AUDI S8 2008 Owners Manual

_____________________________________________ C_ l_ e _a_ n_ in~ g_a
_ n_d_ p_ r_ o_ t
_ e_ c_t _io _ n __ fflll
•
from fading . Slight color variations will develop in normal use and
are not an indication of material deterioration.
0 Note
• Never use chemical solvents (e.g. lighter fluid, turpentine),
waxes, shoe polish or similar products on Alcantara® surfaces.
• To avoid damage, have stubborn stains removed by a commer­
cial cleaning specialist.
• Do not use brushes, stiff sponges or similarly abrasive cleaning
aids. •
Safety belts
Only well-maintained safety belts work reliably when
needed.
- Keep belts clean.
- For cleaning, use a mild soap and water solution. Let
belts dry thoroughly and away from direct sunlight.
- Do not allow inertia reel safety belts to retract before
they are completely dry.
- Check the condition of your safety belts
regularly.
Heavily soiled safety belts may not retract properly.
& WARNING
Damaged safety belts can break in a crash.
• Anything that might damage your safety belts could mean that
you and your passengers would not be adequately protected in an
accident.
• Safety belt performance depends on correct installation. Never
remove belts from the vehicle to clean them.
&, WARNING (continued)
• Do not use chemical cleaning agents, bleach or dyes. They have
corrosive properties which weaken the webbing.
• When cleaning your safety belts, inspect them for damage. If
you discover damage, see your Audi dealer.
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288. •
Engine compartment
Be especially careful when cleaning the engine compart­
ment.
Always switch off the ignition before cleaning the engine => &,.
Plenum panel
Remove leaves from the plenum panel in front of the windshield
under the engine hood. This prevents the water drain holes from
becoming blocked, and it prevents debris from entering the vehicle
interior through the heating and ventilation ducts.
Corrosion protection
The engine compartment and transmission have been corrosion­
protected at the factory.
Good anti-corrosion treatment is very important, particularly in the
winter. If the vehicle is frequently driven on salt treated roads, the
entire engine compartment and plenum panel should be thor­
oughly cleaned at the end of winter and retreated to prevent salt
damage. At the same time, the underside of the vehicle should be
washed as well.
If the engine compartment is cleaned at any time with grease
removing solutions
11 , or if you have the engine washed, the anti­
corrosion treatment is almost always removed as well. It is therefore .,_
11 Use only the correct cleaning solut ions. Never use gasoline or diesel fuel.
Vehicle care

___ C_ le_ a_n _i_n ~g _ a_ n_ d
__ p_r _o _t _e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
essential to have a long -lasting corrosion protection reapplied to al l
su rfaces, sea ms, joi nts a nd compo nents i n th e eng in e c om pa rt ­
m ent .
& WARNING
Be aware: The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a
potentially hazardous area.
• Before working in the engine compartment, be sure to read the
information
::::> page 299.
• Before reaching into the front plenum panel, always remove the
ignition key . Otherwise, the windshield wiper system could unin ­
tentionally be switched on , possibly causing personal injury from
the moving wiper linkage .
• Never reach into the area around or touch the radiator fan . The
auxiliary fan is temperature controlled and can switch on suddenly
-even when the ignition is off.
• Do not wash, wax or dry the engine with the engine running .
Moving or hot parts could injure you.
• Do not clean the underside of the chassis, fenders, wheel
covers, or other hard to reach parts without protecting your hands
and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp-edged metal parts .
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
=> page 288 . •

•
Fuel supply and filling your fuel tank
Gasoline
Fuel supply
Using the right fuel helps keep the environment clean and
prevents engine damage.
F u e l re comm end ati on
The fuel recommended for your veh ic le is unle ad ed pr em ium grade
gaso line . See
a lso => page 378, "Data". Audi recommends using TOP
T IER Detergent Gaso line with a minimum octane rating of 91 AKI (95
RON). For more informat io n on TOP TIER Detergent Gaso line, please
go to the official website (www .toptiergas .com).
The recommended gasoline octane rating for your engine can also be found on a label located on the i nside of the fuel fi ller flap. This
rating may be specified as A KI or RON .
You r veh ic le may also be operated us ing unleaded regular gasoline
with a minimum octane rating of 87 AKl/91 RO N. However , using 87
A Kl /9 1 RON octane fuel w ill sl ightly reduce engine performance.
U se unleaded ga solin e only . Unleaded gaso line is avai lable
throughout the USA, Canada, and in most European countries. We
recommend that you do not ta ke your vehicle to areas or countr ies
where un le aded gasoline may not be available .
For more i nformation on refuel ing yo ur ve hicle,
see => page 302.
Octan e rating
Octane rating indicates a gaso line's abil ity to res ist engine
damaging "knock" caused by premature ign ition and detonation.
Therefore, buying t he correct grade of gaso line is very important to
help prevent possible engine damage and a loss of engine perfor ­
mance.
Fu el supply and fillin g yo ur fu el tank
Gasol ine most common ly used in the United States and Canada has
the fo llowing octane ratings that can usua lly be found on the fil ler
pump :
• P remium Grade : 91
-96 AKI
• Regu lar Grade: 87
-90 AK I
E xplanation of t he abbrev iat ions:
AKI = Anti Knoc k Ind ex = (R +M)/2 = (RON +MON)/2
RON = Research Octane Number
MON = M otor Octane Number .
0 Note
• Do not use any fue l wi th octane rati ngs lower than 87 AKI or 91
RON otherwise expensive engine damage wi ll occur .
• D o
not use leaded gasoline. The use of leaded gasoline w ill
severe ly damage your vehicle 's catalytic convert er and its abi lity to
co ntr ol ex haust emissi ons .•
Blended gasoline
Use of ga soline containing alc ohol or MTBE (methyl
terti ary but yl ether )
You may use unleaded gaso line blended with alcohol or MTBE
(commonly referred to as oxygenates) if the blended mixture meets
t he fo llow ing criteria:
Blend of ga soline methanol (wood alcohol or methyl al cohol)
• Anti-knock index must be 87 AK I or higher .
• Blend m ust contain no more tha n 3% methanol.
• Blend m ust contain more than 2% co -solvents.
Vehicle care

Fuel supply and filling your fuel tank
Blend of gasoline and ethanol (grain alcohol or ethyl alcohol}
• Anti -knock index must be 87 AKI or higher.
• Blend must not contain more than 10% ethanol.
Blend of gasoline and MTBE
• Anti-knock index must be 87 AKI or higher.
• Blend must contain not more than 15% MTBE.
Seasonally adjusted gasoline
Many gasoline grades are blended to perform especially well for
winter or summer driving. During seasonal change-over, we suggest
that you fill up at busy gas stations where the seasonal adjustment
is more likely to be made in time.
0 Note
• Methanol fuels which do not meet these requirements may
cause corrosion and damage to plastic and rubber components in
the fuel system.
• Do not use fuels that fail to meet the specified criteria in this
chapter.
• If you are unable to determine whether or not a particular fuel
blend meets the specifications, ask your service station or its fuel
supplier.
• Do not use fuel for which the contents cannot be identified.
• Fuel system damage and performance problems resulting from
the use of fuels different from those specified are not the responsi ­
bility of Audi and are not covered under the New Vehicle or the
Emission Control System Warranties.
• If you experience a loss of fuel economy or driveability and
performance problems due to the use of one of these fuel blends,
we recommend that you switch to unblended fuel. •
Gasoline additives
A major concern among many auto manufacturers is carbon
deposit build-up caused by the type of gasoline you use.
Although gasoline grades differ from one manufacturer to another,
they have certain things in common. All gasoline grades contain
substances that can cause deposits to collect on vital engine parts,
such as fuel injectors and intake valves. Although most gasoline
brands include additives to keep engine and fuel systems clean,
they are not equally effective.
Audi recommends using TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. For more
information on TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline, please go to the offi­
cial website (www.toptiergas.com).
After an extended period of using inadequate fuels, carbon deposit
build -ups can rob your engine of peak performance.
(D Note
Damage or malfunction due to poor fuel quality is not covered by
the Audi New Vehicle Limited Warranty. •
Fuel tank
Fuel filler neck
The fuel filler neck is located on the right rear side panel behind the
fuel filler flap.
If the power locking system should fail, you can still open the flap
manually - for detailed instructions
see=> page 305.
You can find the fuel tank capacity of your vehicle in Technical Data
=> page 378. ~

The label on the inside of the fuel filler flap tells you the correct fuel
for your vehicle . For more information about fuel specifications, see
=> page 301.
Your vehicle fuel tank has an onboard refuelling vapor recovery
system. This feature helps to prevent fuel vapors from escaping
from the tank and polluting the environment while you refuel your
vehicle. In order to fill the tank properly while protecting the envi­
ronment, please follow this refueling procedure carefully.
& WARNING
Under normal operating conditions , never carry additional fuel
containers in your car. Gas canisters and other containers used to
transport fuel can be dangerous . Such containers , full or empty,
may leak and could cause a fire in a collision . If you must transport
fuel to use for your lawn mower , snow blower, etc., be very careful
and always observe local and state laws regarding the use, trans ­
portation and storage of such fuel containers. Make certain the
container meets industry standards (ANSI/ASTM F852 -861.
0 Note
Never drive your vehicle until the fuel tank is completely empty. The
irregular supp ly of fuel can cause misfiring. Gasoline could enter
the exhaust system and damage the catalytic converter. •
Fuel supply and filling your fuel tank
Refuelling
The fuel filler flap is unlocked from a button in the driver's
door.
,-..
"'
Fig . 255 Driver 's door :
Unlocking fuel filler
flap
Fig . 256 Fuel cap
hooked on the opened
fuel filler flap
When adding fuel, the ignition and any cellular phones in
the vehicle must be switched
off.
Taking the fuel cap off
To open the fuel filler flap, press the button ~ fig. 255.
Unscrew fuel filler cap counter-clockwise and hang it on
the fuel filler
flap ~ fig. 256. .,,_
Vehic le care I I irechnical data

Fuel supply and filling your fuel tank
Refuelling procedure
- Insert the fuel nozzle from the gasoline pump into the
fuel filler neck as far as it will go.
- Select a medium refuelling rate so that the nozzle switches off automatically when the tank is full.
Putting the fuel cap back on
-After filling your tank, twist the fuel filler cap clockwise
until you hear a definite click.
- Close the fuel filler flap.
To avoid fuel spilling or evaporating from the fuel tank always close
fuel filler cap properly and completely. An improperly closed fuel
filler cap may also cause the MIL
lamp=> page 27 to come on.
& WARNING
Improper refueling or handling of fuel can cause fire, explosion
and severe burns.
• Fuel is highly flammable and can cause severe burns and other
injuries.
• Failure to shut the engine off while refueling and/or to insert
the pump nozzle fully into the fuel filler neck could cause fuel to spray out of filler neck or to overflow. Fuel spray and overflowing
fuel can cause a fire.
• Never use a cellular telephone while refueling. The electromag­
netic radiation can cause sparks that can ignite fuel vapors and
cause a fire.
• Never get back into your vehicle while refueling. If in excep ­
tional circumstances you must get back in your vehicle while refu­
eling, make certain that you close the door and touch metal to
discharge static electricity before touching the filler nozzle again.
Static electricity can cause sparks that can ignite fuel vapors
released during refueling .
& WARNING (continued)
• Never smoke or have an open flame anywhere in or near your
vehicle when refueling or filling a portable fuel container.
• For your safety, we strongly recommend that you do not travel
with a portable fuel container in your vehicle. The container, full or
empty may leak and could cause a fire, especially in a crash.
• If, under exceptional circumstances, you must transport a
portable fuel container, please observe the following:
-Never fill a portable fuel container while it is anywhere in or
on the vehicle (for example, in the luggage compartment, or on
the trunk). Static electricity can build up while filling and can
ignite fuel vapors causing a fire.
- Always place a portable fuel container on the ground before
filling.
- Always keep the filler nozzle completely inside the portable
container before and during filling.
- If filling a portable container made of metal, the filler nozzle
must always be in contact with the container. This will help
prevent static electricity from discharging and cause a fire.
- Never spill fuel inside the vehicle or luggage compartment. Fuel vapors are highly flammable .
- Always observe local and state/provincial laws regarding the
use, storage and transportation of fuel containers.
- Make certain the fuel container meets industry standards
(ANSI / ASTM F852-86).
0 Note
If any fuel has spilled onto the car, it should be removed immedi-
ately to prevent damage to the paint.
~

<£' For the sake of the environment
As soon as the correctly operated nozzle switches off automatically
for the first time, the tank is full. Do not try to add more fuel because
fuel may spill out . In addition, the expansion space in the fuel tank
will be filled
-causing the fuel to overflow when it becomes warm
and pollute the environment .
[ i ] Tips
• Running your engine while refuelling may cause vapors to
escape or even cause fuel to spill out of the tank. This would then
shut off the fue l nozzle before the tank is full.
• Do not refuel your vehicle with the ignition turned on. The fuel
gauge may otherwise not indicate the correct fuel level after
refuelling. •
Unlocking the fuel filler flap by hand
You can open the fuel filler flap by hand if the power
locking system should fail.
Fig. 257 Luggage
compartment : Right­
side storage area
Fuel supply and filling your fuel tank
Fig. 258 Luggage
compartment : Emer­
gency opening of fuel
filler flap
-Rotate the two pins @ to the vertical pos ition to open
the s torage area.
~ fig. 257.
-Unclip the loop@ and move it to position ©~fig. 258.
-Pull the loop down to position © to unlock the fuel filler
flap. •
Vehic le care I I irechnical data

111'1...__C_ h_ e_c _k _ i_n ..::g ,_ a_n_ d_ f_il _li _n....: g=-- --------------------------------------------
Checking and filling
Engine hood
Releasing the engine hood
The engine hood is released from inside the vehicle.
Fig. 259 Driver's side
footwell: engine hood
release lever
-Pull the release lever on the left under the instrument
panel ~ fig. 259 in the direct ion of the arrow.
The hood pops up slight ly under spring pressure. •
Opening the engine hood
Fig. 260 Release lever
under the engine hood
Before opening the engine hood, make sure that the wind­
shie ld wipers are flat against the windshield. Otherwise,
they could damage the paint on the hood.
Li ft the hood
slightly~ &.
-Pull up on the release under the hood:=} fig. 260. Thi s
releases the catch.
-Open the hood all the way.
The hood is kept in the open position by two gas struts.
& WARNING
Hot engine coolant can burn you.
• To reduce the risk of being burned , never open the hood if you
see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the engine compart­
ment . Wait until no steam or coolant can be seen or heard before
carefully opening the hood . •

___________________________________________ C=..:...: h:.:e :.: c:.: k.:.: i.:.: n :3:g ~ a:.:.n .:.: d::......:. f..:..:il ..:..:li .:.:n3g !._ _9I
•
Closing the engine hood
- Pull the hood down until the pressure from the struts is
reduced .
- Let the hood
drop down and latch in place. Do not try to
push it shut;
it may fail to engage =>& .
& WARNING
A hood that is not completely latched could fly up and block your
view while driving.
• When you close the engine hood, check it to make sure the
safety catch has properly engaged. The hood should be flush with
the surrounding vehicle body parts.
• If you notice while driving that the hood is not secured prop­
erly, stop at once and close it. •
Working in the engine compartment
Be especially careful whenever you work in the engine
compartment.
Whenever you must perform any work in the engine compartment,
for example checking and filling different fluids, there is a risk of injury, burns and accidents. To prevent personal injury always
observe the following WARNINGS. The engine compartment of any
vehicle is a hazardous area
~ & .
& WARNING
To help avoid injury, before you check anything under the hood :
• Turn off the engine. • Remove the ignition key.
• Apply the parking brake.
• I I • • I
& WARNING (continued)
• Move selector lever to "P" (Park).
• Always let the engine cool down. Hot components will burn
skin on contact.
• To reduce the risk of being burned, never open the hood if you
see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the engine compart­
ment. Wait until no steam or coolant can be seen or heard before
carefully opening the hood.
• Keep children away from the engine compartment .
• Never spill fluids on hot engine components. They can cause a
fire.
• Never touch the radiator fan. The auxiliary electric fan is
temperature controlled and can switch on suddenly.
• Never open the coolant reservoir cap when the engine is still
warm. The coolant system is pressurized and hot coolant could spray out.
• Protect your face, hands and arm from steam or hot engine
coolant by placing a thick rag over the cap when you open the
coolant reservoir.
• If work on the fuel system or the electrical system is necessary:
- Always disconnect the battery.
- Never smoke or work near heaters or open flames . Fluids in
the engine compartment could start a fire.
- Keep an approved fire extinguisher immediately available.
• To avoid electrical shock and personal injury while the engine
is running or being started, never touch:
-Ignition cables
- Other components of the high voltage electronic ignition system.
• If you must perform a check or repair with the engine running: -First, fully apply the parking brake, move selector lever to
"P"
(Park). .,_
Vehicle care

111'1...__C_ h_ e_c _k _ i_n ..::g ,_ a_n_ d_ f_il _li _n....: g=-- --------------------------------------------
& WAR N ING (continued )
-Always use extreme caution to prevent clothing , jewelry, or
long ha ir from getting caught in the radiator fan , V -belts o r
other moving parts , or from contacting hot parts . Tie back hair
before starting , and do not wear clothing that will hang or
droop into the engine .
• Minimize exposure to emis sion and chemi cal hazards
=> & .
& WARNING
Californ ia Proposition 65 W arning :
• Engine exhaust , some of its constituents , and certain vehicle
c omponents conta in or emit chemicals known to the State of Cali­
fornia to cause cancer and birth defects and reproductive harm. In addition , ce rtain fluids contained in vehi cles and certa in products
of component wear contain or emit chemicals known to the State
of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reprodu c­
tive harm.
• Battery posts , terminals and related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds , chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harms. Wash hands after
handling.
0 Note
When adding f luids, always make sure that they are poured into the
proper container or filler opening, othe rwise serious damage to
vehicle systems wi ll occur.
For the sake of the environment
To detect leaks in time, inspect the vehicle floor pan from under ­
n eath regu larly. If you see spots from oil o r o ther ve hicle flu ids, have
your vehicle ins pected
by an autho rized Audi dea ler. •
Engine compartment
Ap plies to vehi cles : wi th 8 -cy lind er e ngi ne
Engine compartment overview : 8-cylinder
engine
T hese are the m ost i mpor tant i tems th at yo u c an ch eck .
Fig. 261 Typical l ayout for containe rs, engine o il d ip stic k a nd engine oil fille r
c a p
G) Winds hield/headlight washer containe r(~ ) ...... . .
© Brake fluid reservo ir ( ) ) . . .. .. .. ...... .... ... .. .
© En gine oi l filler cap ("t::r.) .. .. .... ...... ....... . _.
© Eng ine oil d ipstick (orange) .... ..... ....... ... .. .
© Power steering reservoir ...... ....... .... .. ... .. .
© Coolant expansion tank (_ L J ... ...... .... ... .... . .
323
317
312
3 11
2 7 3
315
..