Last night I encountered my first serious problem during 10 years of Skoda ownership.

 

 

The car (2013 2.0 TDI 150, 30,000 miles) gave an oil pressure warning. I stopped immediately, maybe 200 yards to a safe-ish spot. Oil all over underneath the car -  Got it recovered to home. At this point I will say that the car was serviced by a main dealer on Wednesday...

 

In the light this morning I've investigated further, and there is the sump plug sitting on the undertray having clearly not been tightened properly.

 

Waiting for a phone call from the offending dealer who I won't name and shame until I find out how they deal with this. Watch this space!

 

Admirable restraint on your part in the circumstances.

They should be very thankful that your prompt action will have minimised any likely damage to the engine.

Be interesting to see how this plays out for you.

 

I'd be on the phone to the dealers ( If their open ) demanding a loan car as you have work in the morning, let them recover yours, mend and clean all the spilt oil up.

 

If its all over your drive they can pay for that to be cleaned as well.  I'd be going Ape Shi7e

Cheers guys, I've been on to the dealership, they were very apologetic and have guaranteed for it to be sorted without me having to push them, it'll be recovered tomorrow.

 

I'll give them the opportunity to put it right (and then some) before going ape with them haha.

This is at least the third instance of this happening that I'm aware of, all with 2.0 TDI Octavias and recently serviced by main dealers...

I didnt think they even removed the plug these days?

I thought they just shove a tube down the dipstick & suck the old oïl out...

The measure here isn’t that a mistake has been made, but how it’s subsequently dealt with by the dealer.  I’ll be interested to hear the sincerity of their apology and what they do to compensate you for the inconvenience.

If 'They' are trained professionals by VW Group (Factory Trained..)

then after the oil is sucked out the sump plug should be removed, and replaced with a new one, correctly.

Drain off or suction off engine oil.doc

I don't know if it is the case with TDI, but for many other engines, you remove the plug only once, to be replaced with new one, or this little copper pad under the plug (or how it is properly called in English). Anyway, they might return the old one but it is simply done by removing and screwing back, who knows, so it has no life left in it to stay in place.

 

It is really cheap little thing and should be included in the price of service. They probably may live up to several oil changes - but WHY?

Thanks for all the replies, the garage have recovered the car today and sorted out a courtesy car. There were many apologies from the service manager, obviously he was also astounded that the mechanic has left the sump plug loose. They're in the process of inspecting and testing the entire engine  which is reassuring as one or two people I've spoken to with a similar experience have said their garage stuck a new sump plug in, filled the oil and sent them on their way!

 

Not sure if they've sucked the oil out or drained it from the bottom, but they have said it is entirely their fault, so either way the sump plug had been removed at some point during the service procedure. 

 

Falmouthboy, as you say it's about how they deal with the problem from here on in, and so far all signs are very good. It was a mistake at the end of the day and they have actually thanked me for giving them the chance to sort it before going bananas with them - I know I'd rather deal with them reasonably in the first instance because I'd hope they would then be more likely to treat the car with more respect than if I went in shouting and screaming from the off. 

 

 

I can't understand why they ever needed to remove the sump plug; as it burns its way through a litre every other week it's almost always circulating fresh new oil! 

25 minutes ago, stever750 said:

I can't understand why they ever needed to remove the sump plug; as it burns its way through a litre every other week it's almost always circulating fresh new oil! 

Are these engines known for burning oil? Mine hasn't needed a top up between services so far

14 minutes ago, H_D said:

Are these engines known for burning oil? Mine hasn't needed a top up between services so far

Just slightly! 

1 hour ago, H_D said:

Are these engines known for burning oil? Mine hasn't needed a top up between services so far

Certain engines from the VW group were very bad, but it seems to be largely fixed in the current generation of engine. I have never had to top any Skoda over the last 9 years.

Always worth while keeping an eye on it over the first few thousand of a new car, when owners have reported topping was required, but it settled down thereafter.

The disturbing thing is that the manual usually has something like 'oil consumption of up to a pint per 1000 miles is acceptable' . Like F### it is.

My vrs diesel had just rolled over 7k miles from new and has needed a full top up, low level warning light flicked on 

Hi you should read thread about someone who had similar situation

 

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057804226

1 hour ago, sklow said:

Hi you should read thread about someone who had similar situation

 

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057804226

Interesting, my breakdown was very similar to this, and to their credit the main dealer involved have assumed the engine is damaged, have started to take it to bits starting at the top and working their way down.

19 hours ago, stever750 said:

My vrs diesel had just rolled over 7k miles from new and has needed a full top up, low level warning light flicked on 

Out of interest, how much oil shows on the dipstick when the oil level light comes on?

No idea, can't get the ruddy dipstick out! 

Really, have you tried 3 weetabix for breakfast?

I didnt want to break it. It's a very tight fit that's  fir sure. 

Excellent justification to avoid main dealers like the plague this and serves to suggest those who get warm and cozy about having it done at dealers are perhaps a slight bit mentally unwell ?

Although perhap a tad unfair to say that as I suppose service quality could vary between different dealers......but still........

When my cars get "old enough" I take satisfaction in doing them myself. 2014 Octy probably still a bit new for that ?

Actually quite satisfied my last fault ( not Octy but Fabia) was taken to close service centre for Skoda and they couldn't spot or suggest anything but started going down changing timing belt route or checks on ancillary belt.

Well after just a quck post on here for suggestion and it was sorted by myself after a punt on the likely failed part which sounds ****! (alternator clutch pulley). Who needs dealers.....

29 minutes ago, vRSAnt said:

Excellent justification to avoid main dealers like the plague this and serves to suggest those who get warm and cozy about having it done at dealers are perhaps a slight bit mentally unwell ?

Although perhap a tad unfair to say that as I suppose service quality could vary between different dealers......but still........

When my cars get "old enough" I take satisfaction in doing them myself. 2014 Octy probably still a bit new for that ?

The plan was to get it serviced with the main dealer this last time (just coming up 4 years old) then either DIY, use an independent, or swap it for something else before it hit the 5 year mark.

 

In terms of the progress they're making with my car, the turbo is being replaced and they're continuing to test/inspect the rest of the engine. In the 2017 Octavia I've been given to drive in the mean time Skoda still haven't sorted the rattle from the passenger seat height lever!

 

The other half has a new-shape Astra, and a sub 1-year old 1.4 or 1.6 turbo is looking more and more appealing at less than £12k...

Edited 11 November, 20178 yr by H_D

Well, the car has been returned to me, the dealer say no damage to the engine - and were very confident about this. The turbo was replaced as a precaution because it sounded a little noisier than usual. On the drive home the car sounds and drives just like it used to.

 

They have also provided a 2 year manufacturer backed warranty for the entire car, not just the areas of potential damage, including 2 years breakdown cover.  I did not have to ask or press them for this, although I would have obviously been asking for something similar for my piece of mind.

 

All in all, although a rookie mistake was made in the first place, the dealer has dealt with this issue professionally and have provided excellent customer service throughout. Nothing at all like some of the horror stories I have come across when others have had the same happen to them.

Worked out fine then & a good dealer.....hard to find these days...

 

As for extracting the oil.....

 

depends on engine...yours is extract...all the small 1.5lt & less petrol's are still drain via sump plug....I just checked with my Erwin docs for MK7 & MK7.5 Golf which is same engines in Octi'...

 

I think in those "extract" engines they can get the tube in to the low point of the sump cause of where the dipstick is

 

...even if you drain via sump you never get all out....I prefer to drain..& have to for my 1.4lt...