Just had my mk 3 fabia with 110 engine serviced at 4000 miles         . From new the car has made a very fast rattling sound lasting about one second when starting from cold.  The Skoda garage refilled the engine with Quantum Platinum 5w - 40 and for the first couple of start ups the engine was a lot quieter but is now sounding the same as before. I know some others have this and some don't but i wonder if this is because when started in my small garage the noise is greatly amplified and when outside can hardly be heard.

 

The Skoda garage say this is only the hydraulic lifters and is normal,  well they would wouldn't they.     Many years ago I worked on large turbo diesels and any noise like this was always a sign of impending doom lol. Wondering if anyone is any further down the line with this.  

I don't think that there is any thing to worry about, my wife's Polo at one year old and 7.5K miles does the same thing, noise worse when started in the garage, in my case maybe not especially in winter when the garage affords a bit of protection from very low temperatures. Sure the confines of the garage might make any sounds seem worse, but as I said, in winter you get more protection so less noise than if left outside.

I have the same on mine when the engine is cold too. Haven't really worried about it.

My 1990 Mk Golf 1800 had hydraulic tappets and they rattled until they'd refilled with oil, how much they rattle will depend on how cold the engine is and how long since it last ran. It always sounded really bad after being parked for 5 days in an airport car park in winter. I was advised not to rev the engine until the rattle died away meaning that oil was now circulating properly round the engine.

Edited 27 August, 20169 yr by thamestrader

5w 40 Full Synthetic (VW502 00) is OK for Fixed Annual Servicing.  but the dealership needs to diagnose any fault, not try to disguise it.

 

So under warranty they will have to put back in 5w 30 FS Long Life oil, and maybe pay for that themselves, then get Skoda to pay for diagnosing and fixing any faults if there is.

 

If Skoda CZ (VW)  or Skoda UK Technical Department want to admit to issues with Variable Servicing and the use of Long Life oil, and the need to use 5w 40 then have them confirm that officially.

 

Maybe an idea to get the Dealership or Skoda UK to get a Demonstrator or Skoda Management car the same as yours along so that you can decide if it sounds as bad as yours does to you.

If not they can leave you with it as a courtesy car until the get 'Factory Technicians' to check out your car.

 

No point 'Tommy' doing it, and saying, they all do this.

All new 3rd generation Fabia models should not have the issues of previous generations with less modern engines.

Edited 27 August, 20169 yr by GoneOffSKi

Mine does the same its the automatic tappets filling up with oil that has drained away, more noticeable at the first start after standing overnight. Joe 

Thanks guys. I am hoping to keep this car for a good few years , its why I paid to have brand new so that it was run-in properly.  So many cars are bought on pcp type finance so there is little interest in the long livety of vehicles by customers and manufacturers as long as they last 3 years / 25000 miles  and the problems passed to the new owner without worthwhile guarantee.

 

Hydraulic tappets have been around for years and none to my knowledge have this problem unless  worn, incorrect oil type , cheap oil filter without flow back valve or manufacturing fault .

 

I instructed dealer to put car on annual / 10000 miles servicing as I believe it better to use cheaper oil and change often rather than long life that could be in for two years. I am no scientist so stand to be corrected.

 

I don't expect to get anywhere with Skoda the motor industry seems to be a law unto itself.

 

One last point does the VVT use a dephaser ?  Know very little about these apart from them using oil pressure to auto adjust valve timing.    Thanks again for response.  Clive.  

Changing from Variable / Flexible servicing and 5w 30 FS Long Life to Fixed and 5w 40 FS is fine, 

but best have Skoda ensure your car is perfect first before doing this, and if noises now might mean issues in the future be sure the Skoda Computer system has the noise and change to Fixed Servicing noted, and be sure that any issues where reported early and while the vehicles / engine was still nearly new.

The VVT system uses an electronically operated regulator valve which acts on the variable pulley to adjust the valve timing.

The long life 3 oil tends to be 504.00/507.00 5w30s spec and is thinner at operating temps than the proposed 502.00/505.01 5w40s branded as quantum platinum.

They are probably attempting to use a thicker grade of oil to combat the noise, illuminating the fault rather than addressing the cause.

In reality the noise could be oil pressure build up in various components (whilst undesirable; is quite common and considered to be normal) or fuel pump noise (a known characteristic of this engine).

I run both my pd engined cars on 5w30s and usually change it every 5k. I know it's not a modern engine but it's nice and quiet with no side effects noticed.

My Octavia 1.2 110 has just been for its first service annual service and they have filled it with 5w40.

Its now done 5500 miles and does have this tappet rattle for a few seconds on start up.

A lot of cars do it, its normal unless it goes on for minutes.

As long as you change the oil annually I cant see it will be a problem.

Once the engine is warm its quiet.

Lets face it VW have never made great engines, if you want a good petrol engine, buy a Honda. Shame their current car range is expensive and not that good.

Edited 28 August, 20169 yr by glosrich

Hydraulic valve lifter noise at start up is common on many makes and models of cars. Part of the issue is the need for a thinner grade oil these days. The oil in the lifters simply drains partially out overnight or after a longer period of standing without being run. Nothing to worry about unless, as said above, it's very very loud and lasts longer than a couple of seconds or three. The real time to worry is when you have a single lifter knocking as you drive off down the road and it doesn't stop until you have covered a quarter mile. In a case like that you have to change the whole set of lifters. Not expensive and easy to do. 

Why does it rattle more after sitting outside work for 8hrs, than after sitting unused for 2 days?

You would think it would be the other way around?

Errr....ummh! don't know that one glosrich! Could just be the car is not quite on level ground at work...but don't know the answer.