AUDI A8 2020 Owners Manual

4N0012721BD
Care and cleaning

Care and cleaning
General information
Regular, proper care helps to maintain your vehi-
cle's value. It can also be a requirement when
submitting warranty claims for corrosion damage
and paint defects on the body.
The required cleaning and care products can be
obtained from an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Service Facility. Read and follow the in-
structions for use on the packaging.

ZA WARNING
— Using cleaning and care products incorrectly
can be dangerous to your health.
— Always store cleaning and care products out
of reach of children to reduce the risk of poi-
soning.

@ For the sake of the environment
— Purchase environmentally-friendly cleaning
products if possible.
— Do not dispose of cleaning and care prod-
ucts with household trash.
Car washes
The longer that deposits such as insects, bird
droppings, tree sap or road salt remain on the ve-
hicle, the more the surface can be damaged. High
temperatures such as those caused by sunlight
increase the damaging effect.
Before washing, rinse off heavy deposits with
plenty of water.
Stubborn deposits such as bird droppings or tree
sap are best removed with plenty of water anda
microfiber cloth.
Also, wash the underside of your vehicle once
road salt stops being used for the season.
Pressure washers
When washing your vehicle with a pressure wash-
er, always follow the operating instructions pro-
vided with the pressure washer. This is especially
important in regard to the pressure and spraying
distance. Do not aim the spray directly at the
seals on the side windows, doors, hood, luggage
compartment lid, or sunroof*, or at tires, rubber
hoses, insulating material, sensors*, camera
lenses*, or the laser scanner*. Keep a distance of
at least 16 in (40 cm).
Plug-in hybrid drive: Do not direct the washer
stream toward the wall mount clip*.
Do not remove snow and ice with a pressure
washer.
Never use cone nozzles or high pressure nozzles.
The water temperature must not be above 140 °F
(60 °C).
Automatic car wash
Spray off the vehicle before washing.
Make sure that the windows and roof* are closed
and the windshield wipers are off. Follow instruc-
tions from the car wash operator, especially if
there are accessories attached to your vehicle.
If possible, use car washes that do not have
brushes.
Washing by hand
Clean the vehicle starting from the top and work-
ing downward using a soft sponge or cleaning
brush. Use solvent-free cleaning products.
Washing vehicles with matte finish paint by
hand
To reduce the risk of damaging the paint when
washing, first remove dust and large particles
from your vehicle. Insects, grease spots, and fin-
gerprints are best removed with a special cleaner
for matte finish paint.
Apply the product using a microfiber cloth. To re-
duce the risk of damaging the paint surface, do
not use too much pressure.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with water. Then
clean using a neutral shampoo and a soft micro-
fiber cloth.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly again and let it air
dry. Remove any water residue using a chamois.
309
>

Care and cleaning


height and width of the inside of the car
wash.
ZA WARNING
—To reduce the risk of accidents, only wash
the vehicle when the ignition is off and fol-
low the instructions from the car wash oper-
ator.
—To reduce the risk of cuts, protect yourself
from sharp metal components when wash-
ing the underbody or the inside of the wheel
housings.
— After washing the vehicle, the braking effect
may be delayed due to moisture on the
brake rotors or ice in the winter. This in-
creases the risk of an accident. The brakes
must be dried with a few careful brake appli-
cations.
—To reduce the risk of paint damage, do not
wash the vehicle in direct sunlight.
—To reduce the risk of damage, do not wash
decorative decals* with a pressure washer.
—To reduce the risk of damage to the surface,
do not use insect removing sponges, kitchen
sponges, or similar items.
— When washing matte finish painted vehicle
components:
— To reduce the risk of damage to the sur-
face, do not use polishing agents or hard
wax.
— Never use protective wax. It can destroy
the matte finish effect.
@) Note — Do not place any stickers or magnetic
signs on vehicle components painted with
matte finish paint. The paint could be
damaged when the stickers or magnets
are removed.

— If you wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash, you must fold the exterior mirrors in
to reduce the risk of damage to the mirrors.
Power folding exterior mirrors* must only
be folded in and out using the power folding @) For the sake of the environment
function.
—To reduce the risk of damage to the rims
and tires, compare the width between the
wheels on your vehicle with the distance be-
tween the guide rails in the car wash.
—To reduce the risk of damage, compare the
height and width of your vehicle with the
Only wash the vehicle in facilities specially de-
signed for that purpose. This will reduce the
risk of dirty water contaminated with oil from
entering the sewer system.
Cleaning and care information
When cleaning and caring for individual vehicle are not listed, consult an authorized Audi dealer
components, refer to the following tables. The or authorized Audi Service Facility. Also follow
information contained there is simply recommen- __ the information found in > A.
dations. For questions or for components that
Exterior cleaning



Component Situation Solution
Windshield wiper | Deposits Soft cloth with glass cleaner > page 69
blades
Headlights/ Deposits Soft sponge with a mild soap solution®
Tail lights
Sensors/ Deposits Sensors: soft cloth with a solvent-free cleaning solution
camera lenses Camera lenses: soft cloth with an alcohol-free cleaning sol-
ution
Snow/ice Hand brush/solvent-free de-icing spray >

310

4N0012721BD
Care and cleaning




Component Situation Solution
Laser scanner Deposits Soft sponge with a mild soap solution®
Wheels Road salt Water
Brake dust Acid-free special cleaning solution
Exhaust tail Road salt Water, cleaning solution suitable for stainless steel, if nec-
pipes essary
Decorative parts/ | Deposits Mild soap solution ®, a cleaning solution suitable for stain-
trim less steel, if necessary

Paint Paint damage Repair with touch-up paint

Spilled fuel Rinse with water immediately

Surface rust Rust remover, then treat with hard wax; for questions, con-
sult an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility.

Corrosion Have it removed by an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility.

Water no longer
beads on the surface
of clean paint
Treat with hard wax (at least twice per year)

No shine even though
paint has been pro-
tected/paint looks
poor
Treat with suitable polish; then apply paint protectant if
the polish that was used does not contain any protectant

Deposits such as in-
sects, bird droppings,
tree sap, and road
salt
Dampen with water immediately and remove with a micro-
fiber cloth

Grease-based con-
taminants such as
cosmetics or sunblock
Remove immediately with a mild soap solution ® and a soft
cloth



Carbon compo-__| Deposits Clean the same way as painted components > page 309
nents
Decorative decals | Deposits Soft sponge with a mild soap solution®
Audi e-tron Deposits Soft, dry towel
charging system
Wall mount clip | Deposits Soft towel with alcohol-free cleaning solution

a) Mild soap solution: maximum two tablespoons of
Interior cleaning
neutral soap in 1 quart (1 liter) of water



Component Situation Solution
Window glass Deposits Glass cleaner, then wipe dry
Decorative parts/ | Deposits Mild soap solution®
trim

311

Care and cleaning


Component Situation Solution

Plastic parts Deposits Damp cloth

Heavier deposits Mild soap solution ®), detergent-free plastic cleaning solu-
tion, if necessary


Water-based deposits
such as coffee, tea,
blood, etc.
Displays/instru- | Deposits Soft cloth with LCD cleaner; dust in the lower area of the
ment cluster instrument cluster can be removed using a soft brush.
Controls Deposits Soft brush, then a soft cloth with a mild soap solution®)
Safety belts Deposits Mild soap solution ®), allow to dry before letting them re-
tract
Textiles, Deposits adhering to | Vacuum cleaner
artificial leather, |the surface
Alcantara Absorbent cloth and mild soap solution®

Oil-based deposits
such as oil, make-up,
etc.
Apply a mild soap solution ®), blot away the dissolved oil or
dye, treat afterward with water, if necessary

Certain types of de-
posits such as ink,
nail polish, latex
paint, shoe polish,
etc.
Special stain remover, blot with absorbent material, treat
afterward with mild soap solution, if necessary®)

Natural leather

Fresh stains Cotton cloth with a mild soap solution®

Water-based deposits
such as coffee, tea,
blood, etc.
Fresh stains: absorbent cloth
Dried stains: stain remover suitable for leather

Oil-based deposits
such as oil, make-up,
etc.
Fresh stains: absorbent cloth and stain remover suitable
for leather
dried stains: Oil cleaning spray

Certain types of de-
posits such as ink,
nail polish, latex
paint, shoe polish,
etc.
Spot remover suitable for leather


Care

Regularly apply conditioning cream that protects from
light and penetrates into the material. Use special colored
conditioning cream, if necessary.

312

4N0012721BD
Care and cleaning




nents

Component Situation Solution
Refrigerator Dust and dirt Clean the ventilation openings in the luggage compart-
ment
Deposits Lukewarm water, mild soap solution if necessary), then
dry
Defrosting Empty the refrigerator, switch it off, and let it thaw with
the door open, then dry
Carbon compo- Deposits Clean the same way as plastic components


Z\ WARNING
The windshield must not be treated with wa-
ter-repelling windshield coating agents. Un-
der
unfavorable conditions, such as wetness,
darkness, and when the sun is low, these coat-
ings can cause increased glare, which increas-
es the risk of an accident. They can also cause
wiper blade chatter.


Z\ WARNING
— Never immerse the Audi e-tron charging sys-
tem and connectors in water.
— The Audi e-tron charging system must only
be cleaned when the control unit is com-
pletely disconnected from the power supply
and from the vehicle.

@) Note
— Headlights and tail lights
— Never clean headlights or tail lights with a
dry cloth or sponge.
— Do not use any cleaning products that con-
tain alcohol, because they could cause
cracks to form.
— Wheels
— Never use any paint polish or other abra-
sive materials.
— Damage to the protective layer on the
rims, such as stone chips or scratches,
must be repaired immediately.
— Camera lenses
— Never use warm or hot water to remove
snow or ice from the camera lens. This
could cause the lens to crack.
a) Mild soap solution: maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in 1 quart (1 liter) of water
— Never use abrasive cleaning materials or
alcohol to clean the camera lens. This
could cause scratches and cracks.
— Laser scanner
— Never use abrasive cleaning materials to
clean the laser scanner. This could cause
scratches and cracks.
— Door windows
— Remove snow and ice on windows and ex-
terior mirrors with a plastic scraper. To re-
duce the risk of scratches, move the scra-
per only in one direction and not back and
forth.
— Never remove snow or ice from door win-
dows and mirrors using warm or hot water
because this could cause cracks to form.
—To reduce the risk of damage to the rear
window defogger, do not apply any stick-
ers on the heating wires on the inside of
the window.
— Decorative parts and trim
— Never use chrome care or cleaning prod-
ucts.
— Paint
—To reduce the risk of scratches, the vehicle
must be free of dirt and dust before pol-
ishing or waxing.
— To prevent paint damage, do not polish or
wax the vehicle in direct sunlight.
—To reduce the risk of paint damage, do not
polish away rust spots.
— Remove cosmetics and sunscreen immedi-
ately because they could damage the
paint.
— Decorative decals
313

Care and cleaning

—To reduce the risk of damage, do not use
any rough powder or abrasive cleaning
products.
—To reduce the risk of damage, do not pol-
ish decorative decals that have a matte or
printed finish.
— Due to the risk of damage, do not use an
ice scraper to remove snow and ice on win-
dows with decorative decals on them.
— Displays and instrument cluster
— Make sure that the display and instrument
cluster are switched off and have cooled
down before cleaning. To switch off the
upper and lower display, select on the
MMI home screen: SETTINGS > Display &
brightness > MMI > Screen cleaning.
— Displays, the instrument cluster, and the
trim surrounding it must not be cleaned
with dry cleaning methods because they
could become scratched.
— Make sure no fluids enter the spaces be-
tween the instrument cluster and the
trim, because that could cause damage.
— Controls
— Make sure that no fluids enter the con-
trols, because this could cause damage.
— Safety belts
— Do not remove the safety belts to clean
them.
— Never clean safety belts or their compo-
nents with chemicals or with corrosive flu-
ids or solvents and never allow sharp ob-
jects to come into contact with the safety
belts. This could cause damage to the belt
webbing.
—If there is damage to the webbing, the
connections, the retractors, or the buck-
les, have them replaced by an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Fa-
cility.
— Textiles, artificial leather, and Alcantara
— Never treat artificial leather or Alcantara
with leather care products, solvents, floor
polish, shoe polish, spot remover, or simi-
lar products.
— Have a cleaning specialist remove stub-
born stains to reduce the risk of damage.
314
— Never use steam cleaners, brushes, hard
sponges, etc. when cleaning.
— Do not turn on the seat heating* to dry
the seat.
— Objects with sharp edges, such as zippers
or rivets on clothing or belts, can cause
damage to the surface.
— Open hook and loop fasteners, for exam-
ple on clothing, can damage seat covers.
Make sure hook and loop fasteners are
closed.
— Natural leather
— Never treat leather with solvents, floor
polish, shoe polish, spot remover or simi-
lar products.
— Objects with sharp edges, such as zippers
or rivets on clothing or belts, can cause
damage to the surface.
— Never use steam cleaners, brushes, hard
sponges, etc. when cleaning.
— Do not turn on the seat heating* to dry
the seat.
— To help prevent the leather from fading,
do not leave the vehicle in direct sunlight
for long periods of time. If leaving the ve-
hicle parked for long periods of time, you
should cover the leather to protect it from
direct sunlight.
— Refrigerator
— Do not try to speed up the defrosting
process by applying heat.
—To help prevent health risks or damage to
the refrigerator, do not use any abrasive
cleaners, solvents, wax, or strongly scent-
ed or aggressive cleaning products.
— Do not clean the refrigerator with rough
cleaning tools such as steel wool.
— Wall mount clip
— Do not us any abrasive cleaning products
or any that contain alcohol, because these
increase the risk of discoloration.
G) Tips
— Insects are easier to remove from paint that
has been freshly waxed.
— Regular waxing can prevent rust spots from
forming.

4N0012721BD
Care and cleaning

— Decorative decals can age due to environ-
mental conditions, which can result in dam-
age such as brittleness. The color may fade
if exposed to excessive sunlight.
Taking your vehicle out
of service
If you would like to take your vehicle out of serv-
ice for a Long period of time, contact an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty. They will advise you of important measures,
such as corrosion protection, service, and storage
procedures. Also follow the information about
the vehicle battery > page 284.
315

Emergency assistance

Emergency assistance
General information
> Park the vehicle as far as possible from moving
traffic in the event of a breakdown. In the event
of a flat tire, park the vehicle ona level surface.
If you are ona steep hill, be especially careful.
> Set the parking brake.
> Switch the emergency flashers on.
> Have the passengers exit the vehicle. They
should move to a safe place, for example be-
hind a guard rail.

WARNING
Follow the steps given above. This is for your
protection and the for the safety of others on
the road.

Equipment
Vehicle tool kit, tire mobility kit, and
Wuts BE la4
Applies to: vehicles with the vehicle tool kit, tire mobility kit,
and vehicle jack



Applies to:
Fig. 193 -Vehicles with conventional drive system- Lug-
gage compartment: cargo floor cover




Applies to:
Fig. 194 ---Vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive- Luggage
compartment: cover
316
Conventional drive system: The vehicle tool kit,
vehicle jack”, tire mobility kit*, and compressor*
are stored in the luggage compartment under
the cargo floor cover > fig. 193.
Plug-in hybrid drive: The vehicle tool kit, tire mo-
bility kit and the compressor are located on the
back side of the cover and in the compartment
underneath it > fig. 194.
Conventional drive system
> Lift the cargo floor by the plastic handle
> fig. 193.
> Hook the handle into the luggage compart-
ment weather strip.
> Applies to: vehicles with spare tire: Remove the
handle by turning it counter-clockwise and re-
move the spare tire.
> Unhook the cargo floor cover before closing the
luggage compartment lid.
Plug-in hybrid drive
> Open the cover using the handle > fig. 194.
Conventional drive system: Depending on the
equipment, the vehicle tool kit* may be located
under the spare tire*, under another cover, or in
the tool box.
@ Tips
— The vehicle jack* does not require any main-
tenance.
— Plug-in hybrid drive: The vehicle must not
be operated without the tire repair set.
Tire mobility kit
Applies to: vehicles with tire mobility kit
> Read and follow the important safety precau-
tions > page 316.
> Set the parking brake.
> Select the “P” position.
> Check if a repair with the tire mobility kit is pos-
sible > page 317.

4N0012721BD
Emergency assistance

Using the tire mobility kit
Applies to: vehicles with tire mobility kit


B8U-0100



Fig. 195 Tire: tire damage that cannot be repaired
The tire repair is only meant for temporary use.
Change the damaged tire as soon as possible
oA.
If the tire is pierced by an object such as a nail,
do not remove the object from the tire.
The tire mobility kit can be used at temperatures
as low as -4 °F (-20 °C).
The tire mobility kit must not be used:
— If the tire has cuts or punctures that are larger
than 0.16 in (4mm) @ © fig. 195
— If the rim is damaged (2)
— If you have driven with very low tire pressure or
without air in the tire @)
See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for assistance in these situations.

Z\ WARNING
— Please note that the tire mobility kit cannot
be used in all situations, and that it may on-
ly be used temporarily.
— The tire sealant must not come in contact
with skin, eyes, or clothing.
— If tire sealant comes into contact with your
eyes or your skin, thoroughly rinse the af-
fected area immediately with clean water.
— Do not inhale the fumes.
— If you swallow any of the tire sealant, thor-
oughly rinse your mouth immediately and
drink a lot of water. Do not induce vomiting.
Seek medical attention immediately.
— Change your clothing immediately if it
comes into contact with tire sealant.



— If an allergic reaction occurs, seek medical
attention immediately.
— Keep the tire sealant away from children.
@ Tips
— If sealant leaks, allow it to dry in place. You
can then peel it off like a sticker.
— Note the expiration date on the sealant bot-
tle. Replace the tire sealant at an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Fa-
cility.
— Radio reception can be interrupted when
operating the compressor.
— Follow the legal regulations that are appli-
cable in the country where you are operating
the vehicle.


Repairing tires
Applies to: vehicles with tire mobility kit

RAZ-0054|



Fig. 197 Tire mobility kit connection
Requirement: the tire mobility kit must be laid
out and ready for use > page 316.
317

Emergency assistance

Setting up the tire mobility kit
> Open the cover @) on the compressor”)
> fig. 196.
> Remove the connector () and pressure hose (5)
from the housing.
> Connect the compressor pressure hose © to
the flange © on the tire sealant bottle @).
> Insert the sealant bottle with the flange at the
bottom into the opening @) on the compressor
cover or the top side of the compressor hous-
ing.
> Remove the valve cap from the faulty tire.
> Install the filler hose @) on the valve (7)
> fig. 197.
> Connect the plug @) > fig. 196 to an outlet in
the vehicle.
> Switch the ignition on.
Inflating a tire
> Move the switch (8) > fig. 197 on the compres-
sor into position I.
> Inflate the tire to between 29 psi (200 kPA)
and 36 psi (250 kPA) and read the pressure on
the gauge.
> If this tire pressure is not reached, remove the
filler hose. Drive slowly approximately 33 feet
(10 m) forward or in reverse so that the sealant
can be distributed in the tire. Inflate the tire
again > A\.

ZA\ WARNING
— Read and follow the manufacturer's safety
precautions on the compressor and in the in-
structions on the bottle of sealant.
— Ifa tire pressure of 29 psi (200 kPA) cannot
reached after inflating for 6 minutes, then
the tire is too severely damaged. Do not con-
tinue driving.
— If the tire cannot be repaired with the tire
sealant, see an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility for assistance.


1) The compressor may look different. However, the way it is
operated is generally the same.
318
G) Tips
Do not operate the compressor for more than
six minutes continuously, or it can overheat.
Once the compressor has cooled, you can con-
tinue to use it.
fey cata]
Applies to: vehicles with tire mobility kit
> Affix the sticker that says "max. 50 mph (max.
80 km/h)" that is provided with the tire mobili-
ty kit within the driver's field of vision.
> Stop the vehicle after driving for about 10 mi-
nutes and check the tire pressure.
> If the tire pressure is lower than 19 psi (130
kPA), then the tire is too severely damaged. Do
not continue driving.

A WARNING
Pay attention to the following after repairing
the tire:
— Do not drive faster than 50 mph (80 km/h).
— Avoid hard acceleration or braking and driv-
ing fast around curves.
— The vehicle may become more difficult to
control.
— If the tire is too severely damaged, see an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for assistance.


@) For the sake of the environment
You can give the used tire sealant bottle to an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for disposal.
(i) Tips
Remember to obtain a new bottle of sealant
from an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility after repairing a tire.