Audi A8 2008 Owner's Manual page 312

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to help keep your vehicle's engine running smoothly and help
prevent the formation of harmfu l deposits, sometimes called
"sludge, " that over time can lead to expensive repairs .
At the time of printing, engine oils available in the U.S. and Canada
that meet the exacting specificat ions of Audi oil standard VW 502 00
are synthetic engine oils. This does not mean, however, that every
synthetic engine oil will meet Audi oi l standard VW 502 00. So
always be sur e t hat you use an approved oil.
To help prevent the formation of harmful deposits use only oi l with
the following specifications printed on the oil container :
Audi oil st anda rd VW 502 00
Oil container labels may carry the specification singly or in combi-
nation with other designations and oil quality standards.
Viscosit y
Engine oi ls are graded according to their viscosity . The proper
viscosi ty grade oi l for your engin e d epends on climactic or seasonal
conditions where you drive . You can use o il with a v iscosity grade of
SAE 5W40 across all temperature ranges for normal driving condi-
tions.
However , if eng ine oil viscosity grade SAE 5W40 is not available, you
can also use viscosity grade SAE 5W-30 or SAE 0W-40 as long as it
meets Audi oil quality standard VW 502 00 specifications.
Because engin e oil t hat meets t he Audi oi l standard may not be
avai lable everywhere when you need it, we strongly recommend
that you always carry with you an extra quart !liter) of oil that
express ly conforms to t he VW 502 00 specification, in case you have
to top off the oil while on the road.
Only if th e level of the oil is at or be low the minimum mark on the
oi l dipstick - and no oil that express ly conforms to Audi oi l standard
VW 502 00 specifications is avai lable - may you top off with a high
quality engine oi l, preferably synthetic -based, that meets ACEA A3,
ACEA A5 or ACEA B5, API SL or ILSAC GF-3 specifications , but even
t hen, only in viscosity grades SAE 5W-40, SAE 5W-30, or SAE 0W-40.
However, during the entire time betwe en oil change int erva ls, never
top off with more than a total of 0 .5 qt/ liter engine oil that does not
conform to Audi oil specifica t ion VW 502 00.
For more information about engine oil that has been approved for
your vehic le, please contact either your authorized Audi dealer or
Aud i Customer Relat ions at 1 (800) 822-2834 or visit our web site at
www.audiusa.com or www.audicanada.ca. Here you will also find a
current list of o ils (manufacturers, brand names etc.I that conform
to Audi oi l st andard VW 502 00.
Changing t he engine oil
The engine oil and o il filter must be changed according to the
mileage (ki lometers) and time intervals specified in your vehic le's
Warranty & Maintenance booklet . Do not exceed these intervals -
harmful deposits from old engin e oil can reduce engin e perfor-
mance and can lead to expensive eng ine repa irs.
Changing the oil at the recommended intervals is so very impor t ant
because the lubricating properties of oi l decrease gradua lly during
normal vehicle use. If you are not sure when you have your o il
changed, ask your authorized Audi Service Advisor.
Under some circumstances the eng ine oil should even be changed
mor e frequen t ly. Change oil more oft en if you drive most ly short
distances, operate the vehicle in dusty areas or mostly under stop -
and -go traffic conditions, or when you use your vehicle where
t emperatures stay be low freezing po int for long per iods .
Detergent add it ives in the oi l wi ll make fresh oil look dark after the
engine has be en running for a short time. This is normal and is not
a reason to change the oi l more often than recommended .
Damage or malfunction s due t o lack of maint enance
It is essential that you change your oil 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 malfunctions due to fai lure to follow recommended
maintenance and use requirements as set forth in the Audi Owner's
Manual and Warranty & Maintenance booklet. Your dea ler wi ll have
to deny warranty coverage un less you pr esent to the dea ler proof in .,_