brake fluid AUDI S6 2008 Owners Manual

Safety first ........ ... ... .. .
Driving Safely ................. .
General notes ... .............. .
Proper occupant seating positions Peda l area ... ..... ....... .... . .
Sto\Ning luggage . .... .... .... . .
Reporting safety defects ....... .
Safety belts .......... ....... .. .
Genera l notes ...... ........... .
W hy safety belts? ............. .
Safety belts ............. ... .. .
Safety belt tensioners . ....• .. ..
Airbag system ........... ... .. .
Important things to kno\N ...... .
Front airbags . ... ... .......... .
Monitoring the Advanced Airbag
System ... .. ... .... ..... ..... .
Side airbags .......... ... ... .. .
Side curta in airbags (SIDEGUARD™l
Child Safety ................... .
191
192
192
194
198
199
201
202
202
203
206
210
212
212
216
223
228
231
234
Important things to kno\N . . . . . . . 234
Child safety seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Install ing a ch ild safety seat . . . . . 244
Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . 247
Lo\Ner anchorages and tether for
children (LA TCH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
249
Vehicle operation . . . . . . . . 257
Intelligent technology . . . . . . . . . . 258
Notice about data recorded by
vehicle contro l modules . . . . . . . . .
258
Elect ronic Stabilizat ion Program
!ESP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
258
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Servotronic® -advanced po\Ner
steer ing system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
263
Driv ing \Nith your quattro® . . . . . . 264
Energy management . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Driving and environment . . . . . . . 267
The first 1,000 miles (1,500 km) and
after\Nards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
267
Cata lytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Avoid damaging the vehicle . . . . . 269
Operate your vehicle economically
and minimize pollution . . . . . . . . . .
269
Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Driv ing \Nith a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Trai ler to\Ning tips . . . . . . . . . • . . . . 274
Table of contents
Vehicle care ....... ... ... ... 277
Cleaning and protection ........ 278
General information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Care of exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Care of inte rior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Fuel supply and filling your fuel
tank ... .... ... .... ... .. .... ... .. 291
Gasoline . . . . . . . . • . . . . • . . . . . . . . . 291
Fuel tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Checking and filling . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Engine hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Engine cooling syste1T1 . . . . . . . . . .
303
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Windshield/headlight \Nasher
containe r .... .... .. ... .. .... ... 312
Tires and wheels ............... 313
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

& WARNING (continu ed )
• USA model s: If the BRAKE warnin g light and the warning
light come on together , the rear wheel s could lo ck up first under
hard braking . Rear wheel lock-up can cause loss of veh icle control
and an accident . Have your vehicle repaired immediately by your
authorized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop . Drive slowly and
avoid sudden , hard brake applications .
• Canada models : If the brake warning light
«D> and the ABS
warning light
le come on together , the rear wheels could lock up
first under hard braking . Rear wheel lock-up can cause loss of
vehicle control and an accident. Have your vehicle repaired imme ­
diately by your authorized Aud i dealer or a qual ified wor kshop .
Drive slowly and avoid sudden , hard brake applications. •
Electromechanical parking brake
~[ (USA models)
/(®) (Canada models)
T he warnin g/in dic at or l ight mo nitors the ele ctromechan ­
i c a l pa rkin g brak e.
With the parking brake applied and the ignition turned on, the
warning/indicator light ill uminates . After the ignition ha s been
turned off, the warning/indicator light continues to i lluminate for
about 30 seconds . If the parking brake is applied with the ignition
turned o ff, t he wa rn ing/ ind icato r light illum inates fo r ab out 30
seconds.
Th e war nin g/ind ica tor light w ill g o out when th e p arking b rak e is
released .
I f the warning/indicator light f lashes continuou sly after applying the
par king brake, brakin g force is not suffic ie n t to prevent t he vehic le
from rol ling unintentional ly. Please note the fo llowing:
• I f the s lo p e of th e ground is too s teep to park t he veh icle, the
addit ional drive message appears Caution: Vehicle parked too
steep.
Controls and equip ­
ment
Instruments and warning /indi cator lights
• I n the event of a parking brake ma lfunction, the yellow symbo l
appea rs in the instru ment c luster display a nd the d rive r message
Parking brake malfunction! is displayed . Have the malfunction
r epai red a s soo n as possible by a qualified Audi dealership .•
Brake system BRAKE (USA models) / (CD) (Canada
models )
The warning/indi cator li ght flashes if b rake fluid level is
l o w, i f th ere is an ABS s ystem m alfunctio n or a pa rk ing
br ake malfun ction .
The light i lluminates when the ignition is turned on. It goes out after
t he eng ine has been sta rted. Th is indica tes that the brake warning
li g ht i s function ing properl y.
If the brake warning light does not light up when the engine is
cranking , there may be a malfunction in the electrical system . In this
case , contact your Audi dealer.
If the brake syste m wa rn ing/indicator ligh t flashes, there is a b rake
system mal funct ion . By pr essin g the
I CHECK ] button, you can bring
u p a d rive r mes sage which e xplains t he m alf un ction in mo re de tail
=> page
32.
If the ABS fai ls, the ABS warning/indicator light , (USA
mo dels)/ .J (C an ada mode ls) flas hes toge ther wi th th e br ake sys tem
warning/ indicato r light=> &.
When the l igh t co mes on, an a udible warning signal is a lso given .
& WARNING
• USA models: If the BRAKE warning light and the~ warning
light come on together , the rear wheels could lo ck up first under
hard braking . Rear wheel lock -up can cause loss of vehicle control
and an accident . Have your vehicle repaired immediately by your
authorized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop. Drive slowly and
avoid sudden , hard brake applications.
~
I • •

Instruments and warning/indicator lights
& WARNING (continued)
• Canada models: If the brake warning light «D> and the ABS
warning light come on together, the rear wheels could lock up
first under hard braking . Rear wheel lock-up can cause loss of
vehicle control and an accident. Have your vehicle repaired imme­ diately by your authorized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop .
Drive slowly and avoid sudden, hard brake applications.
• If the brake warning/indicator light does not go out after a few
seconds and the parking brake released, or lights up while you are
driving, the fluid level in the brake fluid reservoir is too low . If you
believe that it is safe to do so, proceed immediately at low speed
to the nearest authorized Audi dealer or qualified repair facility
and have the brake system inspected.
• Always keep in mind that after several brake applications, you
will need greater pressure on the brake pedal to stop your vehicle. Do not rely on strained brakes to respond with maximum stopping
power in critical situations. You must allow for increased braking
distances . The extra distance used up by fading brakes could lead
to an accident. •

Driver information display
BRAKE
USA models: => page32
Brake system malfunction

Canada models: II => page32
Brake system malfunction
-~-
Engine coolant level too => page 33
low/engine coolant temperature
-too high
-
~ Engine oil pressure too low => page 34
i
Faulty steering => page 34
© Faulty ignition switch => page35
-4
[ i] Tips
• If the warning/indicator light BRAKE (USA models)/ ((j)) (Canada
models) in the instrument cluster flashes, there is a brake system
malfunction. By pressing the [
CHECK] button, you can bring up a
driver message which explains the malfunction in more detail.
Please note=> page 32 .
• Speed warnings threshold 1
0 (USA modelsl/ 8 (Canada
models) and threshold 2
e , (USA models)/ 0, (Canada models) are
also shown as red symbols. The warning is always shown as a small
symbol in the upper area of the display=> page 38. •
Brake system malfunction
A malfunction in the broke system must be repaired as
soon as possible.
If the warning/indicator light BRAKE (USA models)/ (©)
(Canada models) in the instrument cluster flashes, there is
a brake system malfunction. By pressing the [CHECK] button, you can bring up a driver message which explains
the malfunction in more detail.
Stop vehicle and check brake fluid level
-Pull off the road.
- Stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine.
- Check the brake fluid level
~ page 306.
-Contact your nearest authorized repair facility if neces-
sary.
Warning! Fault in ABS brake system. Contact
workshop
- Drive carefully to the nearest authorized repair facility
and have the malfunction corrected
~ & .
Parking brake! Please contact workshop
-If the warning/indicator light flashes when the vehicle is
stationary or after the ignition is turned on, check to see
if the parking brake can be released. Drive to an autho­
rized repair facility as soon as possible and have the
malfunction corrected. If the parking brake cannot be
released, contact your nearest authorized repair facility.
- If the warning/indicator light flashes while you are
driving, it is possible that the traction control or the
emergency brake has malfunctioned. It is possible that
the parking brake cannot be applied. It is also possible
that the parking brake cannot be released after it has
been applied. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer to have
the malfunction corrected. .,.

If the ABS system malfunctions, the ABS warning/indicator light illu­
minates together with the brake system malfunction warning/indi ­
cator light~
&-
& WARNING
• Always observe the warnings in ~ page 289, "Engine compart­
ment", before opening the hood and checking the brake fluid.
• Driving with low brake fluid is a safety hazard . Stop the car and
get professional assistance.
• USA models: If the
BRAKE warning light and the c~ warning
light come on together, the rear wheels could lock up first under
hard braking . Rear wheel lock-up can cause loss of vehicle control
and an accident. Have your vehicle repaired immediately by your
authorized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop. Drive slowly and
avoid sudden, hard brake applications.
• Canada models : If the brake warning light
«D> and the ABS
warning light come on together, the rear wheels could lock up
first under hard braking. Rear wheel lock-up can cause loss of
vehicle control and an accident. Have your vehicle repaired imme­
diately by your authorized Audi dealer or a qualified workshop .
Drive slowly and avoid sudden, hard brake applications. •
Engine cooling system malfunction -L
A malfunction in the engine cooling system must be
repaired as soon as possible.
When the -t symbol in the display blinks, then either the
engine coolant
temperature is too high, or the coolant level
is too low. An additional driver message can also be
displayed by pressing the [ CHECK] button:
Switch off engine and check coolant level
-Pull off the road .
Controls and equip ­
ment
Driver information display
Stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine.
Check coolant level
=> page 304 .
Add coolant if necessary=> page 305.
Continue driving only after the engine coolant
warning/ind icator 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 79, 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 73, "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 of
the engine and allow it to cool. Follow the warning stickers
~ page 289, "Engine compartment" . .,_
I • •

Driver inf ormati on displ ay
Windshield washer fluid
leve l low
...
Low fue l level
-Battery voltage
Worn brake pads
-
Dynamic headlight range
control defective
Check engine oil level
=> page 301
Engine oil sensor malfunction
-
Adaptive Light* defective
-
Ignition lock malfunction
Windshie ld wiper defective
Tire pressure monitoring sys-
tern Loss of air pressure
Tire pressure monitoring sys -
tern
System not available
Ba ttery in remote control key
Electromechan ical
parking brake
=> page 36
=> page 36
-
=> page 37
=> page 37
-
=> page 37
=> page 37
=> page 37
=> page 37
-
=> page 38
=> page 38
=> page 44
:::::, page 46
=> page 49
:::::, page 131
•
Appl ies to vehic les: with Advanced Key
Key not in vehicle
,:, Key not in vehi cle
T his reminder appears a long with the -symbol if the master key is
removed from the vehic le with the engine running. It is intended to
remind you (e .g. when changing drivers) not to continue the journey
without the master key .
If the master key is no longer in the veh ic le, you cannot switch off
the ignition after stopping the engine and you also cannot start the
engine again. What is more, you cannot lock the vehicle from the
outside. •
Light/rain sensor defective )
c Automatic hea dlight s/aut oma tic w iper s def ective
If the symbo l il luminates, the light sensor has failed. For safety
reasons the low beams are turned on permanently with the switch
in
AUTO. However, you can continue to turn the lights on and off
using the light switch . In the case of a defect in the rain sensor, the
windshield wiper lever functions are still available. Have the
l ight/rain sensor checked as soon as possib le at a dealersh ip .•
Windshield washer fluid level too low
.5 Pl eas e top up w asher fl uid
If the symbol illuminates, add windshield washer fluid to the washer
system and also to the headlight washer system:::::,
page 312. •
Fuel supply too low L)
Please refuel

When the abnormal situation is over, you should activate the ASR
again.
& WARNING
The increased safety afforded by ASR does not mean that you can
take safety risks. Always adapt your driving style to the road
conditions and traffic situation.
[ i] Tips
To ensure that the ASR works properly, all four wheels must be fitted
with identical tires. Any differences in rolling radius of the tires can
cause the system to reduce engine power when this is not desired.
See also~
page 325, "New tires and replacing tires and wheels". •
Braking
General information
What affects braking efficiency?
Operating conditions and driving habits
The brakes on today's automobiles are still subject to wear,
depending largely on operating conditions and driving habits~& .
On vehicles which are driven mostly in stop-and-go city traffic or
which are driven hard, the brake pads should be checked by your
authorized Audi dealer more often than specified in the
Mainte­
nance
& Warranty booklet.
On steep slopes, you should use the braking effect of the engine.
This way, you prevent unnecessary wear on the brake system. If you
must use your brakes, do not hold the brakes down continuously.
Pump the brakes at intervals.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Intelligent technology
Moisture or road salt
If
you are driving faster than 50 mph (80 km/h) and the windshield
wipers are on, the brake pads will briefly touch the brake discs in regular intervals so as to improve reaction time when braking on
wet surfaces. You, the driver, will not notice anything.
Under certain conditions, for example, when driving through water
or very heavy rain, or even after washing your vehicle, the braking
effect can be reduced due to moisture (or in freezing conditions ice)
on the brake pads. A few careful brake applications should dry off
the brake pads or remove any ice coatings .
The effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced when the vehicle is driven on a salt-covered road and the brakes are not used. Here too,
you should clean off accumulated salt coating from brake discs and
pads with a few careful applications of the brake ~& .
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for dirt to build up on the brake pads and
corrosion to form on the discs if the car is not driven regularly or
only for short trips with little use of the brakes.
If the brakes are not used frequently, or if corrosion has formed on
the discs, it is advisable to clean off the pads and discs by braking
firmly a few times from a moderately high speed~&.
Faults in the brake system
If you should notice a sudden increase in brake pedal travel, then
one of the two brake circuits may have failed~& .
Low brake fluid level
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system if the brake fluid level is
too low . The brake fluid level is monitored electronically .
& WARNING
• You should perform braking maneuvers for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system only if road conditions permit. Other
road users must not be put at risk -you may cause an accident!
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

& WARNING
Although the ABS is very effective, always remember that braking
capability is limited by tire traction. Always adjust your driving
speed according to the road and traffic conditions. Do not let the
extra safety afforded by the ABS tempt you into taking extra risks.
The ABS cannot overcome the laws of physics.
[ i] Tips
• If ABS is not functioning properly, a warning light will come on .
See
=> page 22.
• If a fault occurs in the ABS , the EDL is also not functioning. This
is indicated by the ABS warning light. •
Brake assistant
The brake assistant is designed to achieve the optimum
braking effect.
The brake assistant helps to increase the effective braking power
and thus to achieve a shorter stopping distance . If the driver
presses the brake pedal very quickly, the brake assistant automati ­
cally boosts the braking force to the maximum level, up to the point
where the anti-lock brake function (ABS) intervenes to stop the
wheels from locking. You should then keep the brake pedal pressed
until the vehicle has braked to the required speed. The brake assis ­
tant switches itself off as soon as you release the brake pedal.
The brake assistant will not be operative if there is a malfunction in
the ABS.
In vehicles with Adaptive Cruise Control* (ACC), the distance to the
vehicle ahead is continuously calculated using a radar sensor,
within the limits of the system=>
page 135. If the radar system
detects a short distance to the vehicle ahead, the brake system
exerts a small braking force to reduce the brake response time in
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Intelligent technology
case of braking. In this way, the brake application can be quickened
and
the stopping distance reduced.
& WARNING
Please remember that the accident risk always increases if you
drive too fast, especially in corners or on a slippery road, or if you
follow the vehicle ahead of you too closely. Increased risk of an accident cannot be compensated for even by the brake assistant,
so always maintain a safe speed.
n
Servotronic® -advanced power
steering system
The power steering systems uses the power of the
running engine to allow precise steering with little effort.
The advanced Servotronic ® power steering system senses the road
speed and electronically adjusts power assistance to provide
comfortable and safe steering response exactly matched to the
vehicle speed.
Power steering will not work if the engine is off. As a result, the
steering wheel will be hard to turn.
The power steering fluid level is checked during the scheduled
maintenance services.
0 Note
If there is an electronic malfunction, servotronic will still function
like a conventional power steering system, providing a constant
steering support force that is no longer proportionate to the vehicle
speed. This is most noticeable when turning the steering wheel at
low speeds (for example when parking), -more effort will be
required than usual.
II-
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Operating instructions
Max im um tra iler weight
A trailer for your vehicle is limited to a typical class 1 or class 2
trailer.
T ra ile r l oa d di stributio n
Be sure the load in the trailer is he ld securely in place to prevent it
from shifting forward, backward or sideways .
Never allo w a passe nger to r ide in a tr aile r~ & in "Driving instruc­
tions" .
Engin e c oolin g sys te m
Towing a trailer makes the eng ine work harder. It is important that
the cooling system's performance is up to the additiona l load. Make
sure that the coo ling system has enough fluid .
Tire pr ess ure
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of your vehicle to the co ld tire
pressure listed under "Full load" on the labe l located either on the
driver's side B -pil lar (visible when the door is open) or inside the fuel
filler flap . Inflate trai ler tires to trai ler and tire manufacturers' spec­
ifications.
L ig ht s
The head light settings should be checked wit h the trai ler attached
before driving off. Check to make sure both vehicle and trai ler lights
are working properly .
Safe ty c ha in s
Be sure traile r safety chains are properly connected from the trailer
to the hitch on the vehicle. Leave enough slack in the chains to
perm it turning corners . When you i nsta ll safety chains, make sure
they will not drag on the road when you are driving.
T he chains should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent it from
dropping in case of separat ion from the hitch.
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Tr
aile r t owing
0 Note
If you are going to tow a trai ler, you must activate the trailer opera­
tion mode ~
page 184, "Towing a trailer". •
Driving instructions
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care and
consideration.
To obtain the best possible handling of veh icle and trailer,
please note t he following :
- Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself is not
loaded.
Be espec ia lly careful whe n passing other vehicles.
- Observe s peed limits .
Do not drive at the maximum permiss ible speed .
Always apply brakes ear ly.
Moni tor t he temperature ga uge.
Weight distr ibution
Towing a loaded trailer with an empty car results in a highly
unstable distr ibution of weight. If this cannot be avoided, drive at
very low speeds only to avoid the risk of losing steering control.
A "balanced" rig is easier to operate and control. This means that
the tow vehicle should be loaded to the extent possible and perm is ­
s ib le, while keeping the trailer as light as possib le under the circum ­
stances . Whenever possible, transfe r so me cargo to t he luggage
compartment of the tow vehicle whi le observing tongue load
requirements and vehicle loading considera tions . .,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

___ C_ le_ a _ n_i_n ~g _ a_ n_ d __ p_r _o _t _e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
Cleaning and protection
General information
Regular care preserves vehicle value.
Any automobile is exposed to industrial fumes, corrosive road salt,
muddy dog feet, etc . A well cared for Audi can look like new many
years a fter purchase. Regu lar a nd correct ca re will co ntribu te to
maintaining the beauty and value of your Audi.
Furthermore, good care may be a condition for substantiating a
war ranty claim should co rros ion damage or paint defect s occur .
Your authorized Audi dealer has a variety of dedicated vehicle- care
product s
and can adv ise whic h ones to use for clea ning the e xter ior
and interior of your vehicle.
Whethe r you use p roducts recommended by Audi or other c ommer ­
cia lly availab le cleaning agents , please make sure you apply them
correctly.
& WARNING
• Cleaning agents may be poisonous. Keep them out of the reach
of ch ildren .
• Heed all caution label s.
• Always read directions on the contai ner before using any
product. Follow the di rection s carefully .
• Most chemical cleaners are concentrated and have to be
d iluted.
• Use spot removing fluids only in well ventilated area s.
• Do not use gasoline , kerosene , die sel fuel , nail polish remover
or other volatile fluids . They may be toxic , flammable or hazardous
in other way s. Do not wash , wa x or dry the vehicle w ith the igni ­
tion on or the engine running.
& WARNING (continued )
• Do not clean the under side s of chassis , fenders , wheel cove rs,
etc . without protecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself
on sharp -edg ed metal parts .
• Moisture and ice on brakes may impair braking effi ciency
=> page 261 , "General info rmation ". Test the brake s carefully each
time you wa sh the vehicle.
~ For the sake of the environment
Se lect only enviro nmenta lly friend ly c leaning products . Leftover
clean ing products should not disposed of in the household waste. •
Care of exterior
Washing
Frequen t washing pro tects the vehi cle.
Th e bes t protection against envi ronmental influences is frequent
washing and waxing . How often this is required depends on:
• Ho w much the vehic le is used
• Where the vehic le is parked (garage, in the open under trees,
etc.)
• T he seasonal and weather conditions
• Environmenta l influences
T he longer bird droppings, insects, tree resin, road and industrial
gri me, tar, soot, road salt and ot her materials rema in on the ve hicle
body, the more lasting their destruc tive effects will be . High temper ­
atu res caused by exp osu re to in tense s un ligh t inte nsify the c orro -
sive effect, particularly when humidity is high as well.
~