AudiA4/A4 Quattro/Avant1998Overview/audi/a4-a4-quattro-avant/1998/base/

1998 Audi A4/A4 Quattro/Avant

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 A4/A4 Quattro/Avant.

The 1998 Audi A4/A4 Quattro/Avant is the model-year iteration of the A4 line, and its routine service baseline is set by a 4.2-quart engine oil capacity plus a 5W-30/5W-40 API viscosity specification. The year's reliability record counts 262 owner complaints, with Service Brakes, Hydraulic reported as the top complaint area and six recalls on file. That profile makes the 1998 A4 a year to prioritize brake-system inspection and recall verification, rather than one to rule out automatically when the maintenance history is complete.

Model year19991998

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 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque98 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 · 640 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 Note the factory serpentine belt is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 · 640 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnSTOPOEM · verified
Tire size195-65VR15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter078115561J alt 068115561B
Engine air filter058133843
Fuel filter1H0201511A
Spark plug101000035HJ alt 101000051AA
Battery000915105AG
Front wiper blades3A1955427 alt 8D1955425A
Serpentine belt06B903137E discontinued · alt 06B260849B
Thermostat050121113C alt 078121113F
Cabin air filter8A0819439A alt 8D0819165B

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 API engine oil, Rear: 90 GL- in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 98 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 30.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-3-6-2-5.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.7 Pints
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.7 Pints
Differential Gear OilRear: 90 GL-
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.2 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · 5W-40 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Engine Oil Capacity5.5 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.0-30.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts98 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-4-3-6-2-5
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)860 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)40 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance18,000-25,000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerAudi/VW

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance640 cca
Optional BCI Group Number94R
Optional BCI Cranking Performance720 cca
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance640 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20-23 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188 °F
Pressure Test14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20-23 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)58.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)50.0 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket22 ft-lbs / 18 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle92 ft-lbs
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.18 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.18 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.1 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9022 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9022 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
144 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9044 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
144 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9044 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
144 ft. lbs., Step 2: 18044 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., Step 2: 18030 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
148 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9048 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
144 ft. lbs., Step 2: 18044 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 30,000 mi; coolant at 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (at 7,500 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.

At 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Neutral Safety Switch (test) · Windshield Washer System (inspect fluid level)
Every 5,000 miCenter Differential (inspect fluid level) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Final Drive (inspect fluid level) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 7,500 miAir Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Windshield Washer System (inspect fluid level)
Every 7,500 miBrake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect)
Every 10,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 miAir Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Door Stop (lubricate) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 20,000 miSteering Linkage (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
Every 90,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Timing Belt (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 1998 Audi A4/A4 Quattro/Avant dominate in one area — the service brakes, hydraulic, 97 of 262 reports (37%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 6 recall campaigns target the service brakes, hydraulic, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 6 of the reports describe a crash and 2 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the service brakes, hydraulic 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
49
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
262
Owner complaints
6 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 262 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic97
Engine & Engine Cooling24
Electrical System20
Suspension17
Air Bags14
Steering12
Vehicle Speed Control9
Service Brakes, Air7

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E060000Exterior LightingReported 29/06/2006

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF… Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.

06E049000Exterior LightingReported 24/05/2006

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH… Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 49 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
A451510 2042048-2015-10-05Power TrainVehicle will not communicate with diagnostic scan tool or emissions test equipment…
1310201828842013-09-05Back Over PreventionIf the vehicle?s engine experienced a serious mechanical problem, it is possible that…
1341202530332013-06-20Engine And Engine CoolingDiscontinuation and mixing of Audi-approved engine coolants.
1335202530322013-04-25Engine And Engine CoolingDiscontinuation and mixing of Audi-approved engine coolants.
TSB-45-08-042008-11-19Service Brakes, HydraulicAUDI: ABS ACTIVATES DURING LIGHT BRAKE APPLICATION . CONTROL NOISES ARE HEARD FROM THE…

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 A4/A4 Quattro/Avant. 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 1998 A4/A4 Quattro/Avant take?

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

Does the 1998 A4/A4 Quattro/Avant have open recalls?

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