Thanks for taking the time out to read my post. My car is a 57 5 door skoda fabia hatchback. It is a petrol engine 1.2. I bought the car in February 2009 with 16k miles on the clock in Watford. Six weeks later the power steering failed. I took it to my nearest skoda dealer who said they fixed it overnight. Very next day the same thing happened. Back it went to my local dealer. To cut a long story short, it went to three different dealers another 5 times. Eventually after Skoda customer services said I could reject the car (THANKS FOR TAKING SO LONG TO TELL ME. I wrote to the dealer I bought it from and they tok the car away for three weeks. When I got it back it was fixed but I have no report on what work was carried out, even though this has been requested on many occassions. Then drving back from the coast in May 2010, I heard a knocking noise. A friend of mine stated that it sounded out of oil. Took it back to local dealer who charged me £120 to refill the engine with oil. No oil light came on and this car was serviced the previous September as supposed to. Local dealer told me that if I wanted it investigated I would have to pay for it. I said no, it is still under warranty. Basically they blamed me saying that I deliberately let it run out of oil. I was then told to put a litre on oil in a month, which I did, always checking before any long journeys. Car was serviced again last August. then on the way to Scotland this April car breaks down again with no oil in engine even though I put in a litre a day before I went, a litre on the journey and the AA man had to put in 3 and half litres. I have only done 21k in this car and I have had it just 27 months and now the dealer wants £3,500 to fix it as it is out of warranty even though it first occurred while still under warranty. The car cost £5,500 of which I am still paying for! Dealer I bought it from blames local dealer for not fixing it properly and skoda customer services less then helpful when I told them the first time. HHHHEEEEELLLPPPPP

ask consumer direct for advice 08454040506 and explain this is ongoing issue. ive never used a 1.2 fabia and ive never heard of any other car requiring so much oil a month (rx8 maybe??)

its not right to use so much at so little mileage. as an example, although my cars a different motor but, in 65k and 7 years ive only used 2 ltrs of extra oil, serviced every 12 months and checked every other week

when your putting the oil in do you also check the dipstick, wipe and recheck, each time? id advise them that you do this regardless as it could be possible your also overfilling it if you dont check. also see if you have any receipts for the oil purchases to backup your story, even bank statements from halfords might help

im not suggesting they will pay for all the repairs but you might meet somewhere in the middle and its worth pursuing

If your vehicle is burning oil like that you must be leaving a blue smoke screen behind you, and your exhaust tailpipe will be damp with black oil residue, or else you have an extremely bad oil leak which would show on the ground where you park.

You should be checking your oil level every week no longer, first thing in the morning before starting the engine, also important to be on level ground. Remove and wipe the dipstick, wait a few seconds then dip again. Never overfill, this can cause more problems. Do not wait until you hear noises or the oil light coming on, when the oil light comes on it is too late. Using the correct oil is vital.

In 6 years that I had my first Superb it never burnt any oil, the only time oil was used was at an oil change, every 6 months regardless of distance, My second Superb in two years no oil apart from changes. My third has not burnt any since November 2010, the oil has been changed twice though, I always change oil & filter after the running in period, after over 40 years as an MV Tech now retired, I have always had new vehicles and run in my own way.

If your dealer is unable to find any problem get at least one other independant garage to examine the vehicle and get a written report, never delay contacting Skoda UK they log any reports these can come in very handy for claims.

My guess is the real damage was done back in May 2010.

If you answer the following questions, we will be able to advise you better.

What is the engine code?

It is a three character code on the options label in the service log book and also on a similar label under the carpet in the boot. This will give us oil volume, max oil consumption and to confirm that car has both oil level and oil pressure warning lights.

Did you check the oil level on a regular basis using the dipstick?

Before May 2010, After May 2010 or not at all?

Back in May 2010, did you pull over immediately when the car started knocking?

If not, how far did you drive?

AFTER the car started knocking, did you get one, two or no oil warning lights?

Did you ask that dealer to investigate the oil warning lights?

Hi

Unfortunately my car and service log book are at the skoda dealer in Watford. When I heard the engine knocking the first time I pulled over immediately and had it towed to my local skoda dealers. At no time did the oil can flash up!!!!!!!! The dealer told me I would have to pay for the investigation as they claim I deliberately let it run out of oil and I refused to pay. I can assure you that I did check the oil and water regularly as previous cars where all old metros so would not deliberately sabotage a nearly new motor. I checked even more vigourously when I was told it neede a litre of oil a month! Be warned the local dealer tried to sell me a new dashboard when the car had a power steering problem within six weeks of purchase. Then said dealers had the opportunity to fix it at least a further four times without success!!!!!!

Hi Ann-Marie,

I think that much of the engine damage occurred when the engine first ran out of oil. When an engine is damaged by oil starvation, it tends to use/burn oil at an excessive rate. Whilst you concentrated on the oil level light not working, the oil PRESSURE warning light is more important, as it is an engine's last line of defense against severe engine damage. From you description, neither is working.

I can't stress enough how important it is to stop the engine as soon as the oil PRESSURE warning light comes on...

If you turn off the engine immediately and coast to a stop then the engine may suffer minor, or in some case, no damage.

If you continue to drive for half a mile at low rpm, the damage may be relatively minor.

If you continue to drive at high load/rpm or for a greater distance, the engine will suffer severe damage.

If you don't have a working oil pressure warning light, then you will only be aware of a problem when the engine is suffering severe damage. It is already too late. You did all that you could by pulling over when you were aware of the problem.

Having told the garage, you had no warning lights, I would expect them investigate the oil pressure/level sensors or at least ask you if they should. It would also be clear to them that the engine had suffered oil starvation. I would be very disappointed, if they didn't try to access the damage and just filled it up with oil.

I suggest you contact Skoda UK and make it clear that neither oil warning light appeared, even when the engine was knocking due to engine damage. You need to make clear that you did check the oil/coolant regularly and the oil loss occurred over an unacceptable short time. Ask for an area tech to investigate the oil loss and the actions taken by the first garage.

Hi I have already spoken to Skoda Customer services who told me I need to pay for an investigation now at the cost of £300. I do not have this kind of money spare as I have had to hire a car for occassions that I could not cancel. Skoda customer services are not being very helpful unfortunately and neither is the dealer. I think I may have to sue!

I can only suggest you go back to Skoda UK and insist they investigate (maybe as a 'goodwill gesture' they would waive the £300). Two dealers are involved so it would be the best way forward.

Thank you I will give it another try.

don't know if this will help at all, but i noticed this on the Citizen Advice Bureau page whilst searching for something else, i hope it helps http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_world/consumer_affairs/garage_repairs_and_services_index_ewsni.htm

wow thanks! I shall read this in earnest