engine AUDI A6 2018 Owner's Guide

Trail er to wing
must attach additiona l exterior mirrors . Adjust
them so you have a sufficient visibility behind
you .
Exterior lighting
Follow the lega l regulat ions regard ing the light ­
ing eq uipment on your trailer . Conta ct an author ­
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili­
ty for more information.
Before start ing to drive, check a ll l ight ing equip­
men t on the hitc hed trailer.
The headlig ht range contro l adjusts automatical­
ly to the light range of the headl ights.
Safe ty chain s
Make su re the safety chains are correctly applied
when pulling a trailer . The chains should hang
enough so t hat the trailer can dr ive around
curves. However, they must not touch the
g round .
Air su spension
Applies to: vehicles with air suspension
The air suspension must be at the standard vehi­
cle height before you set the tongue weight on
the trailer a nd h itch the trailer ¢@ ,
¢page 106,
Raising/lowering the vehicle .
For ve hicles w ith a factory-installed tra iler hitch,
the air suspension trailer mode will automat ically
sw itch on if you connect the trailer cable to the
socket.
F or ve hicles w ith a retro fitted trailer hitch, you
must switch on the air suspension trailer mode
manually . Select in the Infota inment system:
ICARI function button > ( Car )* s yste m s contro l
button
> V ehicle setting s > Air su spen sion : trail ­
e r > On .
Switch it off again after tow ing a tra ile r.
You can also switch off tra iler mode ma nually
while driving , for example, when using a bicycle
rac k system .
If you have to drive through difficult road condi­
tions , you can raise the vehicle aga in after hitch­
ing the t rai ler or after adjust ing the tongue
weight .
82
@ Note
Applies to: vehicles with air suspension
-Changes i n temperature or load can affect
the height of the vehicle .
- Set the air suspension to the standard veh i­
cle he ight, otherwise the applicable tongue
we ight no longer appl ies to your veh icle .
(D Tips
-Use chocks when park ing on inclines if the
trai ler is loaded.
- We recommend also hav ing the vehicle in­
spected between the inspection intervals if
you are towing a trailer frequently .
- Avoid driv ing with a trai ler dur ing the veh i­
cle break-in per iod.
Driving with a trailer
Driving with a trailer requires extra caution.
Sp eed
Adhere to t he lega l speed lim its . Fo llow the legal
regu lat ions
sp ecific to the country.
As the speed increases, the dr iv ing stab il ity of
t h e tra ile r decreases. Therefore you should not
exceed the max imum lega l speed lim it w hen
t h ere are unfavorab le road, weather and/or wind
conditions. This especia lly applies when driving
downh ill.
Yo u m ust always red uce your speed as soon as
you notice even the slightest swinging motion o f
the trai ler . Never try to "straight en out" the trai l­
er by acce lerating.
The we ight d istr ibution is very poor if the vehicle
is empty and the trai ler is loaded. However if you
must drive under these circumstances, then drive
especially slowly .
Brakes
B rake in a time ly manner. Downs hift befo re dr iv ­
i ng down hill so that the engine can assist with
braking ¢&. .
When using a trailer w it h over run bra kes, fi rst
bra ke gently t hen q uick ly. This red uces the r isk of
j erking while braking if the trailer wheels lock up .
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a co .... N
" N .... 0 0 \.J ' Engine coolant temperature
Pay att ention specifica lly to the coolan t tempera ­
t ure d isp lay when t here are high outside tempe r­
atures, an d when dr iv ing on long inclines
~ page 9 . Shift to a highe r gear in a timely man ­
ne r.
A WARNING
Constant b raking causes the brakes to ove r­
heat and substant ially reduces b raking per­
formance, increases brak ing distance or caus­
es complete fa ilu re of the brake system.
-
Trailer towing
83

Ass is tance sy stem s
Assistance systems
Speed warning system
Description
Applies to: veh icles with speed warning system
The speed warning system helps you to stay un­
der a specified maximum speed.
The speed warning system warns you if you are
exceeding the maximum speed that you have set.
A warning tone will sound as soon as your speed
exceeds the sto red value slightly.
The . (USA models) I. (Canada models) indi­
cator light and a message appear in the instru­
ment cluster display at the same time.
The.
• indicator light and the message turn off if the
speed falls back below the stored maximum
speed.
Sett ing a threshold is recommended if you would
like to be reminded when you reach a certa in
maximum speed. S ituations where you may want
to do so i nclude driving in a country wit h a ge ne r­
a l speed limit o r if the re is a specified maximum
speed for winter tires.
Setting the warning threshold
The warning threshold is set in the Infotainment
system.
• Se lect: the ICARI function button> (Car )* Sys­
tems
control button > Driver assistan ce >
Spe ed warning .
(D Tips
Regardless of the speed warning system, you
should always monitor your speed using the
speedometer and make sure you are following
the legal speed limit.
84
Cruise control system
Switching on
Applies to: vehicles with cruise control system
The cruise control system makes it possible to
drive at a constant speed starting at 20 mph (30
km/h).
0
f
~
0
F ig . 8 7 Operat ing lever: c ruise control system
• To switch t he cru ise control o n, pull the lever
into position
(D ~ fig. 87 .
• Drive at the speed to be maintained.
• To store the speed, press the button @.
The stored speed and the
( ij;\1)~14 (USA models) /
l'I (Canada models) ind icator lig ht are disp layed
in the instrument cluster.
This information is also shown briefly in the
head -up display* .
The speed is mainta ined by modifying engine
power or through a n active br ake interven tion.
~ WARNING
-Always pay at tentio n to the traffic around
you when the cruise contro l system is in op­
eration . You are always respons ible for your
speed and the distance between your ve hi­
cle and other vehicles.
-For safety reasons, cruise control should not
be used in the city, in stop-and-go traff ic, on
winding roads and when road conditions are poor (such as ice, fog, gravel, heavy rai n and
hyd roplaning), because this inc reases the
r is k of an accident.
-Switch the cr uise control off temporarily
when dr iv ing in turning lanes, highway exits
or in constr uction zones.
-

Assistance systems
Messages
App lies to: ve hicles w ith night v isio n ass ist
Night vision assist: System fault
The system cannot guarantee correct function
and is switched off . See an author ized Audi deal­
er or authorized Audi Service Facility for assis­
tance .
Night vision assist: Currently unavailable
The system cannot guarantee correct function at
this t ime and is switched off.
Night vision assist: Only available at night with
lights turned on
Night vision assist onl y works when it is dar k out­
side and the head lights are on.
Night vision assist: Pedestrian marking current­
ly unavailable
The pedestrian and wild animal marking was
sw itched off by the system.
Audi drive select (drive
settings)
Introduction
Drive select makes it possible to experience dif­
ferent types of vehicle settings in one vehicle .
The driver can se lect
Comfort , Auto and Dynamic
modes in the Inf ota inme nt system to switch be­
tween, for example, a sporty and a comfo rtable
driving mode .
I n the
Individual mode, the sett ings can be ad­
justed to your perso nal preferences. This makes
it poss ible to comb ine settings such as a spo rty
engine setting with light steering.
Description
The following systems, among other things, are
influenced by drive select:
Engine and automatic transmission
Depending on the mode , the engine and a uto­
mat ic tran smission respond more quickly or in a
mo re balanced manner to accelerator peda l
104 movements
. In the sporty dynamic mode, the
transmission shifts at higher speed ranges.
Adaptive air suspension*
The adaptive a ir suspens ion* is an electron ically­
controlled air suspension and damping system.
The adjustment depends on the driving mode se­
l ected, steering movements, the driver's braking
and acce leration, and as the road surface, vehicle
speed and load.
The vehicle ground clearance depends on the
mode selected and the speed . When you are in
the
auto mode, the highway setting is activated
when you drive above 75 mph (120 km/h) for
more than 30 seconds. The ground clearance is
i ncreased automatically if the speed drops below
44 mph (70 km/h) for more than 120 seconds .
Steering
The power steering adapts. Indirect steering that
moves easily as in comfort mode is especia lly
su ited to long drives on a highway. The dynamic
mode provides sporty, direct steering.
App lies to: vehicles wit h dynamic steer ing
The steering ratio changes based on vehicle
speed in order to maintain optimum steering ef ­
fort for the driver at all times. Th is sets the steer­
i ng to be less sensitive at h igher speeds in order
to provide improved veh icle control. At reduced
speeds, steering is more direct in o rder to keep
t h e steer ing effort as minimal as possible whe n
the driver is maneuvering the vehicle. At low and
average speeds, dynamic steering* additionally
provides more responsive steering performance.
Sport differential*
As a component of the all whee l dr ive system
(quattro)
~ page 123, the sport differe ntial dis­
tributes the driving power to the rear axle de­
pending on the situation. The distribution of
power varies from ba lanced (comfort) to sporty
(dynamic) depending on the se lected mode. The
goal is a high level of agility and ability to accel­
erate on curves. The vehicle is very responsive to
steering.
IJIJ,

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" N .... 0 0 \.J ' Cornering light*
The cornering light adapts the high beams to the
direc tion of the curve depending on the speed .
The pivoting action and the lighting also adapt to
the mode .
Adaptive cruise control*
The behav ior when accele rating can be adjusted
from comfortab le to sporty, depen ding on the
drive select mode . Adaptive cr uise cont rol a lso
responds to the driving behavior of the ve hicle
ahead in a more conservative or sporty manner.
Engine sound*
The engine sound adapts to the cur rent mode
an d can be subtle to sporty .
(UJ) Note
Applies to: vehicles with adaptive air suspension
-Make sure the re is eno ugh clearance above
and below t he ve hicle when par king . The
height of the vehicle (ground clearance) can
change once it is pa rked due to tempe rature
fluctuations , changes to the load conditions
and c hanges to the driv ing modes .
-When transport ing the veh icle on a car car­
r ier, tra in, sh ip or by other means, only t ie
the veh icle dow n at the runni ng surface of
t h e tires, wh ich is the outer circ umference .
Secur ing the ve hicle at t he a xle co mpo­
nen ts, suspe nsio n str uts or tow ing eyes is
not permi tted be cause the p ress ure in the
air sus pension str uts can change during
transport. The vehicle may not be secured
sufficiently if this happens .
Adjusting the Individual mode
Ass istance systems
(D Tips
-In some models, the maximum ve hicle
speed can only be reached in t he auto and
dynamic modes.
-T he S selector lever position automatica lly
engages if the dynamic mode is selected.
- Applies to: vehicles with dynamic steering:
operati ng no ise is heard when sta rting or
stopp ing the engine. T his does not ind icate
a prob lem.
Selecting the driving mode
.. To select the mode, select the follow ing in the
Infota inment:
!CARI function b utton> Comfort ,
Auto , Dynamic or Individual.
You can change the driv ing mode when the veh i­
cle is stationary or while driving . If traff ic per­
mits , afte r changing modes, briefly take your
foot off the accelerator pedal so t hat the recently
selected mo de is also ac tiva ted fo r th e e ngine.
Comfort -provides a comfort-or iented vehicle
setup a nd is s uited fo r long d rives o n highways .
Auto -provides an ove rall comfortab le yet dy­
nam ic dr iving feel and is suited for everyday use .
Dynamic -gives the driver a sporty driving fee l
and is suited to a sporty driving style .
Individual -q page 105.
A WARNING ~ -
Pay attention to traffic w hen ope rating the
d rive select to reduce the r isk o f an accident.
You con adjust the vehicle settings to your personal preferences .
.,. Select : t h e ICARI fu nction bu tton > Set individ ­
ual
con trol button . Once yo u select the me nu,
yo u wi ll au tomatically drive in t he
Indi vidual
mode.
Afte r you have closed the se tt ings, you will a uto ­
mat ica lly dr ive i n the
Individual mode . T
he equ ipment in yo ur vehicle will dete rm ine
wh ich se tt ings you can adjust. The fo llow ing ta -
ble g ives an overview o f the characteristics .
.,_
105

Assistance systems
Systems comfort auto dynamic
Engine/transmission
balanced balanced sporty
Air suspension* comfortable balanced sporty
Steering comfortable balanced sporty
Dynamic steering* comfortable/ind i recil: ba lan ced/d irect sporty/direct
Sport differential * balanced
Adaptive cruise control* comfortable
Engine sound * subtle
al Subtle in the selector lever position "D" an d sporty in "S".
(D Tips
Your Individual mode settings are automati­
cally stored and assigned to the remote con­
trol key being used .
Raising/lowering the vehicle
App lies to: ve hicles w ith a daptive a ir s uspens io n
You can raise your vehicle temporarily , for exam­
p le to drive ove r a tall cu rb.
Raising the vehicle
"' Select the following in the Infotainment sys­
tem : the
!CARI function button> Raise control
button.
"'W ait for the ar rows or segments in the Info­
tainment system display to stop blinking and
the vehicle to reach its fina l position .
Lowering the vehicle
"'To lower the vehicle, select the following in the
Infotainment system: the
! CAR I function button
>
Lower control button.
"' Wait for the arrows or segments in the Info­
tainment system display to stop blinking and
the vehicle to lower complete ly .
{LlJ) Note
- Remember that your vehi cle is not suitable
for driving offroad even when it is raised.
There is not enough ground clearance.
- If the vehicle is raised, it wi ll lo wer auto ­
matically when driving 62 mp h (100 km/h)
or faster.
106
ag ile sporty
ba lan ced sporty
subtle/sportyal sporty
Messages
Applies to: vehicles wi th adap tive a ir suspension
Air suspension: Vehicle is too high. Controlling
level. ..
Air suspension: Vehicle is too low. Controlling
level. ..
The driver message switches off when the leve l
contro l process is comp lete.

a co .... N
" N .... 0 0 \,;J ' Intelligent Technology Electronic stabilization
control (ESC)
Description
Electronic stabilization control (ESC) supports
driver safety. It reduces the risk of slipping and
improves driving stability. ESC detects critica l sit­
uations such as the vehicle oversteering and un­
dersteering or the wheels are spinning. The vehi­
cle is stabilized by applying the brakes or reduc­ ing engine torque. As soon as the ESC is actively
regulating, the
If] indicator light b links in the in­
strument cluster.
The following systems are integrated in the ESC:
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
ABS prevents the wheels from locking when brak­
ing. The vehicle can still be steered even during
hard braking. Apply steady pressure to the brake
pedal. Do not pump the pedal. A pulsing in the
brake pedal indicates that the system is act ing to
stabilize the vehicle .
Brake assist system
The brake assist system can decrease braking dis­
tance. It increases braking power when the driver
presses the brake pedal quickly in emergency sit­
uations . You must press and hold the brake pedal
until the dangerous situat ion is over . In veh icles
with adaptive cruise contro l*, the brake assist
system is more sensitive if the distance detected
to the vehicle dr iv ing ahead is too small. On
vehicles with activated and functioning night vi­
sion assist*, the brake assist system can respond more sensitively if there is a warning .
Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR)
ASR reduces eng ine power when the drive wheels
begin spinning and adapts the force to the road
conditions. This makes it easier to start, acceler­
ate and drive up hills.
Electronic differential lock (EDL)
The EDL applies the brakes to a whee l that starts
spinning and transfers the drive power to the
other driving wheel or wheels (if the vehicle is
Intelligent Technology
equipped with a ll wheel drive*). This function is
not avai lab le at higher speeds.
In extreme cases , EDL automatically switches off
to keep t he brake on the braked whee l from over ­
heating. The vehicle is still working correctly. EDL
will switch on again automatically when condi­
tions have returned to normal.
Power steering
The ESC can also support veh icle stability
through steering .
Selective wheel torque control
Selective wheel torque control is used when driv­
i ng on curves. The front whee l on the ins ide of
the curve or both wheels on the ins ide of the
curve are braked selectively as needed. This al­
lows more precise driving in curves.
Automatic post-collision braking system
The "automat ic post-collis ion braking system"
can help to reduce the risk of sliding and of addi­
tional collisions after an accident. If the airbag
contro l module
detects a co llision above a certa in
vehicle speed, the vehicle is braked by the ESC.
T he vehicle does not brake automatically if:
- the driver presses the accelerator pedal, or
- the braking force generated by the pressed brake pedal is greater than the braking force
that would be initiated by the system, or
- the ESC, the brake system or the vehicle electri­
cal system are not functioning.
A WARNING
-
- The ESC and its integrated systems cannot
overcome the lim its imposed by natura l
p hys ica l laws. This is especially impo rtant
on slippery or wet roads. If the systems be­
g in acting to stabilize yo ur vehicle, you
should immediately alter your speed to
match the road and traffic conditions. Do
not let the increased safety provided tempt
you into taking risks. This could increase
your r isk of a coll is ion.
- Please note the risk of a coll ision increases
when dr iv ing fast, especially through curves
and on slippery or wet roads, and when
IIJ,,
119

Intelligent Technology
driving too close to objects ahead . The ESC
and its integrated systems cannot always prevent coll isions
-there is still a risk of ac­
cidents!
- Press the accelerator pedal carefully when
accelerating on even, slippery surfaces such as ice and snow . The drive wheels can spin
even when these control systems are instal-
Switching on /off
led and this can affect driving stability and
increase the risk of a collision.
(D Tips
-ABS and ASR only function correctly when
all four wheels are equipped with identical
tires. Different tire sizes can lead to a reduc­
tion in engine power.
- You may hear noises when the systems de­
scribed are working.
ESC turns on automatically when you start the engine .
Fig. 137 Ce nter con sole: OF F~ button
ESC levels
Sport mode on
The following examples are unusual situations
where it may make sense to switch sport mode
on in order to allow the wheels to spin:
- Rock ing the vehicle to free it when it is stuck
- Dr iving in deep snow or on loose ground
- Driving with snow chains
Sport mode off
Behavior
The ESC and ASR stabilization f unctions Th
e fu ll stabilization f unction of the ESC
are limited
~ &. . and ASR is avai lab le again.
Operating Press the I~ O FF I button . Press the I~ OF F! button again .
Indicator filturns on. . turns off.
lights
Messages Stabilization control (ESC): Sport Warn-Stabilization control (ESC): On
ing! Reduced stability
A WARNING
-Only switch sport mode on when your driv­
ing abilities and the traffic situation permit,
because there is a risk of sliding .
- The stabilization function is limited when
sport mode is switched on. The driving
wheels could spin and the vehicle could
swerve, espec ially on slick or slippery road
surfaces .
120
-
{l) Tips
Sport mode cannot be switched on if the
cruise control system* or adaptive cruise con­
tro l* is switched on .
Brakes
New brake pads
New brake pads do not achieve their full braki ng
effec t during the first 2SO mi (400 km). They
must be "broken in" first.

a co .... N
" N .... 0 0 \,;J ' Wear Brake pad
wear depends largely on the way the
vehicle is driven and on operating conditions.
This is especially true if you are driving frequently
in the city and on curves or with a sporty driving
style.
Operating noise
Noises may occur when braking depending on the
speed, braking force and outside conditions such
as temperature and humidity.
Effect of water and road salt
In certain situations, for example after driving
through water, in heavy ra in, after overnight con­
densat ion or after washing your car, the braking
effect can be reduced by moisture or ice on the
brake rotors and brake pads. The brakes must be
"dried" first with a few careful brake applica ­
tions.
At higher speeds and with the windshie ld wipers
turned on, the brake pads press against the brake rotors for a short amount of time. This action,
which is not felt by the driver, happens at regular
intervals and ensures a better reaction time for
the brakes in wet weather .
The braking effect can also be reduced if you are
driving on salted roads and you do not apply the brakes for long periods of time. The layer of salt
on the brake rotors and pads must be worn off
f ir st when the brakes are applied.
Corrosion
Leaving the vehicle parked for long periods of
time, low mileage and avo iding heavy brak ing
can contribute to corrosion on the brake rotors
and to d irty brake pads .
If you usually avoid heavy braking or if there is
corros ion present, occasional heavy braking at
high speeds is recommended to clean the brake
rotors and
pads¢ &..
Brake system malfunction
If you notice that the brake pedal travel has sud­
denly
increased, then a brake circuit in the dual­
circu it brake system may have malfunct ioned.
Drive to an authorized Aud i dealer or authorized
Intelligent Technology
Audi Service Facility immediately to have the
problem corrected. On the way there, drive with
reduced speed and keep in mind that you will
need a longer distance to stop and you will need
to press the brake peda l harder.
Low brake fluid level
When the brake fluid level is low, malfunctions in
the brake system may occur . The brake fluid level
is e lectronically monitored.
Brake booster
T he brake booster amplifies the press ure you ap­
ply to the brake pedal. It on ly works w hen the en­
gine is running.
A WARNING
-
-Only apply the brakes for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system when road and
traffic cond itions permit. You must not en­
danger other road users. This increases the
risk of an accident .
- Never let the vehicle roll while the engine is
stopped because this increases the risk of an
accident .
- New brake pads do not ach ieve the ir full
braking effect dur ing the first 250 m i
(400 km). They must be "broken in" first .
However, you can compensate fo r the
slightly reduced braking force by pressing
firmly on the brake pedal. Avoid heavy b rak­
ing during the break -in period.
- Ce rtain weather and operating conditions
such as driving through water, dr iv ing in
heavy rain or driving after washing your ve ­
hicle can impair the effectiveness of the
brakes. In the winter, ice may build up on
the brake pads, rotors and drums. Check
these components by braking carefully. Ap­
plying the brakes carefully several times
dries the brakes and removes ice build-up .
- The efficiency of the brakes can also be im­
pa ired by dr iv ing for long stretches on roads
covered with salt without using the brakes.
You can remove salt deposits from the
brake rotors and pads by carefully applying
the brakes several times.
121

Intellig ent T echn olo gy
- If the front spoiler is damaged or you insta ll
another spoiler, make sure the front wheel
brakes are venti lated properly. Otherwise,
the brake system could overheat, wh ich re­
duces the ir effectiveness .
- Failure of a brake circuit impairs braking
performance, which increases brak ing dis­
tance. Avoid driving the vehicle and have it
towed it to the nearest author ized Audi
dealer or author ized A udi Se rvice Fac il ity.
- If the brake booster is not working, you will
have to press muc h ha rde r on the bra ke
peda l to compe nsate for the lack of the
booste r.
0 Note
- Neve r let the brakes "rub" by press ing the
pedal light ly when bra kin g is not actually
ne cessa ry. Th is ca u ses the brakes to over ­
hea t an d increases bra king d istance and
causes wear.
- B efo re dr iv ing downh ill a long distance on a
steep hi ll, de crease your speed and se lec t a
l ower gear . This makes use of the engine
braking effect and relieves the brakes . If
you need to brake additionally, brake in in­
tervals and not continuously.
(D Tips
- If the brake booster is not working, you
must press the brake pedal with much more
force than normal.
- If you retrofit your vehicle with a front spoil ­
er, whee l covers or s imilar items, make sure
that the a ir flow to the front whee ls is not
i nterrupted. Otherw ise the brake system
can become too hot .
Electromechanical
steering, dynamic
steering
The electromechanical steering supports the
driver's steering movements.
Power steering adapts electronically based on
the vehicle speed.
122
Indicator lights and me ssag es
• Do n ot driv e vehi cle: Ste ering d efe ctiv e
If this indicator light turns on and stays on and
t hi s message appears, the power steering may
have failed.
Stop the veh icle in a safe location as soon as pos ­
s ible. Do
n o t continue driving . See an authorized
Audi dealer or author ized Audi Service Fac ility for
ass ista nce.
kr-D S te ering: System fault You can cont inu e
dri ving
If the indicator light turns on and the message
appears, the steering wheel may be more d iffi­
cult to move or more sensitive than usual. The
steering wheel may also be at an angle when
driv ing stra ight.
Drive slowly to an authorized Audi dealer or au­
thorized Aud i Serv ice Facility to have the mal ­
funct ion corrected.
l;rfl D ynamic steer ing: Init ializing
If the indicator light is blinking and this message
appears, dynamic steering* is being initialized.
The steering wheel will be easy to move after
start ing the engine. Re-initialization might be
necessary if the steering wheel was moved hard
to the left and r ight while the veh icle was not
moving. T he d isplay turns off if the in it ial izat ion
was successful.
(D Tips
- If the . or ':r,y indicator l ight only stays on
for a sho rt time, you may cont inue d riv ing.
- The dynamic steering stability systems
~page 119 are not ava ilable in the event of
a system malfunct ion.
- For add itional information o n dynamic
steering,
see~ page 104 .