roadarman

My vRS 230 went into the local Skoda garage for service and DSG oil change yesterday. The girl on Service Reception still insisted that it needed a Front Diff oil change and even pulled up the Service Instruction sheets on her PC to show me. However, when I phoned to check on progress they admitted that the service technician had pointed out that this did NOT apply to my vehicle (so was NOT carried out) ! Finally, they agree with you OccyVRS ! Case closed !

Many thanks again OccyVRS. I find it very depressing that even Skoda CZ don't seem to know anything about the cars they make ! I asked the specific question 'does the vRS230 with my VIN # quoted have a separate diff or is it inside the DSG box ?' I got 2 separate replies from different people - one said 'change the differential oil every 3 years' and the other said 'the gearbox needs an oil change at 60,000 km' ! I'm losing faith in Skoda !

I have just had a reply from Skoda Auto cz having given them the full version of my car and the VIN # and they say the diff DOES need an oil change every 3 years ! I am very, very puzzled ?

I just found the following whilst web browsing on VAG DQ250 gearbox The source is https://gearboxlist.com/volkswagen/dq250/ The site lists fitments including :- Skoda Octavia 3 (5E) in 2012 – 2018 Ander Diadvantages it mentions :- When combined with very powerful engines and especially after aggressive chip tuning, the differential in this gearbox can be destroyed, and already after a mileage of 50 thousand km. Often, the shaft gears wear out and their seats break. This statement confirms that the diff IS inside the DSG box ! So I do NOT need a separate 'Front Diff oil change' ! Still no response from Skoda however !!!

Many thanks again, OccyVRS. That is what I had guessed and since I am having the DQ250 oil and filter changed I will query (yet again) the 'Front Diff' oil change. Meanwhile I did some searching on the XDS operation and, as you say, it is part of the braking system (which also does the tyre pressure monitoring) Thanks again

Many thanks, OccyVRS, for that extended info. Mine definitely has a 6-speed DSG (DQ250) and also has the split headlights, white stitching and solid discs. I'm pretty well convinced that it does NOT have the VAQ LSD. It obviously does have a diff of some sort so does THIS simple diff have oil that needs changing ? I'm a simple guy who remembers changing the 'Rear Axle' oil in my 1.3 Marinas many years ago but they were massive things. You were also lucky if you got more than 500 miles per pint of engine oil - reliability has got much better these days. I'm still waiting to see if I get a reply from Skoda Auto !

Many thanks for that, Ads230. I have also sent an email to Skoda Auto and they replied that my question has been passed to an appropriate person for reply - so it will be interesting to see if I get a response ? Meanwhile, I will just have to take the dealer's word for it and tell them to go ahead with the diff oil change as part of the annual service - and then wait to see what happens when I pick it up after the service. Thanks again.

Many thanks, OccyVRS. The problem is that mine is the basic vRS230 which doesn't have the VAQ LSD - that comes as standard on the 245 model. I got my complete vehicle build spec from Skoda UK and there is no mention of VAQ or LSD as an optional fitment. Hoever, my dealer insists that it DOES need a Front Differential oil change. Skoda UK customer service says they don't know so I should rely on the dealer !

Many thanks Jack25. However, these videos apply to AWD (Four wheel drive) systems. My vRS230DSG is Front wheel drive only and does NOT have the VAQ limited slip diff as fitted to the vRS245.. Admittedly it does have a diff but does this have separate oil from the DSG box and if so when does it need changing ? Any suggestions gratefully received

I forgot to add that this car is a vRS230 DSG and as it is approaching 38,000 miles I will have the DSG oil changed. My query is about the differential ?

My local Skoda dealer says I now need a Front Differential oil change every 3 years, but I have never heard of this before and the car is now 8 years old. Can anyone advise on this as a request to Skoda UK drew a blank. They sent me a copy of their Service Schedule which only mentions the Haldex All Wheel Drive coupling needing an oil change every 3 years - NOTHING about differentials and the vRS 230 is front wheel drive. The vRS245 has the VAQ limited slip diff which does require a 3 yr oil change but even that is not listed on the service schedule they sent me ? HELP !

My 2018 Octavia vRS displayed 'Key battery low' so I fitted a new Duracell CR2027 from an unopened pack dated 2027. The remote was DEAD. I tried 'syncing' the key as described in the handbook but nothing happened and then the alrm went off ! I locked the car using the spare remote and that stopped the alarm. I then noticed that the red light did not come on when I pressed any button. I then fitted the other new CR2025 from the pack of 2 - same result = DEAD. I check the voltages and the old Panasonic showed 3V and the NEW Duracells both showed 3.2V. However, before visiting the dealer I bought a pack of 2x VARTA CR2025 from Screwfix. All sorted, the remote worked first time and the key did not need 'syncing'. I won't by Duracell in future ! Incidentally this was the first time I had changed the battery so had got over 5years life from the Panasonic battery.

When I put my 2018 Octavia vRS230 for MOT last year I had to have two tyres replaced as they were 'cut to the cores'. I was surprised as they had only done around 18,000 miles. As a precaution I also replaced the other two a month later. Each time I replaced the tyres with Bridgestone Turanza T005 225/40 R18 Y as these were the same as the original fitments. This year I have been told that I again have to replace two of the tyres as they are 'cut the core' even though they have only done around 7,000 miles ! When I questioned the Skoda main dealer who were doing the service and MOT they said 'it's due to the poor roads!' In my 60+ years of motoring and the best part of 1million miles I had NEVER ever before had this problem. Has anyone else had this problem or have I just been given 'dud' tyres ? I will never buy Bridgestone again ! Any comments or suggestions please ?