JTBS

Sorry NZ100, I think you've got the wrong end of the stick. Although I didn't say specifically, I have owned the car since new, almost seven years and have done 65000 in it. Then, as per the post "Some time ago the plastic flaps decided to give up the ghost and I managed to recover all the bits so I am pretty sure nothing went down the small fuel port at the end, however....................?" Its not been the same since.............

Filling the tank takes an eon. The nozzle has to be virtually withdrawn from the filler neck and the fuel trickled in, even then the forecourt pump constantly trips. Some time ago the plastic flaps decided to give up the ghost and I managed to recover all the bits so I am pretty sure nothing went down the small fuel port at the end, however....................? I have passed a wire down the filler and am sure I got as far as the tank. Had the road wheels off to flush brake fluid today so had a close look at the filler pipe, couldn't see how it is clipped/sealed on the tank entry point so left well alone until got more info. I was going to let the local Skoda dealer look but they charge a hefty amount just to look before committing to a the job so declined their offer. I did borrow a Bosch endoscope but for a "professional" piece of kit the screen picture was very poor so no conclusions could be drawn from that. Any hints please?

Many thanks for the replies, I didn't realise there were any answers. Oil has been changed with a recognised fully synthetic C3 oil along with filter at the appropriate intervals. The brakes are not dragging as discs are cool to touch after a run with little braking. I have noticed the inbuilt DPF system cleaning doing its thing a bit more often than before, although I have taken the opportunity to run the car hard up the local steep hill, Telegraph Hill and Haldon Hill, both steep enough to get the oil temp up to 106/107 on occasions. Induction system and DPF cleaning is the way forward I think. Today - this morning, ambient air temp 5-10C the onboard "this journey" consumption struggled to get to 46mpg (approx 40 motorway miles plus 10 through 30/40/50s. Returning this afternoon onboard "this journey" consumption 56mpg - which sort of suggests an air temp sensor problem?

Owned from new 58,000 Miles, mostly dealer serviced. Brim to Brim fuel consumption was normally better then 50mpg - onboard "this journey" consumption occasionally as high as 60 mpg but this tends to be up to 5mpg off the mark. Slightly lower overall during winter months. Since last December now between 40-45 mpg driving very carefully. New cambelt late December but fuel consumption had dived before that so cant blame the installation. Can see no logical reason for this, no ECU lights, or smoke, driving/journey style much the same, VRS mode has always been selected, performance seems unaffected. Has the forecourt diesel mix been f@cked about with by the bureaucrats? Can anyone recommend an injection specialist/proper diagnostic technician as I don't wish to use a main dealer to resolve this - in DEVON please. Thanks