My Service book for my Octavia 2 2006, diesel with DSG states that the timing belt is replaced every 120000km. However, I have just been told by the local Skoda Dealer that it should be replaced after 4 years despite the fact that the car only has 40K miles on clock. Seems to me that they are just making extra work for themselves. Any similar comments?

Don,

Might be worth posting in the Octy section ?

Don,

Might be worth posting in the Octy section ?

Sorry didn't know there were other sections. How do you open in "Octy" section?

welcome to briskoda

Timing belt replacement intervals are only a recommendation by the manufacturer. It does seem to vary from one "marque" of the VAG group to another and also keeps changing from year to year which leads to confusion . Early PD diesels had intervals of 60,000 miles then later it was 80,000 or 4 years whichever was first. Now for latest Octavias it,s 150,00 Km for PD engines or 180,000 for CR engines My 1.6TDI Golf MK6 is 300,000Km ! The latest toothed timing belts have "high flex" construction ( Continental Contitech) which extends the life but of course this is assuming that the part is supplied by the vehicle manufacturer . But all of this is only a guide .Vehicles driven over lots of short journeys (e.g. delivery vans)

should have belts replaced earlier , cars used for racing even earlier ( "boy racers" ? ) and normal motoring as per the manual supplied with the car. If in doubt "earlier" could well be the cheapest option . A £300-400 cambelt /waterpump change a year or two early is small beer against an engine re-build .

Timing belt replacement intervals are only a recommendation by the manufacturer. It does seem to vary from one "marque" of the VAG group to another and also keeps changing from year to year which leads to confusion . Early PD diesels had intervals of 60,000 miles then later it was 80,000 or 4 years whichever was first. Now for latest Octavias it,s 150,00 Km for PD engines or 180,000 for CR engines My 1.6TDI Golf MK6 is 300,000Km ! The latest toothed timing belts have "high flex" construction ( Continental Contitech) which extends the life but of course this is assuming that the part is supplied by the vehicle manufacturer . But all of this is only a guide .Vehicles driven over lots of short journeys (e.g. delivery vans)

should have belts replaced earlier , cars used for racing even earlier ( "boy racers" ? ) and normal motoring as per the manual supplied with the car. If in doubt "earlier" could well be the cheapest option . A £300-400 cambelt /waterpump change a year or two early is small beer against an engine re-build .

Yup, that sounds about right, VW Cab, I have a 2007 PD 140 (up to 180) & my service book says 120,000 km (74.000 miles) with no mention of the 4 years. Rang Skoda uk and they said that for my chassis no. the recommended interval is 90,000 (56000 miles) or every 4 years. I wonder if the new high flex belts can be used on older models? Still, with my remap, I'm better off going for the earlier change I reckon.