I am getting about 14mpg on my used 04 A6 Avant Quattro. I mostly drive in-town.

I have two questions which I think are related:

1. Why doesn't the Audi website list any recalls for my A6 when I type in the VIN? (It actually says something like VIN not recognized). I saw something about a gas tank nipple leak for my model/year? Is it possible that there are no recalls on my particular vehicle?

2. Is it possible that a previous owner had reset the transmission's computer to put it in lower gears? The car hardly "coasts" in "D". I have to use the tiptronic manual gear selector to get it into a high enough gear so that I don't feel like I am losing momentum from engine compression while going downhill. (e.g., running in D down hill, the engine starts to slow the car.)

Thanks!

 

Your gas mileage sounds right for around town driving. The car is a tank and drinks fuel like one.

#1 - call a dealer, speak to the service department and ask them. It sounds like you are typing your VIN in incorrectly.

#2 - the Audi is a bit sportier than, say, American brands that have free-wheeling transmissions, and it will hold a gear for engine braking. However, the engine braking uses little or no extra fuel so why not let it have at it?

 

Quote:
" xxxxxxxxxxx is not recognized OR HAS NO RECALL/CAMPAIGN ASSOCIATED WITH IT. If you have additional questions, please contact your authorized Audi dealer".

As Bob said, you're better off calling a dealer. It is possible that all the recalls on your car were completed by previous owner(s).

 

What engine is in your Audi? I have a 2.8 V6 in my Avant and I'm getting about 19 mpg. This is mostly in-town and stop and go freeway driving.

 

On the website, I am 99.9% sure that I am not typing the VIN in incorrectly. I do get the "" xxxxxxxxxxx is not recognized OR HAS NO RECALL/CAMPAIGN ASSOCIATED WITH IT". The "not recognized" bit is not very satisfying. It is possible that a previous owner completed all the recall items.

The engine is a 3.0L. I tried driving extra light to see if that would help, and I think I got 14.5 measured at the pump, almost the same as when I drive like a maniac. This is lower than what I see on the on-screen computer (~17mpg). (This discrepancy is what made me think of the gas tank recall, although I onl once had a gas smell after a fill-up.)

Thanks for your help,

AS

 

Thanks all,

On the website, I am 99.9% sure that I am not typing the VIN in incorrectly. I do get the "xxxxxxxxxxx is not recognized OR HAS NO RECALL/CAMPAIGN ASSOCIATED WITH IT". The "not recognized" bit is not very satisfying. It is possible that a previous owner completed all the recall items.

The engine is a 3.0L. I tried driving extra light to see if that would help, and I think I got 14.5 measured at the pump, almost the same as when I drive like a maniac. This is lower than what I see on the on-screen computer (~17mpg). (This discrepancy is what made me think of the gas tank recall, although I onl once had a gas smell after a fill-up.)

Thanks for your help,

AS

 

The estimate for your model is 16 MPG for city driving.
Having said that, you're fairly close to the "official" estimate. I would assume you go every time to the same pump, fill up until it clicks (no overfill), etc, etc. When was the last time you had a "tune-up"?

 

I have not had an official "tune-up", but had TB service shortly after getting the car, and new tires. Just about the only things I have not changed (that I know of) are the spark plugs (Bosch) and engine air filter.

HOWEVER: The previous owner told me he did have it "tuned up because the car felt slow to him". I am wondering if something could have been adjusted to make the car stay in lower gears (consuming more gas, resulting in more downhill compression, and worse gas mileage). I am simply unaware what beside oil, filters, spark plugs, brakes can be adjusted in a tune-up.

I also suspect that my transmission may simply be old. [At 107k miles, I am too far out to do the flush.]

I don't always use the same station, but I always fill to the first click, and the numbers have been steady over the last 4 fills. I am using "Plus" gasoline. (Not really sure if that is any benefit.)

 

Just called dealer, who ran the VIN, and who told me that there were no outstanding recall items.

 

The change of tranny fluid & filter and the change of differential fluid can make a noticeable difference, change the air filter also.

Audi requires special procedure (Vag-Com to monitor the liq temp & certain liquid on changing the ATF, so make sure bring it to the dealer or indy shop specialized on Audi.

I have 3.0L Avant Quat and avg 18.6mpg in avg 25 mph city driving. You can reset these numbers to zero and start over again after the changes.