Has Skoda altered the rules regarding the cambelt change interval? (2018 Vrs tdi)

[thehulkster699]

Good evening. We were in a Middlesbrough dealer today looking at a 2018 car. When I questioned whether the belts had been changed I was told by the salesman that Skoda U.K. have dropped the 5 year requirement and now it’s about 14 or 15 years and roughly 120,000 miles? Is this correct? 

[ords]

See Page 3 , 2nd to last post.

 

 

[bmbmdmb]

I have just enquired about a timing belt kit and water pump price for an Octavia 3 2l diesel 150 bhp 2016. 

 

The dealer DM Keith told me that the recommendation is now 140,000 miles. I'm currently on 50,000 miles.

 

No time limit mentioned, I've asked and awaiting a reply.

 

I believed it was 5 years. 

 

A bit of googling, albeit a different model and engine, revealed Yeti owners have had a similar relaxation to 15 years and 180,000 miles. No warranty on that of course.

 

I was about to book it in.

 

Been quoted £1000 to 1100 by dealers and £500 by local independent.

 

Are any specialist tools not stocked by a local independent needed? I heard the 1.5 ACT needs specialist tools for instance?

 

Would you really risk leaving it this long?

 

The engine has very good torque and pulls from 1200 rpm. I would have thought it would put more strain on belt? Also the DPF situated in the rear of engine bay not far from the cam belt, producing extremes of temperature? Not a nice environment for the belt?

 

What do you all think about replacement?

 

[bmbmdmb]

BTW my engine is a CRMB according to handbook sticker.

 

 

Sticker on cam belt cover states CRMnumber.

[classic]

The thing is with the diesels that the water pump is a weak point and driven by the timing belt. Do you know if it is definitely the original belt and not had a water pump replaced at some point ?

 

[MarkyG82]

No reason that high torque output would affect the condition of the belt.  It's not drive that goes through a cambelt after all.

Heat cycling and high revs (maybe rev changes also) would affect it.  Lots of A/B road blasts with a hot exhaust for example.

My digging suggests all VAG UK engines have had the time interval removed for this work and the distance increased.  However, the distance is up for question as many places are arbitrarily converting from km.

[bmbmdmb]

Sorry to hijack the thread.

If that Q was for me from Classic?

 

Water pump is original. 

 

I asked Skoda dealership I bought from at 6 months and 10k miles whether water pump , 'engine sleeve' issue had been updated with the 2016 year and I was told yes. A lot of owners from 2013, 2014 maybe 2015 had issues with water pump? 

 

A couple of years ago the advice was, get it done at 5 years etc. Still is on some Skoda dealer websites. Google Skoda Henry's of Glasgow.

 

Cheers

 

 

 

 

 

 

[varaderoguy]

On 09/01/2024 at 22:46, bmbmdmb said:

Water pump is original. 

 

I asked Skoda dealership I bought from at 6 months and 10k miles whether water pump , 'engine sleeve' issue had been updated with the 2016 year and I was told yes. A lot of owners from 2013, 2014 maybe 2015 had issues with water pump? 

 

A couple of years ago the advice was, get it done at 5 years etc. Still is on some Skoda dealer websites. Google Skoda Henry's of Glasgow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The water pumps do have a habit of failing on non-FL cars.  You are right the VAG brought in better parts if the pump failed.  Re: Cambelt.  This seems to be very much a UK thing.  As the cambelt and waterpump are done together (generally, though not always [there are engine differences] There are lots of folk out there in Europe who's VAG HQ have a far longer length between cambelt changes, but VAG UK have decided that 5 years is a thing here in the UK (its the same with VW, not just a Skoda thing).  All depends if you want to maintain a semblance of warranty....its more to do with extreme temperatures, climates and the environment the car is operating in.