Hi guys, this is my first post but I've been a follower for a while.

 

I changed the haldex oil in MY16 Octavia VRS 4x4 DSG today. The car is under 3 years old and has covered 16k miles. 

 

The oil change itself is easy and should be well within a home mechanics capabilities. I was lucky to have the use of a lift in a mates garage but ramps would do the same thing.

 

There's alot of uncertainty out there about the intervals of when it should be changed etc. My advice to anyone is get this oil changed every 15k. From now on mine will be done anually. With the Gen5 haldex there is no filter and the gauze on the pump is very small. It gets completely gunked up and my guess is it will starve the pump of oil. I've included pics below of my pump when I removed it today. 

 

I sourced my parts online. The oil, G 055 175 A2,  was bought from a Skoda dealer (Dennis Horton) for £24. Replacement o-rings and bolts for the pump were sourced through eBay, link below.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F323497629796

 

Dealers charge up to £80 for this kit!

 

Below is the evidence this oil needs to be changed more frequently than the manufacturer recommends. With the oil changed I already notice a difference, my driveway requires reversing up an incline. Before the oil change I had to rev excessively to get the car to move up it as if I were riding the clutch. With the gauze cleaned and new oil it's zooming up the drive with hardly any extra revs and much more responsive! 

 

Incredible. Looks as if a 15,000 mile oil change would still be far too long judging by the state of yours in those pictures.

Edited 18 April, 20197 yr by xman

Isnt the oil change interval 3 years of 60000km anyway?

I wholeheartedly agree with the diy oil change, however when I did my 2015 scout, with the same H5 system, the oil and gauze filter were quite clean in comparison. With only a small amount of swarf on the filter, and the oil still reasonably clear. That was at 30k, and with a good deal of usage (trailer towing and minor off road work). I would suggest that you may have some kind of internal problem with the haldex, with it producing that amount of gunk after only 15k. May be worth a dealer check if still under warranty?

VW at least have something on a website.

Drivers or buyers of Approved Used Cars or just cars that have a FULL MAIN DEALER SERVICE HISTORY need to be aware that it does not mean they are Serviced to manufacturers guidelines as a Warranty requires, so maybe no Haldex , Brake Fluid change or DSG Service as Skoda are not good at having Guidelines clear to see / read or Schedules.  Service Plans do not even include things to Manufacturers Guidelines like Haldex / DSG or even Brake Fluid being done.

 

 

Edited 19 April, 20197 yr by Skoffski

On 18/04/2019 at 23:25, xman said:

Incredible. Looks as if a 15,000 mile oil change would still be far too long judging by the state of yours in those pictures.

Xman I'm going to change mine annually after seeing this. My theory is that there's clutch plates in there so clutch dust mixed with oil has made this sludge!

I also expect it not to be as bad next service as I'm thinking this may be like a run in service. 

 

toni8b it is soon due anyway at 3 years old but the mileage is nowhere near the limit which you would think would be a bigger factor in the oil deteriorating than age?

Hi, when you did this did you have to run any special set up for the pump afterwards?

 

Unless you were getting wheelspin when reversing up your drive changing the Haldex oil would not result in less revs being needed for the manouvre.

 

Yes the schmoo that you have found is organic matter from the clutch plates, all the time the vehicle is running in 2WD mode there is slippage between the plates except when travelling in an absolute straight line and with identically worn tyres front and rear.

Edited 19 June, 20232 yr by J.R.