Went to see an Octavia VRS. Oil consumptiin?
Discussion
So I went to see a 2003 Skoda Octavia VRS, it looked pretty clean but had only 5 stamps in the service history with a cambelt in 2008.
It drove nicely but I noticed that there was excess oil on the engine cover from a miss aimed topup. Mechanics usually use some sort of funnel to avoid this so I am guessing it was from a topup. Another tell tale sign was 2 small bottles of half used oil in the boot.
Now I like the car but am guessing (possibly wrongly) that this car has an oil consumption issue due to these 2 points.
A bit of googling seems to point at common oil consumption issues with these engines.
What do you think? Am I right to start looking for another type of car? I just wanted a practical, nippy daily driver, not a moneypit.
It drove nicely but I noticed that there was excess oil on the engine cover from a miss aimed topup. Mechanics usually use some sort of funnel to avoid this so I am guessing it was from a topup. Another tell tale sign was 2 small bottles of half used oil in the boot.
Now I like the car but am guessing (possibly wrongly) that this car has an oil consumption issue due to these 2 points.
A bit of googling seems to point at common oil consumption issues with these engines.
What do you think? Am I right to start looking for another type of car? I just wanted a practical, nippy daily driver, not a moneypit.
Edited by rb5er on Tuesday 3rd July 18:42
It is a 2003.
Topup costs are nothing of concern but I have never owned a car that needed topping up between services and having read about various expensive reasons as to what usually causes this oil consumption I have now been well and truly put off.
Also I have just checked and the cambelt is due on that particular car.
It's a shame as otherwise it was a nice car but like I said I am looking for a reliable dd rather than a moneypit.
Topup costs are nothing of concern but I have never owned a car that needed topping up between services and having read about various expensive reasons as to what usually causes this oil consumption I have now been well and truly put off.
Also I have just checked and the cambelt is due on that particular car.
It's a shame as otherwise it was a nice car but like I said I am looking for a reliable dd rather than a moneypit.
The seals on VW oil filler caps do tend to leak a bit of oil. Most VW engines suffer from oil consumption to be fair. At least they're are topping it up if that's what you think, and these are only an old 20v engine so it's not like they need some rare super expensive oil.
As for the cambelt, it's a cambelt. It'll need doing at some point. IIRC VW updated the change intervals for most engines to 4 years anyway. Before hand most of them didn't have a due date as such, just a "check at 60k and every 20k onwards." Use it to knock some money of the car.
As for the cambelt, it's a cambelt. It'll need doing at some point. IIRC VW updated the change intervals for most engines to 4 years anyway. Before hand most of them didn't have a due date as such, just a "check at 60k and every 20k onwards." Use it to knock some money of the car.
The timing belt on these is a piece of cake anyway, easy DIY job.
Obviously it is a turbocharged engine, so some evidence of regular servicing would be good, and any visible smoke on start up or under load is a bad sign, but a little bit of oil useage is perfectly normal. Most modern engines tend to use oil thanks to low tension oil rings being used to reduce friction.
Obviously it is a turbocharged engine, so some evidence of regular servicing would be good, and any visible smoke on start up or under load is a bad sign, but a little bit of oil useage is perfectly normal. Most modern engines tend to use oil thanks to low tension oil rings being used to reduce friction.
If you google 1.8t oil consumption it would seem that it can well be something to worry very much about.
If it was a case of "they all do that sir" then I would expect to find that on the google search, but instead just a barrage of reasons as to why they might use oil that need rectifying. Rotary engines, Honda engines yes they all seem to use oil but the 1.8t would seem to have issues if it is using oil.
It being an older design should not make a difference, my focus st (very old volvo engine design) used no oil between its yearly services and neither did either of my Subarus which are very old engine designs. The only car I have had that used oil was a Ford Galaxy 2.3 and it only started needing topups after it reached around 180k miles and was on its last legs.
I expect to be flamed for not 100% trusting you guys "why ask etc" but google throws up various owners clubs/websites listing what the issues tend to be rather than just saying they all do that.
Unfortunately the cambelt was not a bargaining point, just something they would like to charge extra for.
If it was a case of "they all do that sir" then I would expect to find that on the google search, but instead just a barrage of reasons as to why they might use oil that need rectifying. Rotary engines, Honda engines yes they all seem to use oil but the 1.8t would seem to have issues if it is using oil.
It being an older design should not make a difference, my focus st (very old volvo engine design) used no oil between its yearly services and neither did either of my Subarus which are very old engine designs. The only car I have had that used oil was a Ford Galaxy 2.3 and it only started needing topups after it reached around 180k miles and was on its last legs.
I expect to be flamed for not 100% trusting you guys "why ask etc" but google throws up various owners clubs/websites listing what the issues tend to be rather than just saying they all do that.
Unfortunately the cambelt was not a bargaining point, just something they would like to charge extra for.
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