Just had an email from the dealer that my 2018 Kodiaq Scout 190ps is due an aircon service. The car has 20,000 moles on the clock. My previous Ford Mondeo never had an aircon service in all of the 70,000+ miles I had it for. Is this needed or are they taking advantage? Thanks for any comment.

It’s recommended not mandatory

 

more a way to extract money

 

Don’t think there is much that can be serviced

 

 

Maybe. I don't know how well the system in your car cools and dries the air just now.

It's usually advised after 3 or 4 years rather than by miles, but when I enquired at an air-con specialists they asked me if it smelled bad (no) and if it was cooling the air (yes), then told me not to bother!

I'm not that familiar with refrigeration units but I think it's a motor, compressor and sealed refrigerant system. A motor is maintenance free, until it fails! a compressor/pump is usually sealed and the sealed refrigerant is either there or it's leaked.

Just missed the second phone call from my local dealer. She sounded as though this service was most urgent. Don't think I'll bother it is working well (as I would expect at 20,00 miles) and will follow Briscodian's advice - wait until there is a problem.

Part of the trick is to use the air con on a regular basis, even in winter.  This keeps the seals lubricated and if not lubricated, they will dry out and leak. I read this advice several years ago and have adhered to it, in fact my air con is on all the time. I'm not sure why it would be turned off unless the user is worried about it causing extra fuel consumption.

Hi olderman

 

Good advice, I've used it in the past but for some reason not on the Skoda. Will start tomorrow. By the way, does anyone know how much the aircon service is?

Yep; I've got the full Climatronic as standard, and the nearest it usually comes to "off" is automatically disabling itself at low temperatures. I've played with "econ" mode on flat roads, and it saves about 0.1 mpg.

Older aircon systems used to make a big difference to fuel consumption.  I recall the 1971 Rover 3500 that I had long ago: if the aircon compressor clicked in, it felt like the handbrake had come on.   It happened a couple of times in the middle of an overtaking manoeuvre and so scared me that I wired in a switch that allowed the fans to continue while the compressor was (briefly) disabled. 

 

Modern systems seem to be much more efficient and (like olderman1) I leave the aircon on all the time.  If cooling and drying are not required, the system will de-clutch the compressor automatically.  If they ARE required, then that's a good reason to have them.  In summer, obviously, we like the cooling;  in winter, we like the drier air to help keep the windows clear and to dry out wet from the seats and carpets (when we've got in soaked from the rain);  at just about all times, I like the crisper air that aircon gives, which helps keep me alert.  This is all in addition to keeping the system itself in good nick.

 

I haven't done any extensive comparison tests, but I ran my Greenline (1.6 diesel) Superb Estate for 3 years, aircon continuously on, and got 55 mpg overall, with 73 mpg usual for longer runs (dash readings).  I can't imagine getting anything significantly better if I'd turned the system off.

1 minute ago, KScout said:

does anyone know how much the aircon service is?

Call a mobile service from Yell, have it done at your house or work, and expect to pay 60 to 80 quid.

2 minutes ago, KScout said:

 ... does anyone know how much the aircon service is?

It's listed on the Skoda UK website as £120.   I think I'll not bother!

Older cars with R134A refrigerant gas we’re reasonably cheap to maintain/ re gas, but your Kodiaq will have the new “ environment friendly”  R1234YF gas which is more expensive and tends to have a higher loss rate, so needs checking to maintain correct amount of gas/ oil in the system.

2 hours ago, olderman1 said:

Part of the trick is to use the air con on a regular basis, even in winter.  This keeps the seals lubricated and if not lubricated, they will dry out and leak. I read this advice several years ago and have adhered to it, in fact my air con is on all the time. I'm not sure why it would be turned off unless the user is worried about it causing extra fuel consumption.

 

That used to be applicable, but not any more.

 

Modern air conditioning compressors run permanently, so even with the system turned off it remains pressurised.

Don't do it, it's a money making exercise.

 

The air conditioning system does not contain any serviceable items, it if did then they would be detailed in the vehicles service regime, but they aren't.

 

The system is sealed, if it isn't it has a leak. Servicing won't prevent leaks, only identify them, but by then you'll likely already know.

19 minutes ago, silver1011 said:

 

 

The system is sealed, if it isn't it has a leak. Servicing won't prevent leaks, only identify them, but by then you'll likely already know.

 

The system is not as sealed as much as you think it is.

Some interesting reading here, apparently up to 10% gas loss can be expected each year. This is an old report and the new type gas more permeable so loss rates probably higher.

https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/clima/files/eccp/docs/leakage_rates_final_report_en.pdf

Edited 29 December, 20196 yr by Kenny R

As it is Heating and A/C operation is supposed to be getting checked at Major Services.   That is not a how cool is it cooling...

That getting done is more likely than the Removing of wheels.

Maybe on a par with Body Inspection for the Paint and Corrosion Warranty.

14 minutes ago, Kenny R said:

 

The system is not as sealed as much as you think it is.

Some interesting reading here, apparently up to 10% gas loss can be expected each year. This is an old report and the new type gas more permeable so loss rates probably higher.

https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/clima/files/eccp/docs/leakage_rates_final_report_en.pdf

 

Interesting report.

 

Unless I'm reading it wrong the average annual loss appears to be under 7%.

 

There are also some quite wide variances in the losses by manufacturer, the report rather unhelpfully hiding the best and worst performers.

 

 

Skoda vehicles however only formed 0.4% of the total percentage of vehicles tested...

 

 

Let's hope their system is one of the better performers.

Lets hope there is something from more recent than 2003.

28 minutes ago, silver1011 said:

Skoda vehicles however only formed 0.4% of the total percentage of vehicles tested

And all listed VAG (which will use the same A/C when fitted) more like 20%,

I'm not so sure, yes there is a lot of component sharing going on across VAG, but there is also a lot of locally sourced components and various different assembly locations and processes accompanied by varying levels of quality.

 

Using that approach you'd also potentially group together Peugeot with Citroen, Renault with Nissan, JLR with Ford etc. which I don't beleive would be accurate.

18 minutes ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

Lets hope there is something from more recent than 2003.

 

I missed that, was the publication date included in the report?

 

If so then a lot has changed in the last 16 years.

 

It is a good report though, I wonder if there is a more recent version...

HI everyone 

Started this thread and so far have learnt a lot. I didn't realise that the there is a loss from the system and have realised that the dealer is working on age not mileage -my car is 2 years old this month. 

The conclusion I have come to is to leave the check and reconsider next year(2021). I'm sure the dealer will remind me then!

 

 

You'll soon know, come summer time, if it needs looking at.

 

When it stops blowing cold then it is time to get it looked at.