First service (and potential upselling?)

[Sheplobsters]

I bought my first Skoda (Fabia Colour Edition) last June and as I have done 9.400 miles I need an oil change (keep getting the reminders and now overdue!) so have booked the first of my two free services. Initially I tried to book this into Skoda Manchester but as that is closing I was automatically booked into Stockport Lookers (where I actually bought the vehicle). This is not a convenient location so I'm going to Bolton on Monday. The Lookers confirmation email stated:

 

With the age of the vehicle we would recommend a brake fluid change for £69 and a fuel treatment for £19.99.

 

As a first time Skoda owner I'm wondering if it's usual for other 'necessary' (?!) work to be found/suggested (my vehicle was registered September 2020) and if so do others tend to get it done at the same time via Skoda (considerably more expensive than independents I imagine) or going to a local garage that I usually use that is not a Skoda specialist but with a  good reputation? (which is what I always did with my Mazda 3's).

 

I know there is no definitively 'right' answer to this but interested in the experiences and views of more experienced Skoda owners. I used this forum when buying my Skoda and found it invaluable in terms of the best way to buy the car and with a couple of issues I had during the purchase.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Paul.

 

 

[AGFalco]

7 minutes ago, Sheplobsters said:

With the age of the vehicle we would recommend a brake fluid change for £69 and a fuel treatment for £19.99.

Get your Independent to test/check the brake fluid.  Doubt it needs doing.

 

Don't waste your money on the fuel treatment.

 

 

8 minutes ago, Sheplobsters said:

(my vehicle was registered September 2020)

In your bio it has:-  Year 2022

 

 

8 minutes ago, Sheplobsters said:

I have done 9.400 miles

Is this the total milage on the car or since you have had it?

 

Thanks. AG Falco

[Sheplobsters]

Thanks AGFalco: more or less what I was thinking thankfully.

 

Definitely registered 2020 (bio must be wrong: that's when I joined the forum) and 9400 since I got it: my mum is in and out of hospital in Dorset (noticed your location!) so done more mileage than usual.

 

Thanks for the prompt response. 

[nta16]

Personally I would have the brake fluid changed, brakes are much more important than the engine yet the engine is given priority.  Testing is fine but only tells you moisture content at reservoir if the change is done properly it should remove anything else within the whole system.  Always reassuring to see very clean brake fluid at a good level in the reservoir - but I'd ask what I get for £69 if it's just a suck out or drain without the scanner ABS block I might not bother.

 

I personally would change the air filter at 2 years as cleaner into and through the engine and out of the exhaust the better for the engine, think of the engine as little more than a big airpump spinning wheels to move you around.  You could do that yourself and look at the cabin filter and consider changing.

 

As they effect the braking, steering and suspension tyres are again more important than the engine but the "free visual health check" should highlight anything serious (or not), same for brakes.

 

The services are little more than engine oil and filter changes - and a search for more chargeable work.

 

Rather than a fuel treatment I would sooner put the additional cost to putting in and using a tankful of V-Power or other fuel with greater cleaning additive package before the service and another tankful after the service, same for MoT time, particularly if it's a diesel machine.  Petrol. - petrol.pdf

 

You can edit your bio/nameplate/thingy if you want to to alter year and include more info about your model.

 

 

  

Edited 25 March, 2023 by nta16
ETA: pdf

[KenONeill]

1 hour ago, Sheplobsters said:

I know there is no definitively 'right' answer to this

My 2p:-

1. Have a hygrometer check of brake fluid done,
2. Don't waste your money on snake o fuel "treatment".
3. Can you guess what I think of Main Stealer upselling?

[AGFalco]

This is what has been done on my Fabia, servicing wise.

 

Thanks. AG Falco

[Sheplobsters]

Thanks for the responses thus far folks. unfortunately I filled up yesterday as I thought I might have to make a long journey today but don't. However I will fill up with higher quality fuel after.

 

And yes I think I can tell Ken!

 

I feel much better prepared with questions now if and when they suggest any other work......

 

Many thanks

 

Paul.

Edited 25 March, 2023 by Sheplobsters

[nbramwel]

Forget the fuel treatment.  That's just upselling.  I had my brake fluid changed at 3 years by my local independent garage.  It did make a difference to the car's braking efficiency but I would stay well clear of a Skoda dealership for this. 

[J.R.]

3 minutes ago, nbramwel said:

I had my brake fluid changed at 3 years by my local independent garage.  It did make a difference to the car's braking efficiency

 

Bravo Sugar unless you were at 10/10ths on a racetrack & even then I would be highly sceptical.

 

Maybe there was air in the system beforehand, if so then keep a close eye on the braking system as the fault which enbaled it will still be present and it will reoccur.

[nta16]

If you always believe VW (or VWSkoda for pedantics) then previously they recommended not to use fuel additives but of course they may have changed their minds, as they often do about oils and coolant, or the Dealer has, now the cars have Gasoline Particulate Filters.

 

Personally as I put I'd still go for the use of one of the petrols with higher cleaner additive packages for a couple of tankfulls and go for some more entertaining blowout runs rather than just always using the car as a mobile entertainment centre, or just follow the instructions as if you were cleaning the filter (even though the light isn't on, prevention better than cure sort of thing). -

 

[Sheplobsters]

Thanks for all the replies and comments folks: very helpful. I should be driving to Bournemouth next week a few days after the oil change so I can fill up with the more expensive fuel down there for the journey back. It's a definite No on the fuel treatment!

[Ootohere]

E5 super unleaded 97 from Sainburry or 99 ronTesco Momentum might be £2.50 a tank more than their E10 Unleaded if you use that and maybe nothing more iof you buy your E10 from more expensive places.

 

The Winter Spec E5 & E10 Petrol might be no longer delivered down south from this week and it will be the summer formulation they have until Oct / Nov. 

[Sheplobsters]

Nice one toot: got a Sainsburys near work and Tesco not far away so may opt for one of those.

[nta16]

I'd go Tesco, and drive as quick as I could (which isn't law-breaking fast) before the fuel is empty in the car's tank, the nearer to empty the quicker you need to drive to the next Tescos, Shell, Esso refill.

 

The number of times I had to explain this to my wife when she pointed out the car was low on petrol, below half-tank, and she never understood,

 

 

 

To be fair a full tank was less than 6 gallons, all the more reason to get to the refills quicker.

 

[Sheplobsters]

Just to close the loop on this: there was no upselling or additional work required other than advisories on changing the front tyres soon. I think the fact that they were  busy was good and bad: no time or desire to do any extra work but my car was not ready at the 5 p.m. they advised so had to wait until 5.30, which was annoying. I will book a waiting appointment next time! Thanks for all the responses: very useful for this but also going forward. Cheers.