Hi All

Car 2005 1.9d Elegance 55k

Just had my MOT yesterday which my car past with one advisory which was Low Oil, why would my car have low oil it was serviced at 42k? does this mean there is a leak?

Also i am due for another Service now and need to order some parts, can you please advise me what i need for a service on my car at 55k miles, i would like to change the brake fluid as it has not been changed yet?

Many thanks

Bill

Hi All

Car 2005 1.9d Elegance 55k

Just had my MOT yesterday which my car past with one advisory which was Low Oil, why would my car have low oil it was serviced at 42k? does this mean there is a leak?

Also i am due for another Service now and need to order some parts, can you please advise me what i need for a service on my car at 55k miles, i would like to change the brake fluid as it has not been changed yet?

Many thanks

Bill

Not being funny here, but are you saying you have not checked the oil in 13,000 miles? I check mine every week, brake fluid should be changed every 2 years according to the service schedule.

Is this a bit of a joke that I am not getting mate? sorry

I wish it was a joke, but unfortunately it is not.........

Hi All

Car 2005 1.9d Elegance 55k

Just had my MOT yesterday which my car past with one advisory which was Low Oil, why would my car have low oil it was serviced at 42k? does this mean there is a leak?

Also i am due for another Service now and need to order some parts, can you please advise me what i need for a service on my car at 55k miles, i would like to change the brake fluid as it has not been changed yet?

Many thanks

Bill

Hi Bill

I know your issue is with the lack of oil, but what has low oil got to do with a MOT ? (its not a MOT check)

Radiotwo

Atleast they pointed it out!!!

You really should be checking the oil weekly mate - yes they do like a drop! Its not uncommon to use a litre between services.

Did I service your old Octy?

Hi All

Car 2005 1.9d Elegance 55k

Just had my MOT yesterday which my car past with one advisory which was Low Oil, why would my car have low oil it was serviced at 42k? does this mean there is a leak?

Also i am due for another Service now and need to order some parts, can you please advise me what i need for a service on my car at 55k miles, i would like to change the brake fluid as it has not been changed yet?

Many thanks

Bill

Hi mate, If you havent touch your car for 13K then I would say that low oil is nothing to worry about on a 1.9TDi, my 1.9TDi uses about 1/2 a litre of oil a year and reading on these pages oil use is a common thing to expect from this engine, you've got to remember the 1.9TDi block is a very agricultural engine and not as refined as the 2.0HDi.

The servicing is all dependant on whether your on Variable intervals or set intervals, the Haynes manual for a Passat Diesel recommends that brake fluid is changed every 2 years as well as the coolant but the back street garage I go to has equipment that can check the water content of the brakes fluid and the antifreeze strength of the coolant so they can change it when only necassary, as they say its another way for the stealers to screws us for unnecassary work.

I would definately do the oil as a mater of urgency, air filter if it hasnt been done within the last 40K and possibly fuel filter if it has never been done and maybe the pollen filter and whilst your there check for blockage around the drainage around the pollen filter housing, then just do the usual checks on brake pad thicknesses and tyre tread depth

Edited 27 January, 201016 yr by bryanp

Atleast they pointed it out!!!

You really should be checking the oil weekly mate - yes they do like a drop! Its not uncommon to use a litre between services.

Did I service your old Octy?

Hi Tom

Yes you did service my Octy, if you remember that had gone 40k without any oil or filter changes so i am getting better, lol

Won't the car just tell me if i am dangerously low on oil?

Yes, a red light will appear on your dash as your engine dies.

Ah, better indeed. Just check your oil every so often, its not that difficult really lol.

Hi mate, If you havent touch your car for 13K then I would say that low oil is nothing to worry about on a 1.9TDi, my 1.9TDi uses about 1/2 a litre of oil a year and reading on these pages oil use is a common thing to expect from this engine, you've got to remember the 1.9TDi block is a very agricultural engine and not as refined as the 2.0HDi.

The servicing is all dependant on whether your on Variable intervals or set intervals, the Haynes manual for a Passat Diesel recommends that brake fluid is changed every 2 years as well as the coolant but the back street garage I go to has equipment that can check the water content of the brakes fluid and the antifreeze strength of the coolant so they can change it when only necassary, as they say its another way for the stealers to screws us for unnecassary work.

I would definately do the oil as a mater of urgency, air filter if it hasnt been done within the last 40K and possibly fuel filter if it has never been done and maybe the pollen filter and whilst your there check for blockage around the drainage around the pollen filter housing, then just do the usual checks on brake pad thicknesses and tyre tread depth

The car is set to fixed intervals at 10k, i had all the filters changed on the last service including pollen. Its has never had a break fluid change, and i have had break fade acouple of times when driving a little to hard. I have never changed the coolant. I have also not changed the cambelt yet, is it 80k???

I have topped the oil up just to be safe but i am going to get a service very soon. Is it best to just change all the filters again?

Also is there a thread somewhere with pictures on checking blockage around drainage?

Many thanks for all your responses.

Yes, a red light will appear on your dash as your engine dies.

Ah, better indeed. Just check your oil every so often, its not that difficult really lol.

Yes indeed, its better to be safe :)

Don't know where you are based these days, I'm in Banbury

Cambelt is 60k/4 years to be safe, and best to do waterpump and coolant at the same time.

PM me if you need anything doing

Don't know where you are based these days, I'm in Banbury

Cambelt is 60k/4 years to be safe, and best to do waterpump and coolant at the same time.

PM me if you need anything doing

Skoda actually quote 80K for a cambelt change, its VW that quote 60K, When I challanged Skoda on this point they reassured me 80K was correct and VW quote 60K because their money grabbing, on this advice I waited till my car had done 80K with no probs. When I told a chap at work who had a 55 1.9 Passat he was mightely miffed as he felt he had been conned as he just had his done at 60K,

Also according to the Haynes manual for a Passat pre-2000 diesels are 60K and post 2000 diesels are 80K so as all Superbs came after 2000 this would back up Skoda's view and also back up the fact that VW are money grabbers if they are telling owners of newer Passats that its 60K!

I know you are only recommanded it to be safe but how far do you go? These manufacturers know what their talking about besides have you ever seen a thread on here concerning a failed 1.9TDi cambelt?

Edited 29 January, 201016 yr by bryanp

Don't know where you are based these days, I'm in Banbury

Cambelt is 60k/4 years to be safe, and best to do waterpump and coolant at the same time.

PM me if you need anything doing

Hi Tom

I live in Bourne Lincs, so i think that is about 80 miles from Banbury, so a little bit far but thanks anyway

Skoda actually quote 80K for a cambelt change, its VW that quote 60K, When I challanged Skoda on this point they reassured me 80K was correct and VW quote 60K because their money grabbing, on this advice I waited till my car had done 80K with no probs. When I told a chap at work who had a 55 1.9 Passat he was mightely miffed as he felt he had been conned as he just had his done at 60K,

Also according to the Haynes manual for a Passat pre-2000 diesels are 60K and post 2000 diesels are 80K so as all Superbs came after 2000 this would back up Skoda's view and also back up the fact that VW are money grabbers if they are telling owners of newer Passats that its 60K!

I know you are only recommanded it to be safe but how far do you go? These manufacturers know what their talking about besides have you ever seen a thread on here concerning a failed 1.9TDi cambelt?

I think i might wait a while then as it will prob coat about £400 :( Is there a way you can check the cambelt?

Anyway... Serice parts Needed

Fuel Filter

Oil (what type and how much)

Air Filter

Pollen Filter (where is this)

Brake fluid (Am i correct in thinking that 5.1 DOT is an upgrade? How much will i need?)

Anything else??

Many thanks for all your comments

I think i might wait a while then as it will prob coat about £400 :( Is there a way you can check the cambelt?

Anyway... Serice parts Needed

Fuel Filter

Oil (what type and how much)

Air Filter

Pollen Filter (where is this)

Brake fluid (Am i correct in thinking that 5.1 DOT is an upgrade? How much will i need?)

Anything else??

Many thanks for all your comments

As for the non-cambelt related questions, the search function on here will answer them all.

Cambelt-wise, not really a huge amount you can do at home to check the cam belt other than visual inspection. Remove the belt cover and feel how tight it is, give it a good twang with your finger (engine off of course). If it's slack or worn in places then get it done. Also check the flat top surface for signs of perishing .... little cracks or tears for example. Check the underside to make sure the teeth are still ok. I guess you could run the engine with the cover off and see if there's any wobble in it but it'd most likely have failed if there were.

I'm with Rotodiesel on this. Every other country says it's 80k regardless of time. Only SkodaUK seem to impose a time limit. Seems like money grabbing. Having said that my car is a 53 plate and covered 55k and I'll have mine done this year sometime .... but I do tend to drive it hard so precautionary measure I guess ... and besides a friend is doing it for me thankfully.

... well I say "friend", what I mean is a guy I kinda know who's too weird to have any real friends of his own. (BTW: Chris if you're reading this "Hiya buddy! How are you doing my bestest mate?" :p )

Edited 2 February, 201016 yr by allclownsareevi

you've got to remember the 1.9TDi block is a very agricultural engine<snip>

lol, images of a old blue Ferguson trundling down the road hahahaha, but less to go wrong :-)

lol, images of a old blue Ferguson trundling down the road hahahaha, but less to go wrong :-)

probably why they gave it the suspension of a tractor.

The front suspension of the B5.5 wouldn't last 5 minutes in a field.

On the subject of cambelt checking, you can examine the position of the pointer on the tensioner to see how far the belt has relaxed. It moves to the left (as you look at it) as the belt relaxes and if the pointer is far out of the "window" with a cold engine, replacement might be a good idea.

rotodiesel.

All diesel cars use oil mate, and when it drops enough to set the light off you have actually burned about a litre of it, ppl imagine it to be like a pint of beer and the last swallow is left, but it's all set to warn you before you can damage it, you should really check it at least every 1000 miles and be carefull not to overfill, dipstick full to empty is only about a litre, so given you went 13k without checking it I'd say it's all normal.

Cambelt wear/stretch depends not just on the number of engine revolutions ( & hence number of miles) but also on the way the vehicle is driven . Manufacturers can only issue general guide lines for the average motorist . If the car is driven on lots of short journeys with lots of acceleration and deceleration,engine labouring in too high a gear, etc then belt will be subject to many stress cycles per mile. If on the other hand the car is used mainly on motorway journeys then belt will be at fairly even tension if car is driven smoothly and peak revs will be lower. Thus motorway driving is much kinder to cambelts. Therefore if you do lots of city driving cambelt should be replaced more frequently than if driven mainly on motorways.Boy racers will have highest cambelt failure rate ! I believe that most cambelts will deteriate over time even if unused so manufactuers state a life limit - normally about 4 yrs. However Contitech have developed new cambelts for the new VAG 1.6TDI engine that gives an extended life. Recommended replacement is after 300,000 Km ( approx 200,00 miles) . No cambelt life limit is specified in my MK6 Golf 1.6TDI manual !