Audi A3 Oil Change: The 2.0 TFSI and Its 0W-20

The A3 is the compact Audi, and in Reno it is often somebody's first German car: a commuter from Old Southwest Reno to downtown, or a weekend car for the drive to Truckee. It has been sold in the US as a sedan and convertible since 2015, the 8V generation through 2020 and the 8Y from 2022. Most are 2.0-liter turbo fours, and Audi was one of the first makers to move that engine to a 0W-20 oil standard.

What Audi's A3 chart says

Audi of America's 2017 A3 fluid capacity chart lists the 186-horsepower 2.0-liter TFSI (engine code CZRA) at about 5.7 liters, 6.0 quarts, with a filter change, Audi oil spec VW 508 00, synthetic SAE 0W-20. The same bulletin lists the 220-horsepower A3 quattro (CNTC) and the 292-horsepower S3 at the same 5.7 liters but with VW 502 00, synthetic in 5W-40, 5W-30 or 0W-40. Same year, same body, different oil. For the 8Y A3, Bolidenforum's technical data for the 2024 and 2025 cars lists VW 508 00 and 5.7 liters.

Fuchs describes VW 508 00 and 509 00 as the 0W-20 standards for the newest VW Group engines. A generic 0W-20 without the 508 00 approval is not the same oil, and a 502 00 car should not get it either, so we check the bottle and your sticker. On an S3 or RS 3, we go by that car's own manual.

The 10,000-mile, 12-month rule

Audi's Audi Care brochure states the schedule as a maintenance service every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever occurs first. Old Southwest Reno households average an 18.5-minute commute (ACS 2020-2024), and an A3 doing that commute will often reach 12 months before 10,000 miles. When the display says the oil change is due, or the year is up, it is due.

S tronic, Haldex and the A3 drivetrain

Front-drive A3s use a dual-clutch S tronic transmission, and quattro cars add a bevel box, a Haldex clutch and a rear final drive. Audi's 2017 charts list the Haldex clutch new fill at 0.85 liters and replacement at 0.65 liters, the bevel box at 0.9 liters and the rear final drive at 0.95 liters, and the six-speed S tronic at 5.2 liters for a change. Audi sets the dual-clutch fluid change on its own schedule. We look for leaks at every visit and show you the booklet line if one is coming up; our transmission fluid service page explains more.

Smog checks for a Washoe A3

An A3 registered in the Washoe testing area needs an emissions test at renewal once it is past its first three registrations, per the Nevada DMV, and a passing test is good for 90 days. Our Mae Anne Avenue and Longley Lane service centers do the smog check at the same visit as the oil change. A car with a check engine light on will not pass, so if your A3 has one, we will tell you first.

What we check on an A3

• Oil standard confirmed, new filter, VW 508 00 or the approval on your sticker, filled to the correct level.
• Engine air filter and the dust and pollen filter shown to you.
• Coolant level (Audi's chart calls for G13), brake fluid level, tires, lights and wipers.
• Battery tested at participating locations, and the service display reset.