Audi A8, S8, 4E (USA)

Differential fluid capacity & service interval

Audi A8, S8, 4E (USA) differential fluid capacity ranges from 0,9 to 1,5 liters. Service intervals include checks at 15000 to 20000 miles or 12 to 24 months. The data covers 40 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)
  • From automatic
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,1 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 24 months
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (257 kW) (2007-2010)
  • From automatic
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 1,1 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 24 months
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (257 kW) (2007-2010)
  • Rear
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,5 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 24 months
  • Code: 01R
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (257 kW) (2007-2010)
  • Rear
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 1,5 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 24 months
  • Code: 01R
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (257 kW) (2007-2010)
  • Rear
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 0,9 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 24 months
  • Code: 0AR
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (257 kW) (2007-2010)
  • Rear
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 0,9 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 24 months
  • Code: 0AR
  • A8 6.0 W12 quattro (331 kW) (2007-2009)
  • Front
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,2 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 24 months
  • A8 6.0 W12 quattro (331 kW) (2007-2009)
  • Front
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 1,2 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 24 months
  • A8 6.0 W12 quattro (331 kW) (2007-2009)
  • Rear
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,5 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 24 months
  • A8 6.0 W12 quattro (331 kW) (2007-2009)
  • Rear
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 1,5 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 24 months
  • S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) (2007-2009)
  • Front
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,1-1,2 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 24 months
  • S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) (2007-2009)
  • Front
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 1,1-1,2 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 24 months
  • S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) (2007-2009)
  • Rear
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,5 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 24 months
  • Code: 01R
  • S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) (2007-2009)
  • Rear
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 1,5 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 24 months
  • Code: 01R
  • S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) (2007-2009)
  • Rear
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 0,9 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 24 months
  • Code: 0AR
  • S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) (2007-2009)
  • Rear
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 0,9 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 24 months
  • Code: 0AR
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (257 kW) (2006-2007)
  • Front
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,1 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 24 months
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (257 kW) (2006-2007)
  • Front
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 1,1 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 24 months
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (257 kW) (2006-2007)
  • Rear
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,5 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 01R
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (257 kW) (2006-2007)
  • Rear
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 1,5 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 01R
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (257 kW) (2006-2007)
  • Rear
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 0,9 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 0AR
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (257 kW) (2006-2007)
  • Rear
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 0,9 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 0AR
  • S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) (2006-2007)
  • Front
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,2 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 12 months
  • S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) (2006-2007)
  • Front
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 1,2 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 12 months
  • S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) (2006-2007)
  • Rear
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,5 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 01R
  • S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) (2006-2007)
  • Rear
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 1,5 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 01R
  • S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) (2006-2007)
  • Rear
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 0,9 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 0AR
  • S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) (2006-2007)
  • Rear
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 0,9 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 12 months
  • Code: 0AR
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (246 kW) (2005-2006)
  • Front
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,2 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 12 months
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (246 kW) (2005-2006)
  • Front
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 1,2 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 12 months
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (246 kW) (2005-2006)
  • Rear
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,5 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 12 months
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (246 kW) (2005-2006)
  • Rear
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 1,5 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 12 months
  • A8 6.0 W12 quattro (331 kW) (2004-2007)
  • From automatic
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,2 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 12 months
  • A8 6.0 W12 quattro (331 kW) (2004-2007)
  • From automatic
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 1,2 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 12 months
  • A8 6.0 W12 quattro (331 kW) (2004-2007)
  • Rear
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,5 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 12 months
  • A8 6.0 W12 quattro (331 kW) (2004-2007)
  • Rear
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 1,5 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 12 months
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (246 kW) (2002-2005)
  • From automatic
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,2 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 12 months
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (246 kW) (2002-2005)
  • From automatic
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 1,2 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 12 months
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (246 kW) (2002-2005)
  • Rear
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,5 liter
  • Check 20000 miles/ 12 months
  • A8 4.2 V8 quattro (246 kW) (2002-2005)
  • Rear
  • Use: First check only
  • Capacity 1,5 liter
  • Check 15000 miles/ 12 months

Additional Notes

  • The rear differential across the Audi A8 4.2 V8 quattro (246 kW) holds 1.5 liters, which is the largest single differential fluid capacity listed for any unit in the 2002-2005 configuration. A higher capacity in a rear differential unit generally reflects a larger housing designed to manage greater torque loads at the rear axle in a quattro all-wheel-drive layout.
  • The front differential labeled "from automatic" on the 246 kW V8 quattro (2002-2005) carries a 1.2-liter capacity. The designation "from automatic" indicates the front differential unit is integrated with or driven directly from the automatic transmission, rather than being a fully independent housing, which influences how fluid servicing is approached for that unit.
  • A first check only interval of 15,000 miles or 12 months applies to both the front and rear differentials on the 246 kW A8 4.2 V8 quattro (2002-2005). A first check interval is an earlier, one-time inspection point intended to catch any fluid contamination or level loss that can occur during the initial break-in period of new or rebuilt components, after which the standard 20,000-mile or 12-month normal interval takes over.
  • When the 4.2 V8 output increased to 257 kW for the 2006-2007 configuration, the front differential capacity dropped slightly from 1.2 liters to 1.1 liters. Alongside that change, the front differential check interval extended from 12 months to 24 months, while the rear differential retained the 12-month time limit for the same period.
  • Two distinct rear differential capacities, 1.5 liters and 0.9 liters, appear under the same 257 kW A8 4.2 V8 quattro (2006-2007) configuration. The presence of two separate rear differential entries at different capacities indicates two physically different rear differential units were fitted to vehicles in that production range, likely corresponding to different axle or sport differential options.
  • For the 257 kW A8 4.2 V8 quattro covering 2007-2010, both the front differential (labeled "from automatic," 1.1 liters) and the rear differentials (1.5 liters and 0.9 liters) share a unified 24-month time limit for both the normal and first check intervals. This alignment of the time-based interval across all differential positions represents a change from the mixed 12- and 24-month structure seen in the 2006-2007 configuration.
  • The A8 6.0 W12 quattro (331 kW) covering 2004-2007 carries the same 1.2-liter front differential capacity and 1.5-liter rear differential capacity as the 246 kW V8 quattro of the same era, both operating on a 12-month time-based check interval. Despite the significant difference in engine displacement and power output between the W12 and the V8, the differential fluid capacities and service intervals are identical across those two configurations.
  • The A8 6.0 W12 quattro (331 kW) for 2007-2009 retains the same 1.2-liter front and 1.5-liter rear differential capacities as the earlier 2004-2007 W12 configuration, but the time-based interval extends from 12 months to 24 months for both positions. The mileage trigger of 20,000 miles for normal use and 15,000 miles for the first check remains unchanged across both W12 production periods.
  • The Audi S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) for 2006-2007 lists three separate differential entries: a 1.2-liter front, a 1.5-liter rear, and a 0.9-liter rear. All three operate on a 12-month time-based check interval, with the first check triggered at 15,000 miles and normal subsequent checks at 20,000 miles.
  • For the S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) covering 2007-2009, the front differential capacity is listed as a range of 1.1 to 1.2 liters rather than a fixed value. A capacity range of this kind typically reflects variation between different front differential assemblies or fill procedures, where the precise fill level depends on the specific unit installed or the method used to verify a correct fill.
  • Across the S8 5.2 V10 FSI quattro (331 kW) for 2007-2009, all differential positions, including the 1.1-1.2-liter front and both the 1.5-liter and 0.9-liter rear units, share a 24-month time-based interval. This mirrors the same shift to a 24-month time limit seen in the 257 kW A8 V8 quattro for 2007-2010, applied consistently across all differential positions in both configurations.

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