I've been looking through the PDF maintenance manual. My engine is the 110kW petrol but the manual  covers the 103kW.

Has there been a change in the engine specification? I know mine is EU6 instead of EU4.

I'm on an annual service and have paid for a service plan.

I'll carry on reading the manual, not easy with sideways pages, but I really want to know how often things like spark plugs, air and pollen filters etc. will be checked/ changed. And if there is a cam belt change schedule for the 110kW engine. I've read somewhere it is a chain drive but I'd like to see that in the manual.

I've no idea why you think your car needs to go in every year. Standard settings are every two or according to the service indicator, which should allow ca. 30000km or 18000miles between services, depending on where you drive.

 

The 103kW was replaced in model year 2016 to my understanding, along with the update to EU6.

 

Plugs will probably not be changed until 90' km or six years, I'd expect air filter changes to be every second service. Pollen filters will also probably only be changed per service, considering previous experience I would swap them yourself every year. I have no idea if it's a belt or a chain on 110kW. 

 

The Service Schedule should tell you everything you want to know. This does have some detail, though I'd recommend Erwin every day... http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/317272-service-schedule/

 

 - Bret

My annual mileage will be low, 5000 or so, there is an option for an annual service and check. When I did around 18000 miles or so a year I did have the variable service.

The other information is scarce. Maybe an oil immersed rubber belt from one thread.

And if there is a cam belt change schedule for the 110kW engine. I've read somewhere it is a chain drive but I'd like to see that in the manual.

AFAIK the 110kW is a minor update to the 103kW engine, so it's still an EA211 with a cam belt.

I've no idea why you think your car needs to go in every year. Standard settings are every two or according to the service indicator, which should allow ca. 30000km or 18000miles between services, depending on where you drive.

 

 

Unless you are on the fixed service interval which is every year or 10K miles

Edited 9 November, 20169 yr by SuperbTWM

Do any UK versions of my engine have the cylinder deactivation?

Do any UK versions of my engine have the cylinder deactivation?

I think they do, but not 100%

No ACT cylinder deactivation on the Octavia.

Only on the Superb 1.4 TSi.

Maybe next year on the facelift model.

Unless you are on the fixed service interval which is every year or 10K miles

I don't understand why any VAG product would have this from the factory?

 

My understanding is that none of the them do and I don't see the point. Why spend money on visiting a dealer twice when you don't need to?

 

 - Bret

I don't understand why any VAG product would have this from the factory?

 

My understanding is that none of the them do and I don't see the point. Why spend money on visiting a dealer twice when you don't need to?

 

 - Bret

Your understanding is very wrong in terms of the UK

 

Some people may not believe in the variable service regime or do short journeys that do not warrant extended servicing plans anyway. If you are keeping the car for a few years then chopping it in then it doesn't really matter but some people that may keep their cars may want to spend that little bit extra to look after it.

 

I'm not sure on the ratio of cars sold that are fixed vs. variable but i'm willing to bet that a hell of a lot are on fixed servicing. Especially after the warranty is up and they start taking their cars to independent garages as once the service indicator is reset manually the car is then on fixed servicing until changed back via diagnostic software.

Interesting... My own A2 was / is on fixed, 12 month. Considering, though, that 60% of new cars are leased here and it's similar elsewhere in Europe, I can't honestly see any lease company voluntarily taking a fixed 12month option when 24 is possible. I got really quite miffed when I found the Fiesta has to be back once a year, that's some expensive oil - it's an Ecoboost so it's a very specific oil, apparently. 

 

But you inspired me to do some research. 

 

First: the online Manual for the Octy - at least teh German version - specifies a first service "according to the display", latest at 2 years or 30000km. My experience on this with a couple of previous VAG cars is it will complain 1500km or a month before the service is due.

Second: both VW and Skoda now appear, at least elsewhere in Europe, I haven't found an official source for this in Finland yet - to demand an "inspektion" - which is NOT an oil service - once per year. But the first of those is not due until the car is three years old.  How convenient, an inspection just before the first MoT....

Comments online post the oil change service at around €200 excluding oil (because it's very normal to take your own oil, at least in Germany) and €70 for the inspection. 

 

Apparently the due dates of both should be specified by the car. I'll have to have a look on mine and see what it exactly says. I was assured I'd only need to service the car once in the four-year lease period, so I'm mildly unimpressed. 

 

 - Bret

Your understanding is very wrong in terms of the UK

Some people may not believe in the variable service regime or do short journeys that do not warrant extended servicing plans anyway. If you are keeping the car for a few years then chopping it in then it doesn't really matter but some people that may keep their cars may want to spend that little bit extra to look after it.

.

I dont really see the problem with variable service. The oilsensor-thingy will ask for an oilservice when the oil degrades. Mine is on variable service, but after a cold winter with lots of short trips it asked for an oilchange after 16000km.

I dont really see the problem with variable service. The oilsensor-thingy will ask for an oilservice when the oil degrades. Mine is on variable service, but after a cold winter with lots of short trips it asked for an oilchange after 16000km.

 

Which is fine, each to their own, but it doesn't change the fact that not all cars are on a variable service interval. My Superb came from the dealer on a fixed interval as will many others. I'm not sure if you buy one brand new whether they discuss the service regime you want or whether its pure pot luck.

I dont really see the problem with variable service. The oilsensor-thingy will ask for an oilservice when the oil degrades. Mine is on variable service, but after a cold winter with lots of short trips it asked for an oilchange after 16000km.

The oil sensor doesn't ask for a service until the oil has significantly degraded.

 

Look around on VAG owners websites and you'll find many examples where oil consumption is zero for the first 5000 miles after a service and then gradually increases (typically to 0.5 litre per 1000 miles) until 10000 miles when the rate of increase increases(sometimes to in excess of 1 litre per 1000 miles) until serviced.

 

US owners in particular sometimes send their used oil away for expert analysis and that confirms that the lubricating properties of the oil decreases approximately in proportion to the increase in oil consumption.

 

My own personal experience on my previous vehicle is in line with that - zero oil consumption for the first 5000 miles then a gradual increase to 0.5 litre per 1000 miles until 1000 miles, or 1 year, when I had the car serviced.

The cars leave the factory on Variable servicing and are filled with the long life oil.

 

For fleet sales they are often left on variable...

 

but for private sales most dealers sell you a 3 service package for £479 and change them to annual servicing 10k miles.

 

Its to get more income. But you can ask for it to be kept variable.

 

However if you do fairly low mileage, then annual servicing is usually better, especially if you plan to keep the car for several years. Cleaner oil means generally less engine wear.

 

For example I only do 6000 miles a year, so my car might have to wait until 18k miles for an oil change or 3 years!

 

However i paid the £479 and have it serviced every year, as I plan to keep it for probably 10 years.

Edited 10 November, 20169 yr by glosrich

I've done the same as glosrich. My ownership scenario is identical. Well maybe apart from the 10 years!

In Australia, it is a mandatory 15k km or annual service.

A few other brands even demand 10k km or 6 monthly service.

 

BMW/Mini are the only ones I can think of that offer longer variable service and I have heard rumours that can cause problems long term.

I don't understand why any VAG product would have this from the factory?

 

My understanding is that none of the them do and I don't see the point. Why spend money on visiting a dealer twice when you don't need to?

 

 - Bret

 

Most of the Octavias sold in the UK for the last few years came with three years or 30k miles of free servicing as part of the finance deal we were offered, so were set to fixed intervals. That way they can get you into the dealership three times over a typical ownership period - it appears better value than having just a single service after a couple of years, and also gives them a chance to try and sell you a new car.

Well they've lucked out on me then, I use a Skoda Service Centre as it's closer and quicker to book an appointment.