Skoda Octavia timing belt

gandalfio · 04-02-2019 12:03PM #1

Hi,

Have a 152 Octavia with 60,000 kms on the clock. Skoda service are saying to get the timing belt replaced. I've heard that this isn't necessary until there's 100,000kms on the clock. Can anyone offer advice on which is correct?

Miscreant · 04-02-2019 12:05PM

Sometimes it is to do with the age of the belt too. So it could be 100,000kms OR every 4 years for replacement.

04-02-2019 12:06PM

4-5 years or 60k miles iirc.
So later this year you are at 4 years anyway.
You can of course wait until 100k kms if you are so inclined but it'll be a 6 year old piece of rubber by then at your current mileage

Toyotafanboi · 04-02-2019 12:42PM

If you Octavia is diesel, the belt on those is every 210k kms with no age limitation. Are you sure you don't have a leaking water pump and they've just advised to do the belt at the same time? That'd be far more popular after 4 years/ 60k kms.

What engine is it?

gandalfio · 04-02-2019 02:19PM

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

If you Octavia is diesel, the belt on those is every 210k kms with no age limitation. Are you sure you don't have a leaking water pump and they've just advised to do the belt at the same time? That'd be far more popular after 4 years/ 60k kms.

What engine is it?

Hi,

It's a 1.6 diesel combi model. They didn't look at the belt nor are there any faults with the car. They just advised to have it replaced now. So I should leave it until 210,000kms?

Toyotafanboi · 04-02-2019 02:25PM

Yes definitely leave it, it's certainly not due at 3 years/ 60k kms.

That engine isn't prone to breaking belts even when well in excess of 210k kms is covered. I'd definitely put it to the back of my mind.

You'll get opinions that it's too long an interval etc and sure if you're paranoid you can change it every second service for €399 but the recommended 210k kms is fine for them.

w211 · 04-02-2019 03:37PM

Replace the timing belt always before the manufacturer suggestion. The manufacturers are interested to selling the new car to you after the 3 years. That is why they suggesting the longer service intervals or even offer the lifetime service intervals. And remember to replace the idler and tensioner rollers too. It does not cost too much to do bit earlier than recommended.

gandalfio · 04-02-2019 07:06PM

Slightly confused here. On the one hand being advised to change it earlier than the manufacturer recommends, on the other being told to leave it until 210000kms....

w211 · 04-02-2019 07:31PM

If you do not planning to keep the car or does not care about service, keep driving until it runs. The preventive maintenance are always cheaper than deal by junk car. Only keep the records when was something done. I understand every car owner like to save the money. Yes you can, DIY. That way you pay only for parts. Not the rocket science, remove the timing belt cover(s), release the tension, remove old belt, replace the tensioner roller, replace the idler roller, install the new belt, install the covers and basically done. Before the removing an old belt it is good to check the markings, because there can be more than 1 per roller. Several turns and it should match.

I know, most of the "mechanics" starts now the big nose about tensioner roller and idler roller, these are for a life. Yes for life, but that life can be very short. It is the good practice to replace the belt, tensioner roller and idle roller all together.

ml100 · 04-02-2019 07:49PM

gandalfio wrote: »

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

If you Octavia is diesel, the belt on those is every 210k kms with no age limitation. Are you sure you don't have a leaking water pump and they've just advised to do the belt at the same time? That'd be far more popular after 4 years/ 60k kms.

What engine is it?

Hi,

It's a 1.6 diesel combi model. They didn't look at the belt nor are there any faults with the car. They just advised to have it replaced now. So I should leave it until 210,000kms?

I've the same engine in a 2011 vw golf, the manual has the same, 210K kms no age limit, got a phone call from vw dealer saying vw have change the recommendation to 5 years or 210K kms, my was 8 years with 140K km done, got it done as I'm unlikely to need to do it again but didn't want to chance it for a few years.

gandalfio · 04-02-2019 08:55PM

w211 wrote: »

If you do not planning to keep the car or does not care about service, keep driving until it runs. The preventive maintenance are always cheaper than deal by junk car. Only keep the records when was something done. I understand every car owner like to save the money. Yes you can, DIY. That way you pay only for parts. Not the rocket science, remove the timing belt cover(s), release the tension, remove old belt, replace the tensioner roller, replace the idler roller, install the new belt, install the covers and basically done. Before the removing an old belt it is good to check the markings, because there can be more than 1 per roller. Several turns and it should match.

I know, most of the "mechanics" starts now the big nose about tensioner roller and idler roller, these are for a life. Yes for life, but that life can be very short. It is the good practice to replace the belt, tensioner roller and idle roller all together.

I do plan on keeping the car and want to keep it well maintained. I wouldn't be capable of doing this DIY.

Toyotafanboi · 04-02-2019 08:55PM

More like VW dealers changed it to 210k kms or 5 years because they weren't selling enough timing belt deals.

Up to 2011 it used to be 210k kms or 5 years and for 2011 on the age limitation was taken away which had a bit of a knock on for belt sales so most dealers still stick with the "or 5 years" line.

Generally you'll get the coolant pump leaking before 210k kms though which forces a belt change anyway :pac:

Even if you want to do the belt early OP, now is un necessarily early.

George Dalton · 04-02-2019 09:18PM

I agree with the above. There’s no need whatsoever to do the belt this early. They are well capable of doing the 210k km.

w211 · 04-02-2019 10:26PM

George Dalton wrote: »

I agree with the above. There’s no need whatsoever to do the belt this early. They are well capable of doing the 210k km.

By non intervention engine are easy, if belt breaks then you need only towing and replace the belt. By intervention engines needs towing and the new engine. Typically engine replacement are cheaper because restoration take very long time and cost for you fortune. So think what is cheaper for long run. This is your money and your call.

ml100 · 05-02-2019 08:37PM

George Dalton wrote: »

I agree with the above. There’s no need whatsoever to do the belt this early. They are well capable of doing the 210k km.

George, what's the recommendation when it comes to gearbox oil changes?, I know it's a must for the dsg's, but how about the 5 speed manual, worth getting it changed or better to leave well enough alone?

w211 · 05-02-2019 10:27PM

Never ever trust the "life time" gearbox oil. If it have that label then every 80 000km if there is fully synthetic oil. Otherwise your gearbox life time can be around 100 000, s u c k that life time...

FGR · 05-01-2020 01:14AM

The manual for my 2ltr tdi 184bhp Octavia says the same thing - 210,0000km no time but dealer says 5 years.

Is this accurate ?

It would be a shame to go to that expense if there's no need.

Toyotafanboi · 05-01-2020 10:57AM

There's no need.

uck51js9zml2yt · 05-01-2020 11:35AM

FGR wrote: »

The manual for my 2ltr tdi 184bhp Octavia says the same thing - 210,0000km no time but dealer says 5 years.

Is this accurate ?

It would be a shame to go to that expense if there's no need.

I was chatting to a friend who is a Skoda mechanic about my superb. He recommended it be done at 5 years irrespective of low mileage.

i57dwun4yb1pt8 · 05-01-2020 06:11PM

Shoddy
Kars
Of
Delapidating
Attrition

Toyotafanboi · 05-01-2020 06:14PM

Vivienne Microscopic Penknife wrote: »

I was chatting to a friend who is a Skoda mechanic about my superb. He recommended it be done at 5 years irrespective of low mileage.

What's his justification for saying that though?

i57dwun4yb1pt8 · 05-01-2020 08:27PM

i'd say its cos he knows how ****e they are

Toyotafanboi · 05-01-2020 08:35PM

DaDumTish wrote: »

i'd say its cos he knows how ****e they are

They aren't bad at all though. I've never seen one break a belt, even on ones way over mileage. VW get a fair bit of stuff wrong but the belts and belt intervals on the EA189 and EA288 engines are bang on.

I remember working with a Renault dealer a few years back and the 1.5dci by comparison was very fond of a belt, even before the manufacturers intervals you'd see some shredding.

tanko · 05-01-2020 08:48PM

Why is it that the timing belt interval on those more modern VAG cars is 120,000 miles but the interval on the older 1.9TDI engines is 60,000 miles?
Are the more modern belts made of stronger, longer lasting more durable materials?

uck51js9zml2yt · 06-01-2020 10:44AM

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

What's his justification for saying that though?

Wear and tear on a piece of rubber would be my bet. Not to mention aging of the belt, exposure to heat etc.

Toyotafanboi · 06-01-2020 11:14AM

Vivienne Microscopic Penknife wrote: »

Wear and tear on a piece of rubber would be my bet. Not to mention aging of the belt, exposure to heat etc.

Maybe he isn't with Skoda long enough to be familiar with them I suppose.

colm_mcm · 06-01-2020 01:01PM

The UK dealers recommend after 5 years AFAIK.

i57dwun4yb1pt8 · 06-01-2020 02:11PM

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

They aren't bad at all though. I've never seen one break a belt, even on ones way over mileage. VW get a fair bit of stuff wrong but the belts and belt intervals on the EA189 and EA288 engines are bang on.

I remember working with a Renault dealer a few years back and the 1.5dci by comparison was very fond of a belt, even before the manufacturers intervals you'd see some shredding.

hmmmm....

https://car-recalls.eu/make/skoda/

DaveyDave · 06-01-2020 02:38PM

DaDumTish wrote: »

hmmmm....

https://car-recalls.eu/make/skoda/

Nothing about the belt mentioned though. Honda have twice as many recalls and Toyota have three times as many recalls and they're generally known as the most reliable cars. A lot of them seem to be specific time periods where something was fit incorrectly.

i57dwun4yb1pt8 · 06-01-2020 03:26PM

really ?
jesus , is nothing made properly anymore

twin_beacon · 06-01-2020 03:45PM

w211 wrote: »

Replace the timing belt always before the manufacturer suggestion. The manufacturers are interested to selling the new car to you after the 3 years. That is why they suggesting the longer service intervals or even offer the lifetime service intervals. And remember to replace the idler and tensioner rollers too. It does not cost too much to do bit earlier than recommended.

True, however, they also won't want a recall of cars because of premature timing belt failures.

60k Km does seem very soon for a timing belt replacement. I got the timing belt replaced on my 12 reg 1.6 tdi superb last year, roughly 175k km on the clock.

Skoda Octavia timing belt

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