The car wasn’t losing oil or coolant, and was smooth on idle, unlike when the oil control valves had gone bad and the engine jerked violently on idle.
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162000 kms update: A scary one:
After the radiator replacement saga at 158500 kms, the car is performing well on that front. Haven’t seen any coolant loss or irregular levels or temperatures (fingers crossed!!!).
ODO @ 160500 kms: As ambient temperatures started to rise with the winters fading away, the AC in the car would tend to run at higher speeds after parking under the sun for sometime. I started noticing the fan would pause and was working intermittently. The speed was half of what the actual indication on the dial was. I had then removed the blower, cleaned and lubricated, although it worked but only for a week or so. One day it finally decided to pack up entirely, leaving me with no air whatsoever from the air ducts. I could hear the motor whirring, but no air. Hence a blower replacement was needed immediately. The same was ordered and replaced for INR 12000/- including taxes and labour. Part number: 5Q2819021D Make: Valeo.
ODO @ 161666 kms: 75 kms in to my routine Monday morning commute, I put the car in to manual mode to overtake a few lorries. As soon as I did that, I noticed a slight dip forward, an error saying not to exceed 4000 RPM, and the EPC light permanently on in the cluster. I was about 10 kms away from the nearest Skoda workshop, so I kept driving gingerly, keeping the RPMs at under 2000. This was a “yellow” error, so I take it that its safe to drive with this. A “red” error means you need to stop immediately and flatbed the car.
I had already scanned the error and it showed me an “oil pressure switch malfunction code P164B00”. Same result with the workshop’s VAS. They checked oil level and found it to be slightly under the recommended mark. Topped up with 250 ml, and with the error erased, I was sent on my way. As soon as I left, I kept the car in manual mode and revved it to 4500 RPM, and the error was back. I decided to drive back to the main service center in Ahmedabad, as this did not require me to flatbed the car. The car wasn’t losing oil or coolant, and was smooth on idle, unlike when the oil control valves had gone bad and the engine jerked violently on idle.
Day 1: There are two oil pressure switches located on the engine block, they replaced both, took pressure readings, but the pressure won’t rise. A small 1 km trial revealed the error again. Back to the drawing board.
Day 2: They were told to check oil quality, inspect oil filter, open the oil sump and check the crank bearing. Now this made me furious because there’s at least 3 critical parts that need to be replaced with opening-refitting of the oil sump. Don’t even get me started on the crank bearing. The car had its last oil change only @ 152K kms, thats about 9.5K kms. So surely the oil couldn’t have gone bad already, right? Did some research about this error on Google and Skoda forums, found it to be an issue, and one article mentioned the the same order of inspection, I was relieved. I gave the green light to carry out these steps, meanwhile escalating the issue to Skoda higher authorities and requesting them to kindly depute a factory tech as they have done in the past on mysterious issues with my car. This issue too was “Sir first time hua hai TSI mein” for my dealer.
Day 3: no further updates.
Day 4: They had inspected the oil and oil filter. They opened the oil sump, and reported the findings to the factory.
Day 5 (today): They called me to inform that they have fixed the issue and come take a test drive. According to them, they put in new oil and oil filter, replaced the sump gasket, baffle plate and ‘O’ ring (all compulsory if you open sump). They have taken about 20 kms of further trials but the error has not appeared and the car is running smooth at all RPMs. They invited me for test drive today but I have scheduled it for tomorrow. So I hope they have fixed this issue, but I still need to investigate, what did they found in the oil sump. According to them, the oil quality was not as per requirement. They have changed the oil spec some time back which came as news to me today. The new spec / name is called “Special G” and is SAE 5W40, VW 502 00 (same as before). It is manufactured by Shell, earlier they were always using Castrol Magnetec Pro from a barrel. The service manager has insisted I use this oil, instead of Motul 8100 which I was using since last 4-5 oil changes. Final word only after tomorrow’s test drive. The manager assured me that I will smile while driving, the car will be so smooth. I sure hope that happens!
While chatting with him today I asked him how tedious it is to change the DSG oil? He said its very simple, will do it right away if I wanted to get it done! I told him to go ahead, and after an hour or so he sent me a video depicting the draining and refilling process! Mighty impressed with them. He did give me the obligatory mention of the lifetime oil in DQ200, etc. but at the same time clarified that they will change only the gear oil, not the mechatronic oil, to which I agreed. Oil spec used is G 055 512 A2, about 1.7 litres. My gearbox code is 0AM, which specifies that it doesn’t have an oil filter element, so that was that.
Tomorrow is a big day. Shall update after hopefully driving the car for 1000 kms post delivery tomorrow. I was actually supposed to take this car on a 2000 km road trip. But given the timeline, the car does breakdown every 2000 kms, so thats not happening.
After taking delivery of my car with the issue seemingly fixed, I have driven the car for about 200 kms. The issue hasn’t come back yet. I drove at varying speeds and gears above 3000 RPM, the drive is smooth with no loss of performance or jerks.
When I discussed with the service incharge, he advised me that the issue was with deteriorated oil quality. I was shocked to know this, because the last oil change was only about 9000 kms ago. I generally service the car at 12-13000 kms depending on the urgency or any planned trip which can pre-pone this by a 1000 kms or so. But now I think I will need to stick with 9-10000 kms as my standard oil change interval.
Along with the oil change, since they had opened the oil sump to inspect the oil strainer, they have to change the oil baffle plate (part number 06K103138E) and the sump gasket (part number 06K103649J). My fingers are crossed, this be the end of engine issues.
Its too early to pass my judgement post DSG oil change. I wish I knew the procedure was as simple as filling engine oil; drain and refill from top. They don’t change the mechatronic oil as there is no fool proof method to carry out the task at the dealership. According to them, fluid is stored in the mechatronic from the assembly line, and is not supposed to be serviced by the dealer, unless asked by the technical superiors, in which case they would be investigating a faulty mechatronic and its subsequent replacement. In most cases if the issue has come down to investigation of mechatronic fluid, it will warrant a replacement of the part in its entirety.
I recommend fellow 1.8 TSI owners with the DQ200 box, please do carry out the DSG oil change once in four years or 60000 kms.
Keyword: Skoda Octavia 1.8 TSI: Oil pressure switch malfunction at 162000 kms