My 6 year old Skoda Yeti has under 30K miles and my turbo has failed due to an actuator sticking. This cannot be replaced, so the whole turbo needs replacement. Anyone else had this problem? Is it a problem with my driving? Should this engine be run hard, for example?

Which engine?

1.2 Tsi automatic

Something getting sticky after 6 years could be almost anything.  Might be some contaminant in fuel, or more likely something not in the fuel (like a lubricity enhancer, which are only in premium fuel).  What fuel have you been using ?

 

Driving style shouldn't really affect the auto box petrol as it will change things like idle automatically if engine is cold.  However if you only ever do very short journeys oil won't be warmed so will not circulate well.

 

As a general rule, if you need a new turbo, insist on changing the turbo oil feed pipes as well, if you don't and these are partly blocked by carbon deposits, then new turbo is likely to fail few weeks / months later.

Was the Turbo Shim Mod ever done?

If it should have been and was not then you need to be talking to Skoda UK Customer Services or the Dealership needs to be even if the car is 6 years old.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/316720-12tdi-turbo-epc-issues

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/262442-12-tsi-turbo-shim-fitted

(various other threads on briskoda on this, Fabia, Roomster etc if you search.)

 

PS

Obviously as with any issue that involves a vehicle not running correctly a driver should not be driving it hard because a failure 

out on the road might not only involve their vehicle, ie outside lane and an engine loses power.

 

PPS

On another matter.

Was your car one that should maybe have had the Service Campaign work on the DSG (DQ200) 

To change the Synthetic oil if filled at the factory to mineral and a software update for the DSG?

http://master.skoda-auto.com/mini-apps/recall-actions

Edited 3 February, 20179 yr by Offski

Thanks to you responders. All helpful to me as someone who knows little about turbo problems, or Skodas for that matter.

Had a long chat with the dealer, who has serviced the car since new on an annual service schedule and are very good. I was told by the head tech bod, that all software and other items have been dealt with and there are no outstanding issues. The turbo shim was fitted in 2012. He advised me that the turbo fitted to my car was one where the actuator cannot be repaired, unlike newer ones which can be. Apparently there is an electrical fault in the actuator itself, so as this cannot be replaced/repaired unfortunately, they must fit a new turbo, which they will do next week. They will check the turbo oil pipes when the turbo is off, but as the car has not been serviced anywhere else, they know it well and the previous owner did not cane it or otherwise abuse it and was very meticulous and careful. The ideal first owner, in fact. 

I am now much more comfortable that they will deal with the issue professionally and I should not have any more problems with it. I will use premium fuel in future. I have always used BP, as I have found it to be the good fuel, but will take advice and use premium petrol for the improved lubricity it gives.

Thanks again for your help. I will keep looking on this site for advice and guidance.

 

Those are not premium fuels just Branded 95 octane unless you are buying Super Unleaded.

(No idea about improved lubricity, the have detergent packages not lubrication packages.)

I suspect by "premium fuel" they meant not supermarket supplied, so sticking with the 4 main refiners (Shell, BP, Esso, Texaco) you should be fine.

ESSO in many areas of the UK might be produced and supplied by GREENERGY that supplies TESCO & others.

 

You get 'Diesel' & 'Premium Diesel',  some might consider fuel from the above named filling stations as Premium but it will be meeting the Minimum Standards 

with no actual evidence of additive packages providing any advantage over Super Market petrol if 95 ron Unleaded.

Then you get 97 or 99 ron minimum Super Unleaded in the UK from Supermarket Filling Stations and the big 4 mentioned above.

'Supermarkets do not refine or produce fuel obviously.'

Edited 4 February, 20179 yr by Offski

According to Honest John (other motoring advice givers are available) the main brands use additives in their fuels that the supermarket brands don't. Through personal experience, he constantly recommends the use of Shell in preference to the other main brands on the basis that their cleaning agents actively prevent issues with fuel pumps, injectors and valves by cleaning deposits more effectively than the others.

I know 2 technicians who until recently worked for Shell's fuel research labs, and they confirm HJ's view. Ok, you would expect them to recommend Shell if that's who they work for, but as they were both made redundant when the research centre closed, and they still would only use Shell, then you can be fairly sure they are giving an honest view.

 

But like many things in life, it's a case of all things in moderation. I'm sure it's ok to use supermarket grade fuel occasionally, but if you can it's wise to stick to the main brands for most of the time.

Have you thought of asking Skoda for a contribution to the repair? If the car has been serviced by a main dealer since new strictly to their schedule Skoda might be prepared to contribute something even after 6 years. Can't do any harm to ask.

More than half the road fuel used by passenger vehicles and light goods vehicles is bought at Supermarket Filling stations, 

so less than half that will be for petrol vehicles.

Many of those, probably the majority are turbo engine.

The Major Oil Companies advertise plenty but now they have sold off so many of their filling stations and are wholesalers of a fuel more than the retailers, and the majors with no special ingredients really other than detergents like sodium. Nothing that different added as a package to the stock fuel. Nothing that adds additional lubricants to gasoline. 95 Unleaded or 97-99 ron Unleaded.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=hfCPXcHU3Gc

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RMkZw5gXGcs

...................

The OP has always used what was believed to be 'good fuel' from BP, so from one of the Major Oil Company Branded Filling stations 

yet has had the rather unusual failure of a Turbo on a 1.2 TSI. 

(Unusual but the 'Shim issue with the 1.2  TSI was not unusual it was widespread at the time.)

But then being unusual and with many others with 1.2 TSI that fill up at BP there is little point suspecting the fuel.

?

How many fill up at supermarket filling stations and have never had any failures with a 1.2 TSI other than possibly due 

to the VW Timing Chain Issue, and maybe due to 'Castrol / Quantum' Long Life Oils?

Edited 5 February, 20179 yr by Offski

9 hours ago, Expatman said:

Have you thought of asking Skoda for a contribution to the repair? If the car has been serviced by a main dealer since new strictly to their schedule Skoda might be prepared to contribute something even after 6 years. Can't do any harm to ask.

I agree with this, a 30k mile car with a full dealer service history, even if it is 6 years old shouldn't experience a failure like this.  Ok - things do fail unexpectedly, but the Turbo hasn't proved 'fit for purpose' as it's failed well within its design life despite the appropriate services and recalls being carried out.  I  would certainly be pressing the dealer to press Skoda for a contribution in kind.  If your dealer hasn't offered to do this, perhaps they aren't quite as good as you think they are!

Thanks for this suggestion. As you say, if you don't ask, you don't get.

 

I have never used supermarket fuel in this car, only BP, though not their premium fuel up to now.

Edited 5 February, 20179 yr by Carlyle
more information

19 hours ago, Offski said:

ESSO in many areas of the UK might be produced and supplied by GREENERGY that supplies TESCO & others.

 

You get 'Diesel' & 'Premium Diesel',  some might consider fuel from the above named filling stations as Premium but it will be meeting the Minimum Standards 

with no actual evidence of additive packages providing any advantage over Super Market petrol if 95 ron Unleaded.

Then you get 97 or 99 ron minimum Super Unleaded in the UK from Supermarket Filling Stations and the big 4 mentioned above.

'Supermarkets do not refine or produce fuel obviously.'

 

 

I used to work for an an oil Company, so will clarify what happens.  Petrol is delivered in bulk (pipeline, or railcars) from various refineries (some is refined in other countries and pumped via pipe from dockside) to road tanker loading stations. This petrol is basic (European standard, no additives).

 

There are loading racks, which service multiple retailers, and each company keeps tanks of additives that are added during the filling of the road tankers.   So the retail product is different, even though it will have come through a common loading site.  The additives are very small volume, fraction of 1%

 

At least with petrol you get pure fuel, if you choose diesel, a few percent isn't diesel, but biofuel / ethanol etc

http://whatcar.com/news/new-e10-fuel-will-cost-uk-motorists

http://theaa.com/driving-advice/fuels-environment/biofuels

http://greenergy.com/uk/independent

http://greenergy.com/about

Edited 5 February, 20179 yr by Offski

HI alll, just come across this topic as I have a similar intermittent problem on my  2105 Rapid 1.2 spaceback,

I would just like to point out that as this was an electrical failure of the actuator, which fuel is used would make no difference  whatsoever as the actuator isn't anywhere near any fuel or engine oil and is merely linked to  the turbo wastegate with an external rod.

The turbo internals may stick due to contamination over the years but this would not affect or damage the actuator as there is usually current limiting circuitry built into the control unit.  ECU.