warning AUDI S8 2009 Owners Manual

The labe l on the inside of the fuel filler flap tel ls you the correct fuel
fo r your vehicle . For mo re information about fuel specifications, see
=> page 303.
Your vehicle fuel tank has an onboard refuelling vapor recovery
sys tem. Th is feature helps to prevent fue l vapors from escapin g
from the tank and polluting the environment wh ile you refue l your
veh ic le . I n order to fill the tank properly while protecti ng the envi­
ronment, please follow this refuel ing procedure carefully .
& WARNING
Under normal operating conditions , never carry additional fuel
c ontainers in your car . Ga s canisters and other containers used to
transport fuel can be dangerous . Such conta iners , full or empty,
may leak and could cause a fire in a collision . If you mu st transport
fuel to use for your l awn mower , snow blower , etc. , be very c areful
and always ob serve local and state laws regarding the u se , tran s­
port ation and storage of su ch fuel containers . Make certain the
c ontainer meets industry standard s (ANSI/ASTM F852 -86 1.
0 Note
Neve r d rive your vehicle until the fuel tank is completely emp ty . The
irregular supp ly of fuel can cause misfiring . Gasoline could enter
t he e xhaus t system and damage the cataly tic converter. •
Fuel supply and filling your fuel tank
Refuelling
The fuel filler fl ap is unl ocked f rom a but ton i n the driver' s
d oor.
,._
"'
Fig . 25 7 Driver 's do or:
Unlo cking fuel filler
flap
F ig . 25 8 Fue l cap
ho oked on th e op ened
fuel filler flap
W hen a dding f uel, the ig nitio n and a ny c ellu lar phones in
th e ve hicl e m ust b e sw it c hed
off.
Taking the fuel cap off
To open t he fue l fille r flap, press the button~ fig. 257 .
Unsc rew f ue l filler cap co unter-c lockwise and hang it on
the fue l fi ller flap ~ fig. 258 . ..,
Vehicle 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 27to 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 F852-86l.
0 Note
If any fuel has spilled onto the car, it should be removed immedi -
ately to prevent damage to the paint. _.,

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Checking and filling
Engine hood
Releasing the engine hood
The engine hood is released from inside the vehicle.
Fig. 261 Driver's side
footwell: engine hood
release lever
-Pull the release lever on the left under the instrument
panel ~ fig. 261 in the direct ion of the arrow.
Th e hood pops up slightly under spring pressure .•
Opening the engine hood
Fig . 262 Release lever
under the engine hood
Before opening the engine hood, make sure that the wind­
shield wipers are flat against the windshield. Otherwise,
they could damage the paint on the hood.
Lift the hood slightly ~&, .
- Pull up on the release under the hood ~ fig. 262. This
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. •

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•
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 .
& 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
I t •

___ C_h_ e_ c_k _in --== g'-- a_n _d_ f_il _li _n ..:::g:::..- ___________________________________________ _
& WARNING (continued )
-Always u se extreme caution to prevent cloth ing , jewelry, or
long hair from getting caught in the radiator fan , V-belt s or
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 chemical hazards
::::> & .
& WARNING
California Proposition 65 W arn ing :
• Engine exhaust , some of its constituents , and certain vehicle
c omponents cont ain or emit chemicals known to the State of Cali­
fornia to cause cancer and birth defects and reproductive harm. In addition , certain 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 defect s or other reprodu c­
tive harm.
• Battery posts , terminals and related ac cessories conta in 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 ope ning, otherwise serious damage to
vehic le systems wi ll occur .
ci> For the sake of the environment
To detect leaks in time, inspect the vehicle floor pan from under ­
n eath regularly. If you see spots fro m oil o r o th e r v eh icle flu ids, hav e
your vehicle inspected by an author iz ed Audi dea le r. •
Engine compartment
Ap plies to vehi cle s: w ith 8 -c yli nd er e ng in e
Engine compartment overview : 8-cylinder
engine
T hese are the mos t impor tant items th at you c an ch eck .
Fig. 26 3 Typical l ayout for containe rs, engine o il d ip stic k and engine oil fille r
c a p
G) Winds hield/headlight washer containe r(<;;;> ) .. ..... .
0 Brake fluid reservoir ( l) .. .. .. .. ...... .... ... .. .
© En gine oil filler cap ('I::?:) .. .. .... ...... .... ... . _ .
© Engine oil d ipstick (orange) .... ..... ........ .... .
© Power st eering r eservoir ...... ........ ... ......• .
© Coolant expansion tank (- L l ... ...... .... ... .... . .
325
319
314
31 3
275
317 ..

Checking and filling -
------------- ----=-----= =-----...J
& WARNING
Before y ou che ck an ything in the eng ine comp artment , alw ays
read and heed all WARNING S
~ & in "W orkin g in the engin e
c ompartment " on
page 309. •
App lies to ve hic les : with 1 2-cy lin d er engine
Engine compartment overview : 1 2-cylinder
engine
These are the most important items tha t you can check.
Fig . 264 Typical layo ut fo r c ontain ers, engi ne oil dip st ick a nd e ngine o il filler
ca p
G) Windshield/head light washer container ( Q ) . . . . . . . . 325
@ Brake fluid reservoir ( l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
© Engine oi l dipstick (orange) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
© Engine oil fi ller cap ('t=:11) .. .. ... ... .... .. .. ... .. . .
© Coolan t expansion tank(_}_ ) ... ........ .... ... ... .
& WARNING
Before you check anything in th e engine co mpartment , alw ays
r e a d and heed all WARNIN GS
~ & in " Worki ng i n t he engin e
c ompartm ent " on
page 309.
[ i ] Tip s
The coo lant expansion tank is located under a cover .•
Engine oil
Engine oil specifications
314
317
The engine oil us ed in your Audi needs the right kind of
oil.
Th e engin e in your Audi is a soph isticat ed pow erplant that was built
to exacting specifications . This engine needs the right kind of
e ngine o il that meets specifications regarding quality and v iscosity
so that it can run smoothly and re liably. Choosing the righ t oil and
changing o il wi thin the time and mileage interva ls printed in your
vehicle's Warranty
& Ma intenance book let matte rs a lot more today
than it did years ago . Audi has developed a special quality standard
for engine oil that wil l help assure that your vehicle's engine wi ll get
the lub rication it needs for proper operation .
Modern engin e lubrication has taken a quantum leap in the last few
years . Many syn thetic oils ava ilable today provide better engine
lubrica tion that can outlas t traditional petroleum-based oils,
making them a smart choice for use throughout the life of your Audi.
Whether you use synthetic or petroleum -based engine oil , the oil
that you use must conform to Audi's oi l quality standard VW 502 00
ti,,,
Vehic le care I I Technical data

Checkin g and fillin g -
--------------~-
•
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 279) consume
more oil during the break-in period than they consume after 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.
With 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 313 . Top off the oil at your
earliest convenience~
page 314.
& 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 309 .
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 oi l, we recommend tha t you consult your Audi dealer to
have the cause of your concern properly diagnosed . Keep in mind
that the accurate measureme nt of oil consumption requires great
care and may take some time. Your Audi dealer has instructions
about how to measure oil consumption accurately. •
Checking the engine oil level
Vehicle care I t •
Fig. 2 65 Illu stra tion of
pri nciple 1 : Mar ker s on
oi l d ips tick ...

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Fig . 266 Illustr atio n of
p rin ci pl e 2: Marke rs o n
oi l d ips tick
Before you check anything in the e ngine compartment,
always read and h eed all WARNING S=>
& in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 309.
D ete rmining oil l ev el
Park your vehicle so that it is horizontally level.
- While at operat ing state temperature, briefly let the
engine run at id le and then shut it off .
- Wait approx. two minutes.
- Pull ou t the oil dipst ick. Wipe off the oil dipstick with a
clean cloth, and s lide it back in as far as it will go .
- Pull it back out and read off the oil level =>
page 313,
fig. 265 or ::::> fig. 266 . Top off the engine oil, if applicable
=>
page 314 .
Oil level with in range @
- Do not add oil.
Oil l evel within rang e
@
-You can add oil. Aft erwards, the oil level sho uld be wit hin
range @. Oil l
evel within ran ge
©
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 refue l and prior to long trips .
Depending on the way the vehicle is driven and the operating condi­
tions, oil consumption can be up to 1 quart per 1.200 mi les (1 liter
per 2.000 km). Consumption may be higher within the first 3 .000
miles (5.000 km) .•
Adding engine oil "l=:7:
Fi g. 2 67 O il filler cap
l ocat ion: 4.2 L 8-
c ylin der
Fig . 2 6 8 O il filler ca p
l ocatio n: 6. 0 L 12-
cylin der ...

Checkin g and fillin g -
--------------~-
•
Before you check a nything in the e ngine compartment,
alw ay s re ad and heed all WARNINGS ~ & in "Working in
the engine compartment" on
page 309.
- Turn off the engine.
- Unscrew the oil filler cap from the cylinder head cover
~ page 314, fig. 267 or~ page 314, fig. 268.
- Carefully top off with the appropriate o il in 0 .5 liter doses .
- Check the oil level again af te r two minutes~
page 313.
- Top off t he o il agai n, if necessary.
- Screw the cap back on the filling hole and slide the oil
dipstic k in as far as it will go .
& WARNING
• While toppi ng off , th e oil mu st n ot come in con tact w ith hot
e ngin e par ts -fir e ha zard!
• The oil filler cap mu st be p roperl y se cured t o pre vent o il fr om
be ing sprayed on the ho t engin e and exhau st s yste m wh en the
e ng ine is runni ng -fi re hazar d!
• If your skin h as come in co ntac t with th e engine oil , you mu st
s ub sequ entl y c lea nse it thor oug hl y.
0 Note
• T he oil level must not be above range @-danger of converter or
engine damage! Contact an authorized dealership to draw off oi l, if
necessary.
• Audi d oes n ot recommend the u se of o il a ddi tives . The y m ay
d am age th e eng in e and adv ers el y af fec t yo ur Ne w Vehicle Warr anty.
<£' For the sak e of th e environment
• Under no circumstances can the oi l come in contact with the
sewage network or the soi l.
• 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 co mpart ment, always re ad
an d heed all WARN INGS=>
& in "Working in the engine compart­
ment" on
page 309.
The engine oi l must be changed according to the interva ls specified
in your Warranty
& Maintenance booklet. This is very important
because the lubricat ing properties o f oi l d im inish g radua lly during
normal vehicle use.
Under some circumstances the engine oil shou ld be changed more
frequently . Change oil more often if you drive mostly short
distances, operate the vehicle in dusty areas or under predomi­
nantly stop -and -go traffic conditions, or have your vehicle where
temperatures remain below freezing for extended periods .
Detergent additives in the oil w ill make fresh oi l 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 .
Because of the problem of proper disposal, along with the spec ial
tools and necessary expertise required, we strong ly recommend
that you have your oi l changed by an authorized
Audi de aler or a
qualified service station .
If you choose to chang e your oil your self , please note the following
important information : .,_
Vehicle care I t •

-~_C_ h_e _c _ k_ i_n ...:::g::;...._ a_n_ d_ f_ i_ll _in -'g:::;.._ ___________________________________________ _
& WARNING
To reduce the risk of personal inju ry if you mu st change the engine
oil in your vehicle your self:
• Wear eye prote ction .
• To reduce the ri sk of bu rn s from hot engine oil , let the engine
c ool down to the tou ch .
• When remo ving th e oil dr ain pl ug w ith your fing ers, s tay a s fa r
a w ay as po ssibl e. Alw ays keep your forearm p arallel to the grou nd
to help prevent hot oil from running down your arm .
• Drai n the oil into a container de signed for th is purpose , one
l a rg e enough to hold at le ast the tot al a mount of oil in your eng ine .
• Engine oil is poi sonou s. Keep it well out of the rea ch of children .
• Continuous contact with used engine oil i s harmful to your
skin. Always prote ct your skin by wa shin g oil off thoroughly with
s oap and water .
0 Note
Never mix oil additives with your engine oil. These additives can
damage you r engine and adve rsely affect you r Audi Limited New
Vehicle Warranty .
~ For the sake of the environment
• Before changing your oil, first make sure you know where you
can proper ly dispose of the used oil.
• Always dispose of used engine oil properly . Do not dump it on
garden soil, wooded areas, into open st reams or down sewage
drains .
• Recycle used engine oi l by taking it to a used engine oi l collec ­
tion facility in your area, or contact a service station .•
Engine cooling system
Coolant
The engine coolan t perf orms two func tions: it keeps t he
engine from overheating an d it protects the engine from
freezing in the winter.
The cooling system is sealed and general ly requires litt le attention.
The coo ling system has been fi lled at the factory with a permanent
coo lant which does not need to be changed. The coolant consists of
a mixture of water and the manufacturer's glycol -basedcoolant
additive G12+ + antifreeze with anti corrosion additives (50% for USA
models; 60% for Canadian mode ls) . This mixture both assures the
necessary frost protection and protects metal components in the
engine's cooling system from corrosion and scaling. It also raises
the boil ing point o f the coolant.
D o not reduce the concentration of the coo lant in the summer by
adding pla in water.
Th e proporti on of coolant additive must b e at
l e as t 50 % but not more than 60 %
to maintain antifreeze protection
and cooling efficiency . If the coolant frost protect ion is too low, the
coo lant could freeze and damage the vehicle heating and engine
coo ling system.
For year-round driving, antifreeze is added at the factory for temper ­
atures down to :
• -31 °F ( -35 °C) USA
• - 40 °F ( - 40 °C) Canada .
You can mix the G 12 + + coolant additive wit h other additives (G12 +
or G12). A lways check with your authorized Audi dealer .
& WARNING
Before you che ck anything in the engine compartment , alwa ys
read and heed all WARNING S
~ & in "Working in the engine
c ompartment " on
page 30 9.