Audi›A8 L›2013›Overview/audi/a8-l/2013/base/

2013 Audi A8 L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2013 A8 L.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2013 Audi A8 L is a passenger car featuring an engine that utilizes 12.2 qt of 5W-30 or 5W-40 API oil. The model year's reliability history is defined by 6 recalls and 47 total owner complaints. With the engine cited as the top complaint area, these data points indicate a primary vulnerability within the vehicle's powertrain.

Model year201820172016201520142013

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity12.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 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 49 · 850 CCA battery, OE oil filter 06D115475. 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 49 · 850 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP265-40R20OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter06D115475 alt 06E115446
Engine air filter4H0129620M alt 4H0129620L
Fuel filter4H0201511A
Spark plug101905611G alt 079905626M
Battery000915089BD alt 000915089BE
Front wiper blades4H1955425B alt 4H1955426B
Serpentine belt06E903137AB alt 079903137AJ
Thermostat06E121119B alt 079198013
Cabin air filter4H0819439

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length201.6 in
Overall width76.8 in
Overall height57.5 in
Wheelbase117.7 in
Curb weight4376 lb
Track (front / rear)64.2 / 64.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)56/44

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 12.2 qt of 5W-30 / 5W-40 API engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.4 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-12-5-8-3-10-6-7-2-11-4-9. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidAudi part number G060162A2
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4.2-4.9
Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.9 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · 5W-40 · API
Engine Oil Capacity12.2 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · 5W-40 · API
Engine Oil Capacity8.8 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper BoltsDiagonally tighting 11 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.3 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts6.6 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.3 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.4 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.2

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts89 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-3-6-2-5
Cylinder Firing Order1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-12-5-8-3-10-6-7-2-11-4-9
Spark Plug Torque22.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.06-4.75 oz
Standard BCI Group Number49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance850 cca
Optional BCI Group Number95R
Optional BCI Cranking Performance850 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20-23 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature207 °F
Pressure Test14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20-23 psi
Engine Compression159-203 PSI @ RPM. 44 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Compression145-217 PSI @ RPM. 44 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Compression159-189 PSI @ RPM. 44 maximum variation PSI.

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket26 USE NEW BOLTS ONLY ft-lbs / 41 ft-lbs
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.181 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.181 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.102 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Torque to Knuckle — tightening sequence 1 stages
190
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., step 2: 20 ft. lbs., step 3: replace bolt and shim15 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. Tighten all bolts to finger tight then continue on with the following procedure.

117.0 ft. lbs.17 ft. lbs
227.0 ft. lbs27 ft. lbs
390 degrees90 degrees
490 degrees90 degrees
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
144 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4544 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1install by hand, step 211 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
112 ft. lbs., step 2: 1812 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1install by hand, step 211 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 at 55,000 mi.

At 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Headlamp Washer Nozzle (inspect) · Headlamp Washer System (inspect fluid level) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Headlamp Washer Nozzle (inspect) · Headlamp Washer System (inspect fluid level) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect)
At 15,000 miAir Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection)
Every 20,000 miAir Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection)
At 35,000 miBody Lock Cylinders (lubricate) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Hood Latch (lubricate) · Power Steering System (inspect fluid level)
Every 40,000 miBody Lock Cylinders (lubricate) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Hood Latch (lubricate) · Power Steering System (inspect fluid level)
At 55,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 75,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)

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 2013 Audi A8 L dominate in one area — the engine, 24 of 47 reports (51%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine 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.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1243
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
47
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 47 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine24
Unknown Or Other3
Visibility/Wiper2
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System2
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Steering,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Service Brakes1
Electrical System,Service Brakes,Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1243 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_2027368_72025-07-31Electrical SystemThis TSB provides information when the Audi advanced key is inoperative; door handle…
TSB_2010353_62025-07-25Electrical SystemThis TSB provides informatin when the cigarette lighter element does not eject, or the…
TSB_2070568_42025-07-10Unknown Or OtherThis bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the VAS 611 015…
TSB_2042920_22025-06-26Fuel/Propulsion SystemThis bulletin provides information when there is corrosion on the exhaust tail pipes.
TSB_2074857_22025-06-20Power TrainThis bulletin provides information when there are noises/vibrations in tight bends; Q7…

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 A8 L. 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 49 batteryVehicles taking 12.2 qtEngine oil filter 06D115475Engine air filter 4H0129620MFuel filter 4H0201511ASpark plug 101905611G

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2013 A8 L take?

12.2 qt of 5W-30 OR 5W-40 API MEETING VW SPECIFICATION VW50200, per the factory manual.

Does the 2013 A8 L have open recalls?

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