silver1011

5W30 and 0W20 are well documented to be better suited to colder climates such as the UK, with 5W30 been the viscosity of choice for most manufacturers for a long time. The more recent move to 0W20 is all about meeting stricter emissions targets, not engine longevity. Whilst 0W20 works better in really cold weather 5W30 is better at maintaining strength and oil pressure at higher temperatures and loads, which for me offers better benefits.

It’s exactly the same as Quantum Longlife III, I flit between the two depending on which I can source cheapest 👍

@Warrior193, my 1.4 TSI Kodiaq definitely has ACT 👍

My 2018 1.4 TSI ACT 150PS came from the factory with 0W20 VW508.00 / VW509.00. At it’s first service the main dealer replaced it with 5W30 VW507.00. the 0W20 is all about achieving strict emissions targets. 5W30 is (in my opinion) is better suited for engine longevity. I use the genuine VAG oil called Quantum (manufactured by Fuchs). It’s called Longlife III and is around £35 for a 5 litre cube.

I don’t think so, the hidden external slot for the key blade is only on the driver’s side door…

I’ve had lots of interactions with Skoda UK customer services since 2008, all of them mainly positive, until the last few years. They really are absolutely rubbish.

The headlight and front foglight are one piece.

That was me, I had the genuine Skoda high line reverse camera retrofitted by a Skoda dealer, a calibration fault code during the All-In warranty eligibility check cost me several dealer visits and £85. Luckily Skoda have dropped the eligibility checks now.

Whilst it isn’t unusual for a dealer to farm out some work to third parties i.e. non Skoda tow bars etc. for a reverse camera, that was available as a factory fitted option and that Skoda have specifically created retrofitting kits for, then there is no excuse for what your dealer has done. Lazy, doing stuff on the cheap, thinking they’ve got away with it before, whatever their excuse I know what I’d be asking for. A fully retrofitted factory kit, or, they can have the car back. The dealers want their cake and to eat it, don’t fit a towbar or peddle box, it might invalidate your warranty, but we’ll quite happily advocate the fitting of non-approved parts of unknown origin that integrate directly into the cars systems, as long as it saves us money. Time to ditch the emails and get on the phone, or go visit them in person.

I ran the higher recommended pressures when towing our caravan once, and forgot to reduce the pressures afterwards. The car was rock solid, I felt every lump and bump. I couldn’t wait to take some air out and restore the softer ride.

Most (if not all) franchised main dealers will sub contract out the fitting of an aftermarket towbar to their local / preferred independent fitter. You may as well bypass the middle man and go to the fitter directly. Unless of course you’re looking to have the genuine Skoda retractable towbar fitted. Main dealer pricing for these varies from £1,000 to £2,000, if you can find a dealer willing to do it.

For a while now Skoda have been threatening to remove all towing weights from the VIN plates on vehicles that are not factory ordered with either the towbar preparation option or the full factory towbar, but as yet I don’t believe anyone with a Kodiaq has seen this. Assuming there are towing weights on the VIN then you’re perfectly fine to fit an aftermarket towbar or retrofit the factory towbar. If specifying the factory towbar, then Skoda fit a slightly different grill (larger openings) and a different cooling fan. It’s belt and braces, unless you’re towing right at the top end of the permissible weights up a continued steep incline in high ambient temperatures you’ll be fine. Unless Skoda can attribute any failures directly to the non-standard towbar then you shouldn’t have any warranty issues either. Just be sure to choose your fitter carefully and ask plenty of questions on how key features are integrated via the dedicated electrics they fit (changes to the stability control, deactivation of blind assist, rear fog light and rear parking sensors, additional functionality of the navigation, activation of the alarm if the lighting socket is removed, additional reverse camera views etc.)

Define ‘lifetime’. The lifetime of the car, the engine, the belt, the tensioners or your lifetime? Skoda UK are either useless or very clever, only you can determine which. Skoda Auto i.e. their head office publish the workshop manuals for use by their importers (Skoda UK for example) and their franchised dealer network. As mentioned that manual suggests the belt never needs changing (in non dusty environments). However, in the UK we’re under the umbrella of the importer, Skoda UK, who (for reasons only known to them) stipulate both a time and distance interval on the 1.4 TSI petrol engine, 5 years or 135,000 miles - whichever is reached first. So, this is where you need to make a call. Follow the workshop manual or Skoda UK. I was in this position recently with my 1.4 TSI, my 2018 Kodiaq is still under warranty, and so I need to follow Skoda UK’s service and maintenance requirements i.e. I paid the £758 for a new cambelt. On the plus side that same warranty also paid for the same leaky water pump you have, both done at the same time. I spent £758 but saved £520, and have the benefit of a brand new cambelt. No warranty and therefore no dependency on Skoda UK? Then whether you decide to change the cambelt or not (and when or even if) will depend on your attitude to risk or risk aversiveness.

It is possible, but Skoda won’t do it. You need to find someone with VCDS or OBDeleven etc.

Yep, it’s one of those situations whereby you have to make a call based on the information available combined with your own perception of risk. I’ve no doubt Skoda UK are taking advantage but there are other specifics that I am having to consider too (an independent garage got halfway through the job and had to stop), and I have a warranty which means I have to adhere to the service and maintenance schedules. Presumably UK dealers won’t be inspecting the belts either. How accurate can a visual check be? The recent price hike is grating though. I just wish I had the energy to challenge Skoda UK on why they insist on the 5 year interval and no other country does…

Third post in…

As I said.

Yes, the timing belt is the same as the cambelt. I used my recent example (different engine) to highlight the interval discrepancies and wild price variations from Skoda UK and their franchised dealer network.

Should you change it? That’s only a question you can answer. Skoda UK will tell you it’s a year overdue, others might say that Skoda UK’s blanket 5 year interval is a simple money making tactic. On mileage alone you’re 100,000 miles early. You pays your money and makes your choice. P.S, my 5 year old 40,000 mile Kodiaq is in for its £740 cambelt on Monday, despite the Skoda workshop manual suggesting its a lifetime part and never needs changing (in non dusty environments). £740 can buy a lot of nice things.

It tells me the same. But then this isn’t new, even before Skoda UK upped their blanket time interval from 4 to 5 years they were insisting cambelts be changed where the workshop manuals didn’t. But back then a cambelt was around £400, and for that I deemed it acceptable preventative maintenance. At twice the price they’re simply profiteering now. If a local garage can quote for genuine parts and the labour time as well as offering a courtesy car, then Skoda UK are seemingly using the cambelt myth as an alternative to the “your brakes are 80% worn” yarn. Still, what are the alternatives? I guess it depends on an individuals perception of risk. Don’t change it and accept if it does fail it’s going to be an expensive repair, or change it and sleep easier for two years. I have Skoda’s All-In warranty which has just agreed to replace a leaking water pump, which as it happens usually costs around £400. A condition of that warranty is that I follow the manufacturers service and maintenance schedule. Now, is that Skoda’s schedule, or Skoda UK’s!? 😂

Presumably because the warranty terms, conditions and duration are also set by Skoda UK (essentially an importer), unlike the workshop manual which isn’t. Skoda UK can hoodwink their customers, but have limited influence over Skoda themselves?

I read some of your other posts on the issues with cambelt changes on the 1.5 TSI ACT, they were very helpful thank you toot. My 2018 1.4 TSI is also ACT, I wonder if this is the reason my local VAG specialist struggled.

There has been a surprising increase in DSG failures on the Kodiaq recently, seemingly mostly related to the mechatronics. The symptoms being only odd or even gears being available.

That was my post, and whilst the advice on the water pump is indeed incorrect, the UK’s 5 year or 135,000 miles interval for (my) 1.4 TSI was also confirmed more recently by my local dealer.