Picking Audi A4 oil should be easy, but the A4 has used several engines and oil specs since 2009, and the wrong bottle can cost you an engine. The approval number on the label matters more than the brand on the front. Below are the specs and capacities Audi of America published for the B8, B8.5 and B9 A4 and S4, the change interval from Audi's US maintenance schedule, and what to do about the oil leaks the 3.0T is famous for, starting with our aluminum oil filter housing for the supercharged 3.0T.
Approval First, Viscosity Second
Audi specifies engine oil by Volkswagen Group approval number. The viscosity (like 5W-40) only matters once the oil carries the right approval. Here is what the common ones mean for A4 owners:
- ✅ VW 502 00. The standard gasoline spec Audi of America lists for most B8 and B8.5 A4 and S4 engines, with synthetic SAE 5W-40, 5W-30 or 0W-40.
- ✅ VW 504 00. A long-life gasoline spec that is backward compatible with VW 502 00. The 2017 A4 2.0T lists either one.
- ✅ VW 508 00 (and 509 00). A low-viscosity 0W-20 long-life spec for engines designed for it, such as the A4 ultra and B-cycle 2.0T and the B9 S4. It is not backward compatible, so it only goes in engines that call for it.
Rule of thumb: if the bottle does not show the approval your manual lists, put it back on the shelf.
Audi A4 Oil Capacity and Spec by Engine
These figures come from Audi of America fluid capacity charts and maintenance documents, with a filter change. Your owner's manual and the sticker under the hood are the final word for your car.
| Model and year | Engine | Capacity with filter | Spec listed | Viscosity listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 A4 (B8) | 2.0 TFSI, 211 hp | 4.5 L (4.8 qt) | VW 502 00 | Synthetic 5W-40, 5W-30 or 0W-40 |
| 2009 A4 quattro (B8) | 3.2 V6, 265 hp | 6.5 L (6.9 qt) | VW 502 00 | Synthetic 5W-40, 5W-30 or 0W-40 |
| 2013 A4 and allroad (B8.5) | 2.0 TFSI, 211 hp | 4.6 L (4.9 qt); manual quattro 4.8 L (5.1 qt) | VW 502 00 | Synthetic 5W-40, 5W-30 or 0W-40 |
| 2013 S4 (B8.5) | 3.0 TFSI supercharged, 333 hp | 6.75 L (7.1 qt) | VW 502 00 | Synthetic 5W-40, 5W-30 or 0W-40 |
| 2017 A4 (B9) | 2.0 TFSI, 252 hp | 5.2 L (about 5.5 qt) | VW 502 00 or 504 00 | Synthetic 5W-40, 5W-30 or 0W-40 |
| 2017 A4 ultra (B9) | 2.0 TFSI, 190 hp | 5.2 L (about 5.5 qt) | VW 508 00 or 509 00 | 0W-20 |
| B9 S4 | 3.0 TFSI turbo | 7.5 L (7.9 qt) | VW 508 00 or 509 00 | 0W-20 |
Later B9 and B9.5 A4 2.0T cars have moved toward the 0W-20 VW 508 00 spec, so check your manual rather than assuming a newer car uses the same oil as an older one.
How Often to Change Audi A4 Oil
Audi's US maintenance schedule includes an engine oil and filter change in both service types:
- ✅ Minor Maintenance: first at 10,000 miles or 1 year, whichever comes first, then every 20,000 miles or 2 years.
- ✅ Standard Maintenance: first at 20,000 miles or 2 years, then every 20,000 miles or 2 years, and it includes every Minor item.
Put together, that is an oil and filter change every 10,000 miles or once a year. Audi also notes that severe conditions may call for more frequent changes, which is why many owners of tuned, tracked or short-trip cars change oil sooner.
How to Check and Top Up the Right Way
- Park level with the engine warm, then switch off and wait a few minutes so oil drains back to the pan.
- Check the level with the dipstick or the electronic oil level display, depending on your car.
- Top up in small amounts with oil that carries your car's approval, then recheck.
- After an oil change, fill slightly under the listed capacity, run the engine, check again and top up. Overfilling can aerate the oil.
- Reset the service reminder and keep the receipt. Approval numbers on receipts help at resale.
A4 and S4 Oil Leaks: What to Check
Low oil between changes usually means burning it or leaking it. On the A4 family, leaks are the easy part to find. Clean the engine, drive, then look for fresh oil from the top down:
- ✅ Valve covers. On the 3.0T and 3.2 V6, warped covers weep at the gasket line. Our valve cover set ($74.99) is a left and right pair for the 3.0T and 3.2 V6 in the B8 and B8.5 A4, S4, A5, S5 and Q5, plus other Audi V6 models.
- ✅ Oil filter housing. On the supercharged 3.0T it is plastic, and its gaskets harden over time. Oil collects in the valley and runs down the back of the engine.
- ✅ Front main seal. Oil behind the crank pulley points here. Our Audi 3.0T front main seal guide covers the signs and the billet fix.
Own an S4 or a European A4 3.0 TFSI? Fix the Oil Filter Housing for Good
The B8 and B8.5 S4 shares the supercharged 3.0T (EA837) with European-market A4 3.0 TFSI models, and that engine's plastic oil filter housing is one of its best-known leak points. Heat cycles warp the housing and harden the factory gaskets until oil starts weeping into the valley. Here is how we fix it:
- ✅ Vorsprung oil filter housing ($44.99): a gravity-cast aluminum housing with a 6061 billet aluminum cap and a TruSeal gasket included. A direct bolt-on replacement for the supercharged 3.0T in the B8 and B8.5 S4, S5, Q5 and SQ5, C6 and C7 A6, C7 A7, D4 A8 and 4L and 4M Q7.
- ✅ Billet oil filter cap ($64.99): CNC machined from 6061-T6 aluminum, black anodized, and it keeps using your factory oil filter. Cross references 06E115433.
- ✅ TruSeal oil gasket upgrade ($14.99 to $29.99): peroxide-cured FKM gaskets molded from the OEM gasket shape and rated from -40°F to 400°F, so they stay flexible on cold starts.
- ✅ Oil filter housing conversion ($224.99, pre-order): a CNC-machined 6061 billet housing that converts the factory cartridge filter to a spin-on canned filter, so you get a fresh anti-drain back valve at every oil change.
- ✅ Oil cooler adapter plate ($84.99, pre-order): replaces the factory water-to-oil heat exchanger (06E 117 021 G) so track cars can run a dedicated external oil cooler. Fittings are sold separately.
Shop the 3.0T Oil Filter Housing, $44.99
✅ TruSeal gasket included · ✅ Fitment help by VIN at help@vorsprungautowerk.com · ✅ Free US shipping on orders over $425
Doing the job yourself? Our step-by-step oil filter housing gasket guide walks through it, and our 3.0T oil filter housing gasket explainer covers why it leaks in the first place. Building a track car? Our braided oil lines guide covers external cooler setups.
Common Audi A4 Oil Mistakes
- ✅ Buying by viscosity alone and ignoring the approval number
- ✅ Putting 0W-20 VW 508 00 oil in an engine that calls for 502 00 or 504 00
- ✅ Overfilling after an oil change instead of filling under and topping up
- ✅ Stretching intervals on a tuned or hard-driven car
- ✅ Ignoring a small leak until it soaks the belts or the undertray
More A4 maintenance help: our Audi A4 MAF sensor guide and our B8 and B8.5 S4 ownership guide.
Audi A4 Oil FAQ
What oil does an Audi A4 take?
It depends on the year and engine. Audi of America's charts list VW 502 00 synthetic oil (SAE 5W-40, 5W-30 or 0W-40) for B8 and B8.5 A4 2.0T engines, VW 502 00 or VW 504 00 for the 2017 A4 2.0T, and VW 508 00 or 509 00 0W-20 for the A4 ultra and B-cycle 2.0T. Always confirm with your owner's manual or the oil sticker under the hood.
How much oil does an Audi A4 2.0T take?
Audi of America lists 4.5 L (4.8 qt) for the 2009 A4 2.0T, 4.6 L (4.9 qt) for most 2013 A4 2.0T models, and 5.2 L (about 5.5 qt) for the B9 A4 2.0T, all with a filter change. Fill slightly under, then check the level and top up.
How often should I change the oil in my Audi A4?
Audi's US maintenance schedule calls for an oil and filter change at 10,000 miles or 1 year, whichever comes first, and every 10,000 miles or year after that through alternating Minor and Standard services. Audi also notes that severe conditions may require more frequent changes.
Can I use VW 504 00 oil in an A4 that calls for VW 502 00?
Yes. VW 504 00 is a long-life gasoline spec that is backward compatible with VW 502 00. Make sure the viscosity is one your manual lists.
Can I put 0W-20 in my Audi A4?
Only if your engine calls for VW 508 00. That thin-oil spec is not backward compatible, so a car that specifies VW 502 00 or 504 00 should not get a 508 00 oil, and the reverse applies too.
What oil does the Audi S4 take?
Audi of America lists VW 502 00 synthetic oil and about 6.75 L (7.1 qt) for the 2013 B8.5 S4 3.0T. The B9 S4 3.0 TFSI is listed at 7.5 L (7.9 qt) with VW 508 00 or 509 00 0W-20.
Why does my Audi 3.0T leak oil near the oil filter?
The supercharged 3.0T uses a plastic oil filter housing and rubber gaskets that harden with heat cycles, so weeping around the housing is common. Our aluminum oil filter housing and TruSeal gaskets are built to end that leak.
Is it bad to overfill engine oil?
Yes. Too much oil can aerate as the crankshaft whips it and can push oil into places it should not be. Fill slightly under the listed capacity, run the engine, then check and top up in small amounts.
Bottom Line on Audi A4 Oil
The right Audi A4 oil comes down to three things: the approval number your engine calls for, the correct capacity with the filter, and an interval that matches how you drive. Get those right and the engine takes care of you. And if your S4 or European A4 3.0 TFSI keeps marking the driveway, start with the Vorsprung oil filter housing and TruSeal gaskets, and stop paying the Audi Tax on the same leak every year.
Drive the difference. Drive Vorsprung.
Prices checked October 14, 2026 and subject to change.
