I am finding problems filling my diesel fuel on my Elegance Estate it would appear due to air being trapped in the tank and or filler pipe, the result of which is that you can only pump a few litres before you get blow back.

Strangely this does not happen at every refill, but happens often enough to be a real problem and a bloody nuisance. I like to run on not less than half a tank at a time and I am being forced to go well down below half a tank to get a normal fill rate.

Anybody else having such problems?

It is little things like this that turn me off an otherwise good vehicle.

The first time I filled mine it wouldn't accept any fuel with the nozzle all the way in.

[misquote me] Pulled it out an inch or two and everything flowed nicely [/misquote me]

I've not had to fill up a second time yet.

Only had this once but I'm certain it was down to the nozzle rather than the car....

The first time I filled my elegance estate I had difficulty getting the nozzle into the tank so fuel sort of blew back, but found that it goes in at a certain angle ok and now I know that have no problem filling the tank.

I have tried using the nozzles in all positions and angles even using the two rest prongs located just inside the opening.

Even on the very slowest nozzle speed the fuel just comes up the filler pipe to the neck so I reckon there is a blocked vent pipe, I assume it has one?

I'm not sure about an Octavia, but on an Impreza you have to hold the nozzle at about 8 o'clock to get the fuel in.

It also depends on whose diesel you are buying. I only have a problem with BP. Also the BP nozzles tend to leak a bit too.

Thought about fuel frothing, but it has happened here at several sites and also in France so I think it is more than just frothing.

I never had problems on my old car Citroen BX and my parents Pug 306. However both cars were old school diesels that could fill up off a lorry pump with no problem.

The Octy has issues sometimes with the standard pumps so there is no way i would chance a lorry one. Basically i found that pulling the pipe out a bit or changing the angle seems to work. I can only imagine that the fuel pipe is a bit too narrow, such that it has a few issues with some petrol pumps depending on the angle you get the pump in.

I've had no problems with the Octy. My old Pug used to do it, so I tended not to slide it in all the way. I don't really understand why there's a problem.

Have had my Diesel Elegance Mk 2 since September 2004. The only time I get problems filling the tank is if I have the nozel at a very strange angle.

Seems as though you may have a problem with a blockage in the filler pipe.

Yes the more I think about it that is the conclusion I have come to, the pipe is not venting as you can hear the trapped air bubble up as the fuel goes down the filler pipe.

I had the hood release lever drop off and on to my right foot today, the third fault so hopefully that is it for this car.

The Skodas may have a good reputation for reliability, but it is these little faults or lack of attention to detail that can easily turn people off a brand and I think is the difference between a Japanese product against a European one.

I have to be honest I would have gone for a Honda Accord diesel estate, but for two things, I could not justify the Honda price premium and the fact it did not provide a Direct Shift gearbox.

Get the same on the other half's A3 TDI quattro. Have to wiggle it about once you've inserted it to get the right angle for full flow. Most annoying.

Just inside the mouth of the pipe, on the top is a "nipple". Push this forward with the nozzle and it releases the air.

Had a look inside my filler pipe and can not see a nipple, but just inside the pipe on the upper side are three pieces of plastic about 18mm long although they appear fixed and I assume they were just a pump nozzle rest.

There is also just outside the neck of the filler pipe what I take is a fuel overflow return and also assumed this was the tank vent hole.

I will topping up again tomorrow so will see how I get on.

Had a look inside my filler pipe and can not see a nipple' date=' but just inside the pipe on the upper side are three pieces of plastic about 18mm long although they appear fixed and I assume they were just a pump nozzle rest.

There is also just outside the neck of the filler pipe what I take is a fuel overflow return and also assumed this was the tank vent hole.

I will topping up again tomorrow so will see how I get on.[/quote']

I'd take a guess that the plastic bits are Anti-Sy'phon

I topped up my half a tank yesterday at a Waitrose site and immediately had a fuel blow back so I pushed down on that flexible spill hole and the blockage seemed to release and I was then able to fill up as normal.

Coincidence or solution? only the next top up will provide the answer for sure unless some Skoda person can confirm the purpose of the flexible spill pipe hole before then.

Spoke to the Bath dealership about this and they have removed the nylon valve from the top of the vent pipe so that the vent hole is now at least twice the size, but it will be several days before I need to top up again. I will report back then.