Audi A4: Engine oil

If the engine oil level too low

If you need to add engine oil, use an oil that is listed on the sticker. The sticker is located at the front of the engine compartment fig. 158. When using the engine oil listed on the sticker, you can adjust the oil level as often as needed.

If engine oil that meets the recommended specification is not available, in an emergency you may add a maximum of 0.5 quart (0.5 liter) of ACEA C3 or API SN engine oil one time until the next oil change.

Audi recommends having the oil changed by an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.

Note

Audi recommends using approved engine oil that meets the respective VW standard. Using engine oils which do not meet these quality standards can cause damage to the engine.

Tips

Audi recommends using engine oils provided by Audi Genuine Parts.

Messages

The following messages may appear depending on the vehicle equipment:

Turn off engine. Oil pressure too low

Stop driving and switch the engine off. Check the engine oil level.

• If the engine oil level is too low, add engine oil . Only continue driving once the indicator light turns off.
• If the engine oil level is correct and the indicator light still turns on, turn the engine off and do not continue driving. See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for assistance.

Applies to: vehicles with oil level warning

Please add oil immediately.

Stop driving and switch the engine off. Check the engine oil level and add engine oil immediately.

Add max. x qt (x l) oil. You can continue driving

Add the amount of oil shown immediately.

Please reduce oil level

There is too much oil in the engine and there is a risk of damaging the catalytic converter or engine.

Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility immediately to have engine oil extracted if necessary. Avoid high engine speeds, full acceleration, and heavy engine loads.

Oil level sensor: oil change necessary. Please contact Service

Fuel has entered the engine oil. This will cause the engine oil level to rise slowly and the engine oil quality to decrease. Do not extract engine oil to reduce the level, because this will increase the risk of engine damage. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility immediately to have engine oil extracted.

Oil level system: malfunction! Please contact Service

The sensor that checks the engine oil level has malfunctioned. Drive immediately to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the malfunction repaired.

Oil pressure sensor: malfunction! Please contact Service

The sensor that checks the engine oil pressure has malfunctioned. Drive immediately to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the malfunction repaired.

Please drive to warm up engine

Especially low outside temperatures are a main reason why fuel may get into the engine oil. The fuel can only evaporate from the engine oil if the engine oil temperature is high enough.

Drive in the "S" gear.

Drive the engine at higher RPMs while avoiding full acceleration.

You should drive for at least 30 minutes. The indicator light may not turn off during this time.

Repeat the steps that are described at any time.

Have an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility repair the malfunction if the indicator light does not turn off after a few drives.

WARNING

When the message Please drive to warm up engine appears, adjust your speed according to the weather, road, terrain, and traffic conditions. You should never disobey the traffic laws applicable in the country in which you are driving in order to follow driving recommendations.

Tips

The oil pressure warning is not an oil level indicator. Always check the oil level regularly.

Checking the engine oil level

The engine oil level can be checked in the MMI.

Observe the safety precautions General information.

• Park the vehicle on a level surface.
• Shut the engine off when it is warm.
• Switch only the ignition back on.
• Wait approximately five minutes so that the engine oil can flow back into the engine oil pan.
• Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VEHICLE
• Settings & Service > Oil level.
• Read the oil level in the display. Add engine oil if the bar in the oil level indicator is just below "min".

Note

If the engine oil level is too low or too high, there is a risk of engine damage.

Tips

The oil level indicator in the display is only an informational display. If the oil level is too low, a minimum oil warning appears in the instrument cluster. Add oil and close the hood.

The current oil level will be displayed on the MMI the next time the ignition is switched on.

Tips

The engine oil consumption may be up to 0.5 quart/600 miles (0.5 liter/1,000 km), depending on driving style and operating conditions.

Consumption may be higher during the first 3,000 miles (5,000 km). The engine oil level must be checked regularly. It is best to check each time you refuel your vehicle and before long drives.

• Because of the lubrication and cooling of the engine, combustion engines consume oil. The oil consumption varies depending on the engine and may change during the service life of the engine. Engines generally consume more oil at the beginning during the break-in period. Then oil consumption stabilizes after the break-in period.
• Under normal conditions, oil consumption depends on the quality and viscosity of the oil, the engine RPM, the climate conditions, and the road conditions. The dilution of oil from condensation or fuel residue as well as the age of the oil also play a role. Because engine wear increases with mileage, oil consumption will increase again over time until it may be necessary to replace worn components.
• Because all these variables play a role, it is not possible to define an oil consumption standard. Therefore, the oil level must be checked regularly.
• If you believe that your engine has increased its oil consumption, contact an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility to determine the cause. Please note that an exact oil consumption measurement must be done with the necessary care and accuracy and may take time. An authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility is trained in accurately measuring the oil consumption.
• You can find information on engine oil and engine oil capacities for the USA at www.audiusa.com/help/maintenance, or for Canada at www.audi.ca/ca/web/en/ customer-area/care-and-maintenance/ audi-service-schedules.html, or call 800-822-2834.

Adding engine oil

Fig. 159 Engine compartment: engine oil filling opening cover (example)

Observe the safety precautions > General information.

• Turn the engine off
• Open the hood
• Unscrew the cap for the engine oil filler opening > fig. 159.
• Carefully add 0.5 quart (0.5 liter) of the correct oil
• Close the engine oil filler opening cap.
• Close the hood
• Restart the ignition after two minutes and check the current oil level in the MMI, Checking the engine oil level
• Applies to: using engine oil that meets the recommended specification: Add some more engine oil again if necessary

WARNING

• When adding oil, do not let oil drip onto hot engine components. This increases the risk of a fire.
• You must close the cap on the oil filler opening correctly so that oil does not leak out onto the hot engine and exhaust system when the engine is running, because this is a fire hazard.
• Always clean skin thoroughly if it comes into contact with engine oil.
• Engine oil is poisonous and must be kept out of reach of children.
• Store the engine oil securely in the original container.

Note

• Only use high-grade engine oil that explicitly meets the Audi oil quality standard for your vehicle. Using another oil may cause severe vehicle damage.
• Do not mix any additives with the engine oil.

  Additives may cause engine damage that is not covered by your New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

For the sake of the environment

• Oil should never enter the sewer system or come into contact with the ground.
• Follow the legal regulations in the country where you are located when disposing of empty oil containers.

Changing engine oil

Audi recommends having the oil changed at an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.

Observe the safety precautions General information.

The engine oil must be changed at the intervals specified in the Warranty & Maintenance Booklet.

This is very important because the Lubrication function of the oil gradually declines during regular vehicle operation.

The engine oil should be changed more frequently under certain circumstances. Have the oil changed more frequently if you often drive short distances, your vehicle is predominantly in stopand- go traffic situations, is in very dusty environments, or is operated for long periods of time in temperatures below zero.

Cleansing additives in the oil make fresh oil appear darker after the engine has run briefly. This is normal and no reason to change the engine oil more frequently than recommended.

Because correctly disposing of engine oil is difficult and special tools and technical knowledge are needed for an oil change, Audi recommends having your engine oil changed by an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.

If you change the engine oil yourself, please note the following important information:

WARNING

If you change the engine oil on the vehicle yourself, the following precautions must be followed:

• Wear protective eyewear.
• Due to the risk of scalding, allow the engine to cool down sufficiently.
• Maintain enough distance when you are removing the oil drain plug. While doing this, keep your forearm parallel to the ground to reduce the risk of hot oil dripping down your arm.
• Drain the oil into a container designed for this purpose that is large enough to hold the full amount of oil in your engine.
• Engine oil is poisonous. Always store out of reach of children.
• Prolonged contact of used engine oil with the skin may cause skin damage. Always wash oil off immediately with soap and water to protect your skin.

Note

Do not mix any additives with the engine oil.

Additives may cause engine damage that is not covered by your New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

For the sake of the environment

• Before changing the engine oil, make sure you can dispose of the used engine oil correctly.
• Engine oil must always be disposed of correctly.

  Do not dump it in the yard, in the forest, or in open water, river channels, or sewers.

• Have your used engine oil recycled by bringing it to a used oil collection site or contact a gas station.

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