Hi

Hope someone can help.

My oil light came on (yellow) with a single beep (like the low fuel warning). When I got home I parked the car, then moved it 10 minutes later and the oil light remained on. When I parked again (about 20 yds)I switched off and opened the bonnet, checked the oil and it is just in the warning area on the dip stick with a hot engine, as I have no oil to top up I left it as is. However I did start the engine again and noticed the oil light has gone out.

I am puzzled as to why the light went out, the engine had been off for 10 minutes before I moved and this time less than 5 minutes. So I don't understand why this has happened (the oil light going out, not the low oil). Was it something to do with me checking the oil level?

The last fixed service in March 2009 and I had the oil topped the oil up around May 2010 with Comma fully synthetic oil as the dipstick was mid way.

I take it I am safe to just top up the oil or shall I take the car to my independent garage for an oil service, since the oil filter is 2.5yrs old (mileage is low around 7k a year). Changed cabin and air filter last year.

Thanks in advance

Steve

Fixed servicing is every 10K miles / 12 months, yours has by your reckoning done around 18K so it's well overdue a service.

I have had a read in the owners manual (p73) It says, models fitted with long life service - The oil level warning light is reset when the bonnet is opened. If the oil is not replenished the warning appears again at about 100km.

So have checked the codes - and despite the car being serviced annually at a Skoda dealership when I first had the car and subsequently at my independent, I find my car has the QG1 on the data label (probably means I have paid for 4 oil change services to many!) - that would explain the oil light going out.

Whether I have any come back from Skoda is another matter.

Just looks like I need an oil change service and reset the service countdown indicator to 2years.

I change my oil and filter every 5000 miles on my vrs and use decent 5w30 oil

For 7k a year, I would rather use fixed servicing over longlife. The only reason Skoda introduced longlife was to please fleet and taxi owners (very high mileage). If you care about the engine, you should change it way more often. All octavias come set to QG1 longlife from the factory, but often get changed to annual servicing.

I'd suggest changing oil and filter every 6-10k, or annually whichever comes first. 2.5 years for a filter change is crazy!

The reason the light went ut is because you opened the bonnet. That will make the light go out for a bit, until it realises the oil is still low, then it will put the light on again.

Thanks - I'll book the car in at the local garage for an oil service at the end of the week.

Update - added a litre of Total 7000 15w40 and got an immediate 20% improvement in fuel consumption!!!! (and is quieter)

I have also found out the car has done 20K since last service. I changed air and cabin filter last year, really needs brake fluid change, but that will wait.

Off to Listers Coventry later in the week, for a £99.99 oil service. Dunno how much it is normally, but compared to my special price from a local garage; £30 more is roughly what I would expect to pay 2 years down the line.

All 2002 TDis have the capability to run variable service; I'd not advise it unless you do significantly more than 10K fixed service intervals per annum though (and run my own on fixed at about 10k/year).

Edited 29 June, 201115 yr by KenONeill

All 2002 TDis have the capability to run variable service; I'd not advise it unless you do significantly more than 10K fixed service intervals per annum though (and run my own on fixed at about 10k/year).

Fixed service done today and reasonable too!

£98.71 included oil filter, Shell Helix Ultra, sump plug and washer fluid. Not to mention free hot chocolate for me and the kids and plenty of cars in the showroom for them to explore. My 7yr old daughter liked the idea she could crawl through the centre arm rest on the Yeti and pretend to sleep in the boot!!! My little boy thought I was buying a Blue VRS. My eldest lad and I were amazed at all the hooks and hiding places a TSI has. And me, that the Octi now has a drinks holder in the drivers door and the door speaker has moved. :p