Ok perhaps *JP* could do a how to guide when he's do it and post?

The Octavia is too new and some people I guess from 2004 have taken out extended warrantees which will forbid any DIY mucking around like factory warrantee.

One last thing on this would you be happy to buy a car for say £12k from some one that has fiddled around will oil changes. I do take your point about trust, had some bad time with a local mazda dealer a few years back (not doing oil and brake fluid change but changed for!). But the Skoda ones seem a lot better, but just ask to watch them do the work and give them the right oil. No place will refuse you to let them watch the work been done if got nothing to hide.

James.

As I've said,when the job is done,I'll post up details.

19 replies without an answer to the original question does not seem very helpful, and some of the snide remarks made in some of the replies appear rather childish.

Thanks go to mrlapou for being sensible.

Be sure you undo the right sump plug. Do not get mixed up between oil sump and gearbox sump..

I thought oil was hex bolt and gearbox something like M14 allen..but I could be wrong

19 replies without an answer to the original question does not seem very helpful, and some of the snide remarks made in some of the replies appear rather childish.

Thanks go to mrlapou for being sensible.

I don't think i was been that snide bar the 1st answer. My view is clear and two other people it's not worth the risk!

But good luck and post up pictures etc....

James.

I think most on here do not know the answer to the op's question due to most being main dealer serviced. We are well behind other forums on the mechanical side of things.

Be sure you undo the right sump plug. Do not get mixed up between oil sump and gearbox sump..

I thought oil was hex bolt and gearbox something like M14 allen..but I could be wrong

Yes,I'll post up details of what the various plugs are.

On my last car ,with the PD 140 diesel engine, the drain and filler/level plugs for the gearbox were a special 12 point spline bit (which I now possess)...Sod's law says the 2.0TFSI will be a different tool,we shall see.

I will also be checking the gearbox oil level,since I have had a previous bad experience with a Garage not doing this,but that's another story.

I think most on here do not know the answer to the op's question due to most being main dealer serviced. We are well behind other forums on the mechanical side of things.

Yes,it will develop as the cars get older and out of warranty...I wonder if it will become like the Audi TT(mk1) forum which I visit for my other car....on this absolutely no-one has a good word to say about the franchised dealers due to over-charging and incompetence,and 90% plus use independants or do their own work,I guess I'm used to that culture.

Yes,it will develop as the cars get older and out of warranty...I wonder if it will become like the Audi TT(mk1) forum which I visit for my other car....on this absolutely no-one has a good word to say about the franchised dealers due to over-charging and incompetence,and 90% plus use independants or do their own work,I guess I'm used to that culture.

my car is out of warranty now. I have always done most of my own mechanics so i too am looking for info on these cars. Sadly i dont think i will find it on here. I usually look on vw vortex or scn.

At last,a sensible non pompous reply,thank you

Not a problem. I guess it's something to speak to your dealer about maybe? Mine knew me and my Dad (a mechanic), and therefore knew what we did would not affect anything.

IIRC its a 36mm socket to undo the filter housing, accessed from underneath. There is a special VAG tool that screws into a valve in the bottom of the housing to remove the oil from it before removal, but this isn't essential, just a cleaner way of doing things.

19mm wrench for the drain plug I think.

T25 torx bits to remove the belly pan.

Nothing too unconventional I think.

Make sure you use the correct spec oil and a genuine filter and you won't go far wrong

Finding oil that's definitely right is a bit of a pain. After reading through the very badly worded section of my car's manual to work out what I needed I could only find one carton of oil that mentioned the correct VW oil spec on the back. It was in Halfords though, so I wasn't going to trust the employees to know what would suit. Is it the case that any fully synthetic oil will work?

Since the VW spec doesn't give a viscosity is there a conversion table around for matching VW oil specs to actual products?

Finding oil that's definitely right is a bit of a pain. After reading through the very badly worded section of my car's manual to work out what I needed I could only find one carton of oil that mentioned the correct VW oil spec on the back. It was in Halfords though, so I wasn't going to trust the employees to know what would suit. Is it the case that any fully synthetic oil will work?

Since the VW spec doesn't give a viscosity is there a conversion table around for matching VW oil specs to actual products?

It's "CASTROL EDGE 5W-30" - meeting W 504 00/507 00 spec. . The local VAG dealers Quantum oil may well be that Castrol from what I've read too.

Also "Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30" works too, never seen the Shell oil on sale.

Last time I was in Halfords 1L of CASTROL EDGE 5W-30 was £15 and no big 5l bottles in stock. Also it's worth pointing out I have yet to see a petrol station with this or the Mobil oil in stock, so pack a bottle if you go for a long drive!

James.

Shell Helix is the right spec looking at my bottle. Bit pricey though

I got the Mobil stuff - still have a bit of it left over 2000 miles later, so the car isn't too heavy on oil. I think it's the Shell Helix that Skoda recommend but without giving enough information as to exactly what type. My car takes VW 506 01 spec oil according to the manual...

Ordered today for a friend a part of his Vovlo from eurocarparts and in the box was a leaflet saying that they do 20L of Castrol EDGE (all grades) from £6.99 per Ltr and 4 cans of WD-40.

So I guess 20L drum will not go off, so a good buy? if into DIYing or give to dealer to do.

James.

PS. I can not find offer on web site, i guess you have to phone or go in person.

Lummox's very valid point is that if your car's on variable serviceing you will indeed louse it up because the sump has an oil quality sensor to create part of the data that decides when your next variable service is due. Changing the oil will confuse it.

FWIW, it doesn't confuse it in such a way as to break anything, it is just that your car will run to maximum service distance because the oil is clean.

If it's due every 18k miles and you change every 9k miles, one at a dealer and one yourself using the correct oil and an OEM filter then I don't see that you will have any problems.

The point regarding warrantee potentially being invalidated however is a valid concern.

I do extra changes on another car out of warrantee, because the oil on diesels comes out pretty foul at 18k intervals. That is however just pumped out via the dipstick, the filter replaced with a new OEM one and new oil to the correct spec is dropped in.