service AUDI A4 AVANT 2008 Service Manual

______________________________________________ D_ ri_v _ i_ n _, g..,_ a_ n_d _ e_ n_ v_i_ro _ n_m_ e_ n_t _____ ffllll
Driving and environment
The first 1,000 miles (1,500 km) and
afterwards
New engine
The engine needs to be run-in during the first 1,000 miles
(1,500 km).
For the first 600 miles (1,000 kilometers):
Do not use full throttle.
- Do not drive faster than 3/4 of the top speed marked on
the speedometer.
- Avoid high engine speeds .
From 600 to 1,000 miles (1,000 to 1,500
kilometers):
- Speeds can gradually be increased to the maximum
permissible road or engine speed.
During and after break-in period
- Do not rev the engine up to high speeds when it is cold.
This applies whether the transmission is in N (Neutral) or
1n gear.
After the break-in period
- Do not exceed maximum engine speed under any
circumstances.
- Upshift into the next higher gear
before reaching the red
area at the end of the tachometer
scale => page 12.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first
Vehicle operation
During the first few hours of driving, the engine's internal friction is
higher than later when all the moving parts have been broken in.
How well this break-in process is done depends to a considerable
extent on the way the vehicle is driven during the first 1,000 miles
(1,500 kilometers).
0 Note
Extremely high engine speeds are automatically reduced. However,
these rpm-limits are programmed for an engine well run-in, not a
new
engine.
~ For the sake of the environment
Do not drive with unnecessarily high engine speeds -upshifting
early saves fuel, reduces noise and protects the environment .•
New tires
If your vehicle is running on new tires, drive particularly
careful for the first 350 miles (500 kilometers) after fitting.
& WARNING
New tires tend to be slippery and must also be "broken-in". Be
sure to remember this during the first 350 miles (500 kilometers).
Brake
gently. Avoid following closely behind other vehicles or
other situations that might require sudden, hard braking.
•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

llffll.,__ __ D_r_ iv _ in_.... g,_ a_n_ d __ e_n _v_ ir_o_ n_ m_ e_n_ t _____________________________________________ _
New brake pads
Remember that new brake pads do not have a full braking
effec t during the first 250 miles (400 kilometers) after they
are i nstalled .
New brake pads have to be "burn ished in" befo re they have opti mal
grab =>& .
During the break -in period, you s hou ld avo id putti ng severe loads
on the brakes . Severe loads include, for examp le, sudden hard
braking, in particular at very h igh speeds or, for example, on moun ­
t ain passes .
& WARNING
New brake p ad s don't h ave th e be st sto pping p ower a nd mu st b e
" brok en -in " durin g th e initial 100 to 1 50 mil es (150 t o 200 kil ome ­
t e rs) of norm al cit y dri ving . You can comp en sa te for thi s by
pr ess ing the brak e ped al mor e firmly . Thi s al so appli es later when
ne w pad s a re in sta lled. •
Catalytic converter
It is very important that your emission control sys tem
(catalytic conver ter) is functioning properly to ensure that
y o ur vehicle is running in an environmentally sound
manner.
-Always use lead-free gasoline => page 267, "Fuel supply".
-Never run the tank down a ll the way to empty.
-Never put too much motor o il in your engine => page 278,
"Add ing eng ine oil <t=:r." .
-Neve r try to push -or tow -s ta rt yo ur vehic le.
The catalytic converter is an efficient "clean-up " device built into the
exhaust system of the vehicle. The catalyt ic converter burns many
of the po llutants in the exhaust gas before they are released into the
atmosphere.
T he exc lusive use o f un leaded fue l is critica lly important for the l ife
of the catalytic converter and proper functioning of the engine.
& WARNING
• Do not park or operate th e veh icle in ar eas wh ere the hot
ex hau st sys tem m ay come in contac t w ith dr y gra ss, bru sh , fuel
s pill or other material which can cau se a fire .
• Do not appl y additi ona l under coating or ru stpr oofing on or
ne ar the e xhau st m anifol d, ex haust pipe s, ca ta lytic converter or
he at shield s. Du ring dri ving , the sub sta nce u sed f or under coating
c ould overhe at and cau se a fir e.
0 Note
• Be aware that just one tank filling with leaded fue l wi ll already
ser iously degrade the performance of the catalyt ic converter.
• Do not exceed the correct engine oi l
level=> page 278.
• Do not drive until the fuel tank becomes comp letely empty . The
engine could misfire . Unburned fuel could also get into the exhaust
system and this could cause the catalytic conver ter to overheat .
• Do not turn off the ignition wh ile the vehicle is moving.
• Do not continue to operate your vehicle under these conditions,
as otherwise fuel can reach the cata lyt ic converter . This cou ld result
in overheating of the converter, requiring its rep lacement .
• To assure eff icient operat ion of the Em iss ion Control System:
- Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
the service recommendations in your Maintenance
& Warranty
booklet.
..,

______________________________________________ D_ ri_v _ i_ n _, g..,_ a_ n_d _ e_ n_ v_i_r o_ n_m_ e_ n_t _____ ffllll
- Lack of proper maintenance as wel l as improper use of the
vehic le wi ll impair the func tion of the emission control system
and cou ld lead to damage .
<£> For the sake of the envir onm ent
Even when the Emission Control System is operating properly, the
exhaust gas can have a su lfur -like exhaust gas sme ll under some
operat ing states . Th is depends on the sulfur content of the fuel
being used. Using a different brand of fue l may he lp, or fil ling the
tank with lead -free super grade gasol ine. •
Avoid damaging the vehicle
When you are driving on poor roads, or over curbs, steep ramps,
e tc., make certain that low- lying parts such as spoilers and exhaust
system parts do not bottom out and get damaged.
This is especial ly true for vehicles with low -s lung chassis (sports
chassis)* and ful ly loaded vehicles .•
Operate your vehicle economically
and minimize pollution
General
Y o ur personal style of driving will determine the economy
of your vehicle, as well as exhaust and noise levels.
Fuel economy, env ironmental impact, and wear on your engine,
brakes and t ires largely depend on three factors :
• your personal driving sty le
• operat ing cond it ions
• technica l limitat ions
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
If you anticipate what you need to do next and drive economica
lly,
you can easily cut your fuel consumptio n by 10 -15 percent . This
section wil l give you some tips on how you can help the environ­
ment and your pocketboo k.
[ i ] Tips
The cons umption estimates as pub lished by ENV IRO NM EN TAL
PRO TECTION AGENCY (EPA) and Transport Canada may not corre ­
spond to your actua l consumption on the road, which wi ll vary
depending upon veh icle load and speed, road and weather condi ­
tions, trip length, etc. •
Drive smoothly and keep a lookout ahead
Vehicles use the most fuel when they ore accelerating .
-Avoid unnecess ary accelerating and brak ing.
Vehic les use the most fue l when they are accelerating . If you ant ici ­
pate what is going to happen ne xt, you wi ll need to brake less and,
thus , acce lerate less. Let the vehicle coast whenever poss ib le -for
examp le 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 we ll below your car 's max imum speed.
Acce lerating gent ly reduces fue l consump tion , engine wear, and
does no t disturb the environme nt.
Fue l consumption, exhaust emissions and engine noise increase
disproportionately at h ig h speeds . If you drive at approx imate ly
three quarters of top speed, fuel consumpt ion wil l be reduced by _,,,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

lffll.,__ __ D_r_ i_v _i_n _.g..,_ a_ n_d_ e_ n_v _ i
_ r_o _ n_ m_ e_ n_ t _______________________________________________ _
one half. Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather
conditions permit. •
Reducing unnecessary idling
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel.
- Shut the engine off when you are not driving the vehicle .
- Do not warm up the vehic le by letting the engine run at
id le .
It makes sense to shut off the engine in traff ic jams, when waiting
for tra ins to pass at rai lroad crossings , or at traffic lights that have
long waits on red. Turning the engine off for just 30 -40 seconds
saves more fue l than is burned starting the engine again .
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up fu lly when it is
running at idle. However, wear and noxious emiss ions are espec ially
high when the engine is warming up . So you should drive away as
soon as you sta rt the engine and avoid running at high rpms w hile
the engine is sti ll warming up.
0 Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after starting . If warning
lights should come on to indicate improper operation, they would
go unheeded. Extended id ling also produces heat, which could
resu lt in overheating or other damage to the vehic le or other
property .•
Regular maintenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lot of fuel.
- Have your ve hicle serviced at regular intervals .
By having your vehicle regularly serviced by an Audi dealer helps to
ensure that it runs properly and economical ly . The cond ition of your
vehic le not only affects its safety and abi lity to hold its value, it also
affects
fuel consumpt ion .
Check your oil ea ch time you fill your t ank .
The amount of oil used is related to engine load and speed.
I t is norma l for the oi l consumption of a new engine to reach its
lowest value after a certain mi leage has been driven.
You must drive your vehicle about 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometers) before you can properly assess oil consumption .
This also applies to fue l consump tion and engine output .
0 Note
• Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
t he service recom mendat io n s in your Maintenance
& Wa rranty
booklet. Lack of proper ma intenance as well as improper use of the
vehic le wi ll impai r the function of the emission cont rol system and
cou ld lead to damage.
• Do no t alte r or remove any component of the Emission Contro l
System unless approved by the manufacturer .
• Do not alte r or remove any dev ice, such as heat shields,
switches, ignition wires, valves, which are designed to protec t your
vehic le's Emission Control System and other important veh ic le
components .•
Fewer short trips
Fuel consumption will alw ays be rel atively high on short
t r ips.
- Try to avo id driving short dis ta n ces wi th a cold engine. ~

______________________________________________ D_ ri_v _ i_ n _, g..,_ a_ n_d _ e_ n_ v_i_r o_ n_m_ e_ n_t _____ ffllll
The engine and catalytic converter have to reach their optimal oper ­
at ing te mpera tur e to reduce fuel consumption and noxious emis ­
sions effective ly .
Just after starting, a cold engine in a mid -size car only achieves a
f ue l economy of 6-8 miles per ga llon (30-401/100 km). After about a
half a mile, fue l economy climbs to 12 mpg (201/100 km). After about
2.5 m iles (4 km), the engine is at its proper operat ing temperature
and fuel economy has reached a normal level. So you can see that
you should avo id short tr ips whenever poss ib le .
The outsi de te mp eratur e is also critical in this regard . Your car
consumes more fuel in the winter than in the summer. •
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

____________________________________________________ T_r_a _i_le _ r_t_ o _ w_ i
_ n...; g=- ---
Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all regulations. Be sure to check with your
authorized Audi dealer for correct wiring, switches and relays .
Mirrors
If you are unable to see the traffic behind you using the regular
outside mirrors, then you
must install extended mirrors. It is impor ­
tant that you
always have clear vision to the rear .
& WARNING
After removing the trailer hitch, do not store it in your vehicle. In
case of sudden braking, the hitch could fly forward and injure you
or your passengers. •
Operating instructions
Maximum trailer weight
A trailer for your vehicle is limited to a typical class 1 or class 2
trailer .
Trailer load distribution
Be sure the load in the trailer is held securely in place to guard
against shifting, be it forward, backward or sideways.
Never allow a passenger to ride in a trailer~ & in "Driving instruc­
tions".
Tire pressure
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of your vehicle to the cold tire
pressure listed under "Full load" on the sticker on the right door­
jamb. Inflate trailer tires to trailer and tire manufacturers' specifica­
tions .
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation Lights
The
headlight settings should be checked with the trailer attached
before driving off. Adjust as necessary so that you can see the road
ahead but not blind oncoming traffic.
Check proper working of vehicle and trailer lights .
Power Supply
The power supply to the trailer is disconnected when the ignition
key is removed.
Safety chains
Be sure trailer safety chains are properly connected from the trailer
to the hitch on the vehicle . Leave enough slack in the chains to
permit turning corners. When you install safety chains, make sure
they will not drag on the road when you are driving.
The chains should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent it from
dropping in case of separation from the hitch.•
Driving instructions
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care and
consideration.
To obtain the best possible handling of vehicle and trailer,
please note the following:
- Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself is not
loaded.
- Be especially careful when passing other vehicles.
- Observe speed limits.
- Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed.
- Always apply brakes early.
- Monitor the temperature gauge.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Traile r to win g -______________ _,..,_l'flllll
[ i] Tip s
• Do not tow a trailer during the break-in period of your vehicle.
• If you tow a trailer, your Audi may require more frequent mainte ­
nance due to the extra load
=> page 346 . •
Parking on a slope
Do not park with a trailer on a slope. If it cannot be
avoided, do so only after doing the following:
Wh en p arkin g:
-Apply the foot brake.
- Have someone place chocks under both the veh ic le and
the trailer wheels .
- Wit h chocks in p lace, s lowly release t he brakes until
wheel blocks absorb t he load.
- T urn t he wheels towards the curb .
- Apply the parking brake.
- Place an automatic transmission in
P , respect ively a
manual transmission in first or reverse gear.
Wh en re starting aft er p arking:
- Start the e ngine .
- Shift transmission into gear.
- Re lease the parking brake and slowly pull out and away
from the wheel blocks.
- Stop and have someone retrieve the whee l blocks.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
[ i
] Tip s
If you move the selector lever of the automatic transmission to P
before applying the parking brake and before blocking the wheels,
you may have to use more force later to move the lever out of the
P
position .•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Fue l su pply and fillin g yo ur fu el tank
Ble nd of g aso line and ethanol (grain alco hol or ethyl alco ho l!
• Anti-knock index must be 87 AKI or higher.
• Blend must not contain more than 10% ethanol.
Blend of ga solin e and MTBE
• Anti-knock index must be 87 AKI or higher.
• Blend must contain not more than 15% MTBE.
Sea sonall y adj usted ga soline
Many gasoline grades are blended to perform especia lly we ll for
winter or summer drivi ng . Dur ing seasona l change -over, we suggest
that you fil l up at busy gas stations where the seasonal adjustment
is more likely to be made in time .
0 Note
• Methanol fuels which do not meet these requirements may
cause corrosion and damage to plastic and rubber components in
the fue l 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 particu lar fuel
b lend meets the specifications, ask your service station or its fuel
supplier.
• Do not use fuel for w hich the contents ca nnot be identified.
• Fue l system damage and performance problems resulting from
t he use of fuels different fro m those specified are no t the responsi ­
bility of Audi and are not covered under the New Vehicle or the
Em ission Control System Warranties .
• If you experience a loss of fue l economy or driveabi lity and
performa nce problems due to the use of o ne of these fuel blends,
we recommend that you switch to unblended fuel. •
Gasoline additives
A major concern among many auto manufacturers is carbon
depos it build-up caused by the type of gasoline you use.
A lthough gasoline grades differ from one manufacturer to another,
they have certain things in common. All gaso line grades contain
substances that can cause deposits to co llect on vital engine parts,
such as fue l injectors and intake valves. A lthough most gaso line
brands include additives to keep engine and fue l systems clean,
they are not equal ly effective .
Audi reco mmends using TOP TIER De tergen t Gasoline. For more
information on TOP T IER Detergent Gasoline, please go to the offi ­
cia l website (www.toptie rgas .com).
After an extended period of using inadequate fuels, built-up carbon
deposits can rob your engine of peak performance .
(D Note
Damage or malfunction due to poor fuel qua lity is not covered by
the Aud i New Veh ic le Limited Warranty. •
Fuel tank
Fuel filler neck
The fue l fi ller neck is located o n the r ight rear side pane l be hin d the
fuel filler flap.
I f the power locking system shou ld fail, you can stil l open the flap
manual ly - for detai led instructions
see=> page 271 .
You can find the fuel tank capacity of your vehicle in Techni cal Dat a
=> page 343. ~

___ C_ h_ e_c _k _ i_n ~g _ a_n_ d_ f_il _li _n_ g~--------------------------------------------
prevent the formation of harmful deposits, sometimes called
"sludge", that over time can lead to expensive repairs.
At the time of printing, engine oils available in the U .S . and Canada
that meet the exacting specifications of Audi oil standard VW 502 00
are synthetic engine oils. This does not mean, however, that every
synthetic engine oil will meet Audi oil standard VW 502 00. So
always be sure that you use an approved oil.
To help prevent the formation of harmful deposits use only oil with
the following specifications printed on the oil container:
Audi oil standard VW 502 00
Oil container labels may carry the specification singly or in combi­
nation with other designations and oil quality standards.
Viscosity
Engine oils are graded according to their viscosity. The proper
viscosity grade oil for your engine depends on climactic or seasonal
condi tions where you drive. You can use oil wi th a viscosity grade of
SAE 5W40 across all temperature ranges for normal driving condi­
tions .
However, if engine oil viscosity grade SAE 5W40 is not available, you
can also use viscosity grade SAE 5W-30 or SAE 0W-40 as long as it
meets Audi oil quality standard VW 502 00 specifications.
Because engine oil that meets the Audi oil standard may not be
available everywhere when you need it, we strongly recommend
that you always carry with you an extra quart (liter) of oil that
expressly conforms to the VW 502 00 specification, in case you have
to top off the oil while on the road.
Only if the level of the oil is at or below the minimum mark on the
oil dipstick -and no oil that expressly conforms to Audi oil standard
VW 502 00 specifications is available - may you top off with a high
quality engine oil, preferably synthetic -based , that meets ACEA A3,
ACEA A5 or ACEA B5, API SL or ILSAC GF -3 specifications, but even
then, only in viscosity grades SAE 5W -40, SAE 5W -30, or SAE 0W -40 .
However, during the entire time between oil change intervals, never top off with more than a total of 0
.5 qt/liter engine oil that does not
conform to Audi oil specification VW 502 00.
For more information about engine oil that has been approved for
your vehicle, please contact either your authorized Audi dealer or
Audi Customer Relations at 1 (800) 822-2834 or visit our web site at
www.audiusa.com or www.audicanada.ca. Here you will also find a
current list of oils (manufacturers, brand names etc.) that conform
to Audi oil standard VW 502 00.
Changing the engine oil
The engine oil and oil filter must be changed according to the
mileage (kilometers) and time intervals specified in your vehicle's
Maintenance & Warranty booklet. Do not exceed these intervals -
harmful deposits from old engine oil can reduce engine perfor­
mance and can lead to expensive engine repairs.
Changing the oil at the recommended intervals is so very important
because the lubricating properties of oil decrease gradually during
normal vehicle use. If you are not sure when you have your oil
changed, ask your authorized Audi Service Advisor.
Under some circumstances the engine oil should even be changed
more frequently . Change oil more often if you drive mostly short
distances, operate the vehicle in dusty areas or mostly under stop­
and-go traffic conditions, or when you use your vehicle where
temperatures stay below freezing point for long periods.
Detergent additives in the oil 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 oil more often than recommended.
Damage or malfunctions due to lack of maintenance
It is essential that you change your oil at the recommended intervals
using only engine oil that complies with Audi oil standard
VW 502 00. 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 Maintenance & Warranty booklet. Your dealer will have
to deny warranty coverage unless you present to the dealer proof in
.,_

Checkin g a nd fillin g --------------~~~-
the form of Service or Repair Orders that all scheduled maintenance
was performed in a t ime ly manner .•
Engine oil consumption
The engine in your vehicle depends on an adequate
amount of oil to lubricate and cool all of its moving parts.
In order to prov ide effect ive lubrication and cool ing of in ternal
engine components, all internal combustion engines consume a
certain amount of o il. Oil consumption varies from engine to engine
and may change significantly over the life of the engine . Typically,
eng ines wi th a specified break -in period
(see ~ page 243) consume
more oil during the break -in period than they consume after oi l
consumption has stabi lized .
Under norma l condit ions, the rate of o il consumption depends on
the quality and viscosity of the oil, the RPM (revo lutions per minute)
at whic h the engine is operated, t he amb ient te mperature and road
conditions. Further factors are the amount of oil dilution from water
condensatio n or fuel residue and t he oxidation level of the o il. As
any engine is subject to wear as mileage builds up, the oil consump ­
t ion may increase over time until rep laceme nt of worn components
may become necessary .
With all these variables coming into play, no standard rate of oil consu mption can be estab lished or specified. T here is no a lternative
to regu lar and frequent checking of the oil level, see
Note .
If the yellow eng ine o il level warni ng symbol in the instrument
cluster ~ lights up, you should check the oil level as soon as
possible
with the oil dipstick ~ page 277 . Top off the o il at your
earl iest
convenience~ page 278.
& WARNING
Bef ore you che ck anything in the eng ine comp artment , alway s
read and heed all WARNINGS
~ & in "Working in the engine
c ompartment " on
page 27 3.
0 Note
Driving with an insuff ic ient oil level is l ikely to cause severe damage
to the engine.
[ i ] Tip s
• The oil pres sure warning displ ay "e:7: is n ot an indi cator of the oil
level . Do not rel y on it. Instead, check the oil level in your engine at
regular inter vals, preferably ea ch time you refuel , and al way s before
going on a long trip.
• If you have the impression your engine consumes excessive
amounts of oi l, we reco mmend that you consult your Audi dealer to
have the cause of your concern properly diagnosed . Keep in mind
that t he accurate measurement of oil consumptio n requ ires great
care and may take some time. Your Audi dealer has instructions
about how t o measure oil cons umpt ion accurately. •
Checking the engine oil level
Vehicle care
Fig. 2 07 Illu strati on of
prin ciple 1: M ark ers on
oil dip sti ck ...