service interval AUDI S6 2008 Owners Manual

Driver information display
Introduction
General notes
The driver information display inside the instrument
cluster provides you, the driver, with much useful infor­
mation.
F ig. 8 Inst rume nt
c luster: ce nte r display
Information from the Driver Information System is shown in the
display in the center of the instrument cluster.
When you turn on the ignition and whi le you are driving, some func ­
tions and vehicle components are scanned for their operating status . Malfunctions or required service procedures are signa lled
audibly and shown by red and yellow lighted symbols and
reminders to the driver in the display .
The driver is also shown information about radio and CD operation and directions for the navigation system . You can find additional
information on these subjects in the MMI manual.
The Driver Information System provides the following functions:
Con tro ls and eq uip­
ment
Dri ver inf orm atio n di spl ay
Sound system disp lay ~ page26
Outside air temperature ~ pa ge26
Digita l speedometer ~ page27
Door open in dicator ~ page27
Defective light bulb ~ page27
Service interval display ~ page28
Auto Check system ~ page30
Driver inform ation ~ page30
Speed limiter ~ page30
Tr ip computer ~ page40
Tire pressure monitoring ~ page42
~ page 154
[ i ] Tip s
In the event of a malfunction either a red or yellow icon appears in
the display. Red symbols indicate
D ange r~ page 31 . Yellow
symbols indicate a
Warning ~ page 35. •
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

Driver information display
& WARNING
• Light bulbs are pressurized and could e xp lode while they are
being changed causing serious personal injury .
• Work with due care when handl ing the h igh-voltage section of
gas di scharge (xenon) light s. Failure to do so could result in death
or serious injury .
[ i ] Tips
Have the bulb replaced or the connection repaired by your autho ­
rized Audi Serv ice department .•
Service interval display
The service interval display reminds you when your next
service is due .
Fig. 14 MMI di spl ay:
Service int erval di splay F
ig . 15 Di spl ay:
S ervice interval d isplay
The date for service is calculated automa tica lly .
Service inquiry (distance remaining )
The distance remaining to the next service event can be displayed
in the MMI
=:> f ig. 14 . Th e distance re m aining is u pdate d each ti me
the ignition is switched on, the first time after 500 km .
I f the distance remaining is q ue ried on ne w vehicles or after service
h as been perf ormed, the due date withi n the fi rst 500 km is always
shown in the display with the following message.
SERVICE IN -----MILES (KM ) --- DAYS
Service reminder
30 days be fore the next serv ice is due, a se rvice rem ind er appears
in the display when you turn on the ignition=> fig. 15.
A ft er abou t 5 s econd s the display swi tches bac k to n orma l. The
distance and time remain ing are updated each time the ign ition is
tu rned on unt il the date due fo r se rvice is reached .
Service
When the due date for service is reached, the mes sage Service!
appears in the disp lay immediately after you turn on the ignition.
A ddi tiona lly, a warn ing tone sounds . A ft er abou t 5 seconds the
display switches back to normal. .,_

0 Note
If you disconnect the battery terminals, no calculations can be
made for the service interval display during this time and no service
reminder will appear. Remember that observing the proper service
intervals is vitally important to extending the life of your vehicle,
particularly the engine , and maintaining its value. Even if the
mileage driven is low, the maximum period of one year from one
service to the next must not be exceeded. •
On-Board Diagnostic system (OBD)
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)
The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIU -in the instrument cluster
=> page 17, fig. 7 is part of the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD II) system.
The warning/indicator light illuminates when the ignition is
switched on and goes out after the engine starts and the idle has
stabilized. This indicates that the MIL is working properly.
If the light does not go out after the engine is started, or illuminates
while you are driving , a malfunction may exist in the engine system .
If the light starts flashing, the catalytic converter could be damaged.
Continue driving
with reduced power (avoiding sustained high
speeds and/or rapid accelerations) and have the condition
corrected. Contact your authorized Audi dealer.
If the light illuminates , the electronic speed limiter may also be
malfunctioning . For more information =>
page 30, "Electronic speed
limiter".
An improperly closed fuel filler cap may also cause the MIL light to
illuminate
=> page 293. •
Contro ls and eq uip­
ment
Driver information display
On -Board Diagnostics
Fig. 16 Location of
Data Link Connector
(DLC)
On-Board Diagnostics monitors the components of your emission
control system. Each monitored component in your engine system
has been assigned a code. In case of a malfunction, the component
will be identified and the fault stored as a code in the control
module memory .
The MIL light may also illuminate if there is a leak in the on -board
fuel vapor recovery system. If the light illuminates after a refuelling,
stop the vehicle and make sure the fuel filler cap is properly closed
=>
page 293.
In order to make an accurate diagnosis, the stored data can only be
displayed using special diagnostic equipment (generic scan tool for
OBDl.
In order to connect the special diagnostic equipment, push the plug
into the Data Link Connector (DLC). The DLC is located to the right of
the hood release=> fig. 16.
Your authorized Audi dealer or a qualified service station can inter ­
pret the code and perform the necessary repair .•
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

Driver information display
0 Note
Do not continue driving if the -F-symbo l illuminates . There is a
malfunction in the engine coo ling system -you could damage your
engine. •
Engine oil pressure malfunction ~
The red engine oil pressure warning symbol requires
immediate service or repair. Driving with a low -oil -pres ­
sure indication is likely to inflict severe damage to the
engine.
If the "l=7': symbol appears in the display and blinks, the oil
pressure is too low. An additional driver message can also
be displayed by pressing the [
CHECK] button:
Switch off engine and check oil level
Immediate actions
- Pull off the road .
- Stop the vehicle.
- Turn off the engine.
-Check the engine oil level with the dipstick:::::> page 301.
Dipstick readings checks too low
- Top off oil to the proper level :::::> page 302.
-Make sure that the oil pressure warning symbol "l=7':
appears no longer in the display before you start driving
again.
Dipstick reading checks OK
-If the oil pressure warning symbol "l=7': starts flashing
again even though the engine oil level checks OK on the
dipstick,
do not continue driving and do not let the
engine run in 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
~ starts to flash before you respond to the low oil
level warning
= . By then, your engine may already have suffered
serious damage. •
Steering malfunction i
If there is a malfunction in the electronic steering column
lock, the steering cannot be unlocked.
If the ~ symbol in the display blinks, there is a malfunction
in the electronic steering column lock. An additional driver
message can also be displayed by pressing the
I CHECK]
button:
Do not drive vehicle: Steering defective
- Contact your nearest authorized repair facility.
- Do
not tow your vehicle.

Clear vision
• Always check that the wiper blades are not frozen to the glass
before you turn the wipers on. Loosen a wiper blade which is frozen
in place before operating the wipers to prevent damage to the wiper
blade or the wiper motor.
• Do not use the wipers to clear a frosted window. Using the
wipers as a convenient ice scraper will destroy the wiper blades.
• Before you take your vehicle to an automatic car wash, make sure
you have the windshield wiper system switched off (lever in position
Ol, otherwise the windshield wiper system could get damaged in the
car wash if it should suddenly come on .
[ i ] Tips
• The rain sensor is part of the interva l wiping system. Turning off
the ignition will also deactivate the rain sensor . To reactivate the
sensor, switch off the interval wiping function, then switch it back
on again.
• Worn or dirty windshield wiper blades cause smearing which
can affect the operation of the rain sensor. Check the condition of
your windshield wiper blades regularly.
• Make sure the washer fluid reservoir in the engine compartment
is topped off before going on a long trip. Look up~
page 312for
checking and filling the washer container .•
App lies to vehic les: w ith head light washer system
Headlight washer system
The headlight washer system cleans the headlights.
-Operate the windshield wiper/washer system~ page 78,
fig. 69
® with the headlights turned on by holding the
lever for longer than one second.
The washer jets extend forward out of the front bumper driven by
water pressure to spray the front headlights with water. You should inspect the headlights regularly (for example when refu­
e ling) and c lean off any so lid dirt or insects from the lenses.
To ensure the system works properly in winter, keep the washer jets
free of snow and remove any ice using a de -icing spray. •
Service position
The wiper blades can only be changed in the service posi­
tion.
Fig . 70 MMI display:
Windshield wipers
At below freezing outside temperatures, make sure first
that the wiper blades are not frozen to the windshield .
Press the
I CAR] function button.
- Select Windshield wipers. The Windshield wipers menu
appears~ fig. 70.
Select Service position on to turn the service position on
or
off to return the windshield wiper to its original posi­
tion.
You must only attempt to change the wiper blades when the service
position is activated. This way, when you are working on the wind ­
shield wipers, you can avoid damaging the paint on the engine
hood.
~

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Warm and cold
Climate control
Description
The air conditioner is fully automatic and is designed to
maintain a comfortable and uniform climate inside the
vehicle.
We recommend the follow ing settings:
- Set the temperature to 75 °F (+23 °C).
- Press the !AUTO
I button.
With this setting, you attain maximum comfort in the least amount
of time. Change this setting, as desired, to meet your personal needs.
The climate controls are a combination of heating, ventilation and cooling systems, which automatically reduce humidity and cool the
air inside your vehicle.
The air temperature, air flow and air distribution are automatically
regulated to achieve and maintain the desired passenger compart­
ment temperature as quickly as possible.
The system automatically compensates for changes in outside
temperature and for the intensity of the sunlight entering the
vehicle. We recommend you use the
Automatic mode=> page 113
for year-round comfort.
Please note the following:
Turn on the air conditioner to reduce humidity in the vehicle. This also prevents the windows from fogging up.
When the outside temperature is high and the air is very humid,
condensation from the evaporator may drip under the vehicle. This
is normal and does not indicate a leak. If the outside temperature is low,
the fan normally only switches to
a higher speed once the engine coolant has warmed up sufficiently.
The air conditioner temporarily switches off when you drive off from
a standstill using full throttle to save engine power.
The compressor also switches off if the coolant temperature is too
high, so that the engine can be adequately cooled under extreme
loads.
Air pollutants filter
The air pollutants filter (a combined particle filter and activated
charcoal filter) reduces or prevents outside air pollution (dust, or
pollen) from entering the vehicle.
The air pollutants filter must be changed at the intervals specified
in your Maintenance
& Warranty booklet, so that the air conditioner
can properly work.
If you drive your vehicle in an area with high air pollution, the filter
may need to be changed more frequently than specified in your
Audi Maintenance
& Warranty booklet. If in doubt, ask your autho­
rized Audi Service Advisor for advice.
Key coded settings
The air conditioner settings selected are automatically stored and
assigned to the key being used. When the vehicle is started, the air
conditioner automatically selects the settings assigned to that key.
This way every driver will maintain his/her own personal settings
and does not have to reset them manually.
If a different driver uses your key and changes the air conditioner
settings, the latest adjustments will erase and replace the settings
you have stored.
Energy management
To prevent the battery from being discharged and to restore the
balance of energy, components which require large amounts of

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

___ D_ r_i v_ in_... g"'- a_ n_ d_ e_ n_ v_i_r _ o _n_ m __ e_n _ t _______________________________________________ _
one half. Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather
conditions permit. •
Reducing unnecessary =citing
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel.
- Shut the eng ine off when you are not driving the vehicle .
- Do not warm up the vehicle by letting the engine run at
idle.
It makes sense to shut off the engine in traffic jams, when waiting
for trains to pass at rai lroad crossings , or at traffic lights that have
long waits on red. Turning the engine off for just 30 -40 seconds
saves more fuel than is burned starting the engine again .
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up fu lly when it is
running at idle. However, wear and noxious emissions are especially
high when the engine is warming up. So you should drive away as
soon as you start the engine and avoid running at high rpms while
the engine is still warming up.
0 Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after starting . If warning
lights should come on to indicate improper operation, they would
go unheeded. Extended idling also produces heat, which could result in overheating or other damage to the vehicle or other
property .•
Regu1ar ma1--.tenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lot of fuel.
-Have your vehic le serviced at regular intervals .
By having your vehicle regularly serviced by an Audi dealer helps to
ensure that it runs properly and economically. The condition of your
vehic le not only affects its safety and abi lity to hold its value, it also
affects
fuel con sumpt ion.
C hec k your o il e ach time you fill your t ank.
The amount of oil used is related to engine load and speed.
It is norma l for the oil consumption of a new engine to reach its
lowest va lue after a certain mileage has been driven.
You must drive your vehicle about 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometers) before you can properly assess oil consumption .
This also applies to fuel consumption and engine output .
0 Note
• Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
the service recommendations in your Maintenance
& Warranty
booklet. Lack of proper ma intenance as well as improper use of the
vehic le wi ll impair the function of the emission control system and
cou ld lead to damage.
• Do not alter or remove any component of the Emission Control
System unless approved by the manufacturer.
• Do not alter or remove any device, such as heat shields,
switches, ignition wires, valves, which are designed to protect your
vehicle's Em ission Control System and other important vehicle
components .•
Fewer short tr ips
Fuel consumption will always be relatively high on short
trips.
- Try to avoid driving short dista nces wi th a cold engine. _,

-~_C_ h_e _c _ k_ i_n ...:::g::;...._ a_n_ d_ f_ i_ll _in -'g:::;.._ ___________________________________________ _
current list of oils (manufacturers, brand names etc.) that conform
t o Audi oi l standard VW 502 00 .
Changin g the engine oil
The engine oil and oil filter must be changed according to the
mi leage (ki lometers) and time intervals specified in your vehicle's
Maintenance
& Warranty booklet. Do not exceed these interva ls -
harmful deposits from old engine oil can reduce engine perfor­
mance and can lead to expensive engine repairs.
Changing the oi l at the recommended intervals is so very important
because the lubricating prope rties of oi l decrease gradual ly during
normal vehicle use . If you are not sure when you have your oil
changed, ask your author ized Audi Serv ice Advisor.
Under some circumstances the engine oil should even be changed
more frequently. Change oil more often if you dr ive mostly short
distances, operate the vehicle in dusty areas or mostly under stop ­
and -go t raffic conditions, or when you use your vehicle where
temperatures stay be low freezing point for long per iods.
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.
Damag e or malfunctions due to lack o f mainten anc e
It is essentia l that you change your oi l at the recommended interva ls
using on ly engine oil that complies with Audi oil standard
VW 502 00. Your Limited New Vehicle Warranty does not cover damage or ma lfunctions due to failure to follow recommended
main tenance and use requirements as set forth in the Aud i Owner's
Manual and Maintenance
& Warranty booklet. Your dealer wi ll have
t o deny warranty cove rage unless you present to the dealer p ro o f in
the form of Service or Repair Orders that all schedu led maintenance
was pe rformed in a timely manner. •
Engine oil consumption
The engine in your vehicle depends on an adeq uate
amount of oil t o lubric ate and c ool all of its m oving parts.
In order to provide effective lubrication and coo ling of interna l
engine components, al l interna l combustio n eng ines consume a
certain amount of oil. Oil consumption varies from engine to engine
and may change significant ly over the life of the engine . Typ ically,
engines with a specified break-in period (see=> page 267) consume
more oil du ring the break-in period than they consume after oil
consumption has stabi lized .
Unde r normal conditions, the rate of oil consumption depends on
the quality and v iscosity of the oil, the RPM (revolutions per minute)
at which the engine is operated, the ambient temperature and road
cond itions. Fur ther factors are the amount of oil di lu tion from wate r
condensation or fue l residue and the oxidation leve l of the oi l. As
any engine is subject to wear as mileage bu ilds up, t he oil consump ­
tion may increase over time until replacement of worn components
may become necessa ry .
With all these variables coming into play, no standard rate o f oi l
consumption can be established or specified . There is no alternative
t o regula r and frequent checking of the oil level, see
Note .
If the yel low engine oil level warning symbo l in the instrument
clus ter lights up, yo u should check the oil level as soon as
possible with the oil dipstick=> page 301. Top off the oil at your
ea rliest convenience => page 302 .
& WARNING
Before you check anything in the engine compartment , always
read and heed all WARNING S
=> & in "Working in the engine
compartment " on
page 297.

___ C_h_ e_ c_k _in --=:: g;__ a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ..:g:a.- ___________________________________________ _
Oil level within range
©
- You must add oil. Afterwards, the oil level should be
within range@.
The oil level needs to be checked at regular intervals. The best times
to do this are whenever you refuel and prior to long tr ips. •
Adding engine oil 'l:::1':
Fig. 234 Engine
compartment: Oil filler
cap locat ion
Before you check anything in the engine compartment,
always read and heed all WARNINGS~ & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 297.
Unscrew the cap ~ fig. 234.
Carefully top off with the appropriate o il in 0.5 liter doses.
- Check the oil level again after two minutes ~
page 301.
Top off the oil again, if necessary.
Screw the cap back on the filling hole and slide the o il
dipstick in as far as it will go.
& WARNING
• While topping off, the oil must not come in contact with hot
engine parts -fire hazard!
• The oil filler cap must be properly secured to prevent oil from
being sprayed on the hot engine and exhaust system when the
engine is running -fire hazard!
• If your skin has come in contact with the engine oil , you must
subsequently cleanse it thoroughly.
0 Note
• T he oil level must not be above range @- danger of converter or
engine damage! Contact an au thorized dealership to draw off oil, if
necessary .
• Audi does not recommend the use of oil additives. They may
damage the engine and adversely affect your New Vehicle Warranty.
• Under no circumstances can the oil come in contact with the
sewage network or the soil.
• Observe and follow legal regulations when disposing of empty
oi l containers .•
Changing the engine oil
We recommend that have your oil changed by an autho­
rized Audi dealer or a qualified service station .
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, always read
and heed all WARNINGS ~
& in "Working in the engine compart ­
ment" on
page 297.
The engine oil must be changed according to the intervals specified
in your Maintenance
& Warranty booklet. This is very important ...