AudiA8L2011Overview/audi/a8l/2011/base/

2011 Audi A8L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2011 A8L.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S8)

Classified as a passenger car, the 2011 Audi A8L utilizes an Automatic (S8) transmission to achieve fuel economy ratings of 17/27/21 mpg while requiring 8.1 qt of 5W-30 / 5W-40 API oil. Ownership records for this model year indicate 15 total owner complaints with the engine identified as the top complaint area and one recall issued. These figures sit against a 2004-2015 model complaint history where volumes peaked at 47 complaints in 2013 and reached a documented low of 18 in 2014, establishing the reliability context for this model year.

Model year20122011

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity8.1 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/27/21 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 079103121BE. 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 sizeP245-45R19; P245-45R19OEM · verified
Wheel / rim1 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter079103121BE alt 079198405E
Engine air filter4H0129620M
Fuel filter4H0201511A
Spark plug079905620 alt 101905621B
Battery000915089BD alt 000915089BE
Front wiper blades4H1955425B alt 4H1955426B
Serpentine belt079903137AA
Thermostat079121119C alt 079121115BG
Cabin air filter4H0819439

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 27 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume109 cu ft
Cargo volume13 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 8.1 qt of 5W-30 / 5W-40 API engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.4 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidAudi part number G060162A2
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4.2-4.9
Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.9 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · 5W-40 · API
Engine Oil Capacity8.1 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE AUDI PART NO. G002000 OR G004000

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper BoltsDiagonally tighting 11 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.4 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.2

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts89 ft-lbs

Ignition

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

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.06-4.75 oz
Standard BCI Group Number49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance850 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief17-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188 °F
Engine Compression145-203 PSI @ RPM. 44 maximum variation PSI.

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket26 USE NEW BOLTS ONLY ft-lbs / 41 ft-lbs
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.181 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.181 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.102 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Torque to Knuckle — tightening sequence 1 stages
190
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
144 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4544 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1hand tighten, step 215 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; coolant at 15,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 15,000 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.

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) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 20,000 miAir Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
At 35,000 miBody Lock Cylinders (lubricate) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Hood Latch (lubricate) · Power Steering System (inspect fluid level)
Every 40,000 miBody Lock Cylinders (lubricate) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Hood Latch (lubricate) · Power Steering System (inspect fluid level)
At 55,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miEngine 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.

The 2011 Audi A8L sits at a notable inflection point in its generation’s federal record, though the available data is limited to adjacent model years. Complaints for the 2011 model (not explicitly listed but inferred as lower than the 47 reported for 2013) appear modest compared to the sharp spike in 2013, which also saw the highest recalls (6) and the only investigation in the provided dataset. The 2011 model’s top complaint areas—primarily engine-related (6) and suspension (2)—align with broader trends, though the absence of crash or fire complaints is a positive outlier. Recalls for the 2011 model aren’t specified, but the 2013–2015 recall average (5–6 per year) suggests the 2011 may have faced fewer campaigns, as the generation’s recall activity intensified later. The data implies the 2011 avoided the peak reliability concerns of 2013 while benefiting from early-generation refinements. **Takeaway: The 2011 is a comparatively strong year to buy, with lower complaint volumes and no reported safety-critical issues, though a pre-purchase inspection focusing on engine and suspension components is advisable.**

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
981
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
15
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 15 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine6
Suspension2
Power Train,Electrical System,Engine1
Suspension,Engine1
Structure1
Unknown Or Other1
Electrical System,Engine1
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other,Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V619000Engine And Engine Cooling:EngineReported 24/08/2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Audi A8 vehicles manufactured May 15, 2010, to May 14, 2012. The affected vehicles have a coolant valve that may leak, allowing… Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the coolant valve and inspect for coolant that has leaked through the electrical connector, free of charge. The recall is…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 981 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
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_2082054_12026-06-22Power TrainThis bulleitn provides information when there is a delayed accelerator response.
TSB_2082323_12026-06-10EngineThis bulletin provides informaiton when the engine is not running smoothly, misfiring.
TSB_2052680_62026-06-04Unknown Or OtherThis Reporting Obligation requires technicains to contact the Technical Assistance Center…

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 A8L. 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 2011 A8L take?

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

Does the 2011 A8L have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the A8L get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 27 highway / 21 combined mpg.