Types Of Gas An Audi A3 Takes (Explained)

Asking anyone to shell out more than $35,000.00 for a C-segment sedan is a tough ask. Few companies can achieve this level of prestige. Audi, with its A3, has done this over the four generations the A3 has been around. Today, we’ll look at the fuel requirements of these different generations of the A3.

Audi A3, manufactured from 2003 onwards, takes regular, unleaded gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 87. However, 91 octane is recommended for optimum engine performance. For Audi A3 with a diesel engine, Audi recommends using ULSD Number 2 type diesel fuel.

Even with the suggested octane rating of 87, Audi claims the A3 will perform well. Still, as with the Q5 or the A7- Audi’s like premium fuel.

However, that certainly doesn’t tell the full story. Below, we’ll dive deeper into the types of gasoline preferred for each generation of the A3. We’ll also discuss other related aspects, such as fuel tank size and mileage. Read on!

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Does The Audi A3 Require Premium Gasoline?

2020 – Present

The current generation of Audi A3 comes with a 2.0-liter engine as standard. As per Audi A3’s owner’s manual for the current generation, Audi recommends a minimum octane rating of 87 for the fuel type to be used for the A3. However, 91-octane is recommended for optimum performance.

Engine	Fuel Requirement
2.0-liter Inline-Four Gasoline	87-octane minimum, 91 recommended

2013 – 2020 

The 3rd generation of Audi A3 was offered from 2013 to 2020 with various engines, including 1.8 and 2.0-liter gasoline engines. These engines were offered as inline fours. According to Audi A3’s user manuals for the 3rd generation A3, the minimum octane rating for fuel to be used with the A3 is 87, but 91-octane is recommended for optimum performance.

Additionally, Audi also offered a 1.4-liter e-Tron variant. This was a hybrid engine. Hybrids offer substantially improved fuel economy. As per the Audi A3’s user manual, Audi suggests using a minimum of 87-octane rating fuel for the A3 e-tron, but 91-octane was still recommended.

For the 2.0-liter Diesel variant of the Audi A3, the manufacturer recommends using Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel type Number 2.

Engine	Fuel Requirement
2.0-liter Inline-Four Gasoline	87-octane minimum, 91 recommended
1.8-liter Inline-Four Gasoline	87-octane minimum, 91 recommended
1.4-liter Inline-Four Hybrid	87-octane minimum, 91 recommended
2.0-liter Diesel	ULSD Number 2

2008 – 2012

For the model years 2008-2012, the Audi A3 was offered with different engines. A 2.0-liter inline-four and a 3.2-liter 6-cylinder gasoline engine. Audi recommends using 87-octane rating fuels as a minimum for both engines, but 91-octane was still recommended.

Engine	Fuel Requirement
3.2-liter Six-Cylinder Gasoline	87-octane minimum, 91 recommended
2.0-liter Inline-Four Gasoline	87-octane minimum, 91 recommended

If you’re interested in the different gasoline requirements for all Audis, please read the article we just linked.

What Types Of Gasoline Can And Can’t Be Used?

With the pile of options available today for fuel types, it is justified to look at them and see if they are a good fit. Let’s see what other types of fuel the Audi A3 can use.

Reformulated Gasoline

Environmental worries have motivated engineers to develop greener and cleaner fuel types. Reformulated Gasoline is also a type that burns greener and cleaner than regular fuels. 

Given the environment-friendliness of RFG, one might expect some suggestions from Audi. But Audi remains neutral by neither suggesting for nor against using RFG. However, from experience, we know that carmakers recommend reformulated gasoline whenever possible.

Audi, as we’ve also mentioned in the Audi A6 fuel type or the Audi A5 fuel type, even the Audi Q3 fuel type, and other models, doesn’t explicitly recommend reformulated gasoline in the owner’s manuals because it’s a German brand, and RFG doesn’t exist in Europe.

Gasoline/Oxygenated Blends Or E-85

Today, one may have easy access to ethanol-based fuels. The ethanol percentage defines the numerical digits combined with the letter E to denote ethanol concentration. E85, for instance, is a blend of 85% ethanol with 15% regular fuel.

For the 3rd and 4th generations of the Audi A3, the manufacturer suggests that ethanol-blended fuel can be used while keeping the below points in check:

• The minimum octane rating of the fuel to be used should be at or above 87
• The ethanol blend should not be more than 15%

This is different for the 2nd generation of the Audi A3. Audi states the below points while opting for ethanol-blended fuel for the 2nd generation Audi A3:

• The minimum octane rating of 87
• Ethanol blend should not be more than 10%

Gasoline With Added Materials

Gasoline may be added with different materials for different purposes. Some additives are cleaning agents, and some are detergents available today at various gas stations.

However, it’s good to know that Audi strongly advises against using additives in your A3. This is because these additives can contain materials such as silicon or metallics that will seriously damage the engine and the fuel system.

Therefore, it’s recommended that you buy fuel that already has all the proper additives mixed into it. This kind of fuel can be purchased at certified TOP TIER gasoline retailers. These retailers sell gasoline that will provide the optimal performance for your engine and clean it as well as possible without damaging it. You can find a retailer at toptiergas.com.

Gasoline With MMT or MTBE

MMT, or Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl, is an octane enhancer used with gasoline today. It was initially sold as a supplement and later as an octane enhancer. The same is the case with MTBE. 

MTBE, or methyl tertiary butyl ether, commonly referred to as oxygenates, is known for its octane-enhancing abilities, reducing emissions and improving fuel economy.

Audi suggests that the driver may opt for such fuel types while meeting the below criteria for the 2nd generation of Audi A3:

• The octane rating for the fuel must be 87 AKI or higher.
• The blend must not contain more than 15% MTBE

Biodiesel

Biodiesel, as the name suggests, is nature friendly. Usually, biodiesel fuel is manufactured using recycled restaurant grease, vegetable oils, and animal fat. This type of diesel is nature friendly and a much better option for diesel cars. It is not without downsides, however.

In the user manual of the Audi A3 3rd generation, Audi suggests that if one wants to use biodiesel, a few things need to be kept in mind. Using biodiesel can increase the chances of diesel seepage into the engine, increasing the oil level. It also decreases the quality of engine oil. 

It can result in higher oil consumption. The car may consume up to ½ quart per 600 miles or ½ liter per 1000 kilometers. Due to this, the engine oil level must always be kept in check.

What If I Hear A Knocking Noise From The Engine After Refilling?

Engine knocking can be caused by using fuels with lower octane grades than recommended. In the case of the Audi A3, it is associated with fuels at an octane rating lower than 87. This knocking sound is also known as spark knock.

This can easily be fixed by using fuels with higher octane grades. As recommended by Audi in their owner manuals, premium gasoline is something every car owner is encouraged to use. Fuel with octane grades equal to or above 91 is a good fit to fix engine knocking.

However, if you hear loud engine knocking, it´s best to stop the car immediately and call your dealer. Most likely, your car needs to be drained of its fuel, and the fuel filter will need to be replaced.

Finally, it´s good to know that slight engine knocking is a normal occurrence, especially if you´re towing with the car or temporarily using gasoline with an

Does The Audi A3 Have Good Gas Mileage?

The Audi A3, being a C-segment sedan, can be expected to have good fuel economy. It’s notably better than other Audi vehicles like the A8.

Let’s take a generation-to-generation view of how the Audi A3 performs on the fuel economy front and help you make an informed buying decision.

2020 – Present

Engine	Combined MPG	City MPG	Highway MPG
2.0-liter Inline Four Gasoline	32	29	38

2013 – 2019

Engine	Combined MPG	City MPG	Highway MPG
2.0-liter Inline Four Gasoline	25	22	30
1.8-liter Inline Four Gasoline	28	24	35
1.4-liter Hybrid Engine	34 (gas+elec.)/ 86(full elec.)	N/A	N/A
2.0-liter Diesel Engine	33	31	41

2008 – 2012

Engine	Combined MPG	City MPG	Highway MPG
3.2-liter Six-Cylinder Engine	23	18	25
2.0-liter Inline Four Gasoline	25	21	28

What’s The Gas Tank Size Of An Audi A3?

We have discussed the fuel economy and types of fuel the Audi A3 can take. Let us also take a look at the fuel tank size. It will help determine how far one can go on a fuel tank.

The 2nd generation of Audi A3 has a fuel tank capacity of 14.5 gallons. For the 3rd generation of Audi A3, the fuel tank capacity is 13.2 gallons for the front-wheel drive, and for the all-wheel drive, it is 14.5 gallons. Lastly, the 4th, the current generation, has a fuel tank capacity of 13.2 gallons for the front-wheel-drive and 14.5 for the all-wheel-drive.

Generation	Gas Tank
4th Generation Audi A3 AWD	14.5 Gal
4th Generation Audi A3 FWD	13.2 Gal
3rd Generation Audi A3 AWD	14.5 Gal
3rd Generation Audi A3 FWD	13.2 Gal
2nd Generation Audi A3	14.5 Gal

Sources

• Audi A3 User Manual 2022
• Audi A3 User Manual 2015
• Audi A3 User Manual 2008
• Fuel Economy for Audi A3