A6 Forum FAQ V0.2... 8-)>
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A6 Forum FAQ V0.2... 8-)>
Some of the regulars may remember the first attempt at this a few months back.
I took some of the suggestions/critiques. I didn't add much about topics that could turn into a book (like rattle-and-buzz finding) nor those I don't know anything about (Eibach spring part numbers)
Sorry about the delayed update. Between added responsibilities at work and a new house, I've been a little behind this summer...
And BTW, if you all consider this a waste of bandwidth, I'll cease and desist...
===
OIL AND OIL CHANGING
Q: The Manual says the oil change interval is every 10K miles (after the first 'quick' one at 5K (2001s) and 8K (before that). I change every 3K, this 10K can't be true, can it? I don't want to trash my new car.
A: Yes, for 2001 A6's oil/filter changes come at 5K miles, 10K then every 10K miles after that. Most on the board shudder at a 10K mile interval and change more frequently. My attitude is that Audi designed and built the motor, so who am I to question. Turbo owners (at least) will probably change more often anyway (and who knows, maybe I will too). Certainly no harm in that.
Q: What's better, synthetic or 'dino' oil? What kind of oil should I use?
A: The manual calls for 0W30, and the only 0W30 around in the US is synthetic. This leads many to presume that the factory fills it with synth. Not true, it's dino. The dealer also uses dino for your free^H^H^H^Hprepaid oil changes.
There isn't much question anymore that synth lasts longer, and is probably better for the motor than dino. This, and in consideration of the above question, maybe synth is the way to go. But note that there's a consensus that dino is *necessary* for the first 10-15K miles, for proper 'bedding in' of various components in the motor.
Q: My A6 has used half a quart of oil. I only have 4K miles. Is there a problem?
A: Half to a full quart for the first 5-8K miles is not unusual. Most report that oil consumption essentially stops after 10-15K.
---
EXTERIOR AND BODYWORK
Q: When I have my sunroof open all the way it makes this really strange noise, kind of like a 'whumping'. Is there a problem?
A: What?? I couldn't hear you over the whumping... It's an aerodynamic effect. If you check your sunroof control, you'll see a mark, two clicks shy of full open. Open the roof to this setting and the whumping disappears. You do have to wonder why Audi didn't catch this in design, though.
Q: What's the fastest color?
A: Whatever color your car is.
Q: I'm p***ed with this 'rippling' in my windshield? This shouldn't be with a $45K car!
A: Yes, we know. It's a common problem. Some (presumably with extreme cases) have had their windshields replaced under warranty. Some of these folks were as unhappy with the new one. To me, unless its bad enough to affect your ability to safely drive the car, you're probably better off putting up with it. FWIW, many other makes/models have the problem as well.
Q: Does my car look too <pimp|rice|ghetto|etc.> with these <wheels|smoked taillights|tinted windows|etc.>?
A: If you have to ask, you probably have your answer.
Q: What should I use to wax my car?
A: Lots of opinions around: Meguiars, One Grand, et al. The most frequently mentioned brand seems to be Zaino. Whether this is because it's best, or its users are more vocal, nobody knows. I use it, and am pretty happy with it.
Q: How do I debadge my car?
A: Why would you want to? Unless you're an insecure 2.8 driver wanting to 'pass' as a 2.7T. Most people use a combination of a 3M adhesive remover and dental floss. Check the 'exterior' forum for details.
---
MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL
Q: You were asking about why I want to debadge. It's because I want to 'pass' as a 2.7T owner since my 2.8 seems so damn underpowered! Isn't this true?
A: (Full disclosure, I'm a 2.8 owner...) YES IT IS! Actually, this perception appears to be created by a few idiosyncracies about the 2.8. The automatic transmission upshifts quickly and downshifts slowly (to improve MPG). Put it in Tiptronic mode and shift yourself, it improves things a bit. In particular, the car won't downshift from second to first until you're below 3 MPH. When 'rolling' stop signs (errr... you know what I mean) it does seem a little 'doggy' when first accelerating. Finally, the A6 is an awfully heavy car (all that leather and electronics and such) and it does take more to get it going from a dead stop. Most appear to believe that it's 'passing' ability is reasonable to pretty good. I still wish it had a three liter, with 25 more horses or so... (Yes, I know. I can't afford an '02 right now.)
Q: I hear a lot here about some '605' relay having to do with making my steering feel more 'sporty'. It vaguely sounds like something I want to do. What about it?
A: The A6 is a bit schizophrenic (or maybe their owners are). Folks can't seem to decide if a sport sedan is a sport car or a sedan. The 605 relay is the Servotronic (power steering boost) relay, located under the steering column. It seems to have been put there for the 'sedan' crowd. The 'sport' crowd think it makes steering too light. Removing the relay kills the boost, which makes the steering feel more like a 'sport' car. By all accounts of those who've yanked it, it appears to create no other problems. Note that it is difficult to put back in.
Q: What's the deal with the fuel senders?
A: Audi has pretty conclusively explained this, it has to do with sulphur in gasoline. Some people have gone through three sets of senders before getting a set that didn't create problems. For others, the original set goes on and on. Use your trip odometer (*not* the trip computer), refuel every 250 miles or so, and it won't matter.
Q: I've also heard about some sort of recoding of the locks to get more kewl features out of the remote. I asked my dealer and the service writer looked at me like I was from Mars. Anything to this?
A: The recoding part or the Mars part...
Yes, you can get the locks reprogrammed to do lots of stuff like auto locking and unlocking, removing the horn blip, closing the windows and roof, and other things. Check the Electronics secton of the board for details.
---
AUDI
Q: Why does Audi service suck?
A: It doesn't suck as much as it's extremely uneven. As some Audi insiders who post have described, it has mostly to do with the fact that ten years ago Audi couldn't get hardly anyone to sell their cars and had to settle for some ...um... less than stellar dealerships. Now that certain network television-amplified stories from a few morons have faded into memory and the lawyers have returned to their caves, (oh, and that Audi started producing some pretty jazzy looking cars) they're more popular. Unfortunately, Audi is stuck with some dud dealers. By most accounts, the problem is slowly improving.
---
CAR SELECTION
Q: Should I get a 2.7T or a 4.2?
A: Again, arguments on both sides. The 2.7T crowd will tell you there's nothing like the kick you get when the turbo kicks in. The 4.2 crowd will tell you there's nothing like the sheer power. There have been reports of turbo failures with the 2.7T. Those reports seem to have dried up lately. In the end, what do you want?
Q: Is a BMW 540 better than an A6?
A: We've already decided. Shoo. (No offense Chuck540, please stick around.)
I took some of the suggestions/critiques. I didn't add much about topics that could turn into a book (like rattle-and-buzz finding) nor those I don't know anything about (Eibach spring part numbers)
Sorry about the delayed update. Between added responsibilities at work and a new house, I've been a little behind this summer...
And BTW, if you all consider this a waste of bandwidth, I'll cease and desist...
===
OIL AND OIL CHANGING
Q: The Manual says the oil change interval is every 10K miles (after the first 'quick' one at 5K (2001s) and 8K (before that). I change every 3K, this 10K can't be true, can it? I don't want to trash my new car.
A: Yes, for 2001 A6's oil/filter changes come at 5K miles, 10K then every 10K miles after that. Most on the board shudder at a 10K mile interval and change more frequently. My attitude is that Audi designed and built the motor, so who am I to question. Turbo owners (at least) will probably change more often anyway (and who knows, maybe I will too). Certainly no harm in that.
Q: What's better, synthetic or 'dino' oil? What kind of oil should I use?
A: The manual calls for 0W30, and the only 0W30 around in the US is synthetic. This leads many to presume that the factory fills it with synth. Not true, it's dino. The dealer also uses dino for your free^H^H^H^Hprepaid oil changes.
There isn't much question anymore that synth lasts longer, and is probably better for the motor than dino. This, and in consideration of the above question, maybe synth is the way to go. But note that there's a consensus that dino is *necessary* for the first 10-15K miles, for proper 'bedding in' of various components in the motor.
Q: My A6 has used half a quart of oil. I only have 4K miles. Is there a problem?
A: Half to a full quart for the first 5-8K miles is not unusual. Most report that oil consumption essentially stops after 10-15K.
---
EXTERIOR AND BODYWORK
Q: When I have my sunroof open all the way it makes this really strange noise, kind of like a 'whumping'. Is there a problem?
A: What?? I couldn't hear you over the whumping... It's an aerodynamic effect. If you check your sunroof control, you'll see a mark, two clicks shy of full open. Open the roof to this setting and the whumping disappears. You do have to wonder why Audi didn't catch this in design, though.
Q: What's the fastest color?
A: Whatever color your car is.
Q: I'm p***ed with this 'rippling' in my windshield? This shouldn't be with a $45K car!
A: Yes, we know. It's a common problem. Some (presumably with extreme cases) have had their windshields replaced under warranty. Some of these folks were as unhappy with the new one. To me, unless its bad enough to affect your ability to safely drive the car, you're probably better off putting up with it. FWIW, many other makes/models have the problem as well.
Q: Does my car look too <pimp|rice|ghetto|etc.> with these <wheels|smoked taillights|tinted windows|etc.>?
A: If you have to ask, you probably have your answer.
Q: What should I use to wax my car?
A: Lots of opinions around: Meguiars, One Grand, et al. The most frequently mentioned brand seems to be Zaino. Whether this is because it's best, or its users are more vocal, nobody knows. I use it, and am pretty happy with it.
Q: How do I debadge my car?
A: Why would you want to? Unless you're an insecure 2.8 driver wanting to 'pass' as a 2.7T. Most people use a combination of a 3M adhesive remover and dental floss. Check the 'exterior' forum for details.
---
MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL
Q: You were asking about why I want to debadge. It's because I want to 'pass' as a 2.7T owner since my 2.8 seems so damn underpowered! Isn't this true?
A: (Full disclosure, I'm a 2.8 owner...) YES IT IS! Actually, this perception appears to be created by a few idiosyncracies about the 2.8. The automatic transmission upshifts quickly and downshifts slowly (to improve MPG). Put it in Tiptronic mode and shift yourself, it improves things a bit. In particular, the car won't downshift from second to first until you're below 3 MPH. When 'rolling' stop signs (errr... you know what I mean) it does seem a little 'doggy' when first accelerating. Finally, the A6 is an awfully heavy car (all that leather and electronics and such) and it does take more to get it going from a dead stop. Most appear to believe that it's 'passing' ability is reasonable to pretty good. I still wish it had a three liter, with 25 more horses or so... (Yes, I know. I can't afford an '02 right now.)
Q: I hear a lot here about some '605' relay having to do with making my steering feel more 'sporty'. It vaguely sounds like something I want to do. What about it?
A: The A6 is a bit schizophrenic (or maybe their owners are). Folks can't seem to decide if a sport sedan is a sport car or a sedan. The 605 relay is the Servotronic (power steering boost) relay, located under the steering column. It seems to have been put there for the 'sedan' crowd. The 'sport' crowd think it makes steering too light. Removing the relay kills the boost, which makes the steering feel more like a 'sport' car. By all accounts of those who've yanked it, it appears to create no other problems. Note that it is difficult to put back in.
Q: What's the deal with the fuel senders?
A: Audi has pretty conclusively explained this, it has to do with sulphur in gasoline. Some people have gone through three sets of senders before getting a set that didn't create problems. For others, the original set goes on and on. Use your trip odometer (*not* the trip computer), refuel every 250 miles or so, and it won't matter.
Q: I've also heard about some sort of recoding of the locks to get more kewl features out of the remote. I asked my dealer and the service writer looked at me like I was from Mars. Anything to this?
A: The recoding part or the Mars part...
Yes, you can get the locks reprogrammed to do lots of stuff like auto locking and unlocking, removing the horn blip, closing the windows and roof, and other things. Check the Electronics secton of the board for details.
---
AUDI
Q: Why does Audi service suck?
A: It doesn't suck as much as it's extremely uneven. As some Audi insiders who post have described, it has mostly to do with the fact that ten years ago Audi couldn't get hardly anyone to sell their cars and had to settle for some ...um... less than stellar dealerships. Now that certain network television-amplified stories from a few morons have faded into memory and the lawyers have returned to their caves, (oh, and that Audi started producing some pretty jazzy looking cars) they're more popular. Unfortunately, Audi is stuck with some dud dealers. By most accounts, the problem is slowly improving.
---
CAR SELECTION
Q: Should I get a 2.7T or a 4.2?
A: Again, arguments on both sides. The 2.7T crowd will tell you there's nothing like the kick you get when the turbo kicks in. The 4.2 crowd will tell you there's nothing like the sheer power. There have been reports of turbo failures with the 2.7T. Those reports seem to have dried up lately. In the end, what do you want?
Q: Is a BMW 540 better than an A6?
A: We've already decided. Shoo. (No offense Chuck540, please stick around.)
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