Here’s what it’s reading on dipstick.

Well what a day.  EPC warning, so we ring Marshall’s and book in.  Advised ok to use.  Mrs goes to pop down Tesco and Engine light comes on too, looking at the entertainment system and the picture of the car shows an orange what looks like gear box.  Obviously due to fault.  Ring them back, NO a don’t drive and we will send Skoda Assist.  They come out link up and it’s the Turbo again, leaked some oil as oil only half up the dipstick again.  Only 7,200 miles over 18 months from new !  AA bloke was top notch, arranged for car to go to dealers and followed Mrs all the way there.  When we got there he had a arranged hire car.  Went to hire car and it was sat there waiting.  Great service !  

Dealer just rang and confirmed that the turbo accentuator had failed and has seized up the turbo.  So turbo number three !  None in the country so have to wait until 5th March for the part to come in.  So a week of the Touran hire car, Mrs isn’t pleased she doesn’t like it.

Had the Octavia back a few days now.  BUT, just checked the oil level and it was down to half !  Rang up Dealers and the dealers recon they do not touch the oil when replacing a turbo, is that true ?  Bearing in mind it was serviced last July with around 5,000 on the clock and has only cover around 2,500 miles since that last service.  Seems excessive to me.

 

while story is :-

 

Had a brand new Skoda Octavia Estate delivered July 2019. February 2020 engine light comes on, peeing out oil, take it to the dealers and the turbo had ceased so a new turbo under warranty. Few days after a regular oil check and it’s down to half way. Call to dealers and closed due to lockdown, got it ourselves and they refunded it.

Then it’s first service July 2020, that was on around 4,500 miles on the clock. 

Couple of weeks ago 2021, engine light comes on 7,200 miles on the clock. Back to dealers, and another turbo fail so replaced again under warranty. Same thing again after only being back five days oil half way on the dipstick, total miles 7390 ! 

Dealers are saying that they don’t change or top up oil on a turbo change ? Is that right ?

Edited 8 March, 20215 yr by Northam

The turbo bearings are oil lubricated so it's almost certain that changing the turbo will result in some oil loss, so they absolutely MUST check the oil level after a turbo change and topup if necessary (it probably will be).

Edited 9 March, 20215 yr by PetrolDave

Thank you PetrolDave.  
 

To me it makes sense but sad to say the dealer didn’t see it that way and the service department stated they never touch the oil. But the whole reason I checked it and found it low was because, on the last turbo change it was the same half way up.  So putting two and two together I think it’s safe to assume a turbo change losses half way on the dipstick, which on topping up is just under 1/2 litre.  But I’m no mechanic, so put my trust in them.

You really need to check oil any time you collect a car be that new, used, hire or loan and from a service or repair.   That is dip it when cold and before engine started.  See there is oil.  Then as all VW engines other than a 1.2 44 kw engine is checked.   At normal operating temperature parked on the flat and after a few minutes of stopping the car.  So as in the owners manual.   That is other than any Skoda manual that says check when 'warm'.

2 hours ago, Northam said:

To me it makes sense but sad to say the dealer didn’t see it that way and the service department stated they never touch the oil.

Was this Marshalls in Barnstaple? I've not been impressed with them and now take my Octavia to a local independent garage.

4 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

Was this Marshalls in Barnstaple? I've not been impressed with them and now take my Octavia to a local independent garage.

Yeah it was.  Just seem to feel I’m being fobbed off.  Not keen on the oil being half way on the dipstick like it was.

Edited 9 March, 20215 yr by Northam

Not keen on some muppet in a garage workshop that puts a vehicle out without checking the oil level.

But it is very very common. 

 

It is why the cars owners / drivers should not trust to others with Oil, Coolant & Tyres Pressures set or left by others.

After Services be sure that things are correct and safe.

If oil is not checked then you have no idea later how much is be used.

19 hours ago, Northam said:

Had a brand new Skoda Octavia Estate delivered July 2019. February 2020 engine light comes on, peeing out oil, take it to the dealers and the turbo had ceased so a new turbo under warranty.

 

Couple of weeks ago 2021, engine light comes on 7,200 miles on the clock. Back to dealers, and another turbo fail so replaced again under warranty.

 

total miles 7390 !

Two turbo failures in 7390 miles and less than 2 years - something isn't right

8 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

Two turbo failures in 7390 miles and less than 2 years - something isn't right

Exactly how we feel.  You get to the stage where you start wondering is it us, but this is my wife’s car, she drives very steady and never rags a car.  

Spoken to Skoda U.K. and they will speak to dealers.  Fella we spoke too said that it needs to be looked at as to why turbos are failing.  Seemed very sympathetic, listened and understood.

1 hour ago, Northam said:

Spoken to Skoda U.K. and they will speak to dealers.  Fella we spoke too said that it needs to be looked at as to why turbos are failing.  Seemed very sympathetic, listened and understood.

My first gut feel is that they should look at the oil feed/drain to the turbo bearings, if that's not allowing sufficient flow/pressure the bearings will fail prematurely.

Edited 9 March, 20215 yr by PetrolDave

Wow, this is turning into quite an ordeal for you @Northam. It's the stuff of nightmares when buying a new car. 

 

I haven't got any practical advice or solutions, sadly, but I hope this gets sorted for you soon. It'd be nice for you and your wife to enjoy the car and have confidence in it at long last.

Had a reply from Skoda today regarding the second turbo fail.  I’m just getting the feeling I’m not being taken seriously and they are fobbing me off ?  Why would you have an exposed part that could cause a failure ?

 

The 2nd complaint was an EPC light and the test plan advised the retailer to separate the turbo actuator rod from the turbo as part of the work scope. But because they could not remove this linkage because it was seized they had to replace the turbo

The actuator rod is on the outside of the turbo and exposed to the elements so that could be a reason why it had seized up

In addition looking at the tech reports all the oil levels were ok on the latest repair.

So in summary according to the tech report the turbo itself was not seized they replaced the turbo because they could not detach the turbo actuator rod to carry out a work scope.