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2013 Audi A6/S6

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2013 A6/S6.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AV-S8)

The 2013 Audi A6 and S6 are luxury sedans built on Audi's MLB platform, featuring an 8.8-quart engine oil capacity with manufacturer-approved viscosities ranging from 0W-40 to 5W-40, paired with an automatic AV-S8 transmission and achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 25 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined; however, this model year carries a notably spotty reliability record with 52 owner complaints on file—air bags representing the primary concern—alongside six separate recalls issued, indicating that while the A6/S6 delivered the expected performance and refinement, prospective buyers should factor in that this particular model year falls toward the less reliable end of the nameplate's history.

Model year201820172016201520142013

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity8.8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-40 / 5W-30 / 5W-40 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy25/33/28 mpgEPA · 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 079198405D. 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 sizeP255-40R19OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter079198405D
Engine air filter4G0133843
Fuel filter4G0201317B
Spark plug079905626M
Front wiper blades8F1955426B alt 4G1955425B
Serpentine belt079903137AJ
Thermostat079121119J alt 079198013
Cabin air filter4H0819439

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S8)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined25 / 33 / 28 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume98 cu ft
Cargo volume16 cu ft
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 0W-40 / 5W-30 / 5W-40 API 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 22.1 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2. 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 OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.9 qt
Engine Oil0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40 · API
Engine Oil Capacity8.8 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · 5W-40 · API

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper BoltsDiagonally tighting 11 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts6.6 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.3 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.1 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs17 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.2

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts89 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug20.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug7.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-4-3-6-2-5
Cylinder Firing Order1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerAudi/VW
Spark Plug Torque22 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Torque22.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Standard BCI Group Number49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance850 cca
Standard BCI Group Number49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance850 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
Pressure Test14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20-23 psi
Engine Compression159-203 PSI @ RPM. 44 maximum variation PSI.

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH 1KD, 2ED / WITH 1KW, 2EE / WITH FN3
Torque Caliper to Bracket26
Brake ApplicationWITH 1KD, 2ED / WITH 1KW, 2EE / WITH 1LL
Torque Caliper to Bracket26 USE NEW BOLTS ONLY ft-lbs / 40 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH FN3
Torque Caliper to Bracket22 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle145 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH 1KD, 2ED / WITH 1KW, 2EE / WITH FN3

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Torque to Knuckle — tightening sequence 1 stages
174, STEP 290 DEGREES
Torque to Knuckle — tightening sequence 1 stages
174, STEP 290 DEGREES
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 906 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
133 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9033 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
17 ft. lbs., step 2: 907 ft. lbs
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 5 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil.

130.0 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees90 degrees
4front bolts only 6.0 ft. lbs.6 ft. lbs
590 degrees90 degrees
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
144 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9044 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., step 2: 8.9 ft. lbs., step 3: 11.8 ft. lbs., step 4: step 18.43.7 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) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
Every 40,000 miBody Lock Cylinders (lubricate) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Hood Latch (lubricate) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
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 A6/S6 lead in one area — the air bags, 11 of 52 reports (21%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the air bags are also the target of recall 18V-370 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 2 of the reports describe a crash and 2 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.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1649
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
52
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 52 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags11
Engine6
Steering6
Unknown Or Other4
Electrical System,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System3
Fuel/Propulsion System3
Air Bags,Seats3
Exterior Lighting1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V370000Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant ClassificationReported 04/06/2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of… Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at…

17V002000Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling SystemReported 03/01/2017

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped… Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1649 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_2074729_32026-06-23Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides informationwhen noises/vibration are detected from front of…
TSB_2028902_52026-06-23Power TrainThis bulletin provides informaiton when the transmission warning message appears in the…
TSB_2028985_132026-06-23Power TrainThis bulleitn procides informaiton when tehre is a transmission warning mssage in the…
TSB_2059335_72026-06-23Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides information when there are noises from the area around the…
TSB_2082046_12026-06-22Power TrainThis bulletin provides information when there is a strong jolt after engine automatically…

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/S6. 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 8.8 qtEngine oil filter 079198405DEngine air filter 4G0133843Fuel filter 4G0201317BSpark plug 079905626M

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 A6/S6 take?

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

Does the 2013 A6/S6 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the A6/S6 get?

EPA figures are 25 city / 33 highway / 28 combined mpg.