oil level AUDI S3 2009 Owners Manual

Instruments and warning/indicator lights
Engine cold
As long as the needle remains at the left end of the gauge, the
engine still has not reached its operating temperature . Avoid high
engine speeds, heavy engine loads and heavy throttle.
Normal temperature
When the engine has reached its operating temperature, the needle
will move into the middle of the gauge and remain there. If the engine is working hard at high outside temperatures, the needle
may turn further to the right. This is no cause for concern as long as
the
_ f_ warning light in the instrument cluster does not illuminate.
When the
-L warning light starts to flash, this can mean one of two
things: either the coolant
temperature is too high, or the coolant
level is too low=> page 30.
& WARNING
• Always observe the warning in => page 217, "Engine compart ­
ment" before opening the engine hood and checking the engine
coolant level.
• Never open the engine hood if you see or hear steam, or if you
see engine coolant dripping from the engine compartment. You
could burn yourself. Let the engine cool off first so that you cannot
hear or see any steam or engine coolant.
0 Note
• Mounting additional lights or accessories in front of the air inlets
reduces the cooling effect of the radiator . At high outside tempera ­
tures or high engine load, the engine could overheat.
• The front spoiler has been designed to properly distribute the
cooling air when the vehicle is moving. If the spoiler is damaged,
this could reduce the cooling effect and the engine could then over ­
heat. Ask your authorized Audi dealer for assistance. •
Fuel gauge
The fuel gauge works only when the ignition is on.
When the needle reaches the red area, the warning light in the
instrument cluster will illuminate=>
page 32 I). This means you
have approximately 1.8 gallons (7 liters) of fuel left in the tank.
Time
to refuel!
The total tank capacity of your vehicle is listed in=> page 300,
"Data".
0 Note
Never run the tank completely dry! An irregular supply of fuel can
cause engine misfiring and fuel could enter into the exhaust
system. The catalytic converter could then overheat and be
damaged .•
Speedometer with odometer
The speedometer shows you the vehicle speed, and the
odometer shows you how many miles (kilometers) you
have driven.
Fig. 4 Speedometer
close-up : odometer
display
The odometer and trip odometer are located inside the speedom­
eter.

Driver inf ormati on displ ay
- Briefly press the button in t he ins trument cluster
=>
page 27, fig . 19. T he odome ter and the digita l clock are
now illuminated .
- Press the button for at least
2 seconds. The currently
stored maximum speed appears in the display
or the
crossed out symbol for warning threshold
2, if no
maximum speed was set previously .
- Press the function selector switch in the wiper lever @
=>
page 27, fig. 20 up or down to change t he set value .
Values r un up or dow n in steps of
6.2 mph (10 km/h) .
To dele te max imum sp eed
-Turn off the ignition.
- Briefly press the button in t he instrument cluster
=>
page 27, fig . 19. The odometer and the digita l clock are
now illuminated.
- Press the butt on for at least 2 seconds. T he currently
stored maximum speed appears in the display.
- Press the rese t button in the wiper lever @=>
page 27,
fig. 20 unt il the crossed out speed warning symbo l for
warning threshold 2 appears in the display.
A few seconds after the adjustment is comp leted, the i llumination
for the odometer and the digital clock wil l go out .
[ i ] Tip s
This warning threshold can also be controlled through the trip
computer =>
page 25, "Navigating the menu". •
Warnings and symbols
Red symbols
A red symbol means DANGER
-Pull of the r oad and stop t he vehicle .
- Turn o ff the engine .
Check the malfunctioning system. Contact your autho ­
rized Audi dealer or a qua lified workshop for assistance .
BRAKE USA m odels: => page 30 Ma lfunction in the brake system
CCD > Ca na da m odel s: => page 30
Malfunction in the brake system
_t_ Engine coolant level too low/ => page 30
-engine coolant temperature too
high
~ Engine oil pressure too low => page 37
- --
When a red symbol appears, a warning tone will sound three times
in succession. The symbol continues to flash unti l the malfunction
has been repaired . If there is
more than one malfunction, the
symbols appear one after the other for about two seconds.
[ i ] Tip s
• The message for a malfunction can be shown by pressing on the
left knob.
• During route guidance on vehicles with a navigation system, the
warn ing symbo l is shown in the field above .•

Yellow symbols
A yellow symbol means WARNING.
Contro ls and eq uip­
ment
Low fuel level
Check engine oil level Engine oil sensor malfunction
E ng ine spee d limitation
Worn brake pads
USA mode ls:
Speed warning 1
Can ada m od els:
Speed warning 1
USA mod els:
Speed wa rning 2
C ana da m odels:
Speed warning 2
Dynamic headlight range con-
trol* defective
Windshield washer fluid leve l low
Ba ttery voltage too high or too
low
Defective light bulb
USA m odel s:
Defective brake light
=> page 32
=> page32
-
=> page32
=> page32
=> page32
=> page33
=> page33
=> page33
=> page33
=> page33
=> page33
=> page33
=> page 33
=> page33
-
-
Dri ver inf orm atio n di spl ay
Ca nad a m ode ls: => page33
Defective brake light
Light/rain sensor defect ive (auto-
=> page 34
matic headlights)* defective
Adapt ive Light* defective
=> page 34
Ti re pressure monitoring system* => page 34
When a yellow symbol appears, a warning tone will sound once .
Check the displayed function as soon as possible. If more than one
malfunction is detected, all symbols will appear one after the other
for about two seconds. •
Driver information
In addition to the warning/indicator lights and the
symbols in the instrument cluster display, driver informa­ tion is displayed.
Fi g. 2 1 Section of
in stru ment cl uster:
Set/C hec k b utto n
Driver information appears in the display when a defective light
bulb is reported by the defective light bulb warning=>
page 33,
when the brake pads are worn and before you engage a gear on
vehicles with S tronic.
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

Driver inf ormati on displ ay
In addition, driver information may appear when a red symbol
fl ashes in the driver disp lay .
To disp lay Drive r inf orma tion
As an example, the~ symbo l appears in the disp lay. If you now
press the button=>
page 29 , fig. 21 , the following driver message
appears in the display:
Switc h off eng ine and ch eck oil leve l
The driver message in the disp lay goes out after about
5 seconds.
You can display the driver message again by briefly pressing the button .•
Brake system malfunction
BRAKE (USA models) /((D) (Canada models)
The indicator light flashes if the brake fluid level is too
low, if there is a malfunction in the ABS system or when
the parking brake is engaged.
If the BRAKE /((D) symbol flashes in the display with the
parking brake released , there is a ma lfunction in the brake
system. In addition to the symbol, one of two messages
appears in the display :
Stop vehi cle and che ck br ake fluid
ABS f ault
! S ee owner' s manual
- Pull off the road and stop the vehic le.
- Obtain professiona l assistance.
USA models : if there is a malfunction in the ABS system, the -
warning/indicator light i lluminates along with the BRAKE system
malfunction warning /indicator light=>&.
Canada models : if there is a malfunction in the ABS system , the
warning/ indicator light illuminates together with the ((])) brake
system malfunction warning/indicator light=>&.
Parking br ake se t
The parking brake warning light Brake/((])) (Canada mode ls} i llumi ­
nates when the parking brake is set. In addition, a warning tone will
sound after you have driven fo r longer than 3 seconds and faster
t han
3 mph (5 km/h}.
& WARNING
• Alwa ys observe the warning s in => pag e 217, "Engine compart ­
me nt", befor e op en ing the eng in e hood and ch ec king th e br ake
flu id.
• Driving w ith lo w brak e fluid is a sa fe ty hazar d! S top the car an d
g et prof es si onal a ssistance .
• If the br ake system wa rnin g/ ind icator l ight illum in ate s
t o geth er with th e AB S wa rning /indi cator light , then the AB S
sy stem i s ma lfuncti oni ng. Th e re ar w heels c ould quickly lock up
whe n you apply the brak es. Thi s could lead to l oss of control and
you r ve hicle cou ld slid e! Dr iv e ca re fully to th e nearest au thori ze d
Au di d ea le r and have th e malfun ction correct ed. •
Engine cooling system malfunction _}_
A malfunction in the engine cooling system must be
repaired as soon as possible.
When the - t symbol in the display flashes , then either the
engine coolant temperature is too high, or the coolant level
is too low . In addition to the symbol, the following message
also appears in the display :
Switch off engin e and ch ec k coolant level
- Pull off the road and stop the vehicle .

-Turn off the engine.
- Check coolant level => page
233 .
-Add coolant if necessary => page 234 .
-Continue driving only after the engine coolant
warning/indicator light goes out.
- Contact your authorized Audi dealer for assistance if
necessary.
If the engine coolant level is correct, then the radiator fan may be
the cause of the malfunction.
If the generator warning/indicator light should also illuminate
=> page 14, then the fan belt may be damaged .
& WARNING
• If your vehicle should break down for mechanical or other
reasons, park at a safe distance from moving traffic, turn off the
engine and turn on the hazard warning lights
=> page 58, "Emer­
gency flasher
A".
• Never open the hood if you see or hear steam or coolant
escaping from the engine compartment -you risk being scalded.
Wait until you can no longer see or hear steam or coolant
escaping.
• The engine compartment of any vehicle is a dangerous area.
Before you perform any work in the engine compartment, turn off
the engine and allow it to cool . Follow the warning stickers
=> page 217, "Engine compartment" .
0 Note
Do not continue driving if the -IL symbol illuminates. There is a
malfunction in the engine cooling system -you could damage your
engine. •
Controls and equip ­
ment
Driver information display
Engine oil pressure malfunction 'l=;:f.
The red engine oil pressure warning symbol requires
immediate service or repair.
If the 'l=::7-: symbol appears in the display and flashes, the oil
pressure is too low. In addition to the symbol, the following
message also appears in the display:
Switch off engine and check oil level
-Pull off the road and stop the vehicle.
Shut the engine down.
Check the engine oil level=> page
229.
Contact your authorized Audi dealer for assistance if
necessary.
Engine oil level too low
If the engine oil level is too low, top off oil to the proper level
=> page 230.
Engine oil level OK
If the ~ symbol star ts flashing again even though the engine oil
level checks OK on the dipstick,
do not start driving again and do not
let the engine run at idle .
Instead, contact your authorized Audi
dealer for assistance.
[ i] Tips
• The engine oil pressure symbol ~ is not an indicator for a low
engine oil level. Do not rely on it. Instead, check the oil level in your
engine at regular intervals, preferably each time you refuel, and
always before going on a long trip.
• The yellow oil level warning indication requires oil refill or
workshop service without delay. Do not wait until the red oil pres ­
sure warning symbol
~ starts to flash before you respond to the ...
I • •

Driver information display
low oil level warning . By then , your engine may alre ady have
suffered seriou s damage. •
Applies to vehic les: w ith eng in e spee d lim itat ion
Engine speed limitation 1<
Engine speed ma ximum XX.XX RPM
The J symbo l illuminate s when there is an engine cont rol malfunc ­
tion . T he indicator l ight
..J., in the instrument cluster also illum i­
nates. The engine speed is limited to the speed displayed in the
d river in for mation system. Keep in mind tha t the engine speed w ill
not exceed the va lue displayed in the driver information system, for
example when downshifting.
Please go to an authorized Audi dealer or other qua lified workshop
to have the ma lf u nct ion re paired. •
Fuel supply too low
When th e L symbol illuminates, this mea ns th ere are about 2 .6
gallons (10 liters) of fuel left in the fuel tank . Time to refuel!
~ p age 220 .
If the symbol l ights up, eve n when there is ample fuel in the tank,
and the text
Tank system malfunction! Please contact workshop
appears i n the d is pl ay, ther e is a fau lt in the syste m. C ontac t a qual ­
ified workshop to have the fault rectified. •
Checking the engine oil level .2'..
~ Please add max. 1 qt of engine oil!
If th e sy mbol co mes o n, a dd 1 q uart (1 lit er) of oil a t the next
opportunity~
page 230 . •
Checking the engine oil level ~
When the symbol illuminates, c heck the engine oil level as soon
as po ssi ble~
page 22 9. Top off t he o il at your ear liest o pp o rt un ity
~ page 230 . •
Engine oil sensor defective ...
If the -symbol illuminates, contact your authorized Audi dea ler
an d h ave the oil se nso r ins pected. •
Worn brake pads
-Brake pads!
If the warn ing light illuminates, immediate ly contact your autho ­
riz ed Aud i dea ler o r qua lifi ed worksh op to have all bra ke pads
inspected. On USA models the warning light comes on together
with the wa rning ligh t
BRAKE . Both sets of brake pads on an ax le m ust
a lways be replaced at the same time .
& WARNING
Driving with bad brakes can cause a collision and serious personal
injury.
• If the warning light
C. and the warning l ight BRAKE1l with the
message Brake pads! comes on in the in strument cluster display ,
immediately conta ct your authorized Audi dealer or qualified
workshop to have all brake pads checked or replaced if necessary .•
1 1 BRAK£ : USA mod els only

___ ln_ t _e_ ll-'"ig ...,_ e_ n_t _t_ e_ c_ h _ n_o _ l_o _,.g= y,_ __________________________________________ _
Low brake fluid level
Ma lfu ncti ons can occ ur in th e brake system if the bra ke flu id leve l is
too low. The brake fluid leve l is monitored e lectronically.
Brake lining wear status Bra ke lining wear may be checked by visual inspection of the condi ­
t ion of the brake pa ds through the o pen in g s in t he wheel. If neces ­
sary, the wheel may be removed for this inspection=>
page 272 ,
"Whee l change".
& WARNING
• You should perform braking maneuver s for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system only if road cond itions permit . Other
road u sers must not be put at risk -you may cause an accident !
• Before des cending a steep grade , reduce speed and shift trans ­
mission into a lower gear or lower driving range. Do not ride the
brake s or hold the pedal down too long or too often . This could
c ause the brakes to get hot and diminish braking efficiency.
• Do not "ride the brakes " by resting your foot on the pedal when
you do not intend to brake. This may cause the brakes to overheat, p rem ature wear and in creased stopping distance .
• Under certain climatic and operating conditions such as
passing through water , driv ing in heavy rain or after washing the
vehicle , the effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced. In winter ,
ice can accumulate on the brake pads , linings , discs and drums.
Carefully apply brakes for a test. Brakes will dry and ice coatings
will be cleaned off afte r a few careful b rake appli cations .
• Driving for an extended period of time on salt -covered roads
without using your brakes can also affe ct braking effic ien cy. Clean
off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and pads with a few
careful brake applications .
• If you damage the front spoiler , or if you install a different
spoiler , be sure the air flow to the front brakes is not obstru cted .
Otherwise the brake system could overheat reducing the effe ctive­
ness of the entire brake system .
& WARNING (continued )
• Failure of one brake circuit will impair the braking capability
resulting in an increased stopping distance . Avoid driv ing the
vehicle and have it towed to the nearest authorized Audi dealer or
qu alified workshop. •
Brake booster
The bra ke boos ter adds e xtra bra king pow er.
Th e brake boost er wo rks wit h vacuum p ressu re wh ich is created
only when the engine is running=>& .
& WARNING
• Never let the vehicle roll to a stop with the engine shut off.
• If the brake booster is not working , for e xample when towing
your vehicle, or because the brake booster has somehow been damaged , the brake pedal must be pressed considerably harder to
make up for the lack of booster assistance . •
Functioning of Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS}
A BS p revents t he wheels from lockin g up unde r braking.
The ABS co ntrib utes effectively to ve hic le c ont ro l since it preven ts
the whee ls from
locking when the bra kes are app lied. Th is means
that the vehicle remains stee rable and is less l ikely to skid .
With ABS you do not need to
pump the brake. Just hold the brake
pedal down .
Ho wever , do not e xpect that t he ABS shor tens brak ing distance
under
all circumstances . When driv ing on gravel or on newly fa llen
snow on top of icy surfaces, b raki ng d istance may be even longer,
th ere for e, u nder these circumstances, it is esp ecially important t hat
you drive s lowly and w ith g reat ca re . ._

___ D_ r_iv _i _n-' g=- a _n_d_ e_ n_v _ i_r _o _n_ m_ e_ n_t _____________________________________________ _
New brake pads
--
Remember that new brake pads do not have a full braking
effect during the first 250 miles (400 kilometers) after they
are installed .
New brake pads have to be "burnished in" before they have optimal
grab =>& .
During the break -in period, you should avoid putting severe loads
on the brakes . Severe loads include, for examp le, sudden hard
braking, in particular at very high speeds or, for example, on moun­
tain passes.
& WARNING
Until they develop the maximum "bite " for best stopping power,
the surfaces on new brake pads require some "breaking -in" during
the initial 100 to 150 miles (150 to 200 kilometers) of normal city
driving. You can compensate for this by pressing the brake pedal
more firmly . This applies whenever new pads are installed.•
Catalytic converter
It is very important that your emission control system
(catalytic converter) is functioning properly to ensure that
your vehicle is running in an environmentally sound
manner.
- Always use lead-free gasoline:=> page 219, "Fuel supply".
- Never run the tank down all the way to empty.
- Never put too much motor oil in your engine ==>
page 230,
"Adding engine oil 't=:;rl".
Never try to push- or tow-start your vehicle.
The catalytic converter is an efficient "clean-up" device built into the
exhaust system of the vehicle. The catalytic converter burns many
of the po llutants in the exhaust gas before they are released into the
atmosphere.
The exclusive use of unleaded fuel is critically important for the life
of the catalytic converter and proper functioning of the engine.
& WARNING
• Do not park or operate the vehicle in areas where the hot
exhaust system may come in contact with dry grass, brush, fuel
spill or other material which can cause a fire .
• Do not apply additional undercoating or rustproofing on or
near the exhaust manifold, exhaust pipes, catalytic converter or
heat shields. During driving, the substance used for undercoating
could overheat and cause a fire .
0 Note
• Be aware that just one tank filling with leaded fuel will alr eady
seriously degrade the performance of the catalytic converter.
• Do not exceed the correct engine oil level=>
page 230.
• Do not drive until the fuel tank becomes completely empty. The
engine could misfire. Unburned fuel could also get into the exhaust
system and this could cause the catalytic converter to overheat.
• Do not turn off the ignition while the vehicle is moving.
• Do not continue to operate your vehicle under these conditions,
as otherwise fuel can reach the catalytic converter. This could result
in overheating of the converter, requiring its replacement .
• To assure efficient operation of the Emission Control System:
- Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
the service recommendations in your Warranty
& Maintenance
booklet. •

-~_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
~

___________________________________________ C_ h_e _c_ k_ i_n _g _ a_n _d_ f_il _li _n _g __ ffllll
•
the form of Service or Repair Orders that all schedu led maintenance
was performed in a time ly manner .•
Engine oil consumption
The engine in your vehicle depends on an adequate
amount of oil to lubricate and cool all of its moving parts.
In order to provide effective lubrication and cool ing 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 197) consume
more oil during the break-in period than they consume af ter oi l
consumption has stabi lized .
Unde r 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 o il. As
any engine is subject to wear as mileage builds up, the oil consump ­
tio n may increase over time unt il rep lacement of worn components
may become necessary.
W ith all these variables coming into play, no standard rate of oil
consu mption can be estab lished or specified. There is no a lternative
to regular and frequent checking of the oil level, see
Note .
If the yellow engi ne oil level warning symbol in the instrume nt
cluster lights up, you should check the oil level as soon as
poss ible
with the oil dipstick~ page 229 . Top off the oil at your
earliest convenience~
page 230.
& WARNING
Before you che ck anything in the eng ine comp artment , alw ay s
read and heed all WARNINGS
~ & in "Working in the engine
c ompartment " on
page 22 5.
0 Note
Driving with an insufficie nt o il level is l ikely to cause severe damage
to the engine.
[ i ] Tip s
• The oil pressure warning displ ay ce,. is not an indi cat or of the oil
level . Do not rely on it. Instead , check the oil level in your engine at
regular interv als , prefe rably ea ch time you refuel , and always before
going on a long trip.
• If you have the impression your engine consumes excessive
amoun ts of oil, we recommend that you consu lt your authorized
Audi dealer to have the cause of your concern proper ly diagnosed .
Keep in mind that the accura te m easuremen t of oil consumption
requires great care and may take some time . Your authorized Audi
dea ler has instructions about how to measu re oil consumption
accurately .•
Checking the engine oil level
Vehicle care I t •
Fig . 171 Dip sti ck
( V ersio n A):
Oil le vel
ran ges