Good evening,

Today I agreed to purchase a 2010 Fabia VRS from a dealer after a lengthy road test. I walked away happy and all set to pick it up in a week or so once they have re-furbed the alloys to standard silver colour (hated the black!).

After reading various oil consumption threads on here and other forums I am now very worried I have done the wrong thing. I know that it is usual for people to only report bad things, but not a lot is cheering me up now.

From what I can tell, even if cars are consuming a lot of oil, nothing has actually gone wrong with the engine? Is this clutching at straws?

Can anyone cheer me up a bit, or am I now stuck with paying for a car that might be a lemon?

Graeme

Edited 13 November, 201213 yr by grapo

Hello Greame

Welcome to the briskie forums.

There is no guarantee either way. Write a letter or e-mail to the dealer before you buy it and ask very specifically if the car has had any oil usage history, any warranty repairs/upgrades done due to such and whether currently car is using oil. Also check the exhaust and body work around it. It was a heave oil user it it usually rather hard to clean residue from absolutely every nook and cranny.

Look into the engine bay, around oil cap (under the plastic cover) to see if there is lots of oily dirt there. If oil was refilled very often spillages are unavoidable and leave tell tale signs.

Best thing is a written, or spoken in presence of witnesses (you may record it with your phone secretly if you wish) assurance that none of the above happened and car is a happy, oil frugal joy to drive .

I just picked up a brand new Fabia vRS and I am also apprehensive in oil usage department having been here for a while .

With mine it is pure luck of a draw. With yours a history can be traced at least !

Good luck and keep us posted!

What the hell you've still got a years left of warranty on a 2010 car, so buying from a dealer I wouldn't be that worried, run the car check the oil usage etc. etc.

Otherwise chill and enjoy the car

Great cars & you should fully enjoy & Do not worry.

Ask questions and get answers,

then check with Skoda UK Customer Services.

If the car had issues they should have been resolved by now.

The car is being sold to & you have your consumer/legal rights.

You have the remaining Skoda Warranty.

Is it being sold to you from a Skoda Dealership?

(I hope you are paying under £10,000, if not, there are plenty of others around)

Was it originally a Skoda Dealership Demonstrator, then sold, one or more owners since??

You have the Skoda Used Vehicle warranty & possibly you can get an extended one.

Ask the Dealership for as much details on the vehicles history & any warranty work, or updates already done.

THe service book should have at the least,

1 year or 10,000 miles Oil Change Service.

2 year or 20,000 mile Inspection service.

The invoices for those should be in the wallet & the Service book stamped.

(The 2nd years annual Service being a 'Inspection Service' should have the complete check list.)

** Make sure the 2nd year (20,000 miles Service Has been Done, or it gets done before you buy, done by a Skoda Dealership Workshop with the 'Inspection Report' check all done on the Hand Held Device.

Full report on condition, body, wheels, & everything for the Warranty, & any issues dealt with at that Service.**

** Contact Skoda UK Customer Care on Monday with the Registration Number & you can find out what Skoda Warranty work has been done if any.**

A friend did this and found out the Dealership was telling Porkies, he just went to another Dealership & bought one.

My July 2010 had the Engine rebuilt Nov 2011 @ 4000 miles, it is now at 15,000 miles and perfect.

Uses no oil and can do 55 mpg,

or drop to the low 20's mpg, provide more fun and still use no oil.

Have fun .

I like the Silver ones.

george

Thanks for the replies. I will ask about warranty work. Its from a main dealer yes, so I will have the benefit of their approved used policy. Is there much evidence of engine failure despite some drinking a lot of oil? Ps. The car is rallye green with sunroof, climate, bluetooth, cruise and parking sensors

Understand your concern. I was the same (aware of the potential oil use age issue from reading this forum), but it didn't put me off. Fortunately, I haven't had a problem - it really is a cracking car - sure you'll enjoy it.

Using oil would be an annoyance, however engine failure is the bigger worry. If it uses some oil but is fine mechanically so be it?

There is no risk of engine failure unless you forget to top the oil up should it be an oil using one do no worries here.

And no, do not adopt "so be it approach". Car has to perform to spec.

It should not use oil.

It is a 2 year old car, & if it did use too much oil you would just 'require' Skoda to correct that within the period of the Warranty.

It is quite an amazing engine & box as you will have seen on your test drive, even if taking it easy.

It does economy & sporty driving with not too poor economy or more spirited & the same economy of other sporty driven cars.

I had black smoke puffing out the back yesterday.

(No oil usage or the like.)

That is because i had done several cold runs around town getting very low MPG with a cold engine and it running a little rich, building up some soot in the exhaust system and no real revs used.

I was up to around 80 degrees celsius oil temp and gave it a blast full bore and thats cleared the soot out the exhaust.

Do not worry IMO.

george

PS, How many miles has it done now?

Ok, thanks guys. Roll on collection day

9,000 miles

Edited 4 November, 201213 yr by grapo

Perfect, the engine is run in & should be coming into its best. best performance & economy.

If it is to get the 2 year service now, ask them to remove the wheels & copper grease the hubs interface to the wheels.

If it is the Dark Chrome whhels, inspect them very very closely for any sign of White Spider type corrosion & ask them to arrange having them replaced under warranty now, before you take it away or once approved by Skoda.

Perfectly OK to ask them to do that.

Just check them closely.

& if they will not make sure the wheels come off OK, you will need to do it on collection.

george

It has had two servicea and they are refurbing the black alloys to standard silver for me, as I didnt like the black. They are also taking the boot scuff plate thing off for me too! Thanks for the replies.

Great stuff, they should grease the back of the wheels when going back on. No harm in mentioning it tho.

Funnily, I am just away to put on a Black Boot scuff protector after seeing it on the back of a 62 plate Green One just this week.

george

dont worry Graeme . there are good ones, I have now covered 40k in mine, its never had any problems, and doesn't use a drop of oil

I agree, dont worry about it. ive stopped reading any thread that refers to oil usage now. As sharkrider says, just enjoy the car. Its a peach.

Feel a little more at ease, thanks guys

Grapo

I totally echo what Sharkrider and vRSY say, just enjoy your car. If you have to start adding oil, just keep a record so that if it is bad you have some form of evidence to take back to your dealer. You will find many threads across this forum about high oil consumption, but you will also find many examples where there is none or maybe just a small amount. You still have warranty on the car so don't worry.

Enjoy

, just enjoy the car. Its a peach.

.

Hmmm...

A bit concerned about the longevity of this engine. Only time will tell I guess.

A bit concerned about the longevity of this engine. Only time will tell I guess.

Aye - I'd be lying if I said same thought hadn't crossed my mind.

However, the 1.4 twin charger has been about for about five + years now - remember Clarkson reviewing the Golf GT back in about 2007.

A bit concerned about the longevity of this engine. Only time will tell I guess.

I think you shouldn't. Me quoting vRSy was about something else he knows about .

That engine won Engine of the Year Award FOUR times for a good reason ! Stop worrying and start awaiting delivery! Then you boot it straight away

A redline a day keeps the mechanic away

A redline a day keeps the mechanic away

Absolutely! This is not a mobility scooter or a Greenline tree-hugging oil chugger - it needs a firm hand!

Dealer has stated the only warranty work carried out was to replace some badges. I have it in writing now that there has been no oil usage problems. Will contact skoda uk to double check.

Dealer has stated the only warranty work carried out was to replace some badges. I have it in writing now that there has been no oil usage problems. Will contact skoda uk to double check.

Good, in writting is good The car looks better and better !