AudiCabriolet1998Overview/audi/cabriolet/1998/base/

1998 Audi Cabriolet

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 Cabriolet.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1998 Audi Cabriolet, built on Audi’s classic convertible platform, is powered by a drivetrain that utilizes an automatic 4‑speed transmission and requires 5.3 qt of oil—available in viscosities ranging from 5W‑30 to 10W‑30 (API‑rated). Its fuel economy registers 17 mpg city, 22 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined, reflecting the modest efficiency of its era‑appropriate engine. Reliability data show this year achieved the lowest complaint count in the 1993‑2003 model span, with only a single owner report centered on the fuel‑system area and no recalls recorded. Consequently, the 1998 model is regarded as a comparatively trouble‑free point in the Cabriolet’s overall reliability timeline.

Model year1998199719961995

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.3 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque81 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/22/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 41 · 650 CCA battery, OE oil filter 078115561J. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, thermostat and cabin air filter are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 41 · 650 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnSTOPOEM · verified
Tire size195-65HR15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter078115561J
Engine air filter191129620 discontinued
Fuel filter893133511 discontinued
Spark plug101000033AA alt 101000041AC
Front wiper blades4A0955427 alt 4B0955427
Serpentine belt078903137AQ
Thermostat078121113F discontinued
Cabin air filter8A0819439 discontinued

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 22 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Cabriolet of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.70 sec — 1995 Convertible
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1995Convertible 2.8L V69.70 sec17.20 sec172 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.3 qt of 5W-30 / 5W-40 / 10W-30 API engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 81 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
Engine Oil Capacity5.3 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE VW. PART NO. G002000

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts7 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs18 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.2

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts81 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-3-6-2-5
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 ManufacturerVW
Spark Plug Gap0.035-0.043 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.44 lbs
Oil TypeSP-10
Oil Capacity8.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number41
Standard BCI Cranking Performance650 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief17-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature179 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)55.0-61.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)48.0-54.0 psi
Residual Pressure32-44 psi
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket26 ft-lbs / 92 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle44 ft-lbs / 81 ft-lbs
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.984 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.984 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.906 in / 0.315 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

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
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., Step 2: 18030 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)
At 7,500 miAir Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Neutral Safety Switch (test)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 miAir Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect)
At 30,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 45,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 90,000 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 1998 Audi Cabriolet stands out as a notably clean year within its generation. Federal data shows a clear downward trend in recalls after a peak of 3 in 1995, with the 1998 model recording zero recalls, while complaints also fell sharply from a high of 8 in 1996 to just 1 in 1998. That single complaint relates to the fuel system, but with no crash or fire incidents reported, the data doesn't specify a root cause or widespread pattern. Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) are moderate at 6, indicating some manufacturer-acknowledged service items, but this is far from the spike of 24 TSBs seen in later years like 2003. Overall, the 1998 model year represents a low point for complaints and recalls in the generation's arc, suggesting it is a particularly reliable choice.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
6
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
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 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 6 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB-44-08-142008-11-19WheelsAUDI: WHEEL BOLTS REQUIRE TORQUE ADJUSTMENT. TORQUE STICKS AND TORQUE EXTENSION BARS ARE…
2012749-22007-02-26Exterior LightingEXTERIOR LIGHTS, MOSITURE ACCUMULATION. *PE
200562432007-02-26Exterior LightingHEADLIGHT AIMING, USING HELLA UNIVERSAL BEAMSETTER. *KB
06042006-04-07Engine And Engine CoolingOIL SLUDGE LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION. *KB
04312005-08-11Engine And Engine CoolingREPAIRS OF OIL SLUDGE RELATED PROBLEMS. *TT

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 Cabriolet. 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 Cabriolet take?

5.3 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 1998 Cabriolet have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Cabriolet get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 22 highway / 19 combined mpg.