Hi,

 

New to this and only had my car 2 months (2020 Superb IV SportLine+)...

 

Found a small oil leak on my driveway and on inspection under the car I could see oil leaking from the pan under the engine (drivers side). Booked it in for a warranty inspection and waited 3 weeks for the appointment (which was today). The car hasn't been used since I noticed the oil leak and has sat idle on the drive.

 

Has been in with Liverpool Skoda today and they've just call to say the sump plug has been stripped (from overtightening) and it needs a new sump....£857.

 

Apparently not covered by warranty, although a full service (main Skoda dealer) was done for me prior to buying the car in November, which will be when the damage was done.

 

Rather disappointed for this to be my first experience with Skoda...does this sound right? Should I be pushing for it to be replaced as clearly an issue caused prior to purchase?

 

I've been VW and Audi owner prior to this and have only ever experienced good customer care from dealerships.

 

Any advice appreciated.

 

Rob

Invite the dealer who carried out the service to cover this. If they decline, reamain calm and remind them that the small claims court procedure is pretty quick and cheap. No way should you be shelling out for this; the sump plug hasn't been touched since the service. More amusement follows if they try to say they didn't touch the sump plug when carrying out the service.

?

How soon before you bought the car from the Dealership in November was the Service done according to the records?

Was it you that requested a service because it was due or overdue?

(It is just that a Full Main Dealership history does not mean someone does not do Oil Changes in between Dealer Servicing. )

 

As to removing the Sump Plug, there are Dealerships, Garages, Mechanics, Technicians / Fitters that suck out the oil and do not then remove the sump plug and replace it. 

I had something similar with my 2018 1.4tsi Superb. After the 2nd service, I noticed a leak from the sump plug, dripping on my drive. Took the car back, and they checked the plug was correctly tightened to 30Nm. Still it leaked. So they changed the sump plug, and the replacement plug leaked. As they had seen this before, they contacted Skoda technical who told them to use an additional  crush washer, which they did and the problem was fixed. They videod the whole process. The standard sump plug has a standard steel washer, sometimes fixed to the bolt with a weld at the side.

So it seem that that the sump thread wasn't correctly aligned or the the mating face was machined slightly off. Or maybe just a bad batch of plugs with wonky washers or incorrectly machined seats.

Subsequent services (3) I remind them to fit the additional crush washer.

 

In the OP's case I feel the dealer mechanic tried to fix the leak by tightening the plug beyond the 30Nm specified and damaged the thread. Now trying to pass it off on the customer.

Edited 29 January, 20242 yr by xman

1 hour ago, Rooted said:

?

How soon before you bought the car from the Dealership in November was the Service done according to the records?

Was it you that requested a service because it was due or overdue?

(It is just that a Full Main Dealership history does not mean someone does not do Oil Changes in between Dealer Servicing. )

 

As to removing the Sump Plug, there are Dealerships, Garages, Mechanics, Technicians / Fitters that suck out the oil and do not then remove the sump plug and replace it. 

Hi,

 

The service was done the day before I picked the car up 11/11/23. I didn't request the service, the dealership said they needed to service it, so assume it must have been due.

 

Rob

If I were you I'd fight quite hard to avoid this hefty, undeserved bill.

Replace the sump???

 

They make helicoil repair kits just for this, 5 minutes work and a fresh oil change and you are sorted.

 

All in with the tool, oil, filter and new plug - probably £100 max

 

£150 if you go buy a jack, axle stands and ratchet set from Lidl/aldi and fancied it yourself

1 hour ago, xman said:

I had something similar with my 2018 1.4tsi Superb. After the 2nd service, I noticed a leak from the sump plug, dripping on my drive. Took the car back, and they checked the plug was correctly tightened to 30Nm. Still it leaked. So they changed the sump plug, and the replacement plug leaked. As they had seen this before, they contacted Skoda technical who told them to use an additional  crush washer, which they did and the problem was fixed. They videod the whole process. The standard sump plug has a standard steel washer, sometimes fixed to the bolt with a weld at the side.

So it seem that that the sump thread wasn't correctly aligned or the the mating face was machined slightly off. Or maybe just a bad batch of plugs with wonky washers or incorrectly machined seats.

Subsequent services (3) I remind them to fit the additional crush washer.

 

In the OP's case I feel the dealer mechanic tried to fix the leak by tightening the plug beyond the 30Nm specified and damaged the thread. Now trying to pass it off on the customer.

Thanks, sounds like a possible solution. But from what Liverpool Skoda put on the inspection report it seems this might not be the first time it's been fixed...

 

"The technician has diagnosed the leak from the engine sump. It has been fitted with an oversized sump plug to try and seal the leak."

 

Maybe they do oversized crush washers?

 

 

Think I'll just at approach the dealership I bought it from in November and see what they say about it. It's just annoying to have to run around sorting it myself (I know they're all individual franchises, but you'd think customer service would be at group level), having already had the car off the road for 3 weeks waiting for an inspection slot and be staring down the barrel at £1000 costs (there's a £150 inspection charge too 🫣) within the first 6 weeks of ownership.

 

Rob

1 minute ago, ApertureS said:

Replace the sump???

 

They make helicoil repair kits just for this, 5 minutes work and a fresh oil change and you are sorted.

 

All in with the tool, oil, filter and new plug - probably £100 max

 

£150 if you go buy a jack, axle stands and ratchet set from Lidl/aldi and fancied it yourself

And do Skoda dealerships use these? Nope.

 

And I don't buy cars with a warranty to do it myself, life's already busy enough thanks.

 

Rob

1 hour ago, xman said:

I had something similar with my 2018 1.4tsi Superb. After the 2nd service, I noticed a leak from the sump plug, dripping on my drive. Took the car back, and they checked the plug was correctly tightened to 30Nm. Still it leaked. So they changed the sump plug, and the replacement plug leaked. As they had seen this before, they contacted Skoda technical who told them to use an additional  crush washer, which they did and the problem was fixed. They videod the whole process. The standard sump plug has a standard steel washer, sometimes fixed to the bolt with a weld at the side.

So it seem that that the sump thread wasn't correctly aligned or the the mating face was machined slightly off. Or maybe just a bad batch of plugs with wonky washers or incorrectly machined seats.

Subsequent services (3) I remind them to fit the additional crush washer.

 

In the OP's case I feel the dealer mechanic tried to fix the leak by tightening the plug beyond the 30Nm specified and damaged the thread. Now trying to pass it off on the customer.

 

So that was an EA211 engine with an alloy plug, the workshop instruction, at least for my wife's 2015 VW Polo 1.2TSI, ie another EA211 engine with an alloy plug, is at the first service, to remove the plain steel plug/captive washer, and throw it in the bin, and replace that with a different steel plug and a separate rolled/folded alloy washer.

 

Now, at every service since the warranty ran out, I've serviced the car myself and just reused the steel plug and fitted a new rolled/folded alloy sealing washer - always using a torque wrench set at 30Nm, but at the 2022 service, the steel plug sort of "caught" a bit when about half way out, so I eased it out, examined the steel plug, which looked as good as these steel plugs tend to seeing as they probably get thrown into a huge hopper during the manufacture process, anyway I changed to using another - same version, steel plug and it was also slightly "not right" but seemed okay when it was near the fully screwed in point. So, at service time this year, I ran a tap down that sump drain hole and some bits of alloy came out with the plug, I also ran a die over the steel plug but it seemed to be okay - so for the service next year I'll be buying a new steel plug, and checking/cleaning it before using it.

 

So, why the steel plug/alloy sump hole offered no resistance during the 2019, 2020 and 2021 oil changes, I can't say.  I serviced my old 2000 VW Passat 4Motion 12 times and my wife's 2002 VW Polo 1.4 12 times, both had alloy sumps and the older steel plug/captive washer, and never had any issues with the sump threads, a bit annoying!

The 1.4tsi being discussed here has a standard VAG steel sump plug and a pressed steel sump.

 

I'd be worried about the oversized sump plug they reportedly fitted. There's no such thing afaik. Sounds like an incompetent mechanic making matters worse.

 

Negligence occured during servicing. Probably at the recent service. Just because it was leaking prior doesnt mean the sump threads were stripped. Highly unlikely and I cite my experience which had similar symptoms.

 

The OP needs to speak directly to Skoda and threaten legal action.

 

The correct solution now is to fit a new sump pan, at the cost of the dealer involved. Or reject the car for a full refund.

 

https://www.skoda-parts.com/spare-part/04e103602b-oil-pan-1-4tsi-skoda-31107.html

 

Edited 29 January, 20242 yr by xman

Good luck getting past the Contractor to speak Direct to Skoda / VW UK. 

On the basis the leak was present when the car was bought and it has not been resolved in a satisfactory fashion under the consumer rights act 2015 you have rights. If the car is financed, contact the finance company concerned. They will persue it as the car is still legally theirs. Section 75 protection applies if any credit card was involved. If debit card, chargeback rules may apply.

 

Check if your insurance has legal cover included maybe.

 

Etc etc

 

Edited 29 January, 20242 yr by xman

As you’ve had the car less than 6 months you’re protected under consumer rights act 2015.

 

Have a read on that then go back to the dealer and ask them to fix free of charge or get a refund

 

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/buying-and-running-a-car/your-rights-if-something-is-wrong-with-your-car#:~:text=Problems with cars bought from dealers,-If you buy&text=You have a right to,of purchase in most cases.

 

Be calling ŠKODA customer care team too, they are actually good, but you do need to be persistent

Edited 29 January, 20242 yr by Danoid

So... quick update on this...

 

All finally sorted, new (lower) sump fitted by Liverpool Skoda and all costs picked up by Christchurch Skoda (dealer where I bought the car).

 

Glad the issue is something that is easily fixed and hopefully won't be repeating itself.

 

Car was off the road from 7th Jan to 9th Feb which isn't great, but I'm glad to be back in the Superb.

 

Appreciate the various advice which was all helpful in negotiating getting this sorted 👍👍👍.

 

Rob

Glad it turned out well eventually. Such a lame mistake could be of dire consequences in modern cars with plastic sumps. As you have to get the oil changed every now and then, any fixes would have extended the agony of dealing with this.

Hello,

I know this thread is old, but did a google search on oil leak on Superb 2020 1.4TSI IV 30 min. ago.

I discovered an oil leak today. The floor in the garage has a stain of oil right under the engine.

It was a warranty on this car untill 100 000km, but sadly I discovered this today at 100 333km.

 

It doesn't look severe at first glance. I checked the oil stick, and it's still full at warm engine. However, I had a full service including oil change in December 24.

Hopefully this isn't as bad as the situation in the OP. Anyway, it smells and looks like engine oil.

 

I cleaned up the stain, and put a clean sheet of plastic foil where the engine usually is located when I park. I'll take a look at it tomorrow morning.

Was there a charge made for providing a New Sump Plug at the last service? 

On 29/01/2024 at 17:15, ApertureS said:

Replace the sump???

 

They make helicoil repair kits just for this, 5 minutes work and a fresh oil change and you are sorted.

 

All in with the tool, oil, filter and new plug - probably £100 max

 

£150 if you go buy a jack, axle stands and ratchet set from Lidl/aldi and fancied it yourself

But that requires skill, knowledge and competence, not just being a box changer.

 

I wonder even if stud extraction, cleaning out blind holes and using inserts is taught to mechanics now. 

Best sump plug washer to use is a doughty seal (used on high pressure hydraulic pipes). I changed both ours to these seals on first oil change, never been changed since, covered 50k and 100k since first oil change. Gorilla mechanic had been at one of the sump plugs, with slight swarf from sump thread's. I only torque them to 25nm to avoid any stress on threads, never had a problem since.

I agree, for anyone searching the correct trade name is Dowty made by Dowty Equipment until 1992, TSS i now the OE manufacturer.

1 hour ago, J.R. said:

Dowty made by Dowty Equipment until 1992

 

Now there's a blast from the past!!  I was sponsored through Uni by Dowty...   Working at the training centre and Fuel Systems in Cheltenham, Rotol at Staverton and Mining Equipment (next to Seals) at Tewkesbury over a period of 4 years...   I still use my Dowty Seals mug coaster I 'found' to this day in my current job some 38 years later...

My late uncle lived in the area in his early married days and much later on after living in Australia and South Africa.

 

I recall he worked for Dowtys, Westlands at Yeovil where he met my aunt, Gloster Aircraft Corporation, Gloster Saro, the other names I have forgotten, I have fond memories of the area.