Hi All,

 

I take delivery of my ex-demo Octavia 1.4TSI 150 DSG petrol on Monday, and so far have had three different answers from different dealers regarding whether it has a cam belt or cam chain, and if a belt, the recommended renewal mileage and cost of doing so.

 

Does anybody have a definitive answer to this query for me?

 

One dealer has said it's a belt, renewal at 60K miles at a cost of around £480!

It is definitely a belt.  The renewal period is a trickier question to answer.  On a VW UK page for the same engine family it says:

 

"In the new generation of engines, Volkswagen was also able to make further significant reductions in internal friction. Take the example of the overhead camshafts (DOHC): the drive here is not by chain, rather by a single-stage, low-friction toothed belt drive with a 20 mm wide belt and load-reducing profiled belt wheels. Thanks to its high-end material specification, this toothed belt’s service life reliably spans the life of the entire vehicle. Actuation of the valve drive via roller cam followers and an anti-friction bearing for the high loads of the first camshaft bearing also lead to reduced friction resistances."

 

(my bold)

 

Ultimately Skoda UK can quote any change interval they like, and we as drivers can choose to ignore it if we so wish.........

So has the ordinary Skoda 1.4 TSi petrol engine (the 140 ps version of 2014) got  this ACT feature of shutting down cylinders? It certainly doesn't feel like it.

So has the ordinary Skoda 1.4 TSi petrol engine (the 140 ps version of 2014) got  this ACT feature of shutting down cylinders? It certainly doesn't feel like it.

 

No.  Nor has the 150PS version in the Octavia.  The new Superb 1.4 TSI 150 does feature ACT.

Edited 26 February, 201610 yr by iriches

iriches is right, its a long life belt, supposedly lasts the lifetime of the vehicle/engine. I don't recall seeing any change interval mentioned in the Handbook, I think it gets checked at major services for wear.

 

Seems to be a belt reinforced with glass fibre cords, so very strong.

 

http://www.ngfeurope.com/~/media/NGF%20Europe/Site%20Content/News/Automotive%20Design%20Europe%20Feature.ashx

 

The EA211 engine family is still quite new so we don't have much experience of any problems with it yet. Hopefully its a lot better than the older TSi engines with the rattling and breaking timing chains!

Oh. I really thought the new 150BHP version had ACT.

 

Not got my car yet to check, but someone with a MY16 could pop off their plastic engine cover and look to see if they have the 4 black units that control the ACT:

 

35

No ACT on the Octavia yet, only the Superb.

 

I think the ACT engines are in short supply. I was reading if you order a Seat Ibiza with the 1.4 ACT its about a 12 month wait at the moment.

 

I dont think they will launch it in the Octavia until the facelift next year.

Well I suppose the silver lining for long term ownership is one (or 4!) less thing to go wrong.

My 7 mile commute only has one 2mile ish straight that i think it would actually activate on. So I don't think I will be losing out much.

Main thing was getting the 10 extra HP and sneaking into the lower tax bracket before the new £140 tax for most cars being introduced next year.

It is definitely a belt.  The renewal period is a trickier question to answer.  On a VW UK page for the same engine family it says:

 

"In the new generation of engines, Volkswagen was also able to make further significant reductions in internal friction. Take the example of the overhead camshafts (DOHC): the drive here is not by chain, rather by a single-stage, low-friction toothed belt drive with a 20 mm wide belt and load-reducing profiled belt wheels. Thanks to its high-end material specification, this toothed belt’s service life reliably spans the life of the entire vehicle. Actuation of the valve drive via roller cam followers and an anti-friction bearing for the high loads of the first camshaft bearing also lead to reduced friction resistances."

 

(my bold)

 

Ultimately Skoda UK can quote any change interval they like, and we as drivers can choose to ignore it if we so wish.........

Well many thanks for the speedy reply. I guess I'll pass that info on to the dealer I'm picking the car up from on Monday (as they told me it was chain!). Must admit, my local dealer here near Horsham, went to a lot of trouble trying to find out for me, and eventually called me back to say it was a belt, and recommended change period was 210K Km.

210K km is also the interval for the 1.4 TGI, at least in germany, which is basically a 1.4 TSI running on CNG.

....and so far have had three different answers from different dealers regarding whether it has a cam belt or cam chain...

 

Reassuring - not  :wonder:

 

Gaz

I recently asked my dealer about the cam belt change interval on the 150CR diesel engine and was told 5 yrs or 120k miles which ever comes first!

Another unique feature of the EA211 engine is the can belt not only features the fiberglass reinforcements, it also resists oil degradation. This allows the belt to be oil lubricated, further reducing friction and wear.

In Aus there is no replacement interval, just an inspection at 105k km.

Edited 27 February, 201610 yr by hobbie2k

When I was looking online for the recommendations for belt change for my old 1.9d mk2 I came across so much conflicting info from different countries for the same model it was ridiculous.

Sounds as though the tradition continues!