Audi A8, S8, 4E (USA)

Automatic transmission fluid capacity & service interval

Audi A8, S8, 4E (USA) automatic transmission fluid capacity ranges from 9,8 to 10,4 liters. Service intervals include checks at 15000 miles or 12 months, 15000 miles or 24 months, 20000 miles or 12 months, and 20000 miles or 24 months. The data covers 16 configurations.

The configuration chart below lists fill volumes and service intervals for each engine and trim variant.

TypeSpecifications
A8 4.2 V8 quattro (257 kW) (2007-2010)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 9,8 liter (Initial fill)
  • Check 20000 miles/ 24 months
  • Code: 09L 6/1
A8 4.2 V8 quattro (257 kW) (2007-2010)
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 9,8 liter (Initial fill)
  • Check 15000 miles/ 24 months
  • Code: 09L 6/1
A8 6.0 W12 quattro (331 kW) (2007-2009)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 10,4 liter (Initial fill)
  • Capacity 10 liter (Refill)
  • Check 20000 miles/ 24 months
  • Code: 09E 6/1
A8 6.0 W12 quattro (331 kW) (2007-2009)
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 10,4 liter (Initial fill)
  • Capacity 10 liter (Refill)
  • Check 15000 miles/ 24 months
  • Code: 09E 6/1
S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) (2007-2009)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 10,4 liter (Initial fill)
  • Check 20000 miles/ 24 months
  • Code: 09E 6/1
S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) (2007-2009)
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 10,4 liter (Initial fill)
  • Check 15000 miles/ 24 months
  • Code: 09E 6/1
A8 4.2 V8 quattro (257 kW) (2006-2007)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 9,8 liter (Initial fill)
  • Check 20000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 09L 6/1
A8 4.2 V8 quattro (257 kW) (2006-2007)
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 9,8 liter (Initial fill)
  • Check 15000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 09L 6/1
S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) (2006-2007)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 10,4 liter (Initial fill)
  • Check 20000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 09E 6/1
S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) (2006-2007)
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 10,4 liter (Initial fill)
  • Check 15000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 09E 6/1
A8 4.2 V8 quattro (246 kW) (2005-2006)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 10,4 liter (Initial fill)
  • Capacity 10 liter (Refill)
  • Check 20000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 09E 6/1
A8 4.2 V8 quattro (246 kW) (2005-2006)
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 10,4 liter (Initial fill)
  • Capacity 10 liter (Refill)
  • Check 15000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 09E 6/1
A8 6.0 W12 quattro (331 kW) (2004-2007)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 10,4 liter (Initial fill)
  • Capacity 10 liter (Refill)
  • Check 20000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 09E 6/1
A8 6.0 W12 quattro (331 kW) (2004-2007)
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 10,4 liter (Initial fill)
  • Capacity 10 liter (Refill)
  • Check 15000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 09E 6/1
A8 4.2 V8 quattro (246 kW) (2002-2005)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 10,4 liter (Initial fill)
  • Capacity 10 liter (Refill)
  • Check 20000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 09E 6/1
A8 4.2 V8 quattro (246 kW) (2002-2005)
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 10,4 liter (Initial fill)
  • Capacity 10 liter (Refill)
  • Check 15000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 09E 6/1

Additional Notes

  • The Audi A8 4.2 V8 quattro (246 kW) carries an initial fill capacity of 10.4 liters for the automatic transaxle, while the refill capacity is listed at 10.0 liters. The 0.4-liter difference between initial fill and refill reflects the volume retained in the torque converter and hydraulic circuits during a partial drain, meaning a service refill never fully displaces the total system volume.
  • The 257 kW variant of the A8 4.2 V8 quattro has an initial fill capacity of 9.8 liters with no separate refill figure listed, compared to the 10.4-liter initial fill of the 246 kW version. This reduction aligns with a different transmission unit pairing for the higher-output engine introduced from 2006 onward.
  • Across the 246 kW V8 configurations covering 2002-2006, the normal-use check interval is set at 20,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. The first-check-only condition for the same configurations shortens the mileage trigger to 15,000 miles while keeping the 12-month time limit unchanged.
  • From 2007 onward, the time component of the check interval for both the 257 kW V8 and the 6.0 W12 configurations extended from 12 months to 24 months, while the mileage thresholds remained at 20,000 miles for normal use and 15,000 miles for the first check only. This change applies consistently across both engine types for that period.
  • The A8 6.0 W12 quattro (331 kW) shares the same 10.4-liter initial fill and 10.0-liter refill figures as the 246 kW V8, despite the substantially larger W12 engine displacement. Both use the same transaxle capacity values across their respective production periods from 2004 through 2009.
  • The S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) has a 10.4-liter initial fill capacity but, like the 257 kW V8, carries no separate refill capacity figure in the specifications. The absence of a refill value in these rows distinguishes them from the V8 246 kW and W12 configurations, which both list a 10.0-liter refill figure.
  • The first-check-only interval across all listed configurations consistently sets the mileage threshold 5,000 miles lower than the corresponding normal-use interval. This earlier check is standard practice for newly filled transmission systems, allowing verification of fluid condition and level before the regular service cadence begins.
  • The S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro follows the same interval transition seen in other configurations: the 2006-2007 period carries a 12-month time limit, while the 2007-2009 period extends to 24 months, at both the 20,000-mile normal and 15,000-mile first-check-only thresholds.

Other Systems