The topic says it all really.

I parked up at work a couple of days ago and smelled diesel. Didn't think much of it - it's not unusual. Got home today and was doing the weekly checks, tyre pressures, fill screen wash, check oil level etc. and I noticed the diesel smell again. I also noticed that there was a lot of water in the top of the diesel filter but when I looked it wasn't water it was diesel. My first thought was that a pipe had split but when I mopped it all up and dried the surface clean then started the car, it was apparent that there was a very slight weep of diesel from around the join at the pipe with the cover plate. It looks as if I'm going to have to lash out on a new fuel filter or at the very least the top of a fuel filter.

The engine compartment is a bit messy too because this has obviously overflowed and splashed onto the inner wings, I think it may have contaminated the drive belt too :wonder: so when I get this fixed, I'm going to have to clean the engine compartment too :(

Does anybody know what the cost of these are from Skoda ?

Is there an after market replacement ?

Can it be repaired by brazing/silver soldering ? Probably too difficult to clean properly for that.

Anybody else experienced this ?

Regards,

D

I'd be concerned about diesel contamination on the cambelt. I'm no expert but I would have thought that oiling a cambelt could well cause it to slip. :(

Derv on a cambelt can cause it to snap, not slip.

TBH I think that looks like water due to the colour and a lack of rainbow on it as the filter regularly fills up with water as you show.

The derv smell is a worry however and it would be worth drying the filter top, and then running the car for a while to see if fuel is getting past the pipes.

If not then you might well have a leak elsewhere.

I'd request you to check the leak as soon as possible and get it fixed if any! I had exactly the same situation shown in the picture on my ex TDI and because of the splashing of diesel on to the charger belt it snapped. The charger belt is located just below the fuel filter and without any cover.

Edited 20 January, 201016 yr by TKU

Not sure about the mkII octavia but a new filter for the mkI is about £23 from TPS and £13 from GSF IIRC.

My dad has a 2.0 TDI Audi A3 and I did notice that the fuel filter is quite a bit bigger in his car than mine though.

It does look like there is a drip of fuel hanging from the closest pipe in the picture.

Happened to a collegue a few months ago. 2006 Estate 1.9TDI. After receiving the car from service, he noticed some diesel on the floor where he paks the car.

A few days later, while driving (50-60 kmph), some terrible noises and the engine totally dead. Alternator drivebelt had snapped and breached through the cambelt cover, and managed to ruin the cambelt.

Engine was severely damaged.

Skoda Norway admits: 1) somewhat difficult to get the filter assemled without leaks, 2) bad placement of filterbox, 3) weak cambelt cover.

Service was not done by Skoda garage. Garage that did the service fixed the car for free.

Do not know the total cost, but my collegue had a rental car at his disposition for some weeks.

Do not ignore dieselleaks from the filter.

Thanks for the replies.

It was definitely the filter cap. There was a leak around one of the pipe swagings, sometimes it would leak worse than others. The picture was of water after I'd cleaned the car. Before I cleaned the car I dried it all off and then decided I wanted a picture. It was half full of disel before I cleaned it. Anyway, it cost £128.96 for a new filter unit. I fitted it myself and it was a fiddly job - the hard part was removing the hose clips without damaging the hoses. I destroyed the clips in the process so I had to go out and buy four S/S Jubilee clips (£0.50 each). I also stabbed myself - fortunately not badly - between thumb and forefinger when the screwdriver slipped . Also, the mounting is different. The old filter is mounted onto a plate and is removable with a couple of spring clips. The new filter is only mountable if the mounting plate is removed. I gave the dealer the TMB number so I'm, pretty certain the filter is the correct one. The mounting plate had a lug on it that supported a coolant hose. The new filter doesn't have that lug so I have temporarily used a Ty-Wrap to support the hose. When I get time, I'll make a bracket and do it properly.

One thing that really impressed me was starting. I piped the filter up, made sure the job was all done then turned the started switch. I was expecting loads of cranking while the filter was primed but it started as normal, wvered for a couple of seconds then picked back up to normal and just ran. I didn't have to hold the key for long periods of time, didn't have more than one go at starting, in fact if I had just gone out on a morning and started the car, I probably wouldn't have noticed any difference to a normal start.

After running it for a while, I covered the alternator and sprayed cleaner everywhere then gave the engine compartment a good jetwash to remove the excess diesel. It looks a lot better after a good wash !!

TTFN

D

Same thing has just happened to my 04 Octavia. 2 days after service I noticed a diesel smell, immediately checked the car and saw the leak so drove it straight back to dealer (from work). Could be a bit expensive if the cam belt has been soaked.

I can see this being a problem on a few older octavias as it is a bit of a water trap....

Tim

Same thing happened to me today.. Octy II 2.0 Diesel DSG

I noticed what I thought to be water on top of the fuel filter a few times when filling up the washer bottle.

Unfortunately on the Motorway heard a flutter from under the bonnet and the battery light came on.

The very nice RAC man fetched a belt and got me going but he noticed the fuel on the filter.

I had it serviced about 6000 miles ago at the dealer and I am sure I have noticed the liquid since then... but I doubt they are going to admit being at fault.

I'll have to see if I can get the bits and fix it myself...

The alternator belt is the one you can see that gets the fuel on, it doesn't drive the water pump or the oil pump, on the Diesel anyways, I guess you'd have to be pretty unlucky to do any other damage.

Definitely worthwhile having Skoda Assist, I was on the way to a wedding with my pregnant wife and Son ..

Just filled washer bottle up on my 1.9 tdi octy 2 and noticed I got a leak on top of the fuel filter too, it dunt look as bad as yours yet but since mine is running quite low and stiff ride its prob splashed all over engine bay.

Its due mot so will get skoda to fit a new one at same time as service and mot. Hope its not done owt to any belts , I will inspect them asap.

I have cleaned up the diesel and ran the car idle with the bonnet up.

The diesel was coming from the bleeder screw in the middle of the filter. I removed the screw and found the washer partly corroded. I had a suitable washer so I replaced it, it was about 5 times thicker but fits perfectly.

A quick burst up the motorway and no more leaking diesel !~ Result!

Just need to clean the engine bay up a bit and back to normal...

Edited 23 May, 201016 yr by funklet