Just purchased 2011 skoda octavia 1.6tdi.

Drove it at length for the 1st time today. Noticed a strong fuel adour in the car. Checked the engine bay and the cover was off this compartment and just wedged down the back. Should there be something inside this compartment attached to to hose? Does anyone know what it's for? Can't find any label on it on any of the engine diagrams I've looked at.

Thanks for any help

Janet 

Hi Janet, welcome.

 

That, AFAIK, looks like the air inlet to the engine so needs to be enclosed otherwise the air isn't fully getting to the engine.  Only as an example. - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144679434624

 

AFAIK nothing inside, it's a scoop to get the air from outside (under bonnet) into the engine via the air filter, which needs to be reasonably clean, you want clean (as possible) air going into the engine, through it and out of it and the exhaust (petrol and especially diesel).

 

Again as an example. - https://workshop-manuals.com/skoda/octavia-mk2/power_unit/2.0/103;_125_kw_tdi_cr_engine_(1st_generation)/fuel_preparation_system_diesel_injection/intake_manifold_air_filter/removing_and_installing_air_filter_housing/?utm_content=expand_article

 

For future enquiries you're probably best to post in the Skoda Octavia Mk II (2004 - 2013) section of this site.

 

If you read and refer to the Owner's Manual for your car you will then know more about it than many long term owners and some at garages, if you don't have the paper printed copy you can download from VWSkoda for free a pdf version from the following link. - https://manual.skoda-auto.com/004/en-com/Models

 

And here are some very helpful videos that cover somethings in the Owner's Manual. -https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHH-B9onXpOqSbufztgrEsE0U-QjwooWU 

 

Edited 28 May, 20233 yr by nta16

8 hours ago, janetst said:

Just purchased 2011 skoda octavia 1.6tdi.

Drove it at length for the 1st time today. Noticed a strong fuel adour in the car. Checked the engine bay and the cover was off this compartment and just wedged down the back. Should there be something inside this compartment attached to to hose? Does anyone know what it's for? Can't find any label on it on any of the engine diagrams I've looked at.

Thanks for any help

Janet 

Nope there should be nothing in there.  But the cover should be lipped back on. 

The cover should be clipped back on but likely one or more of the clips are broken because the inlet elbow is not correctly inserted into the casing (it needs to go further in and engage 2 grooves further back) meaning the person will have forced it breaking at least one clip and hence it fell off. - There should be 3 clips IIRC.

13 hours ago, nta16 said:

needs to be enclosed otherwise the air isn't fully getting to the engine. 

 

This is incorrect, the engine will still be able to draw the correct volume of filtered air, with the cover missing there is less restriction but miniscule.

13 hours ago, nta16 said:

it's a scoop to get the air from outside (under bonnet) into the engine via the air filter, which needs to be reasonably clean, you want clean (as possible) air going into the engine

 

It's function is to get the coolest possible air into the combustion chamber for the maximum efficiency, its secondary function is for vapour to condense and drain out before reaching the air filter reducing its efficiency, there is also a snorkel port so the engine cannot ingest water if the vehicle is driven through a flood higher than the inlet in the lower grill.

 

Janet, you should ask what work has been done to the car as that inlet pipe has been recently removed and misfitted, it could be clutch or transmission work.

 

The smell of fuel should be investigated as an urgency given the slap dash nature of whatever work was carried out, the absence of that cover would not result in a smell of fuel.

Edited 29 May, 20233 yr by J.R.

Fixed a few of these; as  JR said, the clips are fragile and give up easily. Black masking tape only works for about 6 months; my preferred fix nowadays is drilling a small hole or two and using cable ties.

 

Worth checking the activated charcoal / fuel vent fittings at the diesel tank end as well as underbonnet leakage. Diesel fumes from an unconnected / failing fuel tank vent system can get sucked into the passenger compartment.

That bc won’t be the cause of the fuel smell IMO, check the fuel filter for leaks, the injector areas under the engine cover and the tandem pump on the side of the engine.

 

All good starters for 10 assuming of course the smell is from the bonnet. 
 

Obviously with it bring fuel the correct advice would be to seek a qualified diagnosis and fix.