If you drive a four-wheel-drive from the VAG range (Audi, VW, SEAT and Škoda), a Volvo or one of several other makes, it's likely to use the Haldex 4WD system — and that system needs its oil and filter changed regularly. Dealers often don't supply a filter, and will tell you there isn't one because it's not on their parts list. We can supply it as part of a service kit.
Haldex oil is a specialist oil designed to encourage friction between the plates of the multi-plate clutch. That friction sheds particles of friction material into the oil, which contaminates both the oil and the filter. Left long enough the unit becomes ineffective or stops working altogether, and in extreme cases a whole new unit is needed — a four-figure sum.
How often it should be done
We can also offer ECU repair or replacement and full Haldex overhauls should the worst happen. Call us with your registration and chassis number and we'll give you a fixed-price quote for your Haldex oil service.
- Generation 1 to 4 (older models): Haldex oil service every 20,000 miles
- Generation 5 (newer models): every 10,000 miles — Gen 5 units are built without a filter, which makes the oil change even more vital to stop the pump strainer blocking
Rear differential unit
If you have a Haldex four-wheel-drive car, it's good practice to change the final-drive rear differential oil as well — it sits in a completely separate oil bath to the Haldex part of the system. VW and Audi have always quoted it as a lifetime fluid, but as a specialist we see these fail well before that, and we recommend the oil is changed at around 75,000 miles.