Audi›A6/Quattro/Allroad›2001›Overview/audi/a6-quattro-allroad/2001/base/

2001 Audi A6/Quattro/Allroad

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 A6/Quattro/Allroad.

The 2001 Audi A6/Quattro/Allroad, built on Audi’s platform for the midsize executive segment, utilizes an engine that requires 4.2 qt of oil and accepts 5W‑30, 5W‑40 or 10W‑30 viscosity grades meeting API standards. In the field, owners recorded a total of 113 complaints, with air‑bag issues emerging as the most frequent problem, and the model was subject to six recalls during its production cycle. This combination of a modest service‑interval oil requirement and a relatively high incidence of air‑bag‑related concerns places the 2001 model at a pivotal point in the A6’s reliability timeline, signaling that while routine maintenance is straightforward, attention to safety‑system integrity is especially important for researchers examining this year’s durability record.

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 570 CCA battery, OE oil filter 078115561J. Note the factory serpentine belt is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 570 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turn15AOEM · verified

Tire sizeP215-55R16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	078115561J
Engine air filter	058133843
Fuel filter	1H0201511A
Spark plug	101000035HJ
Front wiper blades	4A0955425B alt 4B0955425
Serpentine belt	078903137BC discontinued
Thermostat	078121113G
Cabin air filter	4B0819439C

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-30 / 5W-40 / 10W-30 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.7 Pints
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.2 Pints
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt
Engine Oil Capacity	6.9 qt
Engine Oil Capacity	6.9 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · 5W-40 · API

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	7 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	7 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	11 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	89 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	26.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	26.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	148 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-4-3-6-2-5
Cylinder Firing Order	1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	AWD: 720, FWD: 770 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	0.3-0.5 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	VW

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Oil Group	PAG
Standard BCI Group Number	48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	570 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	640 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	570 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	20-23 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188 °F
Pressure Test	14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	20-23 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)	55.0-61.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	46.0-5.0 psi

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle	89 ft-lbs / 95 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	26 ft-lbs / 18 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	89 ft-lbs / 95 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	26 ft-lbs / 18 ft-lbs
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.181 in / 0.394 in / 0.984 in / 0.866 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.181 in / 0.394 in / 0.984 in / 0.866 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	1.102 in / 0.315 in / 0.906 in / 0.787 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.181 in / 0.394 in / 0.984 in / 0.866 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

22 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

22 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

22 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

22 ft. lbs

Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

44 ft. lbs

Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

44 ft. lbs

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180

44 ft. lbs

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

30 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180

30 ft. lbs

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

44 ft. lbs

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180

44 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 40,000 mi.

At 5,000 mi	Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 5,000 mi	Driveshaft (inspect)
At 10,000 mi	Driveshaft (inspect)
Every 10,000 mi	Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Door Stop (lubricate) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection)
At 20,000 mi	Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 20,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Headlamp (inspect alignment) · Sunroof Assembly (lubricate) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (leak inspection)
Every 40,000 mi	Air Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect fluid level) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 80,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Belt (replace)
At 105,000 mi	Timing Belt (replace) · Timing Belt Tensioner (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2001 Audi A6/Quattro/Allroad top in one area — the air bags, 13 of 113 reports (12%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 7 recall campaigns target the air bags, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 11 of the reports describe a crash and 7 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the air bags pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

113

Owner complaints

11 involved a crash · 7 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 113 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags13

Power Train10

Tires10

Engine & Engine Cooling9

Fuel System, Gasoline9

Electrical System7

Fuel/Propulsion System4

Service Brakes, Hydraulic4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

11V267000Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank AssemblyReported 03/05/2011

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 AUDI A6, MODEL YEAR 2002-2003 S6 AND MODEL YEAR 2003 RS6 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.2L ENGINES AND MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 19, 2001, THROUGH JUNE 8, 2004. THE AGING OF… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE NIPPLE ON THE ROLLOVER VALVE TO PREVENT LEAKAGE OR REPAIR THE CRACKING AT THE NIPPLE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2011. OWNERS MAY…

08V157000Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank AssemblyReported 08/04/2008

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 68,240 MY 2001-2004 AUDI A6 QUATTRO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.7L, 2.8L, OR 3.0L ENGINES AND MY 2001-2005 ALLROAD QUATTRO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.7L OR 4.2L ENGINES. THE AGING OF THE PLASTIC… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE NIPPLE ON THE ROLLOVER VALVE TO PREVENT LEAKAGE OR REPAIR THE CRACKING AT THE NIPPLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 27, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 41 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
A451510 2042048-	2015-10-05	Power Train	Vehicle will not communicate with diagnostic scan tool or emissions test equipment…
37 14 31 2013002	2014-06-03	Engine And Engine Cooling	As the sump pan gasket settles, the torque of the bolts decreases and the seal may leak…
37143120130025	2014-06-03	Power Train	ATF pan leaks
131020182884	2013-09-05	Back Over Prevention	If the vehicle?s engine experienced a serious mechanical problem, it is possible that…
134120253033	2013-06-20	Engine And Engine Cooling	Discontinuation and mixing of Audi-approved engine coolants.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific A6/Quattro/Allroad. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 48 battery Vehicles taking 4.2 qt Engine oil filter 078115561J Engine air filter 058133843 Fuel filter 1H0201511A Spark plug 101000035HJ

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2001 A6/Quattro/Allroad take?

4.2 qt of ENERGY CONSERVING OILS: 5W-30, 5W-40, 10W-30 OR 10W-40 API SL, EXCEPT ENGERGY CONSERVING OILS: 5W-50, 10W-50, OR 10W-60 API SL, per the factory manual.

Does the 2001 A6/Quattro/Allroad have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.