AUDI S8 2008 Owners Manual

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- Lack of proper maintenance as wel l as improper use of the
vehic le will impair the func tion of the emission con tro l system
and cou ld lead to damage .
<£> For the sake of the envir onment
Even when the Emission Control System is operating properly, the
exhaust gas can have a su lfur -like exhaust gas smell under some
operating states . This depends on the sulfur content of the fuel
being used. Using a different b rand of fue l may help, or fil ling the
tank with lead-free super grade gasol ine. •
Avoid damaging the vehicle
When you are driving on poor roads, or over curbs, steep ramps,
etc., make certain that low- lying parts such as spoi lers and exhaust
system parts do not bottom out and get damaged.
T his is especial ly true for vehicles with low -s lung chassis (sports
chassis)* and ful ly loaded vehicles .•
Operate your vehicle economically
and minimize pollution
General
Y o ur personal style of driving will determine the economy
of your vehicle , as well as exhaust and noise levels.
Fuel economy, environmenta l impact, and wear on your engine,
brakes and t ires largely depend on three factors :
• your personal driving style
• operat ing cond it ions
• t echnica l limitations
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
I
f you anticipate what you need to do next and drive economica lly,
you can eas ily cut your fuel consumptio n by 10 -15 percent . This
section wil l give you some tips on how you can help the environ­
ment and your poc ketboo k.
[ i ] Tips
The consumption estimates as published by ENV IRO NME NTA L
PRO TECTION AGENCY (EPA) and Transport Canada may not corre ­
spond to your actua l consumption on the road, which wi ll vary
depe nding upon veh ic le load and speed, road and weather condi­
tions, trip length, etc. •
Drive smoothly and keep a lookout ahead
Vehicles use the most fuel when they ore accelerating .
-Avo id unnecessary accelerat ing a nd braking .
Vehicles use the most fue l when they are accelerating . If you antici ­
pate what is going to happen
ne xt, you wi ll need to brake less and,
thus, acce lerate less. Let the vehicle coast whenever possib le -for
examp le when you see that the next traffic light is red. •
Avoid full throttle
Driving at moderate speeds saves fuel and improves your
mileage.
- Try and keep we ll below your car 's max imum speed.
Acce lerating gently reduces fue l consumption, engine wear, and
does no t disturb the envir onment.
Fue l consumption, exhaust emissions and engine noise increase
dispropo rtionately at h ig h speeds . If yo u drive at approxi mate ly
three quarters of top speed, fuel consumpt ion wil l be reduced by
~
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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one half. Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather
co nditions permit. •
Reducing unnecessary idling
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
id le .
It makes sense to shut off the engine in traff ic 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 fue l 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 em issions are espec ially
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 sti ll 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 .•
Regular maintenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lot of fuel.
- H ave your vehicle serviced at regular intervals .
By having your vehicle regularly serviced by an Audi dealer helps to
ensure t hat it runs properly and economical ly . The condit ion of your
vehic le not only affects its safety and abi lity to hold its va lue, it also
affects
fuel con sumpt ion .
C hec k your oil each time you fill your tan k.
The amount of oil used is related to engine load and speed.
I t is norma l for the oi l 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 .
T his also applies to fuel consump tion and engine output .
0 Note
• Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
t he service recommendat ions in your Warranty
& Maintenance
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 Contro l
System unless approved by the manufacturer.
• Do not alte r or remove any device, such as heat sh ields,
switches, ignition wires, valves, which are designed to protect your
vehic le's Emission Control System and other important vehic le
components .•
Fewer short trips
Fuel consumption will always be relatively high on short
trips.
- Try to avoid driving short dista nces with a cold engine. ~

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T he engine and catalytic converter have to reach their optimal op er­
a ting t emp era tur e
to reduce fuel consumption and noxious emis ­
sions effective ly .
Just after starting, a cold engine in a mid -size car only achieves a
fue l economy of 6-8 m iles per gal lon (30-40 1/100 km). After about a
half a mi le, fue l economy climbs to 12 mpg (201/100 km). After about
2.5 m iles (4 km), the engine is at its proper operat ing temperature
and fuel economy has reached a normal level. So you can see that
you should avo id short tr ips whenever poss ib le .
The
out sid e te mperature is also critical in this regard . Your car
consumes more fuel in the winter than in the summer. •
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger transpor­
tation.
If you plan to tow a trailer, please remember that the add it ional load
wi ll affect durability, economy and performance.
Tra iler towing not on ly p laces more stress on the vehicle, it a lso ca lls
for more concentration from the driver.
For this reason, always fol low the ope rating and driv ing instruc tions
provided and use common sense.
(D Note
If you are go ing to tow a trai ler, you must activate the trailer opera ­
tion
mode => page 189, "Towing a Trailer". •
Technical requirements
Traile r hit ch
Use a we ight-carrying hitch conforming to the gross trai ler weight.
The hitch must be suitable for your vehic le and trailer and must be
mounted secure ly on the ve hicle's chass is at a
technically sound
location. Use only a trailer hitch with a removable ball mount.
Always check wit h the trai ler hitch manufacturer to make s ure that
you are using the correct hitch .
Do not use a bumper hit ch.
The hitc h must be installed in such a way t hat it does not interfere
with the impact-absorbing bumper system. No modifications
should be made to the veh ic le exhaust a nd brake systems. F rom time to time, check that all hitch mounting bolts remain secure
ly
fastened .
When yo u are no t towing a trailer, re move the tra ile r hitch ball
mount. This prevents the hitch from causing damage shou ld your
vehic le be struck from
behind =>& .
Traile r br ake s
If your tra iler is equipped with a braking syste m, check to be sure
that it conforms to al l regu lations .
The tra iler hydraul ic brake sys tem must not be di rect ly co nnected to
t he vehic le's hydrau lic brake system .
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your vehicle and the trailer.
Trailer light s
Trai ler lights must meet a ll regulations. Be sure to check with your
Aud i dea ler for correc t wir ing, sw itch es and relays .
Mirrors
If you are unable to see the traf fic behind you using the regu lar
outside mirrors, then you
must instal l extended mirrors. It is impor ­
t ant that you
always have c lear v ision to the rear.
& WARNING
After removing the tr ailer hitch , do not store it in your vehi cle . In
ca se of sudden braking , the hitch could fl y forward and injure you
or your p assenger s.•

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Operating instructions
M ax im um tra iler weig ht
A trailer for your vehicle is limited to a typ ical c lass 1 or class 2
trailer.
T ra ile r l oad d is tributi on
Be sure the load in the trailer is he ld securely in place to prevent it
from shifting forward, backward or s ideways .
Never a llow a pass enger to r ide in a trailer:::::, & in "Driving instruc­
t ions" .
Engin e coo lin g sys te m
Tow ing a trai ler makes the engine 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 press ure
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of your veh icle to t he 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 trailer 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 s ure trailer safe ty chains are properly connected from the trailer
to the hitch on the vehicle. Leave enough slack in the chains to
permit turning corners . When yo u insta 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
0 Note
If you are go ing to tow a trai ler, you must activate the tra iler opera­
tion
mode :::::, page 189, "Towing a Trailer". •
Driving instructions
Driving with a trailer always requires extra care and
consideration.
To obtain the best possib le handling of ve hicle and trailer,
p lease note t he following :
- Do not tow a loaded trailer when your car itself is not
loaded.
- Be especia lly careful whe n passing other vehic les .
- Observe speed limits .
- Do not drive at the maximum permiss ible speed .
- Always apply brakes early.
- Monitor t he temperature ga uge .
W eight d istr ibu tion
Towing a loaded trailer with an empty car results in a highly
unstable d istribution 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
t he tow vehicle should be loaded to the extent possible and permis ­
sib le, while keeping the trailer as light as possib le under the circum ­
stances . Whenever possible, transfer some cargo to the luggage
compartment of the tow vehicle whi le observing tongue load
requirements and vehicle loading considera tions .
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Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

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Speed
The higher the speed, the more difficu lt it becomes for the driver to
control the rig. Do not drive at the maximum permissible speed. Reduce your speed even more if load, weather or wind conditions
are unfavorable
-particularly when going downhi ll.
Reduce vehicle speed
i mm edia te ly if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying.
Do not try t o stop the sway ing by accelerating.
Observe speed lim its. In some areas, speeds for vehicles towing
trai lers are lower than for regular ve hicles .
Always apply brakes ear ly. When driving down hill, shift into a lower
gear to use the engine braking effect to slow the vehicle. Use of the
brakes a lone can cause them to overheat and fail.
Cool ant temp era tu re
The coolant temperature gauge=> page 12 must be observed care­
ful ly. If the needle moves close to the upper end of the scale, reduce
speed immed iately and/or turn off the air conditioner.
If the coolant temperature warning light in the instrument cluster
starts flas hing
-F- , pul l off the road, stop and let t he engine idle for
about two m inutes to prevent heat build-up.
& WARNING
An yone n ot properl y re str aine d in a mo ving vehi cle is at a mu ch
g re ate r ri sk in an accid ent . N ever let any on e rid e in y our car who
i s not properl y wea rin g th e res tra int s pr ov ided by Audi.
•
Trailer towing tips
Important to know
Your vehicle handles differently when towing a trailer because of
the additional weight and different weight distribution. Safety, performance and economy wi
ll greatly depend on how carefully you
l oad your trailer and opera te your r ig.
Before you actual ly tow your trailer, practice turn ing, stopping and
backing up in an area away from traffic . Keep practicing unti l you
have become comp letely fam iliar with the way your vehicle-trai ler
combination behaves and responds.
Backing up is di fficult and requires practice. Backing up with a
trai ler generally requires steering action opposite to that when
backing up your veh ic le without a tra iler.
Ma inta in a greater distance between your veh ic le and the one in
front of you . You will need more room to stop. To compensate for
the trai ler, you w ill need a larger than norma l turning radius.
When passing, remember that you cannot accelerate as fast as you n or mally wou ld because of t he added load . Make su re you have
enough room to pass . After passing, al low plenty of room for your
t rai ler befo re changing lanes again .
Avo id jerky starts, sharp turns or rapid lane changes.
[ i ] T ips
• Do not tow a tra iler during the break-in period o f your veh ic le.
• I f you tow a trailer, your Audi may require more frequent main te­
nance due to t he extra
load=> page 380. •
Parking on a slope
Do n ot park on a slope with a trailer. If it cannot be
avoided, do
so o nly after doing the followi ng:
When p arking :
-Apply the foot b rake.
- Have someone p lace chocks under both the vehicle and
the trailer wheels. _,,,

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-Wit h chocks i n place, slowly release the brakes until the
wheel chocks absorb the load .
-Turn the wheels towards the curb.
-Apply the parking brake.
-Move the selector lever to P.
When rest arting after p arking :
-Apply the foot brake.
-Start the engine.
-Move the se lector lever to D.
-Re lease the parking brake and slowly pull out and away
f rom the whee l chocks .
-Stop and have someone retr ieve the wheel chocks .
[ i] Tip s
If you move the se lector lever of the automatic transmission to P
b efor e applying th e parking brak e and b efor e blocki ng th e wheels ,
you may have to use more force later to move the lever out of the
P
position .•
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Vehicle care

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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 correc t ca re will contribu te to
maintaining the beauty and va lue of your Audi.
Furthermore, good care may be a condition for substantiating a
warr anty claim should corrosion d amage 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 fo r clea ning the exterior
and interior of your vehicle.
Whether you use prod ucts recom mended by Audi or o ther commer ­
cia lly availab le cleaning agents, please make sure you app ly them
correctly.
& WARNING
• Cleaning agents may be poi sonous . Keep them out of the reach
o f children .
• Heed all cau tion label s.
• Always read directions on the container before u sing any
p rodu ct. Follo w the di re ction s carefully .
• Most chemical cleaners are concentrated and have to be
diluted.
• Use spot removing fluids only in well ventilated area s.
• Do not use gasoline , kerosene , die sel fuel , n ail polish remo ver
or other vol atile fluids . They may be toxic , flammable or ha zardous
in other way s. Do n ot wash , w ax or dry the vehicle with the igni ­
tion on or the engine running.
& WARNING (continued )
• Do not clean the under sides of chassis , fenders , wheel cover s,
etc . without protecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself
on sha rp -edged metal parts .
• Moisture and ice on brakes may impair braking effi ciency
=> page 270 , "Gener al info rm ation ". Test the brake s carefully each
time you wash the vehicle .
~ For the sake of the environment
Select only enviro nmen ta lly friend ly c leaning pr oducts . Leftover
clean ing products should not disposed of in the household waste. •
Care of exterior
Washing
Frequent washing protects the vehicle.
Th e best p rotection aga inst environmental influe nces 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
• E nvironmenta l influences
T he longer bird droppings, insects, tree resin, road and industrial
gri me, ta r, soot, road salt and ot her mater ials 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 -
s ive effect, particularly when hum idity is high as well .
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