Update following engine replacement: -

Have now driven 2,300 miles. Avoided 'gentle' running-in this time round. First oil top up today. It has used 750ml. I'm reasonably happy with that, but will monitor carefully over the next few thousand miles.

I'm pretty sure it's a different engine, not twin charged at all.

I have the 265bhp reinforced TFSI lump in my S3, I think on the newer Golf and Scirocco R it's the

same engine as mine but for some reason on those it's called a TSI...?

Yep - all called TSI, but I think the 265PS lump is the older engine now I think of it?

Only the 1.4 150PS and above is twincharged.

I'm amazed by how many VRS Fabia II are being sold on eBay. Lots with 'low' mileage ........ :think:

When I bought mine 16 months back, there were hardly any to be seen. You can buy a relatively newish VRS with low mileage for little money on there now.

The oil issue has spread far and wide I guess

It's a shame to hear these stories. It was one of the best cars I ever owned and sometimes I do miss her but I'm sooo glad now that I got rid tbh.

Popped into dealers for a cable yesterday, they've sold mine and had 2 more vrs in for part ex due to oil woes. Not a good sign but at least they sold my one... Now who bought it?

It's not vRS only which runs 1.4 twincharger - Seat, VW, Audi - all VAG. Do you draw the same conclusions from seeing those cars on sale on fleebay and auto trader as well?

The reason you see them on sale is rather benign, there simply plenty of them out there and it is natural for people to change their motors, isn't it?

To be honest you can dress it up how you like.

But I think a lot of people on here would be woried about owning one out of waranty.

Which says a lot about it's long term value and why so many come up for sale, as Ad Lav said above they do get sold by dealers after the previous owners have had issues, so have lost faith in the car.

OK, they are not a rare car, but the number of engine failures (or high oil usage requiring a replacement engine if you prefer) is pretty high as a percentage compared to pretty much any other car Skoda/VAG has produced.

With any luck the people in charge have learnt from this and the next VRS will have a less stressed 1.6 or 1.8 turbo.

More moding potential!

Simply as with any VAG product, when you buy new or used its a lottery as to their longevity.

The Motoring press and journalists appear not prepared to name and shame VAG where they are selling vehicles let down by penny pinching in important mechanical parts.

VAG just never come out and admit problems openly and it requires those with faulty vehicles or engines to make the wider public aware when certain engines are likely to have a high percentage of Lemons.

http://www.sciroccon...omb-t12358.html

george

You can't tar ALL VAG products with the same brush

Look at the JD Power surveys etc, whatever stall you give them

Skoda cars in general come out very high in most categories they appear in

The Mk2 Fabia vRS seems to be the fly in the ointment

The Fabia vRS mkII seems to be the fly in the ointment

Fixed that for you.

Fixed that for you.

Suitably amended

The point being missed is that the MK2 Fabia vRS came out after the Seat Ibiza Twincharger & the Sirocco,

& TSI or FTSI that are not only 1390cc. (then there is the same 180ps engine in the Polo GTI & A1 185ps)

& the likes of the Diesel Passats & Golfs etc with Impeller problems.

The list of VAG engines over the years with problems from almost new or after a few years use is huge.

Obviously not every engine produced, but high percentages in various engine types.

You can tar VAG products with the same brush and question the likes of JD Power surveys.

(or better to say that Sh1te sticks even if its only blowing in the wind.)

VAG like to not be open on Warranty claims and like to pretend 'If everything in life etc GOLF'.

Well VW GOLF problems are kept hush hush.

VAG products in warranty get repaired eventually but VAG products out of warranty and on the used market often are

available very cheaply.

They do not have the greatest of reputations other than with those that never happen to have problems with them.

'None as blind as those that will not see'.

VAG do the 3 Monkeys and have for decades now.

Just their Diesel engines here.

You might think by now they could get them right first time every time.

http://www.en.wikipe..._diesel_engines

george

eg.

Google 1.8T Trouble Shooting guide

If this is all such a massive problems with a high percentage of engines failing then why hasn't the motoring press or regular press run with this story? Forums are not a good measure of overall failure rates as people are more inclined to join and write on a forum when they do have problems. I honestly think this isn't as big a problem as Briskoda makes out.

There are bound to be more used mk2 vrs's for sale now as the early cars are just coming out of warranty and a lot of people like to change their cars after 3 years, regardless of whether they have had problems or not.

From a business perspective as long as the sales keep flooding in VAG are happy.

Even those who are sceptical re reliability (e.g George above) keep coming back for more business from them. Marketing and PR/managing customer base done very well you might say!

From a business perspective as long as the sales keep flooding in VAG are happy.

Even those who are sceptical re reliability (e.g George above) keep coming back for more business from them. Marketing and PR/managing customer base done very well you might say!

George doesn't buy his cars, he's told me so himself, so I presume he'll be happy to drive any freebie anyone is prepared to throw his way

The truth is now coming out at last because of Extended Warranty Companies, Breakdown/Recovery companies and probably due to the internet.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/62383/german-cars-among-worst-engine-failures

george

I might be giving VAG a miss for a few years when I do decide to sell. Nice to try something different and see what else can be done. The Mk7 Golf GTi looks good so hopefully the new Octy vRS will get a few bits and I can pick one up cheap in a few years.

The truth is now coming out at last because of Extended Warranty Companies, Breakdown/Recovery companies and probably due to the internet.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/62383/german-cars-among-worst-engine-failures

george

Where is Skoda in this list? Surely all of the failed vrs engines would see them top the list...

The figures come from vehicles with Extended Warranties.

So basically outwith Manufacturers Warranty Periods.

More than 2, 3, 5 maybe even 7 years old.

The vRS are at oldest under 3 years old untill August 2013.

So under a Skoda Warranty in the UK.

Some over 2 years old outwith the UK are now out of the 2 year Manufacturers Warranty.

But if Skoda Assist are taking cars in and SKODA/SEAT/AUDI/VW, VAG (Volkswagen Audi Group)

are replacing engines then the figures are not yet appearing.

SEAT Twinchargers are out of Manufacturers Warranty, but again SEAT/VAG started dealing with faulty engines before the Warranty Period expires.

george

Not for the first time I post it here but here we go.

Chemnitz plant churns out circa 75,000 1.4 twinchargers per year for all of VAG selling 9,3 million vehicles world wide and just above 4 mill in Europe alone.

Skoda sold 255,025 Fabias (all models) in 2012 of which 5.6% had engine failures ( TUV Report ). 53,249 Skodas were sold in UK market in 2012.

2012 Skoda Annual Report

I do not have the numbers for vRS...

But from above percentage wise the numbers of failed engines are extremely low.

As Grapo wrote, it's a typical Internet Forums phenomenon ...

Skoda sold 255,025 Fabias (all models) in 2012 of which 5.6% had engine failures ( TUV Report ). 53,249 Skodas were sold in UK market in 2012.

"Lies, damned lies and statistics"

What exactly is an "engine failure"? Surely it doesn't mean "requiring engine replacement" because if so then 5.6% is frightening.

So with no clear definition of "engine failure" the stats are meaningless.

Let's say 1% of all Fabia VRs 1.4TSi's need a replacement engine but 5% of another car need a new camshaft sensor - which is worst? the 1% or the 5%?.

Indeed if "engine failure" definition is "stopping or failing to start due to a fault" then the oil burning issue may even not be in the stats at all!

^^^

There's that to it I must admit

However I am sure there is a methodology quite precisely described there allowing you to take a more educated view - I didn't have time to read all there was to read

So you've got a small engine with a supercharger and a turbo charger on it.

- The supercharger has oil feed lines and will get a bit of leakage.

- The Turbocharger has oil feed lines and will get a very small bit of leakage.

- The pressure on the cylinders is going to be quite high, so it's quite likely there will be quite a bit of blow by gas and oil.

Has anyone checked the breather systems to see if they're oily, or even put a catch can in to catch the gases out and see how much water and oil are coming out.

I'm quite surprised they have not suggested an oil that's thicker than the standard 5w30 when hot to see if it makes a difference.

I'd have thought a 5w40 or 0w40 such as mobil1 would do the trick as long as it meets the other specs.

I'm not saying they don't have issues, but steps can be taken to reduce consumption and you'd expect some from all engines, but especially ones with both chargers.

Not for the first time I post it here but here we go.

Chemnitz plant churns out circa 75,000 1.4 twinchargers per year for all of VAG selling 9,3 million vehicles world wide and just above 4 mill in Europe alone.

Skoda sold 255,025 Fabias (all models) in 2012 of which 5.6% had engine failures ( TUV Report ). 53,249 Skodas were sold in UK market in 2012.

2012 Skoda Annual Report

I do not have the numbers for vRS...

But from above percentage wise the numbers of failed engines are extremely low.

As Grapo wrote, it's a typical Internet Forums phenomenon ...

You call over 5% engine failures extremely low?

And that's based on all Fabias where we know in the VRS it's a lot more common.

Even if 10% of Fabias are VRS's and only half those failures are the 180PS twin charger units you are already looking at 25%.

I don't call a 1 in 4 chance of engine failure extremely low.

Do you work in marketing?

Sounds like marketing spin to me.

I'd be interested in seeing a poll of how many people have had issues with their cars after joining the forum: that is, they didn't join up to "report" or ask about an existing problem. Might get a more accurate gauge of the percentages?