2012–2018
Audi A6
3.0L TFSI V6 supercharged (EA837) EA837 (CTUA 310 hp '12–15; CREC-family 333 hp '16–18) Sedan (C7/C7.5)
The supercharged sweet spot — budget for cooling parts, not the engine.
Engine Oil
Viscosity‼
✓ verified
5W-30 or 0W-40 also OK if VW 502 00 approved
src: Audi A6-2015 fluid chart (TSB); Audi 2016 maintenance schedule
Capacity (with filter)
6.8 L✓ verified
Same for 310 hp (CTUA) and 333 hp (2016+) versions
src: Audi A6-2015 fluid chart (TSB); Audi 2016 maintenance schedule
Oil filter
✓ verified
Cartridge — shared across the 3.0T supercharged V6 family; verify supersession by VIN
src: Audi 2012 Q7 Executive Service (TSB); FCP Euro
Drain plug torque‼
— in verification queue
Being confirmed — gasket N 0138157
Fluids
Coolant‼
✓ verified
Pink — dilute with distilled water; early C7s filled G12++, fully compatible. Never mix with green IAT coolant
src: Audi A6-2015 fluid chart (TSB); Blauparts coolant guide
Brake fluid‼
✓ verified
PN B 000 750; change every 2 years
src: Audi A6-2015 fluid chart (TSB); Audi 2016 maintenance schedule
Transmission‼
✓ verified
Refill 3.6–4.0 L (3.8–4.2 qt); no drain interval in Audi's US schedule ('lifetime') — many specialists service it anyway on high-mile cars
src: Audi A6-2015 fluid chart (TSB); Audi 2016 maintenance schedule
Filters & Ignition
Air filter
— in verification queue
Being confirmed — replace ~every 55–60k mi
Cabin filter
— in verification queue
Being confirmed — replace every 20k mi / 2 yr
Spark plugs
✓ verified
Torque 25 Nm (18 lb-ft); replace 55–60k mi / 6 yr — pre-gapped, don't re-gap
src: parts.audiusa.com; Europa Parts; FCP Euro; Audi 2016 maintenance schedule
Electrical
Battery
— in verification queue
AGM, spec varies by options — being confirmed
Key fob battery
— in verification queue
Being confirmed
Wheels & Wipers
Wheel bolt torque‼
120 Nm✓ verified
Audi passenger-car standard; re-torque after ~50 km
src: Bentley manual (via AudiWorld/Audizine)
Tire pressure
— in verification queue
Varies by tire size — use the driver's door-jamb placard
Wipers
— in verification queue
Being confirmed
Service
Oil change interval
✓ verified
src: Audi 2016 maintenance schedule
Supercharger (front) belt
✓ verified
Separate from the main accessory belt — commonly missed
src: Audi 2016 + 2018 maintenance schedules
Fuel
◐ pending
87 AKI minimum with reduced performance
src: Audi owner's manual guidance (aggregated)
Service reminder reset
— in verification queue
Via MMI: CAR > Service intervals — being confirmed
🔧 Mechanic's Notes
- Water pump and thermostat are the EA837's tax: belt-driven pump weeps from the bearing, the plastic thermostat housing gets brittle and cracks. Do both together, ideally before 100k (ShopDAP, FCP Euro).
- The PCV/oil-separator lives under the supercharger on pre-mid-2012 engines and had a revision — a whistling idle or oil use on an early C7 often traces there (ShopDAP).
- Audi's own schedule replaces the supercharger's front drive belt at 60k — most quick-lube histories skip it. A shredded SC belt at highway speed is a bad day.
- Direct injection again: intake-valve carbon builds by 80–100k. Rough cold idle and soft midrange = time for a walnut blast, and some C7 3.0Ts also burn a bit of oil — track the level (AudiWorld).
Field patterns from a working mechanic — diagnose your own car before buying parts.
Open Recalls
Checking NHTSA…
Sources shown per value. Specs can vary by build date, market and trim — for anything critical (torque, fluids), confirm against YOUR owner's manual or door sticker before wrenching. Spotted an error? — corrections jump the queue.