Audi›A8/S8›1997›Overview/audi/a8-s8/1997/base/

1997 Audi A8/S8

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 A8/S8.

The 1997 Audi A8/S8 Overview specifies an 8.0‑qt oil capacity and calls for 5W‑30, 5W‑40 or 10W‑30 API‑rated oil. Owner complaints total 11, with the power‑train accounting for the majority, and two recalls have been issued for the model year. This places the 1997 version at a relatively low‑complaint point in the A8/S8 reliability timeline, indicating a modest but discernible stability. Researchers can therefore treat the 1997 model as a baseline of ownership experience.

Model year2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2003 2002 1997

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity8.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque81 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 077198563. Note the factory engine oil filter, engine air filter, fuel filter, spark plug, thermostat and cabin air filter are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 49 · 850 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turn1OEM · verified

Tire size225-60HR16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	077198563 discontinued
Engine air filter	077129620D discontinued
Fuel filter	441201511C discontinued
Spark plug	101000052AA discontinued
Battery	000915089J
Front wiper blades	4A0955425B alt 4B0955425
Serpentine belt	077903137Q
Thermostat	078121113F discontinued
Cabin air filter	4D0898438A discontinued · alt 4D0819647

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 8.0 qt of 5W-30 / 5W-40 / 10W-30 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 81 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 26.0 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

Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil	Rear: 75W-
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.7 Pints
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.2 Pints
Engine Oil Capacity	8.0 qt
Engine Oil Capacity	8.0 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE VW. PART NO. G002000

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	11 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	11 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	332 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	26.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	81 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	26.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	26.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	140 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	0.3-0.5 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	VW
Spark Plug Gap	0.038 in
Spark Plug Manufacturer	VW
Spark Plug Gap	0.028-0.035 in
Spark Plug Torque	22.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.65-1.76 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Capacity	8.50-9.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	850 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	850 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	17-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188 °F
Pressure Test	14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	17-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	179 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)	61.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	52.0 psi

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle	89 ft-lbs / 44 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	140 ft-lbs / 26 ft-lbs
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.181 in / 0.866 in / 0.984 in / 0.787 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.181 in / 0.866 in / 0.984 in / 0.787 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	1.102 in / 0.787 in / 0.906 in / 0.709 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

22 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

22 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

1	30 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
2	44 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
3	90 degrees	90 degrees
4	90 degrees	90 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

1	30 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
2	44 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
3	90 degrees	90 degrees
4	90

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

48 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

48 ft. lbs

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

44 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 60,000 mi.

At 5,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 mi	Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Windshield Washer System (inspect fluid level)
Every 10,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Suspension System (inspect) · Timing Belt (inspect) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Oxygen Sensor (replace) · Spark Plugs (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 1997 Audi A8/S8 lead in one area — the power train, 3 of 11 reports (27%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the power train are also the target of recall 08V-397 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the power train 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.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 11 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train3

Vehicle Speed Control2

Equipment1

Air Bags1

Structure1

Electrical System1

Exterior Lighting1

Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Power Train1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08V397000Power Train:Automatic TransmissionReported 14/08/2008

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 13,900 MY 1996-2003 AUDI A8 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE LOCKING CABLE MAY MOVE OUT OF POSITION OVER TIME. WITH THE LOCKING CABLE OUT OF POSITION, THE SHIFTER CAN… Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKING CABLE BY INSTALLING AN ADJUSTING PIECE THAT WILL SECURE THE LOCKING CABLE IN PLACE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008…

97V175000Air Bags:FrontalReported 08/10/1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 33 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
A451510 2042048-	2015-10-05	Power Train	Vehicle will not communicate with diagnostic scan tool or emissions test equipment…
134120253033	2013-06-20	Engine And Engine Cooling	Discontinuation and mixing of Audi-approved engine coolants.
SM562013	2013-06-06	Seat Belts	Seat Belt
133520253032	2013-04-25	Engine And Engine Cooling	Discontinuation and mixing of Audi-approved engine coolants.
0715	2007-11-07	Exterior Lighting	EXTERIOR LIGHTS, MOISTURE ACCUMULATION. *NJ

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/S8. 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 battery Vehicles taking 8.0 qt Engine oil filter 077198563 Engine air filter 077129620D Fuel filter 441201511C Spark plug 101000052AA

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1997 A8/S8 take?

8.0 qt of ENERGY CONSERVING OILS: 5W-30, 5W-40, 10W-30 OR 10W-40 API SL, EXCEPT ENGERGY CONSERVING OILS: 5W-50, 10W-50, OR 10W-60 API SL, per the factory manual.

Does the 1997 A8/S8 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.