check oil AUDI A5 CABRIOLET 2011 User Guide

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in. WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always
read and heed all WARNINGS~
& in "Working in the engine
compartment" on
page 280. •
Engine oil
Engine oil specifications
The engine oil used in your Audi needs the right kind of oil.
The engine in your Audi is a sophisticated power plant that was built
to exacting specifications. This engine needs the right kind of engine
oil that meets specifications regarding quality and viscosity so that it
can run smoothly and reliably. Choosing the right oil and changing oil
within the time and mileage intervals printed in your vehicle 's
Warranty
& Maintenance booklet matters a lot more today than it did
years ago. Audi has developed a special quality standard for engine oil
that will help assure that your vehicle 's engine will get the lubrication
it needs for proper operation .
Modern engine lubrication has taken a quantum leap in the last few
years. Many synthetic oils available today provide better engine lubri­
cation that can outlast traditional petroleum-based oils, making
them a smart choice for use throughout the life of your Audi.
Whether you use synthetic or petroleum-based engine oil, the oil that
you use must conform to Audi's oil quality standard VW 502 00 to
help keep your vehicle's engine running smoothly and help 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 combina­
tion 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
conditions where you drive. You can use oil with 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 OW -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 avail­
able 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 - and no
oil that expressly conforms to Audi oil standard VW 502 00 specifica­
tions is available - may you top off with a high quality engine oil, pref­
erably synthetic-based, that meets ACEA A3, ACEA AS or ACEA BS or
API SL specifications, but even then, only in viscosity grades SAE 5W-
40, SAE SW-30, or SAE OW-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. ._

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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 Warranty
&
Maintenance booklet. Do not exceed these intervals -harmful
deposits from old engine oil can reduce engine performance 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 temper­
atures 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 main­
tenance and use requirements as set forth in the Audi Owner's
Manual and Warranty
& Maintenance booklet. Your dealer will have
to deny warranty coverage unless you present to the dealer proof in
the form of Service or Repair Orders that all scheduled maintenance
was performed in a timely manner. •
Safety first
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 provide effective lubrication and cooling of internal
engine components, all internal combustion engines consume a
certain amount of oil. Oil consumption varies from engine to engine
and may change significantly over the life of the engine. Typically,
engines with a specified break-in period (see~
page 250) consume
more oil during the break-in period than they consume after oil
consumption has stabilized.
Under normal conditions, the rate of oil consumption depends on the
quality and viscosity of the oil, the RPM (revolutions per minute) at
which the engine is operated, the ambient temperature and road
conditions. Further factors are the amount of oil dilution from water
condensation or fuel residue and the oxidation level of the oil. As any
engine is subject to wear as mileage builds up, the oil consumption
may increase over time until replacement of worn components may
become necessary.
With all these variables coming into play, no standard rate of oil
consumption can be established or specified. There is no alternative
to regular and frequent checking of the oil level, see
Note.
If the yellow engine oil level warning symbol in the instrument
cluster _ lights up, you should check the oil level as soon as possible
~ page 284. Top off the oil at your earliest convenience~ page 284.
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always
read and heed all WARNINGS~
& in "Working in the engine
compartment" on page
280.
Vehicle care Technical data

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0 Note
Driv ing with an insufficient o il level is likely to cause severe damage
to the engine .
[ i J Tips
• The oil pressure wa rning display 9:!::r. is not an ind icator of the oil
level. Do not rely on it. Instead, check the oil level
in your engine at
r egula r inte rvals , prefe rably ea ch time you refuel , and always
before going on a long trip.
• If you have the impression your engine consumes excessive
amounts of o il, we recommend th at yo u consult an autho riz ed Aud i
dealer to have the cause of your concern properly diagnosed . Keep in
m ind that the accurate measu rement of oil consumption re quires
great care and may take some t ime. An authorized Audi dealer has
instructions about how to meas ure oil consumption accu rately .•
Checking the engine oil level
Fig. 2 21 MMI D isplay :
Oil le vel ind icat or
Read oil level
-Park your vehicle on a level sur face.
- S hut the engine off when it is warm. -
Switc h only th e ignition back on .
- Wa it appro ximately two minutes.
- Select: Function button
[CAR ]> Oil level.
- Check the oi l level in the display=> fig. 2 2 1. Add e ngi ne oil
if t he ba r of the oil level ind icator is near "min"
=>
page 284 .
The oil leve l needs to be c hec ked at regular intervals. The bes t times
to do this are whe neve r you refuel and p rior to long tr ips.
Depending on the way the vehicle is driven and the operating condi­
ti ons, oi l cons ump tion can be u p to 1/2 q uart per 600 m iles (0.5 l iter
per 1,000 km). Consumpt ion may be higher with in the first 3,000
m iles (5,0 00 km).
[ i J Tips
T he oil leve l ind icator in the MM I Display is only an informa tion
display . If the oil level is too low, a minim um oil warning appea rs in
the inst rument cl uster . Add oil=>
page 284 . If th e hood has been
opened, the current oil level is shown in the instrument cluster the
ne xt time the ignition is switched on. •
Adding engine oil ce:i,-:
Fig. 222 Engine
com partment : Oil fill er
c a p l oca tion ...

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Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS=> & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 280.
- Unscrew the cap~ to the engine oi l filling hole
=> page 284, fig. 222.
- Carefully top off with the appropriate oil in 0 .5 liter doses.
- Screw the cap back on the filling hole and close the engine
hood.
- Check the oil level again after two minutes=>
page 284.
- Top off the oil again, if necessary.
& 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
being sprayed on the hot engine and exhaust system when the
engine is running · fire hazard!
• If your skin has come in contact with the engine oil, you must
subsequently cleanse it thoroughly.
0 Note
• Check the oil leve l using the radio or the M MI*. If the message
Please reduce oil level appears, contact your authorized Audi dealer
or other qualified workshop to have excess oil extracted if necessary .
• Audi does not recommend the use of oil additives. They may
damage the engine and adversely affect your New Vehicle
Warranty.
Safety first
<£' For the sake of the environment
• Under no circumstances can the oil come in contact with the
sewage network or the soil.
• Observe and follow legal regulat ions when d ispos ing of empty oil
containers. •
Changing the engine oil
We recommend that have your oil changed by an autho­
rized Audi dealer or a qualified service station.
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always read
and heed all WARNINGS=>
& in "Working in the engine compart ­
ment" on
page 280 .
The eng ine oil must be changed accord ing to the intervals specified in
your Warranty
& Maintenance book let. This is very important because
the lubricating properties of oil diminish gradually dur ing normal
vehicle use.
Under some circumstances the engine oil sho uld be changed more
frequently. Change oil more ofte n if you drive mostly short distances,
operate the vehicle in dusty areas or under predominant ly stop-and­
go traffic conditions, or have your ve hicle where temperatures rema in
below freezing for extended 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 mo re often than recommended .
Because of the problem of proper disposal, along with the specia l
too ls and necessary expertise required, we strongly recommend that
you have your oil changed by an authorized
Audi dealer or a qualified
service station.
If you choose to change your oil yourself, please note the following
important information: .,_
Vehicle care Technical data

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in. WARNING
To reduce the risk of personal injury if you must change the engin e
oil in your vehicle your self:
• Wear eye protection.
• To reduce the ri sk of burns from hot engine oil, let the engine
cool down to the touch.
• When removing the oil drain plug w ith your finger s, stay as far
away as possible. Always keep you r forearm parallel to the ground
to help prevent hot oil from runn ing down your arm .
• Drain the oil into a containe r designed for this purpo se, one
large enough to hold at lea st the total amount of oil in your
engine.
• Engine oil is poisonous . Keep it well out of the reach of chil­
dren.
• Continuous contact w ith used eng ine oil is harmful to your
skin. Always protect your skin by washing oil off thoroughly with
soap and water.
0 Note
N ever m ix o il add itives w it h your eng ine oi l. These additives can
damage your engine and adverse ly affect your Audi Limited New
Vehicle Warranty .
ffi For the sake of the environment
• Before chang ing yo ur o il, firs t ma ke s ure you know w here yo u can
proper ly dispose of the used oi l.
• Always dispose of used eng ine o il properly . D o not dump it on
garden soi l, wooded areas, into open streams or down sewage drains.
• Recycle used engine o il by taking it to a used eng ine oil collection
facility in your area, or contact a serv ice stat io n. •
Engine cooling system
Coolant
The engine coo lant performs two functions: i t keeps the
en gine fro m overhe ating and i t protects the engine fr om
fre ezing in th e winter .
The cooling system is sea led and genera lly requ ires little attention .
Th e cool ing sy stem h as been filled at the f actory wit h a permanent
coo lant which does not need to be changed . T he coolant cons ists of a
mixt ure of water an d the manufacturer's glycol -basedcoolant ad di­
tive Gl2++ antifreeze w ith anticorros ion addit ives (50% for USA
mode ls; 60% for Canadian models). This mixture both ass ures the
necessary frost protect ion and p rotects meta l components in th e
eng ine's cooling system from co rrosion an d scaling. It also raises the
boiling point of the cool ant.
Do not red uce the concentration of the coolant in the summer by
add ing p la in water. The proportion of coolant additive must be at
least 50 % but not more than 60 %
to maintai n antifreeze protection
and coo ling efficiency. If the coolant frost pro tect io n i s too low, t he
coo lant co uld free ze and damage t he veh icle heating an d eng ine
coo ling system.
For yea r- round drivi ng , antifree ze is added at t he factory for tempe r­
atures dow n to:
• - 31°F(- 35°C)USA
• -40°F ( -40°C) Canada .
You can mi x the Gl2+ + coo lant additive wit h other additives (G12 + or
Gl2) . Always check with you r autho rized Aud i dea ler .
in. WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment , always
read and heed all WARNINGS =>
& in "Working in the engine
compartment " on
page 280.

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0 Note
• Before winter sets in, have the coolant checked to see if the
coolant additive in your vehicle is sufficient to meet the climate
conditions. This is especially important if you live in a region where
the winter is extremely cold. If necessary, increase the proportion of
coo lant additive to 60% .
• When adding coolant additive to your cooling system, remember:
-We recommend using only coolant additive G12++ (check the
label) for your vehicle. This coolant additive is available at autho­
r iz ed Audi dealers. Other types of antifreeze can s ignificantly
reduce 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
eng ine coolant. Adding radiator repair fluid may adversely affect the
function and performance of your cooling system and could result in
damage not covered by your New Vehicle Limited Warranty. •
Checking the engine coolant level
The engine coolant level can be checked with a quick
glance.
Fig. 223 Engine
compartment: Coolant
expansion tank
Vehicle OP-eration
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS=:> & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 280.
-Turn off the ignition.
- Let the engine cool down .
- Place a thick rag over the coolant expansion tank
=:> fi.9. 223 and carefully twist the cap counter -clockwise
=> & .
- Read the engine coolant level in the open coolant expan­
sion tank=:> fig. 223. With a cold engine, the coolant level
should be between the "min" and "max" markings. When
the engine is warm, the level may be slightly above the
"max" marking.
The location of the coo lant expansion tank can be seen in the engine
compartment illustration =>
page 281.
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 coolant level is too low, the warn ing light in the Auto-Check
System =>
page 31 will blink until you add coolant and the level has
been restored to normal. Even though there is an electric coolant
level sensor, we st ill recommend you check the coolant leve l from
t ime to time .
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 Aud i 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 result of overheating . .,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourselt service iTechnical data

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The fluid level may drop slightly after some time d ue to the auto­
m atic adjus tment o f th e b rake pads. This is no t ca use for alarm.
If the brake flu id level falls considerably below the "MIN" mark, the
brake warning/indicator light ( U.S. models:
BRAKE , Canadian mode ls:
ID ) will come on=> page 17 and=> page 30. Do not contin ue to
operate the vehicle. The complete brake system should be thoro ughly
c he cked by an au thor ized Aud i deale r or q ualified works hop and t he
cause corrected. If the brake fluid level is too low, the brake
w ar ning/ind ic a tor ligh t will illum ina te. Con ta ct a n au thori ze d Audi
dealer
immediately .
rn Tips
The brake fluid reservoir is located underneath t he cover. •
Changing brake fluid
Have the brake fluid cha nged b y an experienced tech ni­
c ia n.
Brake fluid absorbs mo isture from the a ir . If the water content in the
bra ke fl uid i s too hig h, cor ros io n in th e bra ke system may res ult afte r
a period of time. The boiling po int of the brake fluid will also decrease
cons iderab ly and decrease brak ing perfo rmance .
Th erefo re, th e brake fl uid must be changed
every two years . Always
use new bra ke fluid w hich conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle Stan ­
dard "F MVSS 1 16 DO T 4".
The brake flu id reservoir can be diffic ult to reac h, therefore, we
recommend that you have the bra ke fluid c hanged by your author ized
Audi dealer . Your dealer has the correct tools, the right brake flu id
and the know -how to do t his for you .
LJ}. WARNING
• Brake fluid is poisonou s. It mu st be stored only in the closed
original containe r out of the reach of children!
& WARNING (co ntinued )
• Brake failure can result from old or inappropriate brake fluid.
Observe these precaution s:
- Use only brake fluid that meets SAE specification
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 indicated on the brake fluid reservo ir.
- The brake flu id 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.
0 Note
Bra ke fluid will damage the paint of your veh icle.
For the sake of the environment
Because of the prob lem of proper disposal of brake fl uid as well as
t he s pecial tool s required a nd the nece ssary ex pert ise, we recom ­
mend that you have t he brake f lu id changed by your authorized Audi
de aler. •
Battery
General information
Under normal operat ing con dit ions, the battery in your Aud i does not
need any main tenance . Wit h high outs ide temperatures o r long daily
dr ives we recommend that yo u have the electrolyte level checked by
an a uth orized Audi dealer o r q ua lified wor kshop. The electro lyte lev el
should also be checked each time the battery is charged=> page 293 . .,_