2004 SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR oil

121
DRIVING TIPS
The full braking effect may also be delayed
when the car has been driven for some time
on heavily salted roads without using the
brakes, because the layer of salt on the
discs and pads has to be removed first.Warning
If a front spoiler, full-size wheel trims
etc., are retrofitted, it is necessary to
ensure that the flow of air to the front
brakes is not restricted - otherwise
the brakes may overheat.
Brake booster
The braking force boosts the pressure,
which you generate with the brake pedal.
The necessary pressure is only generated
when the engine is running. Warning
The brake booster only operates
when the engine is running.
Never switch off the engine before
the vehicle is stationary.
In the case that the brake booster is
not operating - e.g. because the vehi-
cle has to be towed or because there
is damage to the brake booster - the
brake pedal has to be depressed with
a significantly greater force, in order
to balance out the missing brake
boosting effect.Because if you do not stop as nor-
mal, this can cause an accident and
severe injuries.
Brake Assist*
The Brake Assist boosts the brake servo
effect during a brake application in a haz-
ardous situation and is able in this way to
assist the rapid build-up of brake pressure.
In emergency situations the majority of car
drivers do apply the brakes in time, but not
with the brake pedal force which is neces-
sary for achieving maximum deceleration.
Valuable braking distance is lost as a result!The Brake Assist is activated as soon as the
brake pedal is depressed very rapidly. A hig-
her brake servo assistance than is usual in
normal brake applications, is then available.
Consequently, it is possible to build up
within a very short time the brake pressure
which is required for achieving maximum
deceleration with only a correspondingly
slight counterforce on the brake pedal.Depress the brake pedal further for achiev-
ing the shortest possible braking distance. Do
not reduce the foot pressure on the pedal!The Brake Assist is able in this way to help
you in critical situations by building up the
brake pressure more rapidly and shorten-
ing the stopping distance. The advantages
offered by the ABS are fully exploited by the
Brake Assist. As soon as the brake pedal is
released, the Brake Assist function is swit-
ched off then automatically and the usual
service brake function is again available.
Warning

The Brake Assist is also not in a
position to overcome the physical
limits which apply to the braking dis-
tance.

This is something you should re-
member particularly when driving on
smooth or wet road surfaces.

Adapt your style of driving always
to the road condition and the traffic
situation. The increased safety which
the Brake Assist offers you must not
lead you to take any safety risk!

129
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Care of carRegular, professional care is a way of re-
taining the value of your car.
In addition, it may also be one of the re-
quirements for a warranty claim in the event
of possible corrosion damage and paint
defects on the body.
The care products required are available
as Original Accessories from Škoda. Al-
ways follow the instructions for use stated
on the packaging.Warning

If misused, car care products can
be harmful to health.

Car care products should always
be stored in a safe place where they
are out of the reach of children.
When buying car care products, al-
ways select products which have
been designed to minimize pollution of the environment. Do not dispose of carcare products in domestic refuse.
Fuel filter preheater
The car is equipped with a fuel filter pre-
heater. This ensures proper operation of the
fuel system down to about -25 °C when
using winter-grade diesel fuel which is re-
sistant to temperatures down to -15 °C.
Should the engine no longer start at tempe-
ratures below -25 °C, it is sufficient to park
the car for a certain time in a heated area.
Fuel additives (flow improvers) and simi-
lar products must not be added to the
diesel fuel.
Use only fuel, which complies with offi-
cial standards. Even refueling only once
with fuel which does not comply with of-
ficial standards can lead to damage in
the fuel system.
Biodiesel (PME1 fuel) conforming to
DIN EN 14 214
1)
Cetane number at least 49
Vehicles with diesel engines can also be
operated with biodiesel. The term biodiesel
specifies methyl ester from rape oil, which
must comply with the requirements of the
standard DIN EN 14 214
1).
Warning
Filling the tank even only once with
biodiesel, which deviates from the
standard DIN EN 14 2141), can lead to
damage in the fuel system. Particular features of PME fuel
Biodiesel is manufactured from vegetable
oil using a chemical process.
Biodiesel is sulphur-free which is why no
sulphur dioxide (SO
2) is released when it
is combusted.
The exhaust gas contains less
- carbon monoxide (CO)
- hydrocarbons (HC)
- particulates (e.g. soot)
than when the engine is operated with a
conventional diesel fuel.
If biodiesel is used, the vehicle performance
may be slightly lower and, on the other hand,
fuel consumption may be slightly higher.
Biodiesel is biologically degradable.
PME fuel according to DIN EN 14 214
1) can
be mixed in any desired ratio with diesel
fuel conforming to DIN EN 590.
Driving in winter
PME fuel is suitable for use in winter only
down to -10 °C.
Fuel additives (flow improvers) and simi-
lar products must not be added to the
biodiesel fuel.
1)Not valid for vehicles with EU4, see Technical
Data

130GENERAL MAINTENANCEWashing the carThe best protection for your car against
harmful environmental influences is fre-
quent washing and polishing.
How often your car requires to be treated
depends among other factors on how fre-
quently you use the car, where you park it
(garage, in the open, below trees etc.), the
time of year, the weather conditions and
other environmental influences.
The longer bird droppings, insect residues,
tree resin, road and industrial dust, tar
stains, soot particles, road salt and other
aggressive deposits remain on the paint-
work of your car, the more extreme will be
their destructive effect. High temperatures
caused by strong sun’s rays, intensify the
caustic effect. It may therefore be neces-
sary to wash the car once a week, but once
a month may also be sufficient with appro-
priate waxing.
It is essential to also thoroughly wash the
underside of the car after the end of the
winter period.Automatic car washes
The paintwork of your car is sufficiently re-
sistant to enable the car to be washed nor-
mally in automatic car washing plants with-
out any problems. The effect on the paint-
work, though, also depends greatly on the
design of the car wash, the filtering of the
washing water, the type of wash and care
products used etc. If the paintwork appears
mat after a car wash or even has scratches,
you should contact the operator of the plant.
If necessary, change the car wash you use.
Notes


Before washing your car in an automatic
car wash, there are no special precautions
necessary other than the usual measures
(closing windows and sliding roof, folding
down roof aerial etc.).
Warning
Do not tighten roof aerial in the lower
position

It is best to contact the operator of the
car wash if your car has any particular spe-
cial fittings - e.g. spoiler, roof rack, mobile
phone aerial etc.


After washing your car in an automatic car
wash with wax preservative, wipe the lips of
the windscreen wiper blades clean and also
clean the windscreen (also the rear window
on models fitted with rear window wiper).
Washing your car by hand
As a protection for the environment,
your car should only be washed at
washbays provided for this purpose.
Local regulations may in fact forbidwashing cars in certain areas outside ofsuch facilities.
First of all soften the dirt with plenty of wa-
ter and rinse off as well as possible.
Then, clean the car with a soft sponge,
washing glove or brush starting on the roof
and working down, applying only slight
pressure. Use a car wash shampoo only
for particularly stubborn dirt.
Thoroughly wash out the sponge or glove
at short intervals.
Clean wheels and door sills etc. last. Use
a second sponge if possible for such ar-
eas.
After washing the car, rinse it thoroughly
with water and finally chamois dry.

131
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Notes

The car should not be standing in bright
sunshine when it is washed.

If a hose is used to spray down the car,
do not aim the jet of water directly at the
door locks and body panel gaps - otherwise
they may freeze up in winter.Washing the car with high-pressure
cleaners
It is essential to follow the instructions
for using high-pressure cleaners - particu-
larly as regards the pressure and spraying
distance.

Do not use round spray nozzles or so-
called „dirt shifters“!

The temperature of the water should not
be more than 60 °C.
WarningTyres must never be cleaned with
round jet nozzles. Damage may occur
even if only sprayed for a short time
or from a relatively large distance.WaxingGood wax treatment protects the paintwork
of your car from the environmental influ-
ences listed on the previous page under
„Washing the car“ and also from slight me-
chanical damage. The vehicle must be treated with a high-
quality hard wax polish at the latest, when
no more drops form on the clean paintwork.
Do not apply a new film of wax protection
until the body surface is dry. Even if a wax
preserver is used regularly, it is recom-
mended to protect the paintwork at least
twice a year with hard wax.
Warning
Never treat the windscreen or win-
dows with wax.
PolishingPolishing is only necessary if the paintwork
has become unattractive and it is no longer
possible to achieve a gloss with a wax pre-
server. If the polish used does not contain
any preserving elements, the paintwork
should then be treated with wax preserver.
Note
Mat painted parts and plastic parts must
not be treated with polish or hard wax.
We recommend using the products from
the Škoda range.
Do not polish the paintwork of the vehicle
in a dusty environment, otherwise the
paintwork can be scratched.
Paint damageMinor paint damage such as scratches,
rubs or stone chips, should be treated im-
mediately with paint (Škoda touch-up pen
or spray can) before rust can form.
This repair work can also of course be car-
ried out by a Škoda Dealer. The colour
code is stated on the car data sticker, see
page 181.WindowsUse only a plastic scraper to remove snow
and ice from windows and mirrors. The
scraper should not be moved back and for-
ward, but only pushed in one direction in
order to avoid scratches caused by dirt.
Residues of rubber, oil, grease, wax or sili-
cone sealant can be removed with a wind-
screen cleaner or special silicone remover.
The windows should also be cleaned at
regular intervals from the inside.
Do not use the same chamois leather for
drying the windows and for the paintwork
because residues of wax preservers will
cause smears on the surface of the win-
dows.
Never remove snow or ice from the win-
dows with warm or hot water - risk of
formation of cracks in the glass!

132GENERAL MAINTENANCEDo not affix any stickers from the inside
over the heating circuit to avoid damaging
the heating circuit of the rear window
heater .
Models fitted with all-wheel drive:
The adhesive sticker for identifying 4x4 mo-
dels on the rear window must only be re-
moved by a Škoda Dealer using a special
technology otherwise the rear window
heater might be damaged.Door, window , bonnet/tailgate sealsThe rubber seals remain supple and last
longer if they are treated from time to time
with a light film of a rubber care product.
They also will not then freeze up in winter!Plastic parts and synthetic leatherExterior plastic parts are cleaned by wash-
ing in a normal way and interior parts by
using a damp cloth. Should this not be ad-
equate, plastic parts and synthetic leather
must only be treated with special solvent-
free plastic cleaning and care products.
We recommend using a cleaning product
from Škoda original accessories offered by
your Škoda dealer.
Note
Solvent-free cleaners attack the material
and can damage it.
Upholstery cloth and cloth trimUpholstery cloth and cloth trim on the doors,
rear shelf, luggage compartment cover, head-
lining etc. are treated with special cleaning
products or with dry foam and a soft brush.Cleaning seat beltsKeep belts clean! If the belt webbing is
very dirty, this may prevent the inertia reel
belt from retracting properly.
Wash dirty belt webbing only with a mild
soap solution without taking the seat belts
out of the car.
Note
Dry inertia reel belts completely before re-
tracting.
Warning
Do not have the belts dry-cleaned be-
cause dry-cleaning products damage
the webbing material. Ensure that the
belts do not come into contact with
corrosive fluids.
Chrome partsFirst clean the chrome parts with a damp
cloth and then polish them with a soft, dry
cloth.
If it does not prove to be adequate, use a
chrome care product from Škoda original
accessories.
NoteDo not polish the chrome parts in a dusty en-
vironment, otherwise they can be scratched.Natural leatherLeather should be treated from time to time
in accordance with the instructions below,
depending on the amount of use. It is im-
portant to ensure that the leather must
not be treated on any account with sol-
vents, floor wax, shoe cream, stain re-
mover or similar products.
For normal cleaning of leather-trim steer-
ing wheels, leather seat covers etc., slightly
moisten a cotton or woollen cloth with wa-
ter and clean the soiled surfaces of the
leather. Severe soiling can be cleaned with
a mild soap solution (2 soup-spoonfuls of
neutral soap to 1 litre of water). It is very
important to ensure that the leather is not
moistened through at any point and that
no water is able to trickle through the stitch-
ing. Wipe the leather dry finally with a soft,
dry cloth.

134GENERAL MAINTENANCECleaning engine compartmentWarning
Before carrying out any work in the
engine compartment, it is essential
to read the Notes on page 137.
Good corrosion protection is very important,
particularly in winter when road salts are fre-
quently used. For this reason, the entire en-
gine compartment and the plenum chamber
should be thoroughly cleaned before and af-
ter the winter months and then treated with a
wax preserver so that the road salt cannot
produce any harmful effects.
The ignition must be switched off before
washing the engine.
It is recommended to cover over the al-
ternator before washing the engine com-
partment.
As petrol, grease and oil residues are washed off when cleaning the
engine, the dirty water has to be cleaned in an oil separator. For this reason, anengine wash should only be carried outin a workshop or at a service station (if
these are appropriately equipped).
Škoda Dealers have available the factory-
recommended cleaning and wax treatment
products and are equipped with the nec-
essary facilities.Underbody sealantThe underside of your car is durably protec-
ted against chemical and mechanical influ-
ences.
As it is not possible, however, to totally rule
out the likelihood of the underbody sealant
being damaged from driving, it is recom-
mended to have the protective layer on the
underside of the car touched up at certain
intervals. This is best done before the start
of the winter and in the spring.
Škoda Dealers have available the suitable
sealant products and the equipment nec-
essary and are acquainted with the instruc-
tions for use. For this reason, it is best to
have any touch-up work or additional cor-
rosion protection measures carried out by
your Škoda Dealer.
No underbody sealant should be applied to
the heat shields of the catalytic converter
and to the exhaust pipes because of the
high temperatures in the area of the cata-
lytic converter (risk of fire). It is also not
permitted to remove the heat shields.
Cavity protectionAll the cavities of the vehicle which are at
risk from corrosion are durably protected
before the car leaves the factory.
The cavity protection does not require to
be inspected or touched up. If any wax flo-
ws out of the cavities at high outside tem-
peratures, this can be removed with a plas-
tic scraper. Any stains can be removed with
white spirits.
Pay attention to the relevant safetyand environmental protection regu-
lations if white spirits is used to remove
wax and stains.

136GENERAL MAINTENANCE1.6-ltr./74 kW petrol engine
1 - Coolant expansion reservoir
2 - Reservoir for hydraulic fluid of powersteering
3 - Windscreen washer reservoir
4 - Engine oil dipstick
5 - Engine oil filler opening
6 - Brake fluid reservoir
7 - Battery 1.9-ltr. TDI 66 kW/81 kW diesel engine
1 - Coolant expansion reservoir
2 - Reservoir for hydraulic fluid of power
steering
3 - Windscreen washer reservoir
4 - Engine oil dipstick
5 - Engine oil filler opening
6 - Brake fluid reservoir
7 - Battery
The arrangement in the engine compart-
ment is largely identical on all petrol and
diesel engines.

137
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Warning
Particular care is required when per-
forming work in the engine compart-
ment!

Never open the bonnet if you see
that steam or coolant is escaping
from the engine compartment - risk
of scalding!
You must wait long enough, until the
steam or coolant has stopped escap-
ing.

Switch off engine and withdraw ig-
nition key.

Apply handbrake properly.

Move gearshift into Neutral (on
models with automatic gearbox mo-
ve selector lever into position „P“).

Allow engine to cool down.

If the engine is still warm:
- do not place your hand into the ra- diator fan, it might start suddenly.
- do not open filler cap of coolant reservoir as cooling system is
pressurized - risk of scalding.

Avoid short circuits in the electri-
cal system - particularly at the bat-
tery!

If you wish to work under the ve-
hicle, 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!

If it is necessary to carry out test
work when engine is running, there
is an additional risk from rotating
parts - e.g. ribbed belt, alternator,
radiator fan etc. - and from the high-
voltage ignition system.

Never touch the electrical cables
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 re-
move any jewellery beforehand, tie
up your hair and wear tight fitting
clothing.
It is essential to comply with all the
warning information given in this
manual and with the general rules of
safety when carrying out work on the
engine.
When topping up fluids, ensure that no mix-
ups occur otherwise this may cause severe
operating problems!
The floor below the car should be
inspected regularly in order to de-
tect leaks in good time. If patches of oil or other fluids are visible, the car shouldbe taken to a Škoda Dealer for an inspec-
tion.