Audi Maintenance Service – Minor and Standard – What’s the Difference?

19 Apr Audi Maintenance Service – Minor and Standard – What’s the Difference?

When it comes to Audi maintenance, there can be a lot of questions. Audi’s schedule on many of its late-model vehicles alternates from minor to standard every 10K miles or yearly depending on which comes first, and for vehicles in extreme service conditions, the recommendations can be even sooner. So, you can imagine how it can become confusing if you don’t keep track. But what’s the difference between these services, and how do you know what is really needed and what is just being done preemptively? 

If you are looking for a short answer, Audi Minor and Standard Maintenance Service is nothing more than a glorified check and lubrication that often goes along with oil changes. Most recommended fluids and maintenance items are not part of these checks themselves. Those are typically recommended additionally at a certain mileage. Dealerships and most independent service shops are in the habit of wrapping this service all together at a set price, and this is done for simplicity, but also as a revenue generator. We feel this shotgun approach is disingenuous and does little to benefit the vehicle’s longevity or reliability. In the article below we will go over Audi’s service schedule and why we feel that Fluid MotorUnion in Naperville can do a better job maintaining your vehicle with less cost and more emphasis on keeping your vehicle on the road for years to come.  

What are the two levels of Audi Maintenance?

Firstly, let’s go over what the minor maintenance service is. Minor maintenance is most importantly a check done after 10k miles usually done in tandem with an oil change, then alternately after the standard maintenance, or 20k miles or 2 years from the previous minor maintenance, whichever occurs first. The following are points of inspection during a minor service.

AUDI MAINTENANCE MINOR SERVICE

• For diesel vehicles: the AdBlue fluid is filled completely with fresh fluid and adapts to learned values for the AdBlue tank under guided fault finding after filling fluid (All TDI models) 
• The Brake system is checked for wear and leaks, as well as the thickness of brake surfaces and condition and level of brake fluid. 
• The vent caps on the calipers are checked as well as the brake hoses
• The cooling system for electrical e-tron vehicle’s coolant level is checked according to the description in ElsaPro 
• Engine oil/oil filter is checked for it’s condition and is replaced with a new filter
• The engine compartment is visually Checked for leaks
• The on-board diagnosis system is scanned and checked for any faults
• Tires and spare wheel: checked for wear and damage, tire pressure, then a reset of the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is completed
• Water separator in fuel filter: remove water (A3 and Q7 TDI models)
• The windshield washer and headlight washing system has fluid added if necessary and is checked for function and any needed adjustments
• Wiper blades condition is checked and replaced if necessary
• The service reminder indicator display is reset
• First standard maintenance service at 20,000 miles or 2 years after delivery, whichever occurs first
• Standard maintenance services thereafter occur at intervals of 20,000 miles or every 2 years after the last standard maintenance service, whichever occurs first. These checks are a bit more involved and more components are lubricated.  

AUDI MAINTENANCE STANDARD SERVICE

• Hybrid vehicles’ 12-volt (small) side battery located in the trunk compartment on the left side is checked for corrosion at the terminals, and mounting is inspected for damage
• The main battery is checked: terminals for corrosion, proper mounting, and that it is damage-free
• The charge and acid level of the battery is checked and replaced if necessary
• Automatic transmission and final drive is checked for leaks
• Charging socket on e-tron vehicles is checked for damage and socket dryness only
• Crash active headrests are checked for faults
• Cooling system: check coolant condition to -25°C protection temp and ensure level by adding coolant if necessary
• Doors get lubricated on the straps, locks, and hood latch safety catches
• Dust and pollen filter are checked and replaced if necessary
• The exhaust system is checked for damage and leaks
• Front lighting adjustment is checked as well as function of lights
• Front and rear suspension: axle and steering are checked for excessive play
• All dust seals on ball joints and tie rod ends are checked for sealing
• Underbody is checked for damage and leaks
• Check the chassis for possible paint damage and corrosion, from the inside/outside with the doors as well as hood and trunk lids open
• Horn is checked for function 
• The instrument cluster gets a warning and indicator light check and fault scan
• Interior lights and glove box compartment illumination is verified
• Manual transmission and final drive: check for leaks
• On-board tool kit: check for completeness
• Panorama sunroof systems: check functionality for all models, clean guide rails, and lubricate with grease according to the description in ElsaPro
• The plenum panel gets its cover removed to check water and is drained and cleaned if necessary
• Rear lighting function check of brake lights, tail lights, backup lights, rear fog lights, license plate lights, blinkers, hazard, and trunk lights
• Rear spoiler hinges: lubricate according to the description in ElsaPro
• Road test to check engine performance, clutch, manual/auto transmission, braking (including hand and foot brake), steering, wheels, wheel bearings, driveshaft, horn, electric drive for operational readiness on applicable hybrid and e-tron models
• Rollover protection function check and scan with on applicable soft-top models, the convertible top latch get lubricated 
• Safety belts clip for belt tongue gets checked for function on all safety belts
• Snow screen for air cleaner receives cleanout
• Sunroof systems function checked
• The tire repair set is checked for completeness and renewal date (where applicable)
• Visual check of the wheelhouse liners, underbody paneling, and lines to ensure correct mounting and for damage.
• Check water drain in fuel filler door 
• Check for stone chip protection on the rear axle/control arm for fit and damage
• While the Minor and Standard maintenance service can seem extensive if you notice all of the points are merely a check. 
• NOTHING IS REQUIRED IF FOUND TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION OR AT A SPECIFIED LEVEL.
  
• Items due at time intervals only regardless of mileage for Audi are as follows.
  • Every 2 years 
    • Brake fluid – change
    • Dust and pollen filter – replace
    • Fragrance cartridges – change (if equipped)
  • Every 3 years
    • AWD clutch – change fluid (if equipped)

• Items due at a mileage or if time as noted occurs first for Audi are as follows. 
  • Audi 20,000 mile maintenance service
    • Fuel filter: replace (All TDI models)
    • Spark plugs: replace (RS7 performance only or every 6 years)
      
  • Audi 30,000 mile maintenance service 
    • Spark plugs: replace (2.0L TFSI Flex fuel engines only)

• Audi 40,000 mile maintenance service
  • DSG/S tronic: change ATF oil and replace transmission filter element for clutch hydraulics
  • DSG/S tronic: Change ATF oil for clutch hydraulics (A3 e-tron and A6 front wheel drive only)
  • S-Tronic transmission – change fluid and filter R8
  • Rear sport differential: change ATF oil for clutch hydraulics and differential oil (RS7 and RS7 performance only) 
  • Air cleaner1: clean housing and replace filter element only on the following vehicles: (RS7, RS7 performance, A8 TDI, A8 3.0T, A8 4.0T and Q5 TDI)
  • Brake discs: check thickness or 4 years, whichever occurs first.
  • Spark plugs: replace (A3 e-tron, 4.0L V8, A8L W12, RS7, and all 2.0L TFSI except Q3 only or 6 years, whichever occurs first. )
    
    
• Audi 60,000 mile maintenance service
  • Air cleaner: clean the housing and replace the filter element (all except RS7, RS7 performance, A8 TDI, A8 3.0T, A8 4.0T, and Q5 TDI)
  • Ribbed V-belt: replace only the belt for the compressor drive (front belt) (all vehicles with the 3.0L V6 TFSI)
  • Tiptronic gearbox: change ATF (Q5 Hybrid only)
  • Spark plugs: replace (A3 1.8T, 3.0L V6 TFSI, Q3 2.0T, and 5.2L V10 only or 6 years, whichever occurs first.)

• Audi 80,000 mile maintenance service.
  • Ribbed V-belt: check condition and replace if necessary. check tension of belt drive with a manual tensioner and re-tension if necessary
    
• Audi 120,000 mile maintenance service.
  • Change front final drive 0D4 clutch and differential fluid (R8 only)
  • Diesel Particulate filter (DPF) 120,000 miles after a replacement, and every 20,000 miles thereafter. 
  • Diesel particulate filter (DPF): Check ash loading according to manufacturer work procedure; replace if necessary (All TDI models). If not necessary, perform check every 20,000 miles thereafter until replacement becomes necessary.

• Audi 130,000 mile maintenance service
  • Timing belt: replace, check the condition of timing belt tensioning system, dampening pulleys and idler pulleys and replace if necessary (2.0L TDI models and A3 e-tron only) 

What’s different about Fluid MotorUnion Audi Maintenance?

That’s why at Fluid MotorUnion, we do these checks as part of our digital inspections and recommend items a-la-cart. By taking extra time to inspect everything that a Minor and Standard Maintenance Service checks every time we ensure we are recommending only what your car needs when it needs it. This in turn allows us to better estimate what your vehicle will need next, and allows us to push potentially premature services to a time where you are getting the most life out of the component. Saving on things you don’t need urgently allows you to take better care of the major items that the vehicle might need, or if noted during our digital inspection, before failure ever occurs. Getting the most value out of your vehicle is important to us, and with our transparent digital inspection service, you know exactly where your vehicle stands.   

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Naperville, IL 60563