engine SKODA OCTAVIA 2008 2.G / (1Z) Repair Manual
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
216
Engine compartment
Good corrosion protection is very importan t, particularly in winter when one often 
drives over its salt-strewn roads. One should therefore clean the whole engine 
compartment before and after the salt spre ading period and treat with preservative 
in order to prevent the salt from being destructive.
Škoda Service Partners have the cleaning  agents and preservatives recommended 
by the manufacturer and also the required equipment.
WARNING
•It is necessary to observe the guidelines given in the chapter before 
working on the engine compartment  ⇒page 225, “Working in the engine 
compartment”.
•Let the engine cool down before  cleaning the engine compartment.
Caution
•Engine cleaning may be only be und ertaken when the ignition is off.
•It is recommended to cover the generator before washing the engine compart-
ment.
For the sake of the environment
The dirty water produced by  washing the engine has washed away petrol, and resi-
dues of grease and oil and should therefor e be cleaned by an oil separator. This is 
why engine washing should only be undertake n in a specialist garage or at a fueling 
station (when these are fitted with the required equipment).
Care of the interior of vehicle
Plastic parts, artificial leather and cloths
You can clean plastic parts and artificial le ather with a moist cloth. You should only 
treat such parts with special  solvent-free plastic cleaning and care products  it 
does prove to be adequate.
Upholstery cloth and cloth trim on the  doors, luggage compartment cover, head-
liner etc. are best treated with special  cleaning products, using if necessary a  dry 
foam  and a soft sponge or brush.
We recommend using a cleaning product  from Škoda genuine accessories offered 
by your Škoda dealer.
Caution
Solvent-free cleaners attack the material and can damage it.
Fabric covers of electrically heated seats
Do  not clean  the seat covers moist as this may result in damage to the seat heating 
system.
Clean such covers using special agents, for example dry foam.
Natural leather
Natural leather requires quite particular care and attention.
Leather should be treated from time  to time according the following 
guidelines depending on how much it is used.
Normal cleaning
– Clean soiled areas of the leather  with slightly moistened cotton or 
woollen cloth.
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Fuel219
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Fuel
Petrol
Grades of petrol
There are various grades of petrol. Please read ⇒ page 269, “Technical Data” in 
order to know which grade of petrol your  vehicle requires. You will also find the 
same information affixed to the inside of  the fuel filler flap of your vehicle 
⇒ page 222, fig. 207 .
A distinction is made between unleaded an d leaded petrol. All Škoda vehicles with 
petrol engines are equipped with a catalyti c converter and must therefore be only 
driven with  unleaded petrol . Unleaded petrol  complies with the  standard 
DINEN228 .
The individual grades of petr ol are distinguished by their octane number (RON). 
Please adopt the following procedure if the grade of petrol which you normally use 
is not be available in  exceptional circumstances.
Engines which need  unleaded premium petrol 95 RON  can also be run on 
unleaded regular petrol 91 RON. This does, however, result in a slight loss in 
performance.
If, in an emergency, the only fuel availa ble is one which has a lower octane number 
than that required by the engine then only drive at medium engine speeds and 
lower engine loadings.
You can make unlimited use of fuel which  has a higher octane number than that 
required by the engine. There will, howeve r, be no advantages gained by this in 
terms of engine performa nce and fuel consumption!
The handling, performance and  life of your engine are determined to a significant 
extent by the quality of the fuel.  Do not use any petrol additives.  Use a fuel 
complying with  the standard.
You can find further information on refuelling  ⇒page 222, “Refuelling”.
Caution
•Filling the tank even only once with leaded petrol will result in the catalytic 
converter being destroyed.
•Operating the engine with petrol of a  low octane number can result in engine 
damage at high revolutions or severe engine loading.
Biofuel Ethanol E85*
Ethanol E85*
Only valid for vehicles with  1.6/75 kW MultiFuel engine.
Biofuel Ethanol E85 consists of 85% bi oethanol and 15% unleaded petrol 
complying with the standard (DIN) EN 228.
Biofuel Ethanol E85 in accordance with th e standard (DIN) EN 228 can be mixed in 
any desired ratio with unleaded petrol, see Owner's Manual.
Drive the vehicle for at least 5 minutes without interruption, if biofuel Ethanol E85 
has been refuelled, so that the engine co ntrol unit can determine the share of the 
biofuel in the fuel. During this period do  not drive at top speed of your vehicle or 
high engine speeds and not at full throttle . During this process decrease the idling 
speed.
WARNING
Pay attention to any legal requirements if you do carry a spare canister in the 
vehicle. We do not recommend carrying  any fuel canisters in your vehicle for 
safety reasons. The canister can be da maged in the event of an accident and 
fuel may leak out.
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Fuel
220
Caution
•Even inadvertently filling the fuel tank  with another biofuel such as Ethanol°E85 
can result in damage to the fuel system.
•If you park the car for a lengthy period,  fill with petrol complying with (DIN) 
EN°228, because Ethanol E85 can contain lo w quantities of impurities, which can 
lead to corrosion.
For the sake of the environment
If you use Ethanol E85, the CO2 emission of your vehicl e is lowered up to 5%.
Note
•When operating with Ethanol E85, the  fuel consumption increases by approx 
33%, as a lower quantity of energy is contained in the bioethanol than in unleaded 
petrol.
•Biofuel Ethanol E85 contains only a low  quantity of additives in contrast to 
unleaded petrol. Therefore we recommend to  fill up the tank with unleaded petrol 
complying with EN 228 every 15 000 km (e.g. before the oil change) and run it 
empty, so that the engine remains clean. Make sure not to use the whole content of 
the tank  ⇒page 222, “Refuelling”.
•The interval of 15 000 km applies for the oil change.
Operation in winter
If you use biofuel Ethanol E85 at very low  temperatures, it is necessary to preheat 
the engine before an engine start.
The power socket for the engine preheating is located in the front bumper next to 
the fog light  ⇒fig. 205 .
If an engine preheating is  not possible at outside temperatures lower than -10 °C, 
the share of unleaded petrol complying with  EN 228 must be as high as possible. 
Thus the cold start property of the engine is clearly improved.
If there is biofuel Etha nol E85 in the tank and the engine  is not preheated, it can lead 
at temperatures below -15°C to very poor or no starting of the engine.
For the sake of the environment
The use of engine preheating at temperatures below -10°C has a positive effect on 
the fuel consumption and thus on the environment.
The outside temperatureDuration of engine preheating
lower than -10 °Cwe recommend up to 1 hour
lower than -15 °Cat least 1 hour
lower than -25 °Cat least 2 hour
Fig. 205  MultiFuel - power 
socket
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Fuel221
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Note
An extension cable used for  connecting to the electrical network is located in the 
luggage compartment.
Diesel
Diesel fuel
Your vehicle can be operated with  diesel fuel, which complies with the standard 
DIN EN 590 .
Fuel additives
You must not use fuel additives, so-called “flow improvers” (petrol and similar 
products) in diesel fuel.
If the quality of the diesel fuel is p oor, it is then necessary to drain the  fuel filter 
more often than stated in the Service schedule.
You can find information on refuelling  ⇒page 222, “Refuelling”.
Caution
•Only use fuel which complies with the standard  DINEN590. Filling the tank 
even only once, which does not comply with  the standard, can result in damage to 
the fuel system.
•Water which has collected in the fuel fi lter can result in engine problems.
•Your vehicle is not adapted for use of biodiesel, therefore this fuel must not be 
refuelled and driven. Using this biodiesel ca n lead to damage to the engine or the 
fuel system.
Operation in winter
Winter-grade diesel fuel
A different grade of diesel fuel is available at filling stations in winter than during the 
summer. Using “summer-grade diesel fuel” at temperatures below 0°C can result in 
operational problems because the diesel be comes viscous as a result of paraffin 
separation.
It is therefore the case that DIN EN 590  prescribes diesel fuel class for certain 
periods of the year which can also be pu rchased at the corresponding time during 
the year. “Winter-grade diesel fuel” will still operate properly even at a temperature 
of -20°C.
It is often the case in countries with diff erent climatic conditions that diesel fuels 
available have a different temperature characteristic. Škoda Service Partners and 
filling stations in the country concerned wi ll be able to provide you with informa-
tion regarding the diesel fuels available.
Prewarming fuel
The vehicle is fitted with a fuel filter prewarming system. This secures operation of 
a vehicle using diesel fuel down to an environmental temperature of -25°C.
Caution
It is not permitted to add the various fuel additives on the market, including petrol, 
to diesel fuel in order to  improve its flow properties.
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Fuel
222
Refuelling
The filler flap is automatically unlocked or locked* with the central 
locking.
Opening the fuel filler cap
– Press onto the left side of the fuel filler flap  ⇒fig. 206 .
– The fuel filler cap on the fuel filler tube must be unlocked to the left  using the vehicle key (only valid for  vehicles which do not have auto-
matic unlocking of the fuel filler flap). – Unscrew the fuel filler cap anti-clo
ckwise and place the fuel filler cap 
from above on the fuel filler flap  ⇒fig. 207.
Closing fuel filler cap
– Screw on the cap by turning it to the right until it is heard to lock.
– The fuel filler cap on the fuel filler tube must be locked to the right  using the vehicle key (only valid for  vehicles which do not have auto-
matic locking of the fuel filler flap).
– Press the fuel tank flap closed.
The correct grade of fuel for your vehicle as  well as the tyre size and inflation pres-
sures are stated on a sticker affixed to the inside of the fuel filler flap. Further infor-
mation on fuel  ⇒page 219.
The fuel tank has a capacity of  about 55°litres or 60 litres 
20).
WARNING
Pay attention to any legal requirements if  you do carry a spare canister in the 
vehicle. We do not recommend carrying any fuel canisters in your vehicle for 
safety reasons. The canister can be damaged in the event of an accident and 
fuel may leak out.
Caution
•Before refuelling it is necessary to switch off the auxiliary heating system (auxil-
iary heating and ventilation) *.
•Remove any fuel which has spilled onto  the paintwork of your vehicle immedi-
ately - risk of paint damage!
•Vehicles fitted with cataly tic converter should never be allowed to let the fuel 
tank to run completely empty. An irregular supply of fuel to the engine can result in 
misfiring and unburnt fuel may get into  the exhaust system, which may result in 
overheating and damage to the catalytic converter.
Fig. 206  Right rear side of 
the vehicle: Fuel filler flap
Fig. 207  Filler flap with cap 
unscrewed
20)Valid for Octavia Combi 4x4 and Octavia Scout.
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Inspecting and replenishing
224
Inspecting and replenishing
Engine compartment
Bonnet remote release
Bonnet remote release
– Pull the unlocking lever below the  dash panel on the driver's side 
⇒ fig. 208 .
The bonnet jumps out of its lock as a result of the spring force. A handle appears at 
the same time in the radiator grille.
Opening and closing the bonnet.
Opening the bonnet
– Unlock the bonnet  ⇒fig. 208 .
– Ensure that the arms of the windsc reen wipers are correctly in place 
against the windscreen  before opening the bonnet otherwise 
damage could occur to the paintwork.
– Pulling on the handle  ⇒fig. 209  will unlock the bonnet fully.
Fig. 208  Bonnet release 
lever
Fig. 209  Radiator grille: 
handle
Fig. 210  Securing the bonnet 
with the bonnet support
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Inspecting and replenishing225
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
– Grip with the hand under the radiator grille and lift up the bonnet.
– Take the bonnet support out of its holder and set it in the opening  designed for it  ⇒page 224, fig. 210 .
Closing the bonnet
– Lift the bonnet slightly and unhook the bonnet support. Press the  bonnet support into the hold er designed to hold it.
– Allow the bonnet to drop from a height of about 20 cm into the lock -  bonnet  do not press down on it !
WARNING
•Never open the bonnet if you see that steam or coolant is flowing out of 
the engine compartment - risk of scaldi ng! Wait long enough until the steam 
or coolant has stopped escaping.
•For safety reasons, the bonnet must always be properly closed when 
driving. One should therefore check that  the lock has in fact engaged prop-
erly after closing the bonnet.
•Stop your vehicle immediately while driv ing if you notice that the lock is 
not properly engaged and close the bonnet properly - risk of an accident!
Caution
Never open the bonnet using the hand le - danger of causing damage.
Working in the engine compartment
Particular care is required when carrying out any work in the engine 
compartment!
There is a risk of injuries, scalding, accidents and fire when working in the 
engine compartment, e.g. inspecting and replenishing oil and other fluids. For 
this reason, it is essential to comply with the warning instructions stated  below and with the general applicable 
rules of safety. The engine compart-
ment of your car is a hazardous area  ⇒ .
WARNING
•Never open the bonnet if you see that steam or coolant is flowing out of 
the engine compartment - risk of scaldi ng! Wait long enough until the steam 
or coolant has stopped escaping.
•Switch off the engine and pull out the ignition key.
•Apply the handbrake firmly.
•If your vehicle is fitted with a ma nual gearbox, move the gearshift lever 
into Neutral, or if it is fitted with  automatic gearbox, move the selector lever 
into position P.
•Allow the engine to cool down.
•Keep children clear of the engine compartment.
•Never spill oil and other fluids over the hot engine. Such fluids (e.g. the 
antifreeze contained in the coolant) may ignite!
•Avoid short circuits in the electrical system - particularly on the battery.
•Never place your hand into the radiator fan as long as the engine is still 
warm. The fan might suddenly start running!
•Never open the cap of the coolant expa nsion bottle as long as the engine 
is still warm. The cooling system is pressurized!
•Cover over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir with a large cloth 
when opening it as protection for your face, hands and arms from hot steam 
or hot coolant.
•Do not let objects, such as e.g cleaning cloth or tools lie in the engine 
compartment.
•If you wish to work under the vehicle, you must secure the vehicle from 
rolling away and support it with suitable supporting blocks: the car jack is 
not sufficient for this - risk of injury!
•In cases where it be necessary to carry out inspection work when the 
engine is running there is an additional risk from rotating parts (e.g. the V-
ribbed belt, alternator, radiator fan) and from the high-voltage ignition 
system. Please observe in addition the following:
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Inspecting and replenishing
226
− Never touch the electrical cabl es of the ignition system.
− Absolutely avoid any jewellery, loose items of clothing or long hair 
from getting into the rotating parts of the engine - Hazard! Therefore 
remove any jewellery beforehand, tie up your hair and wear tight fitting 
clothing.
•Please also comply with the warning instructions st ated below when 
carrying out any essential work on the fuel system or on the electrical 
system:
−Always separate the car batter y from the electrical system.
− Do not smoke.
− Never carry out any work close to naked flames.
− Always keep a working fire  extinguisher at hand.
Caution
When replenishing fluids in the engine, always ensure that the fluids are on no 
account mixed up. This may result in major operating problems and also vehicle 
damage!
Overview of the engine compartment
The main inspection points
Fig. 211  Petrol engine 1.8 ltr./118 kW TSI
Coolant expansion bottle  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Windshield washer fluid reservoir  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Engine oil filler opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Engine oil dipstick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brake fluid reservoir  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Battery (below a cover)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Note
The location of the inspection points in  the engine compartment of petrol and 
diesel engines is practically identical.
WARNING (continued)
A1229
A2235
A3228
A4227
A5231
A6232
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Inspecting and replenishing227
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Engine oil
Check engine oil level
The dipstick indicates the level of oil in the engine.
Checking the oil level
– Park the vehicle on a horizontal surface.
– Switch the engine off.
– Open the bonnet ⇒ in “Working in the engine compartment” on 
page 225.
– Wait a few minutes and pull out the oil dipstick.
– Wipe off the dipstick with a clea n cloth and insert it again fully.
– Then withdraw the dipstick ag ain and read off the oil level.
Oil level within range 
– You must  not top up the oil. Oil level within range 
–You 
may top up the oil. It is possible that the oil level may then be 
within range   after doing this.
Oil level within range 
–You  must top up the oil  ⇒page 228. It is sufficient, once this is done, 
to keep the oil level within range  .
It is normal for the engine to consume oi l. The oil consumption may be as much as 
0.5 ltr./1 000 km depending on your style  of driving and the conditions under which 
you operate your vehicle. The oil consumpt ion may be slightly higher than this 
during the first 5 000 kilometres.
One should therefore check the oil level at regular intervals, preferably every time 
after the fuel tank is filled or after driving for long stretches.
We recommend maintaining the oil level within the range   -  but not above this, 
if the engine has been operating at hi gh loads, for example during a lengthy 
motorway trip during the summer months,  towing a trailer or negotiating a high 
mountain pass.
The warning light in the instrument cluster* will indicate  ⇒page 36, “Engine oil 
pressure  ” whether the oil level is too low. In this case, check the oil level as soon 
as possible. Top up with an appropriate quantity of oil.
Caution
•The oil level must on no account ex tend beyond the range  . Danger of 
damaging the catalytic converter.
•Do not continue your journey  if for some reason it is not possible under the 
conditions prev ailing to top up with oil.  Switch of the engine and contact  and 
obtain professional assistance from a specialist garage.
Note
Engine oil specifications  ⇒page 269, “Technical Data”.
Fig. 212  Dipstick
AA
AB
AA
AC
AC
AA
AA
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Inspecting and replenishing
228
Replenishing engine oil
– Inspecting the engine oil level  ⇒page 227.
– Unscrew the cap of the engine oil filler opening.
– Pour in a suitable grade of oil in portions of 0.5 litres  ⇒page 272, 
“Engine oil specifications”.
– Inspect the oil level  ⇒page 227.
– Carefully screw on the cap of the  filler opening and push the dipstick 
in fully.
WARNING
•Avoid dripping oil onto hot parts of the engine when topping up will oil - 
a risk of fire!
•Read and observe the warning notes  ⇒page 225, “Working in the engine 
compartment” before working  in the engine compartment.
For the sake of the environment
The oil level must on no account extend beyond the range    ⇒page 227. Oil will 
otherwise be drawn in through the crankc ase ventilation and may pass through the 
exhaust system to atmosphere. The oil ma y combust in the catalytic converter and 
damage it.
Changing engine oil
The engine oil must be changed at the intervals stated in the Service schedule or 
according to the service interval indicator  ⇒page 20, “Service Interval Display”.
WARNING
•Only carry out the engine oil change, if you have the required profes-
sional knowledge!
•Read and observe the warning notes  ⇒page 225, “Working in the engine 
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
•Let the engine cool down - risk of burning from hot oil.
•Wear an eye protection - risk of caustic burns due to oil splashes.
•Oil is toxic! Store old oil in a safe place out of the reach of children and 
unauthorized persons until you dispose of it properly.
Caution
You must not pour any additives into th e engine oil - risk of engine damage! 
Damage, which results from such produc t, are excluded from the warranty.
For the sake of the environment
•You must on no account pour oil into the ground or into the sewage system.
•In view of the problems involved in prop erly disposing of old oil, the material, 
equipment and the knowledge required fo r such work, we recommend that you 
have the oil and oil filter change carr ied out by your Škoda Service Partner.
Note
After your skin has come in contact with  the oil, you must thoroughly wash your 
skin.
Cooling system
Coolant
The job of the coolant is to cool the engine.
The cooling system does not require an y maintenance under normal operating 
conditions. The coolant consis ts of water with a concentration of coolant additive 
of 40 %. This mixture not only provides  antifreeze protection down to -25°C but 
AA
WARNING (continued)
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