AUDI S3 2009 Owners Manual

•
Fuel supply and filling your fuel tank
Gasoline
Fuel supply Using the right fuel helps keep the environment clean and
prevents engine damage.
Fuel r ecomm end ati on
The fuel recommended for your vehic le is unl eade d prem ium grade
gaso line . See also ~
page 300, "Data". Audi recommends using TOP
T IER Detergent Gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 91 AKI (95
RON). For more information on TOP TIER Detergent Gaso line, please
go to the official website (www.toptiergas .com).
The recommended gasoline octane rating for your engine can also be found on a label located on the inside of the fuel fille r flap. This
rating may be specified as AK I or RON .
Your vehic le may also be operated us ing unleaded regular gasoline
with a minimum octane rating of 87 AKl/91 RON . However, using 87
AKl/9 1 RON octane fuel will slightly reduce engine performance.
Use unle ad ed ga so line only . Unleaded gaso line is avai lable
throughout the USA, Canada, and in most European countries. We
recommend that you do not take your vehicle to areas or countr ies
where un leaded gasoline may not be available .
For more information on refueling your vehicle, see~
page 220.
Octane ra tin g
Octane rating indicates a gaso line's ability to resist engine
damaging "knock" caused by premature ignition and detonation.
Therefore, buying the correct grade of gaso line is very important to
help prevent possible engine damage and a loss of engine perfor ­
mance.
F ue l supply and fillin g you r fu el tank
Gasoline most common ly used in the United States and Canada has
the following octane ratings that can usua lly be found on the filler
pump:
• Premium Grade : 91 -96 AKI
• Regular Grade: 87 -90 AKI
Explanation of the abbreviations:
AKI = Anti Knock Index= (R +M)/2 = (RON +MON)/2
RON = Research Octane Number
MON
= M otor Octane Number .
0 Note
• Do not use any fue l with octane ratings lower than 87 AKI or 91
RON otherwise expensive engine damage will occur .
• Do
not use leaded gasoline! The use of leaded gasoline will
severe ly damage your vehicle's catalytic converter and its abi lity to
control exhaust emissions. •
Blended gasoline
Use of g aso line containing alco hol or M TB E ( meth yl
t er tiary butyl e ther )
You may use unleaded gasoline blended with alcohol or MTBE
(commonly referred to as oxygenates) if the blended mixture meets
the follow ing criteria:
Bl end of g asoline m eth anol (wood al coho l or methyl alc oh ol)
• Anti-knock index must be 87 AKI or higher .
• Blend must contain no more than 3% methanol.
• Blend must contain more than 2% co-solvents.
Vehicle care I t •

Fuel supply and filling your fuel tank
Blend of gasoline and ethanol (grain alcohol or ethyl alcohol}
• Anti -knock index must be 87 AKI or higher.
• Blend must not contain more than 10% ethanol.
Blend of gasoline and MTBE
• Anti-knock index must be 87 AKI or higher.
• Blend must contain not more than 15% MTBE.
Seasonally adjusted gasoline
Many gasoline grades are blended to perform especially well for
winter or summer driving. During seasonal change -over, we suggest
that you fill 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 fuel 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 particular fuel
blend meets the specifications, ask your service station or its fuel
supplier.
• Do not use fuel for which the contents cannot be identified.
• Fuel system damage and performance problems resulting from
the use of fuels different from those specified are not the responsi ­
bility of Audi and are not covered under the New Vehicle or the
Emission Control System Warranties.
• If you experience a loss of fuel economy or driveability and
performance problems due to the use of one of these fuel blends,
we recommend that you switch to unblended fuel. •
Gasoline additives
A major concern among many auto manufacturers is carbon
deposit build-up caused by the type of gasoline you use.
Although gasoline grades differ from one manufacturer to another,
they have certain things in common . All gasoline grades contain
substances that can cause deposits to collect on vital engine parts,
such as fuel injectors and intake valves. Although most gasoline
brands include additives to keep engine and fuel systems clean,
they are not equally effective.
Audi recommends using TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. For more
information on TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline, please go to the offi­
cial website (www.toptiergas.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 quality is not covered by
the Audi New Vehicle Limited Warranty. •
Fuel tank
Fuel filler neck
The fuel filler neck is located on the right rear side panel behind the
fuel filler flap.
If the power locking system should fail, you can still open the flap
manually - for detailed instructions see=>
page 223.
You can find the fuel tank capacity of your vehicle in Technical Data
=> page 300. .,_

Fuel supply and filling your fuel tank -------------=-=--=-------=:a....:.--------J
The labe l on the inside of the fuel filler flap tel ls you the correct fuel
fo r your vehicle . For mo re information about fuel specifications, see
=> page 279.
Your vehicle fuel tank has an on -board refuelling vapor recovery
sys tem. Th is feature helps to prevent fue l vapors from escapin g
from the tank and polluting the environment wh ile you refue l your
veh ic le . I n order to fill the tank properly while protecti ng the envi­
ronment, please follow this refuel ing procedure carefully .
& WARNING
Under normal operating conditions , never carry additional fuel
c ontainers in your car . Ga s canister s and other containers used to
transport fuel can be dangerous . Such conta iners , full or empty,
may leak and could cause a fire in a collision . If you mu st transport
fuel to use for your l awn mower , snow blower , etc. , be very c areful
and always ob serve local and state laws regarding the u se , tran s­
port ation and storage of su ch fuel containers . Make certain the
c ontainer meets industry standard s (ANSI/ASTM F852 · 86 1.
0 Note
Neve r drive yo ur vehicle un til the fue l tank is comp le tely d ry. The
irregular supp ly of fuel can cause misfiring . Gasoline could enter
int o t he exhaus t system and damage the cataly tic conver ter. •
Refuelling
The fuel filler fl ap is unl ocked f rom a but ton i n the driver' s
door.
F ig . 164 Driver 's do or:
Unlo cking fuel filler
flap
F ig . 165 Fue l cap
ho oked on th e op ened
fuel fi ller flap
W hen a dding f uel, the ig nitio n and a ny c ellu lar phones in
th e ve hicl e m ust b e sw it c hed
off.
Taking the fuel cap off
To open t he fue l fille r flap, pull the button~ fig. 164.
U nsc re w fu el filler c ap co unter-c lockwise and hang it on
t h e fue l fi ller flap ~ fig. 165 . ..,
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

-Fuel supply and filling your fuel tank Pll:I-----=--=----:.------=-=---------------
Refuelling procedure
-Insert the fuel nozzle from the gasoline pump into the
fuel filler neck as far as it will go.
- Select a medium refuelling rate so that the nozzle switches off automatically when the tank is full.
Putting the fuel cap back on
- After filling your tank, twist the fuel filler cap clockwise
until you hear a definite click.
Close the fuel filler flap.
To avoid fuel spilling or evaporating from the fuel tank always close
fuel filler cap properly and completely. An improperly closed fuel
filler cap may also cause a message in the driver information system
or cause th e MIL lamp => page 21 to come on.
& WARNING
Improper refueling or handling of fuel can cause fire, explosion
and severe burns.
• Fuel is highly flammable and can cause severe burns and other
injuries.
• Failure to shut the engine off while refueling and/or to insert
the pump nozzle fully into the fuel filler neck could cause fuel to
spray out of filler neck or to overflow. Fuel spray and overflowing
fuel can cause a fire.
• Never use a cellular telephone while refueling. The electromag­
netic radiation can cause sparks that can ignite fuel vapors and
cause a fire.
• Never get back into your vehicle while refueling.
If in excep­
tional circumstances you must get back in your vehicle while refu­ eling, make certain that you close the door and touch metal to
discharge static electricity before touching the filler nozzle again.
& WARNING (continued)
Static electricity can cause sparks that can ignite fuel vapors
released during refueling.
• Never smoke or have an open flame anywhere in or near your
vehicle when refueling or filling a portable fuel container.
• For your safety, we strongly recommend that you do not travel
with a portable fuel container in your vehicle. The container, full or empty may leak and could cause a fire, especially in a crash.
• If, under exceptional circumstances, you must transport a
portable fuel container, please observe the following: -Never fill a portable fuel container while it is anywhere in or
on the vehicle (for example, in the luggage compartment, or on
the trunk). Static electricity can build up while filling and can ignite fuel vapors causing a fire.
- Always place a portable fuel container on the ground before
filling.
- Always keep the filler nozzle completely inside the portable
container before and during filling.
- If filling a portable container made of metal, the filler nozzle
must always be in contact with the container. This will help
prevent static electricity from discharging and cause a fire.
- Never spill fuel inside the vehicle or luggage compartment. Fuel vapors are highly flammable .
- Always observe local and state/provincial laws regarding the
use, storage and transportation of fuel containers.
- Make certain the fuel container meets industry standards
(ANSI / ASTM F852-861.
(D Note
If any fuel has spilled onto the car, it should be removed immedi -
ately to prevent damage to the paint.
~

Fuel supply and filling your fuel tank -------------=-=--=-------=:a....:.--------J
<£> For the sake of the environment
As soon as the correctly operated nozzle switches off automatically
for the first time, the tank is full. Do not try to add more fuel because
fuel may spill out. In addition, the expansion space in the fuel tank
will be filled -causing the fuel to overflow when it becomes warm
and pollute the environment.
[ i] Tips
• Running your engine while refuelling may cause vapors to
escape or even fuel to spill out of the tank. This would then shut off
the fuel nozzle before the tank is full.
• Do not refuel your vehicle with the ignition switched on. The fuel
gauge may otherwise not indicate the correct fuel level after
refuelling. •
Unlocking th e fuel filler flap by hand
You can open the fuel filler flap by hand if the power
locking system should fail.
- Open the rear lid.
Fig . 166 Inside the
luggage compartment:
Opening the fuel filler
flap
by hand
- Remove the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit
=> page 270.
-Use the screwdriver (vehicle tool kit) to pry the cover off
at the recess => fig. 166
G).
- Pull the actuator in the direction of arrow @ to release
the fuel filler flap
=> fig. 166 .
- Open the fuel filler flap.•
Vehic le care I I irechnical data

___ C_h_ e_ c_k _in --== g'-- a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ..:::g:::..- ___________________________________________ _
Checking and filling
Engine hood
Releasing the engine hood
The engine hood is released from inside the vehicle.
-Open the driver's door .
Fig. 167 Driver's side
footwell: engine hood
release lever
-Pull the release lever on the left under the instrument
panel
~ fig. 167 in direction of the arrow.
The hood pops up slightly under spring pressure. •
Opening the engine hood
Fig. 168 Engine hood
release lever
Before opening the engine hood, make sure that the wind­
shield wipers are folded flat against the windshield. Other­
wise, they could damage the paint on the hood.
Pull the release lever~ fig. 168 in the direction indicated
by the arrow. This release the hook under the hood.
- Open the hood all the way.
& WARNING
Hot engine coolant can burn you!
• To reduce the risk of being burned, never open the hood if you
see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the engine compart­
ment. Wait until no steam or coolant can be seen or heard before
carefully opening the hood. •

Checking and filling -
--------------~-
•
Closing the engine hood
-Pull the hood dow n until the pressure fro m t he s trut is
r edu ce d .
- Let the hood
drop dow n and latch in p lace . Do not try to
pus h it shut ;
it ma y fail to enga ge => & .
& WARNING
A hood that is not completely latched could fly up and block your
view while driving.
• When you close the engine hood, check it to make sure the
safety catch has properly engaged. The hood should be flush with
the surrounding vehicle body parts .
• If you notice while driving that the hood is not secured prop ­
erly , stop at on ce and close it. •
Working in the engine compartment
B e e speci ally ca reful wh ene ver you work in th e e ng in e
co mpartmen t!
Whenever you must perform any work in the engine compartment ,
for example checking and filling different fluids , there is a ri sk of
injury , burns and accidents . To prevent personal injury always
observe the following WARNINGS . The engine compartment of any
vehicle is a hazardous area!
~ &
& WARNING
To help avoid injury , before you check anything under the hood :
• Turn off the engine.
• Remove the ignition key .
• Set the parking brake fully .
& WARNING (continued )
• Move selector lever of automatic transmission to "P" (Park) ;
put manual transmission in Neutral .
• Always let the engine cool down . Hot components will burn
skin on contact.
• To reduce the risk of being burned , never open the hood if you
see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the engine compart ­
ment . Wait until no steam or coolant can be seen or heard before
carefully opening the hood .
• Keep children away from the engine compartment .
• Never spill fluids on hot engine components . They can cause a
fire.
• Never touch the radiator fan. The auxiliary electric fan is
temperature controlled and can switch on suddenly.
• Never open the coolant reservoir cap when the engine is still
warm . The coolant system is pressurized and hot coolant could
spray out!
• Protect your face , hands and arm from steam or hot engine
coolant by placing a thick rag over the cap when you open the
coolant reservoir .
• If work on the fuel system or the electri cal system is necessary :
- Always disconnect the battery .
- Never smoke or work near heaters or open flames . Fluids in
the engine compartment could start a fire .
- Keep an approved fire extinguisher immediately available.
• To avoid electrical shock and personal injury while the engine
is running or being started , never touch :
- Ignition cables
- Other components of the high voltage electronic ignition
system .
• If you must perform a check or repair with the engine running : ..,
Vehicle care
I t •

___ C_ h_ e _ c_k _in--= g'-- a_n _d_ f_il _li _n --=g==-- --------------------------------------------
& WARNING (continued )
-First, fully apply the park ing brake, move selector lever of
automatic transmission to "P " (Park ); put manual transmission
in Neutral.
- Alway s use extreme c aution to prevent clothing , jewel ry , or
long hair from gettin g caught in the radiator fan , V-belts or
other moving parts , or from contacting hot parts. Tie back hair
before starting , and do not wear clothing that will hang or
droop into the engine .
• Minimize exposure to emission and chemi cal hazard s
=> &.
& WARNING
Californ ia Proposition 65 Warning :
• Engine exhaust , some of its constituents , and certa in vehicle
component s contain or emit chemical s known to the State of Cali­
fornia to cause cancer and birth defe cts and reproductive h arm . In
addition, certain fluid s contained in vehicles and certain products
of component wear contain or emit chem icals known to the State
of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproduc ­
tive harm.
• Battery posts , terminals and related ac cessories contain lead
and lead compounds , chem icals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harms. Wash hand s after
handling .
0 Note
When adding fluids , always make sure that the y are pou red into the
proper conta iner or filler opening, otherw ise serious damage to
vehicle systems will occur .
<£' For the sake of the environment
To detect leaks in t ime , inspect the veh icle floor pan from unde r­
neath regularly. If you see spots from oil or other veh ic le fluids, have
you r ve hicle i nsp ected by a n authori zed Audi dealer .•
Engine compartment
A pp lies t o ve hicles: wit h 2.0 I tur bo, 4-cy linder •engi ne
2 .0 liter , 4 -cylinder turbo engine (200 hp )
These a re th e mo st imp ortan t items that you can check.
F ig . 169 Engine comp artment : 2.0 I , 4 -cylinder turbo
G) Coolant expans ion tank ( - f- ) ... .. .... ... .... ..... .
0 Windshie ld washe r con tainer ( Q ) .. ..... .... ..... .
© Engi ne oil dipstick (orange) .............. ... .... .
© Engin e oil filler cap ('e:r.) ............ ..... .... .. .
233
241
229
2 30 ..,,

_____________________________________________ C_h_ e_ c _ k_in -= g_a _ n_d _ f_il _li _n ..;::g =--____.•
© Brake fluid reservoir ( ) . ....... ... ............ .
© Battery .. ... ................................. .
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always
read and heed all WARNINGS
~ & in "Working in the engine
compartment" on
page 225. •
3.2 liter , 6 -cylinder engine (250 hp)
Fig. 170 Engine compartment: 3.21 250-hp engine
G) Coolant expansion tank (-L ) ................. .... .
@ Windshield washer container (,$ ) . ... ... .. .... ... .
@ Engine oil dipstick (orange) ...... ... ... .... .. ... .
© Engine oil filler cap ("1::r.) ..... .... .............. .
© Brake fluid reservoir ( ) . ...... ...... .......... .
© Jump start points(+) under a cover,(-) bolt head ... .
235
236
233
241
229
230
235
290
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always
read and heed all WARNINGS
~ & in "Working in the engine
compartment" on
page 225.
[ i] Tips
The battery on vehicles with the 6-cylinder engine is located in the
luggage compartment. Have any work on this battery performed by
a qualified service facility.•
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 powerplant 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
lubrication 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
ti,,,
Vehic le care I I irechnical data

-~_C_ h_e _c _ k_ i_n ...:::g::;...._ a_n_ d_ f_ i_ll _in -'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 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 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
Warranty
& Maintenance 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 New Vehicle Limited 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 Warranty & Maintenance booklet. Your dealer will have
to deny warranty coverage unless you present to the dealer proof in
~