I bought a 2020 Octavia with 2.0 TDI ( DSTA / EA288 EVO ) and DSG DQ381. I drove around for couple of weeks and everything was good, engine didn't make weird noises etc. I was actually surprised how smooth mild and quiet engine sounded for a diesel. I then went to Škoda dealer and got the timing belt, water pump replaced as kilometrage was just over 120 000km and 6 years had passed. At first I did not notice anything but slowly I started hearing more and more different noises coming from the engine. I don't know if I was deaf before? Anyway I hear very faint high pitch ticking when I press accelerator and some other weird noises I can't describe.

But what bothers me the most is that old Transit van rattle that was not there before. This not only happens when engine is cold but can even happen when engine is fully warmed up after 30 minutes of driving. Other times it's decently quiet and not noticeable at all for some reason? And in some cases this rattle is EXTRA loud. Can happen while accelerating or even driving at steady rpm.

Also there is odd clunk that sounds like knock when I am stationary and tap the accelerator quickly. Video below. Possible DMF related?

Tell me if I am just crazy and it always was there or whether there is actually something wrong.

Anyway couple of videos.

Transit van like rattle at mild acceleration. 5-10 minutes after cold start. In some cases sounds 3x as loud. Phones microphone is not very good at picking up the sound.

Clunk / knock:

I can't comment on the DMF as my DXRB DSG is only about a year old but there were times when it used to sound like a transit on the same road and under the same engine load and I figured out it was due to the phase of DFP re-generation that was going on.

In my case, that is the clack, and the aux belts are the chirp

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by KinderBean

KinderBean's DPF regen point is worth ruling out first, since that can come and go exactly like you describe. But because the noises started after the belt job, I'd go back to the dealer before anything else.

On this engine the belt change means taking the engine mount off on the timing side. Those mount bolts are stretch bolts that should be renewed and torqued, and a mount, bracket or heat shield that hasn't gone back quite right is a classic cause of a rattle that comes and goes, and of a clunk when you blip the throttle while stationary.

What I'd do:

1. Ask the dealer for the invoice line by line and check it shows new engine mount bolts, not just the belt kit and water pump.

2. Take it back as a post-repair concern (not a new job) and ask them to check the engine mount and bracket, the auxiliary belt and tensioner, the belt covers and any heat shields near the turbo and exhaust.

3. Take your videos with you. The fact it was quiet before and only started after the work is the useful bit.

If they find everything tight and it lines up with regens, at least you'll know. I wouldn't jump to the DMF yet when the timing of it points at the belt job.

Not sure if the newer Octavias are the same but on the Mk2 there was a top Engine mount with stretch bolts by the timing belt on top that were readily accessible and also a lower bolt on the same side accessible from the wheelarch. We found on one occasion after the cambelt was changed that the lower bolt hadn't been tightened up properly, had worked loose and was allowing some movement and a rattling / clacking noise. Tightening it properly fixed the issue so it might be worth a quick check of that??