2021 AUDI A8 coolant

Table of contents

About this Owner's Manual......
SUMIMAry: < = exe : eens: Seen cs sens
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Cockpit. ...... 0... eee eee eee eee
Indicator lights overview...........4..
Display and operation...........
Instrument cluster...............
Instrument cluster overview...........
Operating. ecccuse w+ were oo wens oo ayes 9 ¥
Adjusting the display.................
Coolant temperature display...........
Tachometer’ series i ewe so snes ¥ & ome
Power meter...............0 00000005
QUOOMEtEr as + 2 ame < gas = papas s ¥ HERS &
Outside temperature display...........
Engine oil temperature indicator.......
Boost indicator’: 2 2c« «= sesa ¢ x sews «x 2x8
Vehicle functions « seis ss emis ee mes ee
Touch displays....................
General touch display operation........
Multi Media Interface................
Rear Seat Remote...............2...
Screens (NPCs « s wees s eae se wee as ee
Head-up display..................
Descriptionis: ss gem = x eames ¢ eee ge eee
Voice recognition system........
General information.................
DeSeriptionis = ssssas « « wens s + eres « + aes
External voice operation..............
Global functions.................
Additional function buttons...........
Starting and driving.............
Personalization..................
Luggage compartment lid.............
Child safety lock.............0...000.
POWEr WIKdOWS 6: «oxen se aes ye eee
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12 12 12
13
13
14 14
15
15
15
15
16
16
18 18
20
26
29
33 33
34 34
34
35
3F 37 38 38 38
Al 41 45
48
51
52
Panoramic glass roof................. 53
Valet parking............... 0c eee eee 55
Garage door opener.........60..e sees 55
Lights and Vision................. 58
Exterior lighting « sce ss ees se eea se ees 58
Interior lighting wiv «= ssw 2 6 ese = 3 ese 62
ViSION. 0. ee eee eee 64
Windshield wipers............-..00-- 66
Digitalcomipass’s ss gos « s wasn x & were 8 3 68
Sitting correctly and safely...... 70
Correct passenger seating position...... 70
FROMUSOAES!, «areas ao axoniva 5 & aumeane wa savers 70
Rear seats... 2... eee 74
SECeriig WHEEL su: s x wou 4 x naaee ee ee 77
Head restraintsisn: «+ cscs vo asceine vo wen ws 78
Safety belts........ 0.0... cee eee eee 80
Memory function..............-.000+ 83
Aitbag System sms: «+ suscens oe sowie «5 voeusic 84
Child safety seats................000- 88
Storage and convenience........ 94
POWEPrSOUICES wece ae ete ee ore ne 94
Cup holders..............00--0 eee ee 95
Storage and compartments............ 95
Luggage compartment............... 97
Roof rack... eee eee 99
WWarmitanGicolediics «6 scien «6 eve 6 6 on 100
Climate control system............... 100
Steering
wheel heating.............-. 104
Auxiliary climate control.............- 104
Fluids in the A/C system.............. 105
BXRIMIIG)). 5 sccces 6 ase wo moms 3 o OOM 8 Ho 107
Starting the vehicle.................. 107
When driving.......-..e0ceeeee sees 108
Drive SYStC Mises oo scene +o em oo omen oo 114
Start/Stop system............00 0 eee 117
Brakes... 2.0.0... eee eee ee eee eee 119
Electromechanical parking brake....... 121
Special driving situations.............. 122
Driving dynamic.................. 124
Audi driverselectis « was «+ cine 2 6 navies a 0 124
Suspension..............0 0.02.0 000. 125
StCGKitig + scm ss caus a e seen se Sees 4 eee 127

Instrument cluster

Instrument cluster
Instrument cluster overview
cH) Olas
12/5/2017


Fig. 2 Instrument cluster overview (Audi virtual cockpit)
Depending on the vehicle equipment, the follow- @ Tips
ing items may appear in the instrument cluster:
5 — You can select the units used for tempera-
@ Display
ture, speed, and other measurements in the
Infotainment system > page 263.
— Speeds are displayed in mph (miles per
— Engine coolant temperature ~E .. 14
— High-voltage battery charge level

@ Left dial hour) or km/h (kilometers per hour).
— Tachometer ............ 0. eee 14 — If there is a malfunction in the instrument
— Power meter ........-..-..0-5 is cluster, DEF will appear in the trip odometer
(2) “Tab area s : sews + ¢ sees ee eee ge 13 display. Have the malfunction corrected as
@ Centralarea............0..00.. 13 soon as possible.
© Status line (one or two lines) — Certain instrument cluster content can also
© Right dial be displayed in the head-up display*
— Convenience display mde
@ Fuellevel A ............00000. 270
Right
additional display with speed-
ometer
© Left additional display with:
—Gear .... ee eee eee eee 109
— Audi drive select mode ......... 124
ZA WARNING
If there is a severe malfunction in the instru-
ment cluster, the display may turn off. The A
indicator light may also turn on. Stop the ve-
hicle safely. See an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility for assistance.

12

Instrument cluster

Reducing the display
Depending on the vehicle equipment, you can
hide the central area in the instrument cluster.
> Select on the instrument cluster: vehicle func-
tions tab > E] button > Reduced display.
Coolant temperature
display
Applies to: vehicles with a coolant temperature indicator
The coolant temperature display @ > page 12
only functions when the ignition is switched on.
To reduce the risk of engine damage, please ob-
serve the following notes about the temperature
ranges.
Cold range
If only the LEDs at the bottom of the gauge turn
on, the engine has not reached operating tem-
perature yet. Avoid high engine speeds, full accel-
eration, and heavy engine loads.
Normal range
The engine has reached its operating tempera-
ture once the LEDs up to the center of the gauge
turn on. If the | indicator light in the instru-
ment cluster display turns on, the coolant tem-
perature is too high > page 281.
@) Note
— Auxiliary headlights and other accessories in
front of the air intake impair the cooling ef-
fect of the coolant. This increases the risk of
the engine overheating during high outside
temperatures and heavy engine load.
— The front spoiler also helps to distribute
cooling air correctly while driving. If the
spoiler is damaged, the cooling effect will
be impaired and the risk of the engine over-
heating will increase. See an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Fa-
cility for assistance.
Tachometer
The tachometer (@) 9 page 12 displays the engine
speed in revolutions per minute (RPM). The be-
ginning of the red zone in the tachometer indi-
14
cates the maximum permissible engine speed for
all gears once the engine has been broken in. Be-
fore reaching the red zone, you should shift into
the next higher gear, select the "D" or "S" selec-
tor lever position, or remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal.
Displaying the tachometer
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive
> Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:
SETTINGS > Display & brightness > Audi virtu-
al cockpit > Left dial > Tachometer or Com-
bined.
Engine speed limitation
If the Bw indicator light turns on, the engine will
be automatically limited to the RPM displayed in
the instrument cluster. This will protect the en-
gine components, for example during a cold start
or from overheating.
The engine speed limitation is deactivated if you
release the accelerator pedal while the engine is
at normal operating temperature.
If the engine speed limitation was activated by
an engine control malfunction, the indicator
light also turns on. Make sure the engine speed
does not go above the speed displayed, for exam-
ple when downshifting. Drive to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility im-
mediately to have the malfunction corrected.
C) Note
The needle in the tachometer may only be in
the red area of the gauge for a short period of
time before there is a risk of damaging the
engine. The location where the red zone be-
gins varies depending on the engine.

Warm and cold

Warm and cold
Climate control system
One of the following options may be available,
depending on vehicle equipment:
— A deluxe automatic climate control system with
3 zones where the temperature, air distribu-
tion, and air supply can be set separately on the
left front side, the right front side, and in the
rear
— A deluxe automatic climate control system with
4 zones to individually adjust the temperature,
air distribution, and amount of ventilation at all
of the seats
The climate control system warms, cools, dehu-
midifies, and filters the air in the vehicle interior.
It is the most effective when the windows and
panoramic glass roof* are closed. If there is a
build-up of heat inside the vehicle, ventilation
can help to speed up the cooling process.
The deluxe climate control system automatically
maintains a temperature once it has been set. In
all heating mode functions except defrost, the
blower only switches to a higher speed once the
coolant has reached a certain temperature.
Pollutant filter
The pollutant filter removes pollutants such as
dust and pollen from the air.
@ For the sake of the environment
Energy can be saved by switching off the A/C
mode.
@ Tips
— To prevent interference with the heating or
cooling output and to prevent the windows
from fogging over, the air intake in front of
the windshield must be free of ice, snow,
and leaves.
— Condensation from the cooling system can
drip and form a puddle of water under the
vehicle. This is normal and does not mean
there is a leak.
100

— The energy management system may tem-
porarily switch off certain functions, such as
the seat heating” or rear window defogger.
These systems are available again as soon as
the energy supply has been restored.
[RAZ-0638


Fig. 89 Center console: lower display and switch panel
The settings can be adjusted using both displays,
the switch panel in the center console, the con-
trol panel in the rear*, or the Rear Seat Remote*
display. For information on how to operate the
touch displays, see > page 18, Touch displays.
You can adjust all climate control system settings
in the front; only certain functions are available
in the rear.
Lower display
The lower display has two sections with controls:
You can regulate the blower and the air distribu-
tion automatically using AUTO in area @). You can
also apply individual settings here.
In area Q), you can switch individual climate con-
trol system functions on and off.
Switch panel in the center console
Both the & and & buttons to defog windows as
quickly as possible are located in area @).
Upper display
In the upper display, you can switch additional
functions on and off, display them, and adjust
settings.
> Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:
VEHICLE > Air conditioning, or
> Press +++ on the lower display.

4N0012721BF
Warm and cold

at low or high temperatures. You can adjust the
fragrance function > page 103.
Residual heat
The residual heat from the coolant is used to
heat the vehicle interior. To use this function,
press and hold the $8 button for more than two
seconds while the ignition is switched off. The
function switches off automatically after about
15 minutes.

Z\ WARNING
— You should not use the recirculation mode
for an extended period of time, because no
fresh air is drawn in and the windows can
fog when cooling mode is switched off. This
increases the risk of an accident.
— Individuals with reduced sensitivity to pain
or temperature could develop burns when
using the seat heating* function. To reduce
the risk of injury, these individuals should
not use seat heating*.



G) Note
To reduce the risk of damage to the seat heat-
ing* elements, do not kneel on the seats or
place heavy pressure on one area of the seat.
@ Tips
— If the front passenger's seat heating” is
turned on, it will not turn on again automat-
ically if more than 10 minutes have passed
between switching the ignition off and on
again.
— Only use the fragrance function* in modera-
tion and take any other passengers and ani-
mals into consideration when using the
function. An overlap of different scents or
odors could cause discomfort. If there is
discomfort, reduce the intensity or switch
the fragrance function* off. Only use fra-
grances that are approved by Audi.
Adjusting the vents
S| a g
S| = + a

Fig. 90 Cockpit and rear center console: adjusting the air
vents
You can open and close the air vents.
> Swipe right to open the air vents.
> Swipe left to close the air vents.
You can also press on the symbols directly to set
the air supply at a certain level or turn it off.
The levers adjust the direction of the airflow from
the vents.
Additional settings
You can adjust additional settings.
> Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:
VEHICLE > Air conditioning > ©.
Fragrance
Applies to: vehicles with fragrance function
Using Fragrance selection, you can select the fra-
grance and see the fill level of the fragrance.
You can select the strength of the scent with Fra-
grance level.
Footwell temperature*
You can adjust the footwell temperature for the
driver and front passenger.
Surface heating
Applies to: vehicles with surface heating
You can select if surfaces are also heated when
the seat heating is switched on. Other surfaces,
such as the door armrest and the center armrest,
may be heated, depending on the equipment.
103

4N0012721BF
Trailer towing

Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
eT e e eeu)
Your vehicle is primarily intended for transport-
ing people and luggage. However, if you drive
with a trailer, follow the technical requirements,
the operation and driving tips, and the legal reg-
ulations.
Driving with a trailer affects the vehicle's energy
usage, performance, and wear. It also requires
higher concentration from the driver.

Z\ WARNING
Do not transport any people in a trailer due to
the risk of fatal injury.
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch

Only use a trailer hitch with a removable ball
hitch mount and ball hitch. The trailer hitch must
be permitted for the vehicle, the trailer and the
permitted total weight of the trailer being
pulled. Above all, it must be securely and safely
attached to the vehicle trailer.
Never mount a trailer hitch on the bumper. The
trailer hitch must be mounted in a way that does
not impair the function of the bumper. Do not
make any changes to the exhaust system and the
brake system.
Check regularly if the trailer hitch is securely
mounted. Always follow the instructions given by
the trailer hitch manufacturer.
Trailer brakes
If the trailer has its own brake system, then fol-
low the manufacturer specifications. However,
the brake system on the trailer must never be
connected to the vehicle brake system.
Engine cooling system
Driving with a trailer means a higher load on the
engine and the cooling system. The cooling sys-
tem must be designed for additional load and
contain enough coolant > @®.
CG) Note
Longer inclines cannot be driven without a
suitable cooling system, especially if the out-
side temperatures are high. Otherwise, this
increases the risk of engine damage.
Operating instructions
Towing capacity
Your vehicle can only be operated with class 1 or
class 2 trailers.
Load distribution
Poor cargo load and distribution can negatively
impact vehicle handling. Load the trailer based
on the following criteria as much as possible:
— Store objects in the vehicle luggage compart-
ment, if possible. The vehicle should always
carry the heaviest possible load and the trailer
should have the lightest possible load.
— Distribute the load in the trailer so that the
heavy objects are as close to the axle as possi-
ble.
— Secure objects so that they do not slide.
— Utilize the maximum permitted tongue weight
if possible.
Tires
Set the tire pressure on your vehicle for a “full
load”; see the tire pressure sticker > page 299. If
necessary, also adjust the tire pressure on the
trailer according to the manufacturer's specifica-
tions.
The trailer and the vehicle should be equipped
with winter tires when driving in winter tempera-
tures.
Outside mirrors
If you cannot see the traffic behind the trailer
with the standard exterior mirrors, then you
must attach additional exterior mirrors. Adjust
them so you have a sufficient visibility behind
you.
Exterior lighting
Follow the legal regulations for lighting on your
trailer that are applicable in the country where
147
>

4N0012721BF
Trailer towing

Hill
When you start driving uphill or downhill, trailers
may tilt or sway sooner than when driving ona
level surface. If small swaying movements have
already occurred, you can stabilize the trailer by
firmly braking immediately. Never attempt to
“straighten out” the trailer by accelerating.
Conventional drive system: Downshift before
driving on hills to utilize the engine braking ef-
fect SA.
Plug-in hybrid drive system: Reduce the speed
and use the recuperation braking effect
=> page 114 to relieve the brakes > A.
Brakes
When using a trailer with overrun brakes, first
brake gently then quickly. This reduces the risk of
jerking while braking if the trailer wheels lock up.
Engine coolant temperature
Pay attention specifically to the coolant tempera-
ture display when there are high outside temper-
atures, and when driving on long inclines
=> page 14. Shift to a higher gear in a timely man-
ner.

Z\ WARNING
Constant braking causes the brakes to over-
heat and can substantially reduce braking per-
formance, increase braking distance, or cause
complete failure of the brake system.

149

Checking and Filling

cause overheating and damage to the catalytic
converter.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)
If the S indicator light blinks or turns on, there
is a malfunction that is causing poor emissions
quality and that could damage the catalytic con-
verter. Drive slowly to an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the
malfunction corrected.
The indicator light can also turn on if the fuel fill-
er cap is not closed correctly > page 271).
Engine compartment
General information
Special care is required if you are working in the
engine compartment
For work in the engine compartment, such as
checking and filling fluids, there is a risk of in-
jury, scalding, accidents, and burns. For this
reason, follow all the warnings and general
safety precautions provided in the following in-
formation. The engine compartment is a dan-
gerous area in the vehicle. > A.
Explanation of warnings (sticker in the engine
compartment):
®

Hot engine components!
Rotating parts!

The catalytic converter can be damaged
"127i if the oil level is too high!

Always follow the instructions in the op-
oA erating manual.



The radiator fan can switch on at any
i, time!

High voltage! Switch off the engine be-
5 fore coming into contact with any igni-
tion system components!



Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid
drive: High voltage! The voltage in the
high-voltage system is high enough to
EN cause fatal injuries. Touching a damaged
high-voltage component can result in a
fatal electric shock.


D_ Depending on the engine and country
274

ZA\ WARNING
— Turn the engine off.
— Switch the ignition off.
— Set the parking brake.
— Select the “P” (Park) selector lever position.
— Allow the engine to cool.
— Keep children away from the engine com-
partment.
— Never spill fluids on a hot engine. These flu-
ids (such as the freeze protection contained
in the coolant) can catch fire.
— Avoid short circuits in the electrical system.
— Never reach into the radiator fan. The fan is
temperature-controlled and can turn on
suddenly, even when the ignition is switched
off.
— Never open the hood when there is steam or
coolant escaping from the engine compart-
ment, because there is a risk that you could
be burned. Wait until no steam or coolant is
escaping.
— Plug-in hybrid drive: The coolant expansion
tank cap is equipped with a seal that must
never be removed under any circumstances
= page 277, fig. 181. If the coolant expan-
sion tank for the high-voltage system is not
sealed, please contact an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.
— Plug-in hybrid drive: The sealed cap must
only be opened by an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility.
—The cap on the coolant expansion tank must
never be opened when the coolant is hot.
The cooling system is under pressure. There
is a risk of burns
—To protect your face, hands, and arms from
hot steam or coolant, cover the cap with a
thick cloth when opening.