I have just bought a new Octavia 1.9 tdi Elegance estate and want/have to drive it into the ground. My Fabia 1.9 tdi estate has done 150k and still runs like new, regularly returning 55+ mpg - something which I attribute at least partly to the fact that it has been serviced regularly at 5 and 10k miles throughout its life.

The new Octavia (as I'm sure everyone here will know) is set for variable serviving intervals and the dealer said I should stick with that. What I would like to know is whether there is any reason why I should not have the car serviced regularly at 5/10k miles, either retaining the expensive oil which it was supplied with or replacing it with the oil designed for fixed interval servicing.

Apologies if this seems a daft question, but I'm mechanically ignorant and really do want to nurse the car to a happy old age.

Any comments would be very welcome.

It's a great debate Paul perhaps with no right or worng answer, I favour the fixed system myself but it's entirely up to you.

Many thanks for such a swift reply. I'm definitely inclined towards fixed intervals. Could you just clarify, whether, the case of opting for fixed interval servicing, (a) I should/can keep using the more expensive oil or replace with the type for fixed intervals and ( changes need to be made to the service interval display thing in the car and, if so, whether these are simple?

Thanks again - any further contributions very welcome.

Paul

The main issue you will have is regarding warranty.

IF anything goes wrong and the dealer could point the blame at your mini services, then you could kiss the warranty goodbye.

Also, as I understand it, regarding warranty you not only need Skoda approved parts, but to use a garage (VAT registered too?) rather than do yourself - unless you can prove your a vehicle mechanic by trade IIRC.

Thanks again. I should probably have made it clearer: I would certainly be getting the services and all work done by a garage - in fact an ex-Skoda (now Daihatsu) dealer with plenty of experience, who sourced the car for me....

Paul

in fact an ex-Skoda (now Daihatsu) dealer with plenty of experience, who sourced the car for me....

Paul

Tavistock Motors? Ampthill?

Hockmeyer Motors, Holdingham, near SLEAFORD, Lincolnshire - a family firm who dealt with Skoda for years and whom I (and I'm sure I'm not alone) would recommend wholeheartedly for their expertise and integrity: as far as I can see, there is hardly any staff turnover and they are old-fashioned in the best way - i.e. there are no frills, just a concentration on doing a transparently honest and proper job for the customer. (Off topic and possibly contentious, I know, but I think it's sad that Skoda have lost dealers like this.)

I am not a lover of variable servicing and much prefer fixed. I've changed every car I've had back to fixed despite doing high miles in some of them and I'll be doing the same to the Octavia at some point.

My friend who I bought my A4 1.8T from was victim to a variable servicing related engine problem and after a bill of £1500 to put it right, who am I to argue?

If you are doing MEGA miles then variable does have cost saving advantages and if you're changing the oil often enough then I wouldn't be too concerned but I still don't like it and much prefer fixed at regular intervals (5 or 10k depending on practicality and budget).

Never changed oil between services and had no issues.

What was the issue on the A4? The only issue I can see is if the wrong oil is used (ie not long life).

There arent any benefits to changing the oil between services in a modern car, and even on fixed the engine will still be monitoring the oil. If changed and not reset, all you'll do is mess things up with the oil monitoring.

The issue on the A4 is quite common to the 1.8T's, it was a low mileage 3 year old car on variable servicing. The issue was oil starvation to the cam chain tensioner due to the oil going sludgy as the oil has broken down and blocked the finer oil supplies.

Audi of America know that this is a problem with the 1.8T and warranted all their 1.8T engines against this problem for 7 years. Audi UK didn't want to know despite the car only being 3 months out of warranty and left my mate to pay for it himself.

It's a real problem - I know personally of three cases in 1.8T's and I'm sure there are a lot more across the forums.

Old 1.8T, or TFSI?

AFAIK Skoda didnt allow the mk1 1.8T to be on variable because of such issues, which shouldnt exist on the new engines.

But as you're will be warrantied (assuming bought new), why worry?

1.8T, not TFSI.

If you are going to keep the car longer than the warranty period then I wouldn't want to be on variable at all. Just incase there is a chance of lasting damage.

Which is why, you'll be hard pressed to find many 1.8T skoda owners on variable/long life - even high milers.

They couldnt cope with the long life spec oils.