Last Saturday night, I noticed oil on my driveway (rainbow colour) also when I visited my local supermarket oil also in the car park by where I had parked, once I got home and car had cooled down, I checked engine oil level and it's low. The oil which i mopped up was leaking from the cambelt area. I've had no running issue, overheating or warning lights. I haven't driven the car this past week and it's booked in with Skoda next week.

 

I've come across this same problem from other Skoda owners, including VAG brands VW, Seat and Audi. Please can someone tell me what is the common cause of this leak and the most likely culprit? 

I don't want to panic you, but it sounds a lot like one of the cam shaft variable pulleys is "coming apart" due to bolts slackening off, so try hard not to use this car and get it taken to a workshop that understands these engines.

 

To explain more, the medium used to vary the cam shaft timing is the pressurised engine oil - and it is that that will be leaking out from between the slackened off fixing bolts - this is yet another VW Group disgrace!

 

Good Luck and please keep us posted on progress.

 

Edit:- sorry, I see that you know about this, so hopefully it gets fixed before things fall apart and cause damage to that engine.

Edited 29 July, 20232 yr by rum4mo

 

Deleted, misunderstanding, thought it was a cam chain.

Edited 29 July, 20232 yr by J.R.

2 hours ago, rum4mo said:

I don't want to panic you, but it sounds a lot like one of the cam shaft variable pulleys is "coming apart" due to bolts slackening off, so try hard not to use this car and get it taken to a workshop that understands these engines.

 

To explain more, the medium used to vary the cam shaft timing is the pressurised engine oil - and it is that that will be leaking out from between the slackened off fixing bolts - this is yet another VW Group disgrace!

^^This

 

Yes its a known issue and IIRC there may be an official Tech bulletin issued so in that case the repair should be free. Requires new cam phaser pulley(s) and new cambelt fitting as well as a clean up.

Safety made the 6.5 mile journey to the skoda dealer and my cars now with them. 

Edited 31 July, 20232 yr by wilson-uk-85

14 hours ago, wilson-uk-85 said:

Safety made the 6.5 mile journey to the skoda dealer and my cars now with them. 

 

That must be the best way of getting this fixed, so you should be in a position to get help from Skoda UK, to cover the costs or most of the costs to correct for the mess that their supplier created!

8 hours ago, rum4mo said:

 

That must be the best way of getting this fixed, so you should be in a position to get help from Skoda UK, to cover the costs or most of the costs to correct for the mess that their supplier created!

You were spot on about the cause of the oil leak and this is what the Skoda technician found, slack bolts. The cambelt was all intact but a whole new kit is being fitted due to oil contamination. I have extended warranty but the dealer and service department have managed to get the cambelt also thrown in for free. The dealer also said this is a known issue also on Audi, Seat & VW. I learnt too the water pump is electronic unlike my previous Renault Clio which was timing belt driven. 

I'd think that there will be a couple of water pumps, the one covering the bulk of the coolant moving, which has its own small grooved/toothed belt and is driven on the rear of one of the cam shafts and located within/beside the coolant distribution or management bits and bobs, and an electric water pump which also operates as a "run on" pump to keep coolant circulating are the areas that get very hot, after the ignition is switched off.

Just had the exact same issue with my 2017 Fabia colour edition- took it to my local skoda retailer and mentioned what I thought the issue was, they got back and told me it was that, but when I brought up about it being a known issue and whether the price would be reimbursable at all they denied all knowledge. £600 later the work has all been done and I've now talked to someone from Skoda UK, who said my car isn't "due a recall" and also denied any such thing about this being a known issue- so I don't know what to do now. My car's only done 35k miles 😞

Skoda UK are being nasty cheating bar stewards, ask this question again, this time via recorded/tracked snail mail, and when they give the same answer in print, seek further advice - as well as shaming them publicly.

 

Edit:- the only alternative to them being nasty cheating bar stewards, might be that Skoda engine plant has a bigger problem than they initially thought concerning this version of this pulley - it would have handy if you had asked for the removed pulley assembly to be returned to you - as evidence.

Edited 14 December, 20232 yr by rum4mo

23 minutes ago, Mattn00b said:

Just had the exact same issue with my 2017 Fabia colour edition- took it to my local skoda retailer and mentioned what I thought the issue was, they got back and told me it was that, but when I brought up about it being a known issue and whether the price would be reimbursable at all they denied all knowledge. £600 later the work has all been done and I've now talked to someone from Skoda UK, who said my car isn't "due a recall" and also denied any such thing about this being a known issue- so I don't know what to do now. My car's only done 35k miles 😞

@Mattn00b are you able to post your engine code? you can find it on your V5 document (four letters in front of engine number)

Edited 14 December, 20232 yr by Warrior193
correction

22 hours ago, rum4mo said:

Skoda UK are being nasty cheating bar stewards, ask this question again, this time via recorded/tracked snail mail, and when they give the same answer in print, seek further advice - as well as shaming them publicly.

 

Edit:- the only alternative to them being nasty cheating bar stewards, might be that Skoda engine plant has a bigger problem than they initially thought concerning this version of this pulley - it would have handy if you had asked for the removed pulley assembly to be returned to you - as evidence.

The talk I had with them was over a live chat, and I got emailed the transcript after so would that count? And as far as I know it was just the belt they changed due to oil contamination.

22 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

@Mattn00b are you able to post your engine code? you can find it on your V5 document (four letters in front of engine number)

Still trying to look for my V5 but I've got the VIN if that helps🤣

You will not have got passed these that are the Gate Keepers. 

You want a Skoda UK Resolution Manager who are just as Deaf, Dumb and Blind selectively and never know anything because they act using the same Hot Desk system, 

sign out at the end of sift and memory wiped.  The VW Group way.

41 minutes ago, Mattn00b said:

The talk I had with them was over a live chat, and I got emailed the transcript after so would that count? And as far as I know it was just the belt they changed due to oil contamination.

Still trying to look for my V5 but I've got the VIN if that helps🤣

One easy way to find your car's engine code is to stuff your reg number into Opie Oils website - and possibly some others.

http://opieoils.co.uk

 

33 minutes ago, rum4mo said:

One easy way to find your car's engine code is to stuff your reg number into Opie Oils website - and possibly some others.

Pretty sure it's CHZB

Thanks, SHMBOs Fabia is CHZC so possibly not affected - but I will keep an eye on it for this issue. 

Edited 15 December, 20232 yr by Warrior193
typo

16 hours ago, rum4mo said:

One easy way to find your car's engine code is to stuff your reg number into Opie Oils website - and possibly some others.

Nice find. 🙂

I have extended warranty all component cover and VW group accepted liability as a known issue with these engines (I think it was also the influence of the service advisor). I only had to pay £100 excess and £120 for new timing belt kit, £220 not worst car bill.

Exactly this happened to my wife's Fabia on tuesday. Found out because there was oil on the garage floor.

 

Thanks to this forum I managed to solve the leak myself. After removing the timing belt cover, I found one screw was halfway out, and three others could be turned with my fingers.

 

I checked the torque on the only bolt that seemed tight, which was at 17Nm, and torqued the other bolts to the same spec after adding thread locker. I later found out that the correct torque is 8Nm + 45deg, so I hope it will be OK anyway.

 

Finally I disassembled and cleaned the plastic at the bottom of the engine bay and after 100km it seems there are no leaks. It seems it lost less than 0.5l of oil, and oil level is still in the correct range.

 

I checked the timing belt and it seemed to be mostly clean of oil, so I think I will be able to save it. I sprayed a rubber compatible degreaser to the belt and after revving the engine, a bit of oil splashed on the cover. After everything dried up I tried it again and there were no further splashes, so I assume the belt is dry and fine.

 

It seems to me that VW engineering is not up to par, especially considering they had a recall on 1.2 engines because of this same issue.

 

I've written to skoda and I'm waiting for a response.

23 minutes ago, Amt0571 said:

Exactly this happened to my wife's Fabia on tuesday. Found out because there was oil on the garage floor.

 

Thanks to this forum I managed to solve the leak myself. After removing the timing belt cover, I found one screw was halfway out, and three others could be turned with my fingers.

 

I checked the torque on the only bolt that seemed tight, which was at 17Nm, and torqued the other bolts to the same spec after adding thread locker. I later found out that the correct torque is 8Nm + 45deg, so I hope it will be OK anyway.

 

Finally I disassembled and cleaned the plastic at the bottom of the engine bay and after 100km it seems there are no leaks. It seems it lost less than 0.5l of oil, and oil level is still in the correct range.

 

I checked the timing belt and it seemed to be mostly clean of oil, so I think I will be able to save it. I sprayed a rubber compatible degreaser to the belt and after revving the engine, a bit of oil splashed on the cover. After everything dried up I tried it again and there were no further splashes, so I assume the belt is dry and fine.

 

It seems to me that VW engineering is not up to par, especially considering they had a recall on 1.2 engines because of this same issue.

 

I've written to skoda and I'm waiting for a response.

Good luck hearing back, haven't heard anything back in 9 months, if you do though with anything helpful let me know and I might keep trying!🤣

8Nm + 45° turn may well equate to something close to 17Nm. Torque plus angle is just a more accurate means of getting a given pre-tension in a fastener.

Working out theoretical equivalence is tricky, because friction is so dominant, and unpredictable, in traditional torque-only specs.

 

Edited 12 September, 20241 yr by Breezy_Pete

20 minutes ago, Mattn00b said:

Good luck hearing back, haven't heard anything back in 9 months, if you do though with anything helpful let me know and I might keep trying!🤣

Well, I've contacted ŠKODA Spain, as it where I live. I presume you contacted ŠKODA UK?

 

I hope I'll have better luck.

12 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

8Nm + 45° turn may well equate to something close to 17Nm. Torque plus angle is just a more accurate means of getting a given pre-tension in a fastener.

Working out theoretical equivalence is tricky, because friction is so dominant, and unpredictable, in traditional torque-only specs.

 

I've thought about using a sharpie to mark the bolts to be able to tell if they're getting loose just by removing the cover.

 

I'm more worried about the possible oil contamination of the belt though. I'm going to inspect it regularly until I manage to trust the engine again.

Edited 12 September, 20241 yr by Amt0571

1 minute ago, Amt0571 said:

more worried about the possible oil contamination of the belt though.

Just inspect it for any change in appearance over the next year or so. I wouldn't worry particularly,  unless changes are visible.