As an independent Audi service garage with over 25 years of hands-on experience, we've seen many mechanical breakdowns on vehicles. Experience has shown that changing your fluids is the single most important preventive maintenance routine you can perform to avoid vehicle breakdowns. Thoroughly flushing your fluids at the proper intervals can help your car reach 150,000 miles and beyond.
PAGE DISCLAIMER: The Audi motor oil information on these pages should not be used as a substitute for what your vehicle owner's manual, factory service manual, or authorized Audi dealer recommends. Consult your owner's manual for the correct type of Audi oil that is to be used for your specific Audi A6 model.
Post Contents [hide]
- Recommended Audi A6 Oil Specs
- 2.0L Turbo 4 Cylinder Engines - Audi A6 Oil Types
- 3.2L 24 Valve Engine - Audi A6 Oil Type
- 3.0L V6 Engines - Audi A6 Oil Types
- 2.8L V6 Engines - Audi A6 Oil Type
- 2.7L 30 Valve Engines - Audi A6 Oil Type
- 3.0L TDI Diesel Engines - Audi A6 Oil Type
- 4.2L 8 Cylinder Engines - Audi A6 Oil Type
- What Type of Audi A6 Should I Choose?
- What Is the Best Audi A6 Oil?
- Considerations When Filling Audi A6 Oil
- Recommended Audi A6 Oil Change Interval
- Why Choose Blauparts for All Your Vehicle Lubrication Needs?
Recommended Audi A6 Oil Specs
Recommended Audi A6 oil, specifications, quality standards, and oil viscosity weight are specified in your owner's manual. If you have lost your owner's manual and are having difficulty determining what type of Audi A6 oil to use, you may wish to refer to our BLAU® Audi Oil Change Kits; which match the correct Audi A6 oil for each specific model.
2.0L Turbo 4 Cylinder Engines - Audi A6 Oil Types
- 2012-2016 Audi A6 2.0T model use VW 502 00 oil spec.
- 2017-2018 Audi A6 2.0T model use VW 502 00 or VW 504 00 oil spec.*
- 2019-2020 Audi A6 2.0T model use VW 508 00 oil spec.
* Some service documents show that you can use either the VW 502 00 or VW 504 00 spec for these select 2017-2018 Audi A6 2.0T models.
Audi A6 Oil Change Fill Capacity for Models with 2.0T 4 Cylinder Engines
2012-2018 Audi A6 2.0T model use 5 quarts or 4.7 liters.
2019-2020 Audi A6 2.0T model use 5.5 quarts or 5.2 liters.
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Audi A6 Oil Change Kit - 2012-15 - 2.0T - 10W40 Semi-Synthetic Ravenol$36.41 Regular Price $43.90
3.2L 24 Valve Engine - Audi A6 Oil Type
- 2005-2011 Audi A6 3.2L 24V models use VW 502 00 oil spec.
Audi A6 Oil Change Fill Capacity for Models with 3.2L V6 Engines
2005-2011 Audi A6 3.2L 24V oil fill capacity is 6.9 quarts or 6.6 liters.
3.0L V6 Engines - Audi A6 Oil Types
2002-2004 Audi A6 3.0L 30V models use VW 502 00 oil spec.
2009-2016 Audi A6 3.0L 24V models use VW 502 00 oil spec.
2017-2018 Audi A6 3.0L 24V Supercharged models use VW 502 00 or VW 504 00 oil spec.*
2019-2020 Audi A6 3.0L 24V Turbocharged models use VW 508 00 oil spec.
Audi A6 Oil Change Fill Capacity for Models with 3.0L V6 Engines
2002-2004 Audi A6 3.0L 30V oil fill capacity is 6.3 quarts or 6 liter.
2009-2016 Audi A6 3.0L 24V oil fill capacity is 6.9 quarts or 6.5 liters.
2017-2018 Audi A6 3.0L 24V Supercharged oil fill capacity is 7.2 quarts or 6.8 liters.
2019-2020 Audi A6 3.0L 24V Turbocharged oil fill capacity is 8 quarts or 7.6 liters.
2.8L V6 Engines - Audi A6 Oil Type
1995-1998 Audi A6 2.8L 12V models use VW 502 00 oil spec.
1998-2001 Audi A6 2.8L 30V models use VW 502 00 oil spec.
Audi A6 Oil Change Fill Capacity for Models with 2.8L V6 Engines
1995-1998 Audi A6 2.8L 12V oil fill capacity is 5.3 quarts or 5 liters.
1998-2001 Audi A6 2.8L 30V oil fill capacity is 6.3 quarts or 6 liters.
2.7L 30 Valve Engines - Audi A6 Oil Type
2000-2004 Audi A6 2.7T 30V models use VW 502 00 oil spec.
Audi A6 Oil Change Fill Capacity for Models with 2.7T V6 Engines
1999-2004 Audi A6 2.7T 30V oil fill capacity is 7.3 quarts or 6.9 liters.
3.0L TDI Diesel Engines - Audi A6 Oil Type
2014-2016 Audi A6 3.0 TDI models use VW 507 00 oil spec.
Audi A6 Oil Change Fill Capacity for Models with 3.0L TDI Diesel Engines
2014-2016 Audi A6 3.0 TDI Diesel oil fill capacity is 6.7 quarts or 6.4 liters.
4.2L 8 Cylinder Engines - Audi A6 Oil Type
2000-2006 Audi A6 4.2L 40V models use VW 502 00 oil spec.
2007-2011 Audi A6 4.2L 32V models use VW 502 00 oil spec.
Audi A6 Oil Change Fill Capacity for Models with 4.2L V8 Engines
2000-2004 Audi A6 4.2L oil fill capacity is 8 quarts or 7.6 liters.
2005-2006 Audi A6 4.2L oil fill capacity is 9.3 quarts or 8.8 liters.
2007-2011 Audi A6 4.2L oil fill capacity is 9.0 quarts or 8.5 liters.
What Type of Audi A6 Should I Choose?
Motor oil is the lifeblood of your Audi A6. Some quick chain "we-fix-everything-for-less" shops focus on turn around – rather than the quality of an oil change. As the owner, it's your responsibility to spend the extra time, energy, and money to make sure that your Audi A6 oil change is done right.
It goes without saying that Ravenol products meet the highest quality specifications. Ravenol carries more OEM Approvals than any other oil manufacturer worldwide. Ravenol also works closely with manufacturers, race engineers, and drivers to develop the most technically advanced lubricants available today.
What are Audi A6 motor oil quality standards (aka oil specs) and why are they important?
Worldwide there has been increased requirements for vehicle manufacturers to reduce emissions, minimize their carbon footprint, and improve fuel economy. It was around the late 1990s and early 2000s that more demanding standards began taking hold.
Around this time, manufacturers (e.g. Volkswagen Audi) began to engineer newer internal combustion engine designs in order to meet emission requirements and fuel mileage demands. These new Audi A6 engines also required cutting-edge synthetic motor oil formulations -- resulting in manufacturers establishing their own advanced oil quality standards.
Can I use a non-approved oil in my Audi A6? One that doesn't meet VW 502 00 oil quality standards?
Petroleum-based blends of motor oils are a thing of the past and should not be used. Using conventional motor oils that do not meet OEM-approved Audi A6 motor oil quality standards is very risky and not recommended.
New Audi A6 engine designs are engineered to exact tolerances using unique materials (alloys) and feature advanced fuel injection systems that are lubricated using specific motor oil formulations to ensure optimal system reliability. These advanced engine and fuel injection systems must meet stringent emission requirements focusing on improving fuel economy without compromising engine performance. Therefore, exact Audi motor oil specifications were designed, are required, and should be used.
Audi now requires the use of its own oil specifications to ensure optimal performance and warranty compliance. Using OEM-approved Audi A6 motor oil is key to ensuring engine reliability, optimal fuel economy, and the demands of meeting today's emission standards. Consequently, it's imperative to use an oil that meets the Audi A6 502 00 oil spec. Especially, if your Audi A6 is still under warranty.
For Example 2005-on Audi A6 models equipped with the 2.0 Liter Turbo engine, with FSI (fuel straight injection), have a fuel pump that is driven directly off the engine camshaft and is lubricated with engine motor oil. Failing to use approved Audi motor oil in these models causes premature engine wear. Over time, a ticking noise in the engine's upper valve train area will develop. This engine ticking noise is most noticeable after the engine has warmed up to operating temperature. To avoid this problem, be sure to use the approved Audi A6 motor oil type VW 502 00.
What Is the Best Audi A6 Oil?
Everyone has an opinion when it comes to what brand of oil they prefer to use in their Audi A6.
Some don’t want to spend the money on true OEM-approved high-quality oil. Lesser quality oil begins to break down before the 5,000-mile mark. Some say, “I’ll just change my oil sooner, every 5,000 miles.” Does that really make sense? The price of 2 cheaper oil changes that last 5,000 miles each versus what you would pay for 1 high-quality oil change that will last for the intended 10,000-mile internal? How much time do you have? At the end of the day, do you want to spend more time with the kids or to do another oil change?
There are many more benefits to using a high-quality approved oil. They’re better for your beloved Audi A6 and don’t break down during the intended oil change interval vs cheaper inexpensive oils. If you're planning on keeping your car long-term and care about the longevity of the engine, it’s best to choose an oil that is made and tested to remain stable during the entire interval.
In our experience there are a few things that are worth considering when shopping for Audi A6 engine oil:
- OEM Approved – If your Audi A6 is still under warranty it’s important to use an oil that clearly states that has approval for the VW 502 00 specs, either on the bottle or the manufacturer's website. This means that they have received an official letter from the vehicle manufacturer (e.g. VW Audi) stating that the oil meets or exceeds the quality standard required for your vehicle.
RAVENOL carries more OEM approvals than any other oil company worldwide. RAVENOL has offers several OEM Approved Audi A6 oils. - Quality Synthetic Oil Base and Tested Oil Characteristics – The oil manufacturer should freely disclose the exact type of synthetic oil base. When shopping for Audi A6 oil look for a full PAO or Ester base. The price of a product is a good indication of the type of synthetic it’s made with. Overall in the entire engine oil industry, a full PAO synthetic will not cost less than $10-$12 a liter.
You should also be able to easily find a list of the oil Characteristics on the manufacturer’s website or in published materials. Specific characteristics regarding the testing of the oil's viscosity, HTHS, pourpoint, flashpoint, or Noack volatility at certain temperatures. Many oil manufacturers don’t even publish this information, due to it being of inferior quality. Question the quality of any basic ‘blend’ oil descriptions, as they are likely only made of a certain percentage of real synthetic base.
A nice thing about RAVENOL vs other brands is that they are very transparent and clearly state if oil is semi-synthetic or fully synthetic, even providing details about whether it is a full PAO or Ester base. Their latest USVO oils are the best of the best and outperform other oils on the market by as much as 20%. - Made and Bottled in Germany or Europe – Oil formulations in Europe are ahead of domestically available products. Many of the additives that are used in European oils aren’t even available in the US. Other parts of the world have very lenient rules on what they consider fully synthetic. Whereas in Europe you have to say it as it is. Most semi-synthetic oils from Europe are what is considered fully synthetic in other parts of the world.
Plainly put, the quality of the oil base and additive packages is reflected in the price. If the oil costs more it's because they are of superior quality.
Considerations When Filling Audi A6 Oil
It's also important not to overfill. Per the below charts, add 0.5-liter LESS oil than the called for Audi A6 oil capacity. Then start the engine and run it until operating temperature is achieved (approx. 140 F). Wait a few minutes once the engine is shut off and then check the dipstick. Fill to the full mark. This is the correct way to check the engine oil level when doing an Audi A4 oil change, as it allows the oil filter to fill up and prevents overfilling the engine. It's also good to make sure your engine is warm before draining, as this allows for a more thorough draining.
Overfilling is a common mistake. If you fill and check your Audi A6 oil level when the engine is cold - the oil is not at its full expansion and you'll fill over the maximum oil level. When overfilled, the excess oil expands and makes its way into the engine crankcase ventilation, breather hose, and PCV valve system. This excess oil smog adulterates the air consumed by the engine. This oil adulterated air is then ingested by the engine and then exhausted by the engine. If the engine experiences regular overfilling during oil changes this adulterated air can be the cause of premature oil sludge and buildup on the top side of the intake and exhaust valves. Also, in time regular overfilling can cause issues with the catalytic converters, EGR valves, oxygen sensors and EGT sensors as the excess oil needs to be exhausted or burned into and through the exhaust system.
Recommended Audi A6 Oil Change Interval
The recommended Audi A6 oil change interval in the USA is set at 10,000 miles or once a year. Whichever occurs first. This oil change interval is also known as the fixed oil change interval. Typically, this is indicated by a service light that will illuminate on the instrument cluster dashboard every 365 days or 10,000 miles. Due to the availability of modern PAO and Ester synthetic engine oils some choose to go longer before performing an oil change service. However, we feel that the vehicle manufacturers have done due diligence in testing and prescribing the best oil change interval for the engine’s longevity.
We recommended performing more frequent oil change intervals if your car is exposed to rough driving conditions or excessively spirited street driving styles. Blauparts recommends an earlier oil change interval of every 3,000-6,000 miles or 6 months whichever occurs first.
For cars exposed to autocross and club racetrack events, we recommend a more frequent oil change interval of 12-24 hours of racetrack time. When your engine is exposed to excessive racetrack temperatures and pace it is a good error on the side of caution and perform an oil change sooner as good preventative maintenance to minimize engine wear or damage.
The above Audi oil change intervals are based on using quality Audi VW OEM-approved engine oil from Ravenol.
Why Choose Blauparts for All Your Vehicle Lubrication Needs?
BLAU® oil change kits use high-quality, synthetic* engine oils. The engine oils we offer are sourced from lubricant partners that employ sustainable efforts to improve the environment using a higher level of quality. This in turn can support the conservation of the environment through less oil changes and waste, optimize vehicle efficiency and performance, improve and maintain fuel economy, and reduce exhaust/carbon emissions.
*For most kits, check the product description.
Technical Advantages:
- Convenient BLAU® oil change kits with the correct spec oil and quantities for your specific vehicle make and model
- Oils feature factory OEM approvals or exceed your vehicle manufacturer's specific oil specification requirements
- Sustainable motor oils that conserve the environment, improve fuel economy, and reduce exhaust/carbon emissions
- High-quality oil allows for longer oil change intervals and extended service life that conserve the Earth's resources
- Motor oils using the latest advanced oil technologies with improved lubricating properties
- High-performance oils with better HTHS, Noak, and TBN performance levels
- Motor oils with better cold temperature pour points and high heat flashpoints
- Better engine protection against sludging, coking, and varnish in the piston ring and valve train areas
- Long-life OEM oil filters for extended oil change intervals
