Average Audi Q5 Oil Change Cost

The Audi Q5 has a reputation for burning oil. Owners often report that they must refill the oil pan constantly.  While the rumors are most exaggerated, the car does have higher oil change costs than other cars in its price range and style. 

The average cost for an Audi Q5 oil change starts at around $50 plus labor and goes up from there based on numerous factors.

Most of these factors revolve around the amount of oil still in the vehicle, the brand of oil, and any required repairs to the oil line. 

While the rumors are mostly not true, your Audi Q5 does require frequent oil changes. By reading further, you will learn when to change the oil as well as a few tips to keep your car’s lifetime maintenance cost as low as possible. 

How Much Does an Oil Change Cost for an Audi Q5?

A well-maintained car will last a long time on the road with few significant issues. It does not take much to do it either.

While you must seek professional help with some of the tasks, there are many you can do at home. An oil change is one such task. 

Why Are Oil Changes Necessary?

Despite being labeled as a luxury car, the Audi Q5 is no different in this respect than any other car. You must regularly change its oil to keep it running smoothly.

This is because oil is the lifeblood of the engine. It keeps all the internal components lubricated and cool, reducing the wear on the components. It also cleans away any contaminants accumulating inside.

However, oil only serves this function if it is fresh. As the engine runs, the cleaned dirt, moisture, and other contaminants build up in the oil, degrading the oil in the process.

In time, this build-up will reduce the effectiveness of the oil.

Because inadequate lubrication will lead to engine failure and other problems, Audi even recommends that you change your Q5’s oil every 5,000 to 10,000 miles.

An oil filter can keep the oil cleaner longer, but you must eventually flush out the old lubricant and replace it with new oil. 

While you could change the oil in your Q5 yourself, the Audi brand is notoriously not user-friendly when it comes to vehicle maintenance. It is also among the most expensive cars to maintain. 

Because of this, you will most likely have the oil professionally changed. 

Average Price for an Audi Q5 Oil Change

On average, most service shops will charge around $120 for the oil and labor, but your price may depend on your location. If you shop around, you can get the cost as low as $114 or as high as $130. 

This price does not include taxes, fees, or any other service your car may need. For instance, most experts recommend changing the oil filter with the oil.

Oil filters clog up over time and eventually disintegrate. This prevents the flow of oil through your vehicle. As such, you should tack on an additional $90 or more to your overall oil change cost.

Common Unexpected Additions

Most Audi Q5 oil changes are quick and comparable with other similar luxury cars. For the most part, you only pay for the oil, filter, and labor. However, you might find yourself in some very unlucky situations. 

During these extraordinary situations, your car needs more than just an oil change, leading to some unexpected services and costs. These services may include:

These unexpected services will add to your overall total oil change costs. They may also cost you time and labor, especially if these problems are not immediately evident. 

They are also good reasons why you should regularly change the oil in your car. While it is easier to do this for a new Audi than a used one, regular maintenance will reduce the chances for these unexpected events to occur.

Changing the Oil in Your Audi Q5 Yourself

While not recommended for everyone, you can change the oil in your Audi Q5 yourself. That way, you can save on the labor costs you occur at a professional shop, which can range anywhere between $44 and $56 per hour. 

Since every car is different, you should check the owner’s manual to learn how to change the oil. Though, the procedure typically takes the following steps:

• Drain and replace the engine oil and filter
• Test the condition of all fluids
• Perform basic safety inspections
• Check for leaks by starting the engine

You should perform these maintenance tasks based on Audi’s recommended schedule as listed in the manual. Though, most people can get by with an oil change every 5,000 miles or four months. 

As for the oil and filter, you only need them to match the ratings and recommendations for your car. Beyond that, you are free to choose any brand or model.

For instance, you can save money by going with synthetic oil. Synthetic oil tends to last longer than traditional oil and comes at lower price points. 

In any case, you will only need to take your Q5 to a shop if you see any fluids on your driveway. Those fluids may indicate a leak that may require specialized tools to repair.

Regardless, you should never drive your vehicle with low oil as it can damage the engine. 

Can I drive without changing the oil?

While it is possible to drive your Audi Q5 without an oil change, it is not recommended. This is especially true after you reach the vehicle’s specified service interval. 

As mentioned before, contaminants from combustion build up in the oil over time. The oil will also eventually evaporate and break down.

Changing the oil ensures the oil in the engine is as fresh as it can be. Therefore, you want to do it as soon as conveniently possible. 

The Best Time to Change the Oil in Your Audi Q5

The Audi Q5 has a reputation as an oil guzzler, consuming more oil than it is worth, deriving from several issues that plagued the 2012 model. While this reputation is mostly an exaggeration, the Q5 does indeed need a regularly scheduled oil change. 

Luckily, more recent Q5 models are robust enough to survive months on a single oil change. You will most likely never have to run your car with low oil, especially if you keep the recommended maintenance schedule. 

Traditionally, this schedule was three months or 3,000 miles. This schedule was needed to ensure the oil was fresh enough to keep engines healthy and efficient.

Fortunately, modern cars have more robust engines that no longer that oil changes that quickly to prevent engine damage or breakdowns. 

Today, recommended oil change schedules are typically several times that. Although there is no industry standard oil change schedule, most of the time the recommended interval is about one year regardless of how often you drive. 

However, your local weather and location also significantly impact how much your car burns oil. The frequent starts and stops of city driving drain more oil than driving down the highway for instance.

Your car engine will also overheat faster and consume more oil on hot and humid days as well. Therefore, you might need to alter your maintenance schedule to fit your situation. 

A good place to start is to change the oil when your Q5 says it needs an oil change. It will do this in two ways:

• The Audi recommended schedule
• The maintenance indicator

The Audi Recommended Maintenance Schedule

We cannot reiterate enough how important it is to maintain the manufacturer’s recommended schedule. Sure, you must adjust it, but it is there to help you. 

Audi recommends that you get your car’s oil and filter changed after the first year or 5,000 miles. After that, you should change the oil every year or 10,000 miles.

A part of this schedule is the initial “break-in period” or the first 3,000 miles when oil consumption is the highest. 

These values are based on average use levels. Your actual mileage may vary, but it should be close to how many miles you drive per year.

However, if your mileage exceeds 10,000 miles in a given year, you should get the oil change as recommended regardless of how long it took. 

Do Not Overlook the Maintenance Indicator

While you should never run your car drive, it will happen on occasion. Luckily, the Audi Q5 comes equipped with a maintenance computer that will let you know when the oil is low or depleted.

It will also tell you when you reach an Audi-specified maintenance milestone. 

Therefore, you should get an oil change as soon as you can once you see the indicator lights up. It might be the thing that prevents you from being stranded out in the middle of nowhere with a dead engine. 

Related Guides 

• Cost To Lease An Audi Q5
• BMW 745i Oil Change Cost 
• Volvo S60 Oil Change Cost 
• Semi Truck Oil Change Cost 

Conclusion

The Audi Q5 is a mid-range luxury car with a reputation for burning oil. While mostly untrue, the oil changes for the car can get expensive under certain situations.

Fortunately, you will rarely pay more than $130 per year to keep your car lubricated and on the road.