2026 Audi A3 Engine Oil and Fluid User Guide
This guide contains thorough information regarding the 2026 Audi A3 engine oil and fluid requirements. Understand the optimum types, levels, and maintenance intervals for optimal engine performance.
Engine oil
If the engine oil level is too low
- Engine oil viscosity
- Engine oil standard
If you need to add engine oil, use an oil that meets the engine oil standard listed on the stick-er. The sticker with the specified standard is located in the front of the engine compartment. When using the specified engine oil, you can adjust the oil level as often as needed.
If engine oil that meets the recommended speci-fication is not available, in an emergency you may add a maximum of 0.5 quart (0.5 liter) en-gine oil of the that meets the following different standard one time until the next regular oil change.
- Standard VW 504 00, ACEA C3, ACEA C4, API SP or ILSAC GF 6A. All viscosity classes within these standards are permitted.
Audi recommends having the oil changed by an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.
Messages
The following messages may appear, depending on the vehicle equipment:
- If the engine oil level is too low, add engine oil. Only continue driving once the in-dicator light turns off.
- If the engine oil level is correct and the indica-tor light still turns on, turn the engine off and do not continue driving.
Please check oil level
- You may continue driving for the time being. Check the engine oil level as soon as possible Checking the engine oil level or Checking the engine oil level.
- If the engine oil level is correct and the indica-tor light still turns on, drive at low engine speed to an authorized Audi dealer or author-ized Audi Service Facility.
Please add oil immediately Stop driving and turn off the engine. Check the engine oil level. Checking the engine oil level or Checking the engine oil level and add engine oil immediately.
There is too much oil in the engine and there is a risk of damaging the catalytic converter or en-gine. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or au-thorized Audi Service Facility immediately to have the engine oil level adjusted if necessary. Avoid high engine speeds, full acceleration, and heavy engine loads.
Oil level sensor: oil change necessary. Please contact ServiceFuel 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 im-mediately to have engine oil extracted.
Oil level system: malfunction! Please con-tact ServiceThe sensor that checks the engine oil level has malfunctioned. Drive immediately to an author-ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-ty to have the malfunction corrected.
The sensor that checks the engine oil pressure has malfunctioned. Drive immediately to an au-thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the malfunction corrected.
Please drive to warm up engineEspecially 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” position.
Drive the engine at higher RPMs while avoiding full acceleration.
You should drive for at least 30 minutes. The in-dicator 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.
Checking the engine oil level
The engine oil dipstick varies depending on the engine type.
Observe the safety precautions, General information.
- Park the vehicle on a level surface.
- Shut the engine off when it is warm.
- Wait approximately five minutes so that the en-gine oil can flow back into the engine oil pan.
- Open the hood
- Remove the oil dipstick wipe it off with a clean cloth and insert it all the way in again.
- Remove the oil dipstick again and then read the oil level
- Slide the oil dipstick all the way in until it stops.
- Add engine oil if necessary, Adding engine oil.
- Areas on the oil dipstick
If the engine oil level is just over the mark-ing 1 , then engine oil may be added. If the engine oil level is just under the mark-ing 1 , then engine oil should be added. Do not add engine oil.
Checking the engine oil level
The engine oil level can be checked in the MMI.
Observe the safety precautions, Gen-eral information.
- Park the vehicle on a level surface.
- Shut the engine off when it is warm.
- Turn only the ignition on again.
- Wait approximately five minutes so that the en-gine oil can flow back into the engine oil pan.
- Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-HICLE > Settings & Service > Oil level.
- Check the oil level in the display ð table on page 226. Add engine oil if necessary. Adding engine oil.
- Ranges on the engine oil level display
- In this range, the engine oil level is OK.
- In this range, you can add engine oil.
- In this range, you must add engine oil.
Adding engine oil
Adding engine oil – part one
- Turn off the engine.
- Open the hood
- Unscrew the cap
for the engine oil filler opening - Carefully add 0.5 quart (0.5 liter) of the correct oil If the engine oil level is too low.
Adding engine oil – part two
- Check the oil level again after two minutes with the oil dipstick, Checking the engine oil level.
- Applies to: using engine oil that meets the rec-ommended specification: Add some more en-gine oil again if necessary.
- Close the engine oil filler cap and push the dipstick all the way in.
- Close the hood
- Close the cap on the engine oil filler opening.
- Close the hood
- Restart the ignition after two minutes and read the current oil level in the MMI, Checking the engine oil level.
- Applies to: using engine oil that meets the rec-ommended specification: Add some more en-gine oil again if necessary.
- Close the cap on the engine oil filler opening
- Close the hood
Changing engine oil
Audi recommends having the oil changed at an authorised Audi dealer or authorized Audi Serv-ice Facility. Observe the safety precautions, Gen-eral information. The engine oil must be changed at the intervals specified in the Warranty & Maintenance Book-let. This is very important because the lubrication function of the oil gradually declines during regu-lar vehicle operation. The engine oil should be changed more frequent-ly under certain circumstances. Have the oil changed more frequently if you often drive short distances, your vehicle is predominantly in stop-and-go traffic situations, is in very dusty environ-ments, or is operated for long periods of time in temperatures below zero. Cleansing additives in the oil make fresh oil ap-pear 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 diffi-cult 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 re-moving 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 wa-ter to protect your skin.
Brake fluid
- Park the vehicle on a level surface.
- Read the brake fluid level on the brake fluid reservoir, The brake fluid level must be between the MIN and MAX mark-ings
The brake fluid level is monitored automatically.
Driver messages
The following driver messages may appear, depending on the equipment installed in your vehicle:
Brakes: stop vehicle and check brake fluid level
Stop the vehicle and check the brake fluid level. Seek professional assistance.
Having the brake fluid changed
The brake fluid must be changed at regular inter-vals by a qualified workshop. The workshop can inform you about the service intervals for the brake fluid change.
WARNING
- If the brake fluid level is under the MIN mark, the effectiveness of the brakes and therefore the safety of the vehicle may be impaired risk of accident! Do not drive on. Seek professional assistance.
- Heavy use of the brakes may cause a vapour lock if old brake fluid is left in the system. This would seriously impair the effective-ness of the brakes and the safety of the car –risk of accident!
- The brake fluid in your vehicle must comply with the VW 501 14 standard. If this brake fluid is not available, it is permissible to use an alternative high-quality brake fluid com-plying with the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Standard (FMVSS) 116 DOT 4, Class 6
(ISO 4925). - If used brake fluid or brake fluid not ap-proved for your vehicle is used, the effective-ness of the brakes will be seriously impaired and the brake system could even fail com-pletely. The vehicle manufacturer will accept no liability for faults or damage which occur as a result. In addition, no warranty claims will be accepted.
CAUTION
- If the brake fluid level is above the MAX mark, brake fluid may escape via the cap on the reservoir in certain circumstances and cause damage to the vehicle.
- Brake fluid must not be allowed to come in-to contact with the vehicle’s body, other-wise it will attack the paintwork.
Useful Links:
2024 Audi A3 Specs, Price, Features, Mileage and Review