Hi,

I have recently had a 90,000 mile service carried out at the main dealer Robert Bamfords of Gloucester where the car has been serviced from new.

Model: Octavia tdi Elegance Est [03]

They have informed me that I need a new sump as the threads which hold the sump plug in have worn excessively.

I contacted Skoda UK who initially emailed to say that it was not a problem they were aware of and that they would not class this as fair wear and tear. Only to retract the statement days later after being contacted by the garage owners.

I find this hard to to accept on an 03 plate and wondered if anyone else had experienced the same problem?

Just to clarify what work has been done. The car has been serviced every 10,000 miles, which equates to 9 oil changes and 9 new sump plugs and oil seals.

Thanks

shouldn't the plug be replaced on ever service done by the garage anyway?

not sure why i think that but sure i've heard it somewhere.

But.... even if you did or did not change the sump bolt everytime it was serviced... it can't have had more than 4 services... and that is total pants.... unless someone had been doing the sump bolt up with an air wrench or something!!

opps... just re-read and saw it had 9 services!! so that makes my comments worthless!!!

Yes you are supposed to replace the sump plug on every service , but also as well I do believe that you can over tighten it.As the sump is only aluminium I think that is why it has a torque setting

Sarah

I thought you were just meant to replace the sump bolt washer when changing the oil? (I have to confess that quite often I don't even bother doing that!)

shouldn't the plug be replaced on ever service done by the garage anyway?

not sure why i think that but sure i've heard it somewhere.

You are right and the sump plug has been replaced each time.

But its the sump thats they say needs replacing.

We replace them every time at Awesome , but I do know that at a dealership I worked at they just replaced the washer , but I think it is more the overtightening that does the damage as you strip the threads from the hole where the plug goes in

Sarah

When I went to buy a filter recently from a VW dealer he brought out the filter and it had a washer already selotaped for the box! I guess that overtightening with an already swaped/flattend washed might cause the thread in the sump to get damaged. Still I'll be careful next oil changed :-)

Yes you are supposed to replace the sump plug on every service , but also as well I do believe that you can over tighten it.As the sump is only aluminium I think that is why it has a torque setting

Sarah

Thanks for your comments.

My thoughts too. but if the garage are responsible they are never going to own up to it are they?

No sorry

Sarah

surely if all the servicing has been done by skoda dealers tehn it is their problem and not yours? i would be speaking to Skoda HQ and then CAB if i were you.

No sorry

Sarah

Out of interest have you ever experienced this problem?

surely if all the servicing has been done by skoda dealers tehn it is their problem and not yours? i would be speaking to Skoda HQ and then CAB if i were you.

I agree but the main dealer Robert Bamfords say that it is a common problem and that Skoda are aware it.

When I contacted Skoda UK they firstly denied there was a problem and their opinion they would not considered this wear and tear.

Days later they emailed me again after the main dealer contacted them. Retracted the statement saying they were sorry they had misled me and that I should expect this kind of wear on a car thats done 90,000 miles!

Excuse my ignorance but, what do you mean by CAB?

When I went to buy a filter recently from a VW dealer he brought out the filter and it had a washer already selotaped for the box! I guess that overtightening with an already swaped/flattend washed might cause the thread in the sump to get damaged. Still I'll be careful next oil changed :-)

Thanks for your comments.

I am not sure I will have any option but replace the sump though. The Main dealer told me that they have fitted an oversized sump plug as a temporary fix. I am not even sure how long this repair is going to last.

Aluminium sump, over time 10 oil changes or so its not unheard of for them to require sumps or an helicoil. Especially if someone has been a little over the top with the tightening of it.

Sump bung should be torqued to 30nm.

30nm is sod all, basically hand tight and a quick tweek with a socket.

30nm is sod all, basically hand tight and a quick tweek with a socket.

Indeed, hence them being over tightened.

But Lummox , would you say if like this guy had 8 oil changes and has the problem , would you say it is down to him to pay as wear and tear or the dealer for overtighten?

I am in the middle of the road on this one , but I do know that I would not be happy.

But then it is a very fine line between loose and over tight , so this is where I ask you.....sorry

Sarah

Just out of interest do all garages use the sump drain these days? I'm sure I have heard that some now use some sort of vacuum pipe down the oil filler? Or have I dreamt that?

Alot of new garages use a vacuum system. Its down to health and safety regulations now as a vacuum system is deemed safer as there is no contact for the technician with dirty engine oil.

And Sarah, I would personally say its down to the dealer if its been serviced at the same garage all the time. But It would be difficult proving it i'd say.