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.
Post Contents [hide]
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 S4 model.
Recommended Audi S4 Oil Specs
Recommended Audi S4 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 S4 oil to use, you may wish to refer to our BLAU® Audi Oil Change Kits; which match the correct Audi S4 oil for each specific model.
|
|
|
* Service documents confirm that you must use the VW 508 00 spec for these select 2018-2020 Audi S4 3.0 liter turbocharged models. VW 508 00 oil spec is only an SAE 0W-20 viscosity.
What Are Audi S4 Motor Oil Quality Standards (AKA Oil Specs) and Why Are They Important?
Worldwide there have 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 to meet emission requirements and fuel mileage demands. These new Audi S4 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 S4? 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 S4 motor oil quality standards is very risky and not recommended.
New Audi S4 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 engines 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 S4 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 S4 502 00 oil spec. Especially, if your Audi S4 is still under warranty.
For Example, 2005-on Audi S4 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 S4 motor oil type VW 502 00.
What Is the Best Audi S4 Oil?
Everyone has an opinion when it comes to what brand of oil they prefer to use in their Audi S4.
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 S4 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 S4 oil:
- OEM Approved – If your Audi S4 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 offers several OEM Approved Audi S4 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 S4 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 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.
Put plainly, 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.
Audi S4 Oil Fill Capacities
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 S4 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 more thorough draining.
Overfilling is a common mistake. If you fill and check your Audi S4 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.
|
|
|
What Is the Best Audi S4 Oil Change Interval?
The recommended Audi S4 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 good to err 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.
What Type of Audi S4 Oil Should I Choose?
Motor oil is the lifeblood of your Audi S4. 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 S4 oil change is done right.
Ravenol products meet the highest quality specifications. Ravenol carries more Formal 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.
Good ★ ★
RAVENOL HPS
Meets Audi VW 502 00 oil spec.
SAE 5W-30
ACEA A3 / B3 / B4
API SM / SL / CF
- Performance low friction semi-synthetic based oil with exclusive CleanCynto® technology additive formula.
- Excellent corrosion protection, cold start characteristics, and flow.
- Fuel economy benefits and optional for all operating conditions.
- An excellent option for those who prefer more frequent oil change intervals.
Better ★ ★ ★
Eurol Syndura
Meets Audi VW 502 00 oil spec.
SAE 5W-40
ACEA A3 / B4
API SN / CF
- Eurol fully synthetic engine oils are the prefered choice of today's demanding Dakar rally-winning teams.
- Fully synthetic oil technology provides excellent high-temperature shear load stability and film strength.
- Excellent quick lubricating film strength during cold engine starts and the warm-up phase.
- Minimal oil-related deposit buildup in combustion chambers, piston rings, & valves.
RAVENOL HCL
OEM Approval for Audi VW 502 00 oil spec.
SAE 5W-30
ACEA A3 / B4
API SL / CF
- Performance low friction synthetic base oil and exclusive CleanCynto® technology additive formula.
- Suitable for extended oil change intervals where recommended by the manufacturer.
- Low friction German oil for gasoline engines.
- Reduces internal dynamic engine drag and increased fuel mileage.
- Excellent cold start characteristics and shear stability.
RAVENOL VMO
Meets Audi VW 502 00 oil spec.
SAE 5W-40
ACEA C3
API SN / CF
- High-performance synthetic base oil and exclusive CleanCynto® technology additive formula.
- Special MID SAPS low ash oil characteristics.
- Suitable for extended oil change intervals where recommended by the manufacturer.
- Meets stringent EURO IV and EURO V emission standards.
- Noticeable fuel economy improvement.
Best ★ ★ ★ ★
RAVENOL SSO
OEM Approval for Audi VW 502 00 oil spec.
SAE 0W-30
API SN / CF
ACEA A3 / B4
- Fully synthetic PAO base oil and exclusive CleanCynto® technology additive formula.
- Also features cutting-edge USVO® technology providing extremely high viscosity stability.
- Energy conserving oil produces a significant reduction in fuel consumption.
- Suitable for extended oil change intervals where recommended by the manufacturer.
- Guaranteed engine lubrication even in extreme below zero temperatures.
RAVENOL SSL
OEM Approval for Audi VW 502 00 oil spec.
SAE 0W-40
ACEA A3 / B4
API SN / CF
- Fully synthetic PAO base oil and exclusive CleanCynto® technology additive formula.
- Also features cutting-edge USVO® technology providing extremely high viscosity stability.
- Improved engine protection, performance, engine cleanliness, and oil drain intervals.
- Extended oil change intervals where recommended by the manufacturer.
- Excellent cold start characteristics.
RAVENOL VST
OEM Approval for Audi VW 502 00 oil spec.
SAE 5W-40
API SN / CF
ACEA A3 / B4
- Fully synthetic PAO-based oil and exclusive CleanCynto® technology additive formula.
- Also features cutting-edge USVO® technology providing extremely high viscosity stability.
- Suitable for extended oil change intervals where recommended by the manufacturer.
- Specially designed for high-temperature situations typical of modern turbocharged engines.
- Excellent cold start characteristics.
Eurol Syntence
OEM Approval for Audi VW 504 00 gasoline and VW 507 00 diesel oil spec.
SAE 5W-30
API SP
ACEA C3
- Eurol fully synthetic engine oils are the prefered choice of today's demanding Dakar rally-winning teams.
- Fully synthetic oil developed especially for Volkswagen/Audi vehicles.
- Designed for use on vehicles equipped with soot filters.
- Quieter engine valve train components are typically noticed.
Eurol Syntence LV
OEM Approval for Audi VW 508 00 oil spec.
SAE 0W-20
ACEA C5
- Eurol fully synthetic PAO-based oil with exclusive VW 508 00 green coloring and Zirconium oil markers (Same as Porsche C20).
- The preferred engine oil choice of multi-championship Dakar rally-winning teams.
- Minimizes friction, and improves fuel economy with great severe driving lubrication.
- Minimal oil-related deposit buildup in combustion chambers, piston rings, & valves.
RAVENOL VSE
OEM Approval for Audi VW 508 00 oil spec.
SAE 0W-20
ACEA C5
- Fully synthetic PAO-based oil and exclusive CleanCynto® technology additive formula.
- Features cutting-edge USVO® technology providing extremely high viscosity stability.
- No oil-related deposits in combustion chambers, piston ring zone, and valves.
- No shear losses during the entire oil change interval.
- Extended oil change intervals.
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
