Hi Everyone

 

The 4th service is coming up on our Fabia II Combi (the one with the 1.2 HTP engine), it'll be the first service to be done outside the main dealer network.

 

Although it's the 4th annual service, but the car is low mileage (just coming up on 19K).

 

I'm sourcing the service parts, and a friend (qualified and trusted mechanic) will be doing the service.

 

Have a few questions I'm hoping the group can answer for me please:

• What is the correct engine oil grade for this engine?
• When are the spark plugs due for replacement?
• What are the normal service actions for the 4th service (from what I can see from the paperwork, main dealer just did a glorified oil and filter service last year)?

Thanks

Chris

 

 

 

40k (4th year) always was the major service so plugs and all the filters.

Thanks - was going to do all the filters anyway (for the sale of about £20, it's not work skimping on). Will add plugs to the shopping list.

 

Any recommendations on which plugs to use - any branded plugs known to cause issues with this engine?

 

Also, any idea on correct oil grade to use?

 

Thanks

Chris

I've used the cheapest options from GSF and ECP which have been Bosch mainly, once Beru. Around £3 a piece with discount code appplied.

Never had a problem, and they do last 40,000+ miles.

Its easy to prise out the coilpaks with two broad blade screwdrivers, so I never bothered with a removal tool. But you will need a T bar plug spanner such as this http://www.lasertools.co.uk/product/0246

If the filter cap has been screwed on too tight, then pipe pliers on the hex will suffice to undo it. Because of the excellent seal arrangement, it is sufficient to screw the cap back on until it bottoms out on the housing. There is no need to tighten it further. That way you can always remove it by hand. The filter housing is made by Mann-hummel, that gives you a clue who makes Skoda filters for this engines - Mann.

One weakness Ive experienced over the years are vag coilpaks. Be prepared for a random coilpak failure any time after 40,000 miles. Its advisable to carry a spare (in the glovebox) as you can change these easily by the road side, provided you have those screwdrivers to prise the old one out. I can highly recommend the BBT ones sold by both ECP and GSF (as premium part) at around £20 with disvount codes. Better than OE in my opinion. If a coilpak does go down, it will be obvious from the rough running/lack of power/check engine light. Just replace no.1 first, if that doesnt clear the fault, pop the one you pulled into no.2 and so on until you find the culprit. (Last one I changed was no. 3).

Any synthetic oil to vw502.00 or vw 504.00 will do. I use GMDexos 2 (502.00) as I get it cheap. Its 5w/30 full synthetic. I change the copper washer on the sump plug, which is removed with a 6mm hex allen socket.

Afaik Htp engines are not fitted with the oil quality sensor, so you cant do extended/variable service regime, just the fixed regime (12 months/10,000 miles). In any case, having had 2 htp cars, I would strongly recommend changing oil earlier (personally around 8500 miles max) to protect chain/tensioner and valve guide wear, which in the past have been known weak areas, although I have never experienced any problems, the first htp did 140,000 miles before I sold it, and a lot of the oil changes were over 12k apart (although the car was doing 20k/ year at the time).

First htp engined car (fabia mk1 64bhp) in 11 years had 2 duff oe coilpaks (at 50k and 90k) and an egr valve at 138k before it was sold.

Finally I strongly recommend you consider stripping and cleaning the brakes, particulary the drums, to save problems layer on, symptoms being drum brake sticking on when parked up in wet weather, lack of auto handbrake adjustment and finally leaking slave cylinders which is all due to brake dust/gunge building up over time and not being able to get out of the drum.

Edited 4 September, 20169 yr by xman

Check whether brake fluid has ever been changed, and do so if it hasn't.

Cheers for the tip on the coil packs. I was also looking at the £3 Bosch plugs, so good to know they are known to be OK.

The car in question for this service is my mum's car, it only does about 3-4,000 miles a year, hence the low mileage. Everything gets serviced in the family every 12months/10k (whichever comes first). I never go with longer-term variable. For both our Fabias it's always the 12 months as both are low mileage runarounds (mum has the Combi, my sister has the 1.2TSI Monte Carlo). My 1.2TSI Rapid does about 10k a year, but gets an interim oil change every 5k with good VW spec 5w30 long life oil.

Current service plan is:

Oil - will go with VW-spec 5w30 based on advice above

All the filters (inc Fuel Filter)

Brake Fluid (not sure if it's ever been changed, so going to do it anyway to be sure)

Plugs

New sump plug and washer

Aircon regas

Power steering fluid top-up (if needed)

I need to check front pads and discs, and will replace if needed.

I'm also ordering a rear brake drum fitting kit, given these have a habit of falling apart when you upon up the drums to clean them out. Not expecting to need to change the shoes.

Thanks

Chris

Edited 4 September, 20169 yr by chrisgreen

I use Quantum Platinum 5w40 in ours, has been uber-cheap recently off ebay, currently £20 / 5L delivered, best I got was £16 a few months back.

 

Shouldn't need a new sump plug, just copper washer.  No harm in acquiring a spare though.

No need to change the fuel filter. Its good for life of car unless you have a habit of filling out of dirty rusty jerrycans.

Interesting - I can get 5L GMDexos 2 5w30 (502.00) for the same price as 5L of Quantum 5w30 (504.00). Both are about £20.

Really conflicted as to which would be better for the 1.2HTP. For the two 1.2 TSI's it's a no brainier, and I'll be stocking up on the Quantum for them.

Would appreciate advice on this last point.

Also, have dropped the fuel filter from the parts order as per the advice above,mwhich has brought the service parts cost down by another £15

Cheers

Chris

Get the quantum longlife iii. Its theoretically the better oil (debateable). Just make sure its a reputable supplier as there is a lot of fake oil for sale on ebay, (it allegedly comes from the ukraine in very convincing packaging).

Ive never ever checked power steering fluid, its very awkward to get to and is covered in dust, dead bugs and other debris, I would be frightened of contaminating the fluid by trying to remove the cap. It is however very easy to check the rack and see if there are any leaks at the piping joints and boots.

Edited 4 September, 20169 yr by xman

Simpsons skoda at colne use Havaline ultra 5w-30 long life if that's any help mate. I was there not too long ago getting my book stamped that they didn't do on the service and I asked them about the oil.

If it has had 3 Fixed annual services already then it may well have got 2.8 litres of 5w 30 FS Long Life to VW504 00.

Check the invoices and see what you were charged for.

 

You might as well stick with that if all is well.

But when doing annual servicing at less than 10,000 miles per year you can use 5w 40 FS to VW 502 00.

If it has had 3 Fixed annual services already then it may well have got 2.8 litres of 5w 30 FS Long Life to VW504 00.

Check the invoices and see what you were charged for.

 

You might as well stick with that if all is well.

But when doing annual servicing at less than 10,000 miles per year you can use 5w 40 FS to VW 502 00.

Here in lies the challenge. First two services took place under its previous owner, third service took place under our ownership (at the same main dealership that did the first two services and sold the car both times). All three services done so far were covered by the service plan the original owner too out on the car, so no invoices, just the service checklist from there last service and a fully stamped service history booklet. As I've discovered, they don't always accurately state which oil they used. For example, I've physically watched them put 5w30 Quantum in my car (at my request), and the service checklist has still come out with 10w40 on it.

If the 1.2 HTP will be OK with the VW 504.00 5w30, I'd rather go with that, as it means I can standardise on buying the same oil for all three of our cars (as that's what we already use in the two 1.2 TSIs, even though they are also serviced on annual/10K rather than variable). I'm not looking to skimp on oil, rather I'd rather spend extra to put the best possible oil in all three cars to ensure turbos don't gunk up and seize (on the TSIs) and so that the low-mileage HTP remains hassle-free for my mum. Just want to be sure I'm using stuff that's right for the engine.

5w 30 Full Synthetic Long life is not 'The Best Oil',  just Long Life and a ickle more Expensive.  some like that.

 

Good oil might come as 5w 30 FS Long Life, but Castrol / Quantum is not it.  Just the VW Recommended.

Simple is just go with the recommended, but just be aware it is 'Not the best',  in every engine, just supposedly 'Long Life'.

Don't get confused with the oil, as long as it says vw 502.00 or 504.00 its fine.

OK, in that case I'll source some VW 504.00 spec 5w30 from a reputable source.

A small point re post #15,

VW502 00 being OK if changing oil at around 10,000 miles or less.   It is not suitable for Variable /Flexible servicing.

ie, So low annual mileage and fixed annual servicing.

I always have the 504 long life put in, but then actually have it serviced on the fixed servicing. So it gets changed every 10k.

Pretty sure the HTP can only be on fixed servicing as it has no oil quality sensor

Pretty sure the HTP can only be on fixed servicing as it has no oil quality sensor

Depends on the year. My 2013 certainly can!

It displays oil temp on the maxidot too.

I think it came with the revisions in 2012/2013. A few things changed. Gear ratio's and alsorts.

Is an oil quality sensor the same thing as an oil level and temperature sensor?

 

What's the part number on yours, fabiamk2SE? 

Is an oil quality sensor the same thing as an oil level and temperature sensor?

 

What's the part number on yours, fabiamk2SE? 

It's the same as the oil temp sensor i think? although its called something fancy? 

 

Part number for what mate? 

The sensor in your sump.

May look like this (part number near the connector by the looks of it:

 

 

Reason I ask is that I'm curious about how the level sensors work, and the idea that there might be some 'oil quality' measurement going on sounds interesting, yet slightly improbable.

Wondering if your car has the same type as my Polo, 10 years older.  1J0907660C on the Polo, which was on extended servicing once upon a time.

The sensor in your sump.

May look like this (part number near the connector by the looks of it:

 

 

Reason I ask is that I'm curious about how the level sensors work, and the idea that there might be some 'oil quality' measurement going on sounds interesting, yet slightly improbable.

Wondering if your car has the same type as my Polo, 10 years older.  1J0907660C on the Polo, which was on extended servicing once upon a time.

 

I'm not sure mate. I dont even know where its located on the engine. 

 

Level sensor? I didnt think we had one of those? We just have a pressure sensor and a temp/quality sensor i thought? 

Pressure switch is separate, and higher up the engine (on the front right of the head as you look at it, I think on an HTP, certainly on ours).

Level/temperature is a combined sensor in the sump. That photo of mine (1.4 engine in the Polo though) is looking upwards from below. You can't miss it if you have one.