coolant level > page 228.
— If the coolant level is too low, add coolant
=> page 228. Only continue driving once the in-
dicator light turns off.
& Coolant temperature: too high. Please let
engine run while vehicle is stationary
Let the engine run at idle for a few minutes to
cool off, until the indicator light turns off.
— If the indicator light does not turn off, do not
continue driving the vehicle. See an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
for assistance.
| Coolant system: malfunction! Please turn
off engine
Do not continue driving, shut the engine off, and
switch the ignition off.
— See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility for assistance.
Coolant additive
The coolant additive is made of anti-freezing and
corrosion protection agents. Only add the follow-
ing coolant additives mixed with distilled water.

Coolant additive Specification


Gl12evo TL774L

The amount of coolant additive that needs to be
mixed with water depends on the climate where
the vehicle will be operated. If the coolant addi-
tive percentage is too low, the coolant can freeze
and damage the engine.


Coolant Freeze protec-
additive tion
Warm min. 40% min. -13 °F
regions max. 45% 25 °C)
Cold min. 50% max. -40 °F
regions max. 55% (-40 °C)

@) Note
— Before the start of winter, have an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
227
>

8W1012721BC
Checking and Filling

Coolant loss usually indicates that there is a leak.
Immediately drive your vehicle to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
and have the cooling system inspected. If the
cooling system is not leaking, coolant loss can re-
sult from the coolant boiling due overheating
and then being forced out of the cooling system.

A WARNING
— The engine compartment in any vehicle is a
potentially dangerous area. Stop the engine,
switch the ignition off, and allow the engine
to cool before working in the engine com-
partment. Always follow the information
found in > page 221, General information.
— Never open the hood if you can see or hear
steam or coolant escaping from the engine
compartment. This increases the risk of
burns. The cooling system is under pressure.
When you no longer see or hear steam or
coolant escaping, you may open the engine
compartment with caution.
— When working in the engine compartment,
remember that the radiator fan can switch
on even if the ignition is switched off, which
increases the risk of injury.
— Coolant additive and coolant can be danger-
ous to your health. For this reason, store the
coolant in the original container and away
from children. There is a risk of poisoning.

® Note
Do not continue driving if the coolant expan-
sion tank is empty. Do not add any coolant,
because air could enter the cooling system
and damage the engine. See an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
for assistance.
Brake fluid

BFV-0229]


Fig. 162 Engine compartment: cap on brake fluid reservoir
Observe the safety precautions > page 221, Gen-
eral information.
Checking the brake fluid level
The brake fluid reservoir is located under a cover
on the driver’s side.
> Lift the cover > page 223, fig. 159 at both
openings and remove it.
> Read the brake fluid level on the brake fluid res-
ervoir > page 223, fig. 159. The brake fluid lev-
el must be between the MIN and MAX markings
of.
The brake fluid level is monitored automatically.
Messages
EG / @ Brakes: stop vehicle and check brake
fluid level
Stop the vehicle and check the brake fluid level.
See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for assistance.
Changing the brake fluid
Brake fluid should be changed at regular inter-
vals. Have the brake fluid changed by an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty. The authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility will inform you of the replace-
ment intervals.

Z\ WARNING
— If the brake fluid level is below the MIN
marking, it can impair the braking effect and
driving safety, which increase the risk of an

229

8W1012721BC
Checking and Filling


— A highly explosive mixture of gases can form
when charging batteries. Only charge the
battery in well-ventilated areas.
— A drained battery can freeze at tempera-
tures around 32 °F (0 °C). Do not charge or
use a frozen or thawed battery. If ice forms,
the battery housing can crack and battery
electrolyte can leak out, which increases the
risk of an explosion and chemical burns.
Contact an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility for more informa-
tion.
— Do not connect or disconnect the charging
cable while charging because this increases


the risk of an explosion.

@) Tips
Read all of the manufacturer's instructions
for the charger before charging the battery.
Windshield washer
system

B8W-0125



Fig. 164 Engine compartment: washer fluid reservoir cap
Observe the safety precautions > page 221, Gen-
eral information.
The windshield washer reservoir © contains the
cleaning solution for the windshield/rear win-
dow* and the headlight washer system*
> fig. 164, > page 223. The reservoir capacity
can be found in > page 287.
To reduce the risk of lime scale deposits on the
spray nozzles, use clean water with low amounts
of calcium. Always add window cleaner to the wa-
ter. When the outside temperatures are cold, an
anti-freezing agent should be added to the water
so that it does not freeze.
Messages
3 Please add washer fluid
Fill the washer fluid for the windshield washer
system and the headlight washer system* when
the ignition is switched off.
@) Note
— The concentration of anti-freezing agent
must be adjusted to the vehicle operating
conditions and the climate. A concentration
that is too high can lead to vehicle damage.
— Never add radiator anti-freeze or other addi-
tives to the washer fluid.
— Do not use a glass cleaner that contains
paint solvents, because this could damage
the paint.
Service interval display
The service interval display detects when your ve-
hicle is due for service.
The service interval display works in two stages:
— Inspection or oil change reminder: after driv-
ing acertain distance, a message appears in the
instrument cluster display each time the igni-
tion is switched on or off. The remaining dis-
tance or time is displayed briefly.
— Inspection or oil change due: if your vehicle
has reached an inspection or oil change interval
or both intervals at the same time, the mes-
sage Inspection due! or Oil change due! or Oil
change and inspection due! appears briefly af-
ter switching the ignition on or off.
Checking service intervals
You can check the remaining distance or time un-
til the next oil change or next inspection in the
Infotainment system.
Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Settings & Service > Service intervals.
Resetting the indicator
An authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility will reset the service interval dis-
play after performing service.
233
>

Checking and Filling

If you have changed the oil yourself, you must re-
set the oil change interval.
Applies to: MMI: To reset the display, select on
the home screen: VEHICLE > Settings & Service
> Service intervals.
@) Note
— Only reset the oil change indicator if the oil
was changed.
— Following the service intervals is critical to
maintaining the service life and value of
your vehicle, especially the engine. Even if
the mileage on the vehicle is low, do not ex-
ceed the time for the next service.
234