I have just discovered that my EA288 engine in our 2023 SIII, a DTUA, is a wet belt engine with the belt running inside the engine to drive the oil pump. I have been telling my children when they looked for cars or anyone who would listen to stay away from the wet belts..... And I am driving one. I never saw this discussed anywhere in a forum.

The old EA189 was using a chain.

I also discovered that there is a conversion to change to a chain.

So no illegal oil. And I have to fill up oil as this wretched engine uses oil in between regular changes. Skoda put me on a 18000M extended interval at the last service. That will also go down to a modest 10000 miles maximum.

The issue with wet belts appears solely to be in relation to cam belts, E.g. Ford Eco-Boom - I've not seen any reports of issues with wet oil pump belts.

1 hour ago, 26DIPP said:

I have just discovered that my EA288 engine in our 2023 SIII, a DTUA, is a wet belt engine with the belt running inside the engine to drive the oil pump. I have been telling my children when they looked for cars or anyone who would listen to stay away from the wet belts..... And I am driving one. I never saw this discussed anywhere in a forum.

The old EA189 was using a chain.

I also discovered that there is a conversion to change to a chain.

So no illegal oil. And I have to fill up oil as this wretched engine uses oil in between regular changes. Skoda put me on a 18000M extended interval at the last service. That will also go down to a modest 10000 miles maximum.

Why on earth would you even consider using 'Illegal' oil?

Correct specification oil, with timely changes, is literally the life blood of an engine.

It's not a wet belt in the traditional sense of it being a wet cambelt which is an issue. The 'wet' belt in your engine is a small belt separate to the cambelt in the sump that drives an oil pump. There have been no reports of issues with it over many years of use

2 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

Why on earth would you even consider using 'Illegal' oil?

Correct specification oil, with timely changes, is literally the life blood of an engine.

If the oil warning came on when driving I have stopped at the next petrol station or supermarket and I have been in the situation where I could not get the exact oil, so chose the next best.

In the case of Ford and Stelantis - Renault, Vauxhall - this apparently can be enough to damage wet belts. This kind of illegal.

3 minutes ago, 26DIPP said:

In the case of Ford and Stelantis - Renault, Vauxhall - this apparently can be enough to damage wet belts. This kind of illegal.

For info thier engines have wet CAMBELTS. Your doesn't have a wet cambelt, as I mentioned above.

20 hours ago, 26DIPP said:

If the oil warning came on when driving I have stopped at the next petrol station or supermarket and I have been in the situation where I could not get the exact oil, so chose the next best.

In the case of Ford and Stelantis - Renault, Vauxhall - this apparently can be enough to damage wet belts. This kind of illegal.

If your engine is consuming such large quantities of oil as to require topping-up every time you refuel, why not consider carrying a couple of litres of the correct spec oil in your car? - clearly would be much cheaper and always available.

Edited 12 April12 Apr by Warrior193
typo

….and perhaps find out why it’s consuming so much oil too?