Changing the Oil and Filter
on the 32 & 40 Valve Engine
By Paul Waterloo
Oil and Filter Change Intervals
Audi recommends changing the oil and filter on the A8 32 valve engine every 7,500 miles and every 15,000 miles for the filter. The 40 valve motors found on the 2000 and newer models have an oil change frequency of 10,000 miles and filter every 20,000 miles. Audipages recommends changing the oil filter when changing the oil and changing it every 7,500 to 10,000 miles.
Type and Viscosity of Oil
There are many types and viscosity of oil. Audipages recommends using synthetic oil in your engine. There are many different views on this subject, use a quality oil of your favorite type, synthetic is not a requirement. The following chart outlines the recommended viscosity of oil.
Audi Recommended Oil Viscosity for the 32 Valve ABZ Engine
Tools and Supplies Required for 32 Valve Motor
Stubby regular screwdriver
10 mm hex head
13 mm socket and extension
Large oil drain pan
Ramps or jack stands
Surgical gloves (wear two pairs)
Shop paper towels
Oil filter kit (ebay or dealer item)
8 quarts of oil
Tools and Supplies Required for 40 Valve Motor
Stubby regular screwdriver
10 mm hex head
6 mm hex head
36 mm socket
Large oil drain pan
Ramps or jack stands
Surgical gloves (wear two pairs)
Shop paper towels
Oil filter kit (ebay or dealer item)
8 quarts of oil
Tools required for 40 valve motor.
Changing the Oil and Filter
Ensure your car is operated before starting the oil change. This allows the engine oil to flow freely and pick up any solids that may be at the bottom of the pan.
Raise the front end of the car by driving it up on ramps (Rhinoramps are great, and only $20.00) or using a jack and jack stands. Raise the whole front end off the ground. If you don't, it makes removing and installing the belly pan very difficult.
The use of Rhinoramps makes the oil change very easy.
They cost $20.00 at your local parts store.
Remove the belly pan using a flat tip stubby screwdriver. There are a total of 10 fasteners:
2 half turn plastic type at front of belly pan/bumper
2 screw in metal type at front of belly pan just aft of bumper
2 screw in metal type at rear end of belly pan
2 half turn plastic type at right hand wheel well
2 half turn plastic type at left hand wheel well
Remove the belly pan. How many fasteners did your car have?
Make a note of what's missing and replace it next time.
Make sure you have a LARGE drain pan, one of at least 12 quarts. There is 8 quarts of oil in the pan and it drains out fast! Place the pan under the car and using the 10 mm hex head, unscrew the oil pan drain plug and let the oil drain out. You can put your finger over the hole if you have two pairs of surgeon's gloves on to slow the flow down during the initial stages. It is also a good idea to place a large piece of cardboard on the floor below the drain pan to catch the splashing oil.
Oil pan drain plug. It is a 10 mm hex head.
After the oil has drained, remove the oil filter housing 10 mm hex head drain plug. Let the oil filter housing drain. Using a 13 mm socket, unbolt the oil filter housing lower cover. Drop the bolt out. To remove the filter housing lower cover, stick your hand up to hold the filter in place, and wiggle just the cover out. By holding the filter up in place, it allows more room for the lower housing cover to maneuver out. Once the lower housing cover is removed, remove the oil filter.
Oil filter housing lower cover with
10 mm hex head drain and 13 mm attachment bolt.
Oil filter and lower housing cover removed.
After the oil has drained out, clean the housing, housing bolt and drain plugs. Using the filter and new crush washers supplied in the filter kit, put everything back together again. The oil filter kit comes with the oil filter, oil filter housing o-ring, 13 mm bolt washer and two drain plug washers.
Torque the 13 mm bolt to 18 lb-ft, the 10 mm hex head drain plugs to 26 lb-ft.
When reassembling, lubricate the lower housing o-ring with fresh engine oil and install. Torque the lower housing bolt to 18 lb-ft of torque, and the 10 mm drain plus to 26 lb-ft of torque.
Fill the engine with 7 quarts of oil. Start the car and let idle 1-2 minutes. Check for leaks. Install the belly pan. Drive the car off the ramps or lower with a jack.
With the car on level ground, check the oil level and add to the full mark. Reset the oil indicator light using your ross-tech software if you have it!
