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2001 Audi A4/A4 Quattro/S4/Avant

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 A4/A4 Quattro/S4/Avant.

The 2001 Audi A4/A4 Quattro/S4/Avant lineup is anchored by a 3.7-quart engine-oil capacity and approved viscosities of 5W-40, 5W-30, or 0W-40. Its documented reliability record consists of 135 owner complaints and three recalls, with the electrical system standing out as the top complaint area. That concentration makes the electrical system the natural starting point for researchers examining this model year’s reported problems, while the specified oil capacity and viscosity grades set the baseline for routine service.

Model year200220012000

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-40 / 5W-30 / 0W-40OEM · 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 068115561B. Note the factory front wiper blades and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 / turnTURNOEM · verified
Tire size225-45YR17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter068115561B alt 078115561J
Engine air filter058133843
Fuel filter1H0201511A
Spark plug101000035HJ alt 101000063AA
Battery000915105AG
Front wiper blades8D1955427 discontinued · alt 4B0955427
Serpentine belt06B260849B discontinued · alt 06B903137E
Thermostat078121113G alt 050121113C
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 3.7 qt of 5W-40 / 5W-30 / 0W-40 engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 22.0-30.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-3-6-2-5.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.2 Pints
Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.7 Pints
Engine Oil5W-40 · 5W-30 · 0W-40
Engine Oil Capacity3.7 qt
Engine Oil Capacity6.9 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7 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

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts89 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub85 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-4-3-6-2-5
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)AWD: 860, FWD: 800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)60 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)AWD: 680, FWD: 800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)60 rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance570 cca
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance640 cca
Optional BCI Group Number94R
Optional BCI Cranking Performance720 cca
Standard BCI Group Number48

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
Pressure Test14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20-23 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
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront:

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
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
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 40,000 mi.

At 5,000 miBrake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 10,000 miBattery (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 miBrake 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 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Headlamp (inspect alignment) · Sunroof Assembly (lubricate) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (leak inspection)
Every 40,000 miAir Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect fluid level) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 80,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Belt (replace)
At 104,000 miTiming Belt (replace)
At 105,000 miTiming 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 A4/A4 Quattro/S4/Avant lead in one area — the electrical system, 33 of 135 reports (24%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 3 recall campaigns target the electrical system, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 5 of the reports describe a crash and 9 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the electrical system 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.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
40
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
135
Owner complaints
5 involved a crash · 9 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 135 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System33
Service Brakes, Hydraulic28
Engine & Engine Cooling25
Air Bags8
Power Train4
Exterior Lighting3
Steering3
Tires3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V470000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 23/06/2021

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2000-2001 Audi TT Coupe, TT Roadster, 2000-2002 A4, and S4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver Air Bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase… Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver frontal airbag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2021. Owners may contact…

14E007000Engine And Engine Cooling:EngineReported 07/03/2014

The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and… Remedy: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 40 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
A451510 2042048-2015-10-05Power TrainVehicle will not communicate with diagnostic scan tool or emissions test equipment…
Guide2014-08-29EquipmentQuick Reference Update Guide
Edition902014-06-16EquipmentTechnical bulletins and updates
37 14 31 20130022014-06-03Engine And Engine CoolingAs the sump pan gasket settles, the torque of the bolts decreases and the seal may leak…
371431201300252014-06-03Power TrainATF pan leaks

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/S4/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.

Group 48 batteryVehicles taking 3.7 qtEngine oil filter 068115561BEngine air filter 058133843Fuel filter 1H0201511ASpark plug 101000035HJ

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 2001 A4/A4 Quattro/S4/Avant take?

3.7 qt of 5W-40, 5W-30 OR 0W-40 MEETING VW SPECIFICATION VW50200, per the factory manual.

Does the 2001 A4/A4 Quattro/S4/Avant have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.