1 hour ago, ords said:

In the UK, Skoda recommend a belt change every 5 years, so the water is changed then. I believe that if the car has the silikat bag it extends the working life of the water way beyond 5 years.

Belt is reccommended but the pump has never been a service item which is why they design the coolant to 'last forever' as some will choose not to change the pump, especially average people who won't see the value in changing it just in case.

 

I have removed my 'Mit Silicat' expansion tank but mine was actually in some sort of plastic repository rather than a tea bag but didn't want to chance it. I will go ahead and do the coolant with the water pump every 4/5 years and I think that will be more than fine. 

 

6 hours ago, BerkCo said:

I was baffled by the answer. The service guy told me that i never had to bother changing it, "it is filled for life ". I thought that nothing is filled for life.

I'd interpret that as "life of the anti-corrosive and additive packs in the coolant", about 5 years.

1 hour ago, SuperbTWM said:

Belt is reccommended but the pump has never been a service item which is why they design the coolant to 'last forever' as some will choose not to change the pump, especially average people who won't see the value in changing it just in case.

 

I have removed my 'Mit Silicat' expansion tank but mine was actually in some sort of plastic repository rather than a tea bag but didn't want to chance it. I will go ahead and do the coolant with the water pump every 4/5 years and I think that will be more than fine. 

 

It makes some sense to change the pump at the same time as the belt due to its relationship with the belt even if its given no trouble There's no guarantee that the new pump won't fail prematurely. 

11 hours ago, ords said:

In the UK, Skoda recommend a belt change every 5 years, so the water is changed then. I believe that if the car has the silikat bag it extends the working life of the water way beyond 5 years.

Not anymore they dont. Service intervals for timing belts have been changed to match the continent. So can be as high as 12 years for a belt. Although it should be checked every 20k

7 hours ago, ApertureS said:

Not anymore they dont. Service intervals for timing belts have been changed to match the continent. So can be as high as 12 years for a belt. Although it should be checked every 20k

I'd forgotten that

I found a video , a turkish mechanic specialised on VAG changing coolant on a mk3 Skoda Octavia.  He is using the method mentioned above. Looks doable DIY