AudiR8 Spyder2018Overview/audi/r8-spyder/2018/base/

2018 Audi R8 Spyder

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 R8 Spyder.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AM-S7)

The 2018 Audi R8 Spyder is a passenger car equipped with an AM-S7 automatic transmission and an engine utilizing 8.8 quarts of 5W-40 oil. This model delivers an EPA-rated fuel economy of 14 city, 22 highway, and 17 combined mpg. Positioned within a broader model history from 2012 to 2021 where annual complaints peaked at just one, this specific year remains stable with only one recall and a single owner complaint regarding the air bags.

Model year201820152014

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity8.8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-40OEM · verified
Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy14/22/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 079198405E. 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.

Tire sizeP245/35R19, P245/30R20; Rear: P295/35R19, P305/30R20OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter079198405E
Engine air filter420133844E
Spark plug06H905601C
Cabin air filter4S0819439

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length174.4 in
Overall width76.8 in
Overall height48 in
Wheelbase104.3 in
Curb weight3649 lb
Track (front / rear)64.2 / 63 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined14 / 22 / 17 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 8.8 qt of 5W-40 engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-6-5-10-2-7-3-8-4-9.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidUse Audi/VW part number G052529A2
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity11.0
Brake FluidDOT 4
Engine CoolantUse Audi coolant part number G13TL-VW774J
Engine Coolant Capacity26.4
Engine Oil5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity8.8 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)30.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)14.75 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts89 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-6-5-10-2-7-3-8-4-9
Spark Plug ManufacturerAudi
Spark Plug Torque22 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAudi
Spark Plug Torque26 ft-lbs

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum87.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum116.0 psi
Residual Pressure43 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum87.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum116.0 psi
Residual Pressure43 psi
Engine Compression145-203 psi @ RPM / Maximum Variation 43 psi

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180.0°148 ft. lbs
Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180.0°148 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
130.0 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages
144.0 ft. lbs.44 ft. lbs
290

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 20,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 20,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire Repair Kit Sealant (inspect)
Every 20,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Body Water Drains (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exterior Lighting (inspect)
Every 40,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

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

The 2018 Audi R8 Spyder shows a single air bag complaint and one crash-related complaint in the target-year specific data, with no fire complaints recorded. Notably, the year-by-year federal record does not include data for 2018 itself—the closest data points are 2012, 2015, and 2021—which limits direct comparison. Across the available years, complaints remained minimal (0-1 per year), while recalls occurred in 2012 and 2021, and TSBs declined from 669 to 495 over the generation, suggesting ongoing technical updates rather than persistent defects. The 2018 model's single air bag complaint places it within the low-complaint trend observed throughout this generation. Given the limited federal record data for 2018 specifically and the absence of major complaint patterns, the data does not indicate any year-specific red flags for this model.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
578
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Air Bags1

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 578 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_2074640_32026-06-26EngineThis bulletin provides information when there is increased oil consumption; >0.5ltr/1000…
TSB_2074729_32026-06-23Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides informationwhen noises/vibration are detected from front of…
TSB_2059335_72026-06-23Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides information when there are noises from the area around the…
TSB_2069331_72026-06-23Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides informaitn when there is a warning messsage; "Instrument cluster…
TSB_2082323_12026-06-10EngineThis bulletin provides informaiton when the engine is not running smoothly, misfiring.

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 R8 Spyder. 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2018 R8 Spyder take?

8.8 qt of 5W-40 Meeting Audi/VW specification 502 00 or equivalent, per the factory manual.

Does the 2018 R8 Spyder have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the R8 Spyder get?

EPA figures are 14 city / 22 highway / 17 combined mpg.