I have a 1.9Tdi Octavia on a X plate with 51900 miles on the clock.

On cold start there is a squeaking coming from the engine compartment which is repetative, like a pulley catching and it speeds up when I press the throttle.

After about 30 seconds to a minute it stops. If I drive the car straight away It only lasts about 10 to 15 seconds.

The car runs perfectly, has great fuel economy, hardly uses any oil and quite powerful (it will tow my caravan on tickover). Its just this flaming squeak.

It had a service in August and I discovered they put in 15w40 mineral diesel oil from their bulk oil tank, after reading this forum I changed the oil and filter 100 miles ago and the car runs much quieter. Castrol magnatec synthetic 10w40 diesel oil is in it now and the squeak is still there. Its not getting any worse, would I be better just putting up with it? or should I start to panic?, (I worry a lot).

Appologies for sounding like an old whittle a*se but I love my car, I cant help it, am I sad or what?

John H :confused:

When was the cambelt tensioner last changed? I had something like this with my last car, and various diagnoses. I finally found out what the problem was when the tensioner went, and took the camshaft with it.

I have a MK1 vRS and it makes a similar noise on cold mornings. There have been a nuber of posts on this forum about it and from memory its apparently the radiator mounts. I'll have a search and come back with some facts, but mine has been doing it for 3 years and hasn't got any worse.

If it's radiator mounts, you might be able to silence it with a scientifically applied dap of brake fluid (use old stuff, or mark the can, and buy whatever's cheapest; try telling a garage or factor that you want it for a rubber lubricant).

When was the cambelt tensioner last changed? I had something like this with my last car, and various diagnoses. I finally found out what the problem was when the tensioner went, and took the camshaft with it.

Thanks for that.

The car has done just under 52k, should the tensioner need replacing before now.

Cant see any record on service history and as far a I know it still has the original cambelt. The handbook says change at 72k thats when I assume the tensioners are changed. I will contact my dealer I think.

John

I should add that the other diagnoses were all wrong too!

The relevant mark on the service history is a tick against "toothed belt" at a service.