2015 SKODA OCTAVIA service

General Maintenance
Care and maintenance
Service work, adjustments and technical alterations
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Vehicle operation in different weather conditions
178
Statutory checks
178
ŠKODA Service Partners
179
ŠKODA Original parts
179
ŠKODA Original accessories
179
Spoiler
180
Component protection
180
Airbags
180
Acceptance and recycling of used vehicles
181
The instructions and guidelines from ŠKODA AUTO a.s. must be observed when
carrying out any modifications, repairs or technical alterations to your vehicle.
Adhering to these instructions and guidelines helps ensure road safety and
helps keep your vehicle in a good technical condition. After carrying out modifi-
cations, repairs or technical alterations, the vehicle will comply with German
road transport regulations (StVO).
Always consult a ŠKODA Partner » page 179before buying accessories or
parts, or before carrying out any modifications, repairs or technical alterations
to your vehicle.
WARNING■ Work on your vehicle, which have been carried out unprofessionally, can
cause operational faults – risk of accident!■
Interference on the electronic components and their software can lead to
operational faults. This interference can also impair not directly affected
systems because of the networking of the electronic components. The op-
erational safety of the vehicle may be at significant risk and can lead to in-
creased wear of parts.
For the sake of the environmentTechnical documents regarding changes carried out on the vehicle must be
kept by the vehicle user, in order to be handed over to the recyclers later. This
ensures that vehicle recycling is in accordance with environmental regulations.
Note
■ We recommend only having these modifications, repairs and technical
changes performed by a specialist garage.■
Any damage caused by technical alterations made without the approval of
the manufacturer is excluded from the warranty » Service schedule .
■
The ŠKODA Partner accepts no liability for products that have not been ap-
proved by ŠKODA AUTO a.s. even though these may be products with an op-
erational approval or that have been approved by a government testing insti-
tute.
■
We advise you only to use ŠKODA Original Accessories and ŠKODA Original
Parts which have been expressly approved for use on your vehicle. Reliability,
safety and suitability for your vehicle are guaranteed with these.
■
ŠKODA Original Accessories and ŠKODA Original Parts can be purchased from
ŠKODA Partners, who will also perform the professional assembly of the pur-
chased parts.
Vehicle operation in different weather conditions
Read and observe
on page 178 first.
If you would like to operate your vehicle in countries other than those with itsintended weather conditions, please contact a ŠKODA Partner.
He or she will advise you if certain precautions need to be taken to ensure the
full functioning of the vehicle or to prevent damage.
This relates to the coolant, the battery replacement etc.
Statutory checks
Read and observe
on page 178 first.
Many countries have legislation requiring the operational reliability and road-worthiness and/or exhaust gas properties of a vehicle to be tested at specific
intervals. These tests can be carried out by workshops or testing stations that
have been legally authorized for this purpose. 
178General Maintenance

The ŠKODA Service Partners are up-to-date on the legally required tests and
will prepare the vehicle for the tests as part of a service operation if required,
or will be responsible for carrying out these tests. The specialist garages can
carry out the specified tests directly if required by the customer if they are au-
thorised to do so. This saves you time and money.
Even if you want to take your vehicle to an officially approved test centre for
prior checking in preparation of a legally required test, we recommend that you
consult the service consultant of your ŠKODA Service Partner beforehand.
Based on their appraisal, the service consultant will tell you which areas you
should focus on in order to ensure that your vehicle will pass the technical test
without any problems. This allows you to avoid additional expenses resulting
from a possible subsequent test.
ŠKODA Service Partners
Read and observe
on page 178 first.
ŠKODA Service Partners feature modern, specially developed tools and equip-
ment. Here, trained specialists have access to a comprehensive range of
ŠKODA Original Parts and ŠKODA Original Accessories for carrying out modifi-
cations, repairs and technical alterations.
All ŠKODA service partners operate according to the most recent guidelines
and instructions from ŠKODA AUTO a.s. All service and repair work is therefore
carried out on time and at the appropriate quality. Adhering to these instruc-
tions and guidelines helps ensure road safety and helps keep your vehicle in a
good technical condition.
ŠKODA Service Partners are therefore properly prepared to service your vehicle
and to provide quality work. We therefore advise you to have all modifications,
repairs and technical alterations to your vehicle carried out by a ŠKODA Service
Partner.
ŠKODA Original parts
Read and observe
on page 178 first.
We recommend the use of ŠKODA Genuine Parts for your vehicle, as these
parts are approved by ŠKODA AUTO a.s.. They correspond precisely to the
ŠKODA AUTO a.s. regulations with regard to design, dimensional accuracy and
material, and are identical to the components used in series production.
ŠKODA AUTO a.s. is able to vouch for the safety, suitability and long service life of these products. We therefore recommend that you only use ŠKODA Genuine
Parts.
ŠKODA AUTO a.s. supplies the market with a complete range of ŠKODA Genu-
ine Parts - not only while the model is still in production but for at least 15
years after the end of series production for wear parts and at least 10 years
after the end of series production for all other vehicle parts.
ŠKODA Service Partners are liable for any defects of ŠKODA Genuine Parts for a period of 2 years after sale in accordance with the materials defect liability,
unless agreed otherwise in the purchase agreement. You should keep the ap-
proved warranty certificate and the invoices for these components for this pe-
riod of time, so that the commencement of the term can be verified.
Body repairs
ŠKODA vehicles are designed such that if any damage occurs to the body, it is
only necessary to replace those parts that are actually damaged.
However, before you decide to have damaged body parts replaced, you should
first of all contact your specialist garage to determine whether or not the parts
can also be repaired. Repairs to body parts are usually cheaper.
ŠKODA Original accessories
Read and observe
on page 178 first.
If you wish to fit accessories to your vehicle, you should remember the follow-ing:
We recommend that you use ŠKODA Genuine Accessories in your vehicle.
ŠKODA AUTO a.s. has selected these accessories to ensure that they are relia-
ble, safe and suitable for your particular vehicle. Although we constantly moni-
tor the market, we are not able to assess or vouch for other products even
though in some instances such parts may have operational approval or may
have been approved by a nationally recognised testing laboratory.
All accessory products are subjected to a challenging process in the areas of technical development (technical testing) and quality inspection (customer
testing), and the product only becomes a ŠKODA Genuine Accessory if all tests
are passed.
Our ŠKODA Genuine Accessories service also includes expert advice and pro-
fessional fitting if required by the customer. 
179Care and maintenance

ŠKODA Service Partners are liable for any defects of ŠKODA Genuine Accesso-
ries for a period of 2 years after installation or delivery in accordance with the
materials defect liability, unless agreed otherwise in the purchase agreement
or any other agreements. You should keep the approved warranty certificate
and the invoices for these accessories for this period of time, so that the com-
mencement of the term can be verified.
ŠKODA Service Partners also stock a range of suitable car care products and all
parts that are subject to natural wear-and-tear, such as tyres, batteries, bulbs
and wiper blades.
Note
The accessories authorized by the company ŠKODA AUTO a.s. will be offered
by the ŠKODA Partners in all countries where the company ŠKODA AUTO a.s.
has a sales and after-sales service network. This will usually be in the form of a
printed catalogue of ŠKODA Genuine Accessories, in the form of separate prin-
ted brochures or in the form of ŠKODA Genuine Accessories on the ŠKODA
Partner websites.
Spoiler
Read and observe
on page 178 first.
If your new vehicle is fitted with a spoiler on the front bumper in combination
with the spoiler on the luggage compartment lid, the following instructions
must be adhered to. ▶ For safety reasons, the vehicle must only be fitted with a spoiler on the front
bumper in combination with the associated spoiler on the luggage compart-
ment lid.
▶ This kind of spoiler cannot be left on the front bumper either on its own, in
combination with another spoiler not on the luggage compartment lid or in
combination with an unsuitable spoiler on the luggage compartment lid.
▶ We recommend that you consult the ŠKODA Service Partner for any repairs
to or replacement, addition or removal of spoilers.
WARNING■ If work on your vehicle's spoilers is not carried out properly, this can lead
to operational faults - risk of accident and serious injuries.■
If a front spoiler, full wheel trim, etc. is mounted retrospectively, it must
be ensured that the air supply to the front wheel brakes is not reduced.
The front brakes may overheat which can have a negative impact on the
functioning of the braking system – risk of accident!
Component protection
Read and observe
on page 178 first.
Some electronic vehicle components (such as the instrument cluster) are fac-
tory-equipped with component protection.
Component protection has been developed as a protection mechanism for the
following situations. ▶ Impairment of factory- or garage-fitted electronic components after installa-
tion in another vehicle (for example, after a theft).
▶ Impairment of electronic components used outside the vehicle.
▶ The possibility of a legitimate installation or change of electronic compo-
nents for repairs at a specialist garage.
The activated component protection can be realized by functional limitations
of the specific electronic component. Seek help from a specialist garage.
Airbags
Read and observe
on page 178 first.
WARNING■Modifications, repairs and technical alterations that have been carried out
unprofessionally can cause damage and operational faults, and can also se-
riously impair the effectiveness of the airbag system – risk of accident and
fatal injury!■
A change to the vehicle's wheel suspension, including the use of non-ap-
proved wheels and tire combinations, can alter the functioning of the air-
bag system - risk of accident and fatal injury!
WARNINGInformation on the use of the airbag system■Never install any airbag parts into the vehicle that have been removed
from old cars or have been recycled.■
Never install damaged airbag parts in the vehicle. The airbags may then
not be triggered properly or not at all in the event of an accident. 
180General Maintenance

WARNING■Vehicle care products may be harmful to your health if not used according
to the instructions.■
Always keep the vehicle care products safe from people who are not com-
pletely independent, e.g. children - there is a danger of poisoning!
■
Protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged metal parts when clean-
ing the underfloor, the inside of the wheel housings or the wheel trims –
risk of cuts!
CAUTION
■ Do not use any insect sponges, rough kitchen sponges or similar cleaning
products – risk of damaging the paintwork surface.■
Cleaner that contain solvents can damage the material being cleaned.
Note
Due to the special tools and knowledge required, and to avoid any potential
problems with the cleaning and care of your vehicle's exterior, we recommend
that the cleaning and care of your vehicle be carried out by a ŠKODA Service
Partner.
Vehicle paint work
Read and observe
and on page 183 first.
Preserving the vehicle paintwork
Thorough wax treatment is an effective way of protecting the paintwork from
harmful environmental influences.
The vehicle must be treated with a high-quality hard wax polish at the latest,
when no more drops form on the clean paintwork.
A new layer of a high-quality hard wax polish can be applied to the clean body- work after it has dried thoroughly.
Even if you use a wax preserver regularly we still recommend that you treat
the paintwork of the vehicle at least twice a year with hard wax.
Polishing
Polishing is necessary if the vehicle's paintwork has become unattractive and
if it is no longer possible to achieve a gloss with wax preservatives.
If the polish does not contain any preserving elements, the paint must be trea- ted with a preservative afterwards.
CAUTION■ Paint damage is to be repaired immediately.■Never apply wax to the windows.■
Mat painted or plastic parts must not be treated with polishing products or
hard waxes.
■
Do not polish the paintwork in a dusty environment - risk of paint scratches.
■
Do not apply any paint care products to door seals or window guides.
■
If possible, do not apply any paint care products to parts of the bodywork
that come into contact with door seals or window guides.
Films
Read and observe
and on page 183 first.
Cleaning
Films (e.g. roof, decorative, protective films, etc.) must be cleaned more care-
fully than the vehicle paint.
The films may not be washed with a high-pressure cleaner.
Only wash the films with a soft cloth, mild soap solution and clean, warm wa-
ter.
Service life
Environmental influences (e.g. sunlight, humidity, air pollution, rockfall) affect
the life of the films.
Sunlight may also affect the strength of the film colour.
Films will age and become brittle – this is entirely normal; this is not a fault.
CAUTION
■ Never use aggressive cleaning agents or chemical solvents for the glued sur-
faces with films - there is a danger of film damage.■
Never use dirty cloths or chemical solvents for the glued surfaces with films -
there is a danger of damaging the film.
■
In the winter months, do not use an ice scraper to remove ice and snow from
the areas with films. Do not use any other objects to remove frozen layers of
snow or ice – risk of film damage.
■
Do not polish the films - risk of damage!
■
When transporting a load on the roof rack (e.g. roof box or similar), there is
an increased risk of film damage (e.g. of chipping from the secured load).
183Care and maintenance

WARNING■Vehicle care products may be harmful to your health if not used according
to the instructions.■
Always keep the vehicle care products safe from people who are not com-
pletely independent, e.g. children - there is a danger of poisoning!
■
Air fresheners and scents can be hazardous to heath when the tempera-
ture inside the vehicle is high.
CAUTION
■ Be sure to check clothing for colour-fastness to avoid any damage or visible
stains on the material (leather), panels and textiles.■
Remove fresh stains such as those from ball-point pens, ink, lipstick, shoe
polish, etc., from the material (leather), panels and textiles as quickly as possi-
ble.
■
Do not attach scents or air fresheners to the dash panel – there is a risk of
damage to the dash panel.
■
Do not attach any stickers to the filaments or glass antenna - there is risk of
damage.
■
Do not clean the roof panelling with a brush – risk of damage to the surface
of the panelling.
■
Cleaner that contain solvents can damage the material being cleaned.
■
Apply only a small amount of the cleaning and care product.
Note
Due to the special tools and knowledge required, and to avoid any potential
problems with the cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle, we recom-
mend that cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle be carried out by a
ŠKODA service partner.
Natural leather
Read and observe
and on page 187 first.
The leather needs, depending on the strain placed on it, regular cleaning andmaintenance.
Dust and dirt in pores and creases cause abrasions on the surface and lead to
premature embrittlement of the leather surface. Therefore, they must be re-
moved regularly at short intervals with a cloth or vacuum cleaner.
Clean soiled leather surfaces with a water-dampened cotton or woollen cloth
and then dry with a clean, dry cloth »
.
Clean severely soiled areas with a cloth soaked in a mild soap solution (2 ta-
blespoons of neutral soap to 1 litre of water).
To remove stains , use a cleaning agent specially designed for this purpose.
Treat the leather periodically with a suitable leather protector and use a skin care cream with light blocker and impregnation after each cleaning.
CAUTION
■ Ensure that no part of the leather is soaked through during cleaning and that
no water gets into the seams. Otherwise, the leather could become brittle or
cracked.■
Avoid leaving the vehicle for lengthy periods in bright sunlight to avoid the
leather from bleaching. If the vehicle is parked in the open for lengthy periods,
protect the leather from direct sunlight by covering it.
■
The use of an additional mechanical steering wheel lock may damage the
leather surface of the steering wheel.
■
Some clothing materials, e.g. dark denim, do not have sufficient colour fast-
ness. This can cause damage or clearly visible discolouration to seat covers,
even when used correctly. This applies particularly to light-coloured seat cov-
ers. This does not relate to a fault in the seat cover, but rather to poor colour
fastness of the clothing textiles.
■
Sharp-edged objects on items of clothing such as zip fasteners, rivets, sharp-
edged belts etc may leave permanent scratches or signs of rubbing on the sur-
face or damage these. Such damage cannot be subsequently recognised as a
justified complaint.
Note
During the use of the vehicle, minor visible changes can occur on the leather
parts of the covers (e. g wrinkles or creases as a result of the stress of the cov-
ers).
Artificial leather, materials and Alcantara ®
Read and observe
and on page 187 first.
Artificial leather
Clean artificial leather with a damp cloth.
If this method does not completely clean the artificial leather, use a mild soap solution or cleaning products specially designed for this purpose. 
187Care and maintenance

when the engine is restarted. This is not due to any system leakages but a
drop in pressure in the natural gas fuel tank due to technical reasons after a
cooling phase directly after refuelling.
The maximum lifetime of the gas tank is 20 years.
The capacity of the natural gas fuel tank is approximately 15 kg.
The capacity of the gasoline fuel tank is about 50 litres, of which about 6
lighters are in reserve.WARNING■
When refuelling, never get into the vehicle. If you have to get into your
vehicle in exceptional cases, touch a metal surface before you touch the
filling coupling again. This will avoid electrostatic discharges, which may
generate sparks. Sparks can cause a fire during refuelling.■
Natural gas is highly explosive and highly flammable.
Note
During the filling process sounds are heard which are harmless. If you are un-
sure which service station staff to use, ask the petrol station staff.
CNG
Fig. 202
Position of the CNG label(s).
Read and observe
and on page 189 first.
A G-TEC-vehicle may be operated with CNG and petrol.
In some countries, national legislation requires that vehicles with CNG opera-
tion be identified by one of the labels » Fig. 202.
Position of the CNG label » Fig. 202.
Natural gas quality and consumption
Depending on the natural gas supplier, the natural gas quality (heating value) may vary. The engine system adjusts automatically to the natural gas quality.
Automatically switching over from natural gas mode to petrol mode
The vehicle automatically switches from natural gas to petrol, for example, if
one of the following cases occurs. ▶ With an empty gas tank or not enough pressure in the tank.
▶ After refuelling with natural gas.
▶ At very low surrounding temperatures.
Use all the petrol in the fuel tank at lease once every six months until the
warning light 
illuminates and then refill with petrol. This is to ensure that
the fuel system functions correctly and to preserve the quality of the fuel.
Gas leak
If a gas leak is suspected (noticeable odour), proceed as follows. ▶ Stop the vehicle.
▶ Switch off the ignition.
▶ Put out any cigarettes, remove any spark-producing or incendiary items from
the vehicle and immediately switch the engine off.
▶ Open the doors and the boot lid to ventilate the vehicle sufficiently.
▶ Do not continue to drive if the odour persists.
▶ If it is not possible to leave an enclosed area with a vehicle with a gas leak
(e.g. in a tunnel, underpass, garage, ferry, etc.), call the emergency services
immediately.
Seek help from a specialist garage to correct the gas system fault.
In a traffic accident
If a gas leak is suspected in a traffic accident, proceed as follows.
▶ Switch off the ignition.
▶ Put out any cigarettes, remove any spark-producing or incendiary items from
the vehicle and immediately switch the engine off.
▶ Have all the occupants get out.
▶ Prevent people walking past/standing in the immediate vicinity of the acci-
dent vehicle. We recommend standing at least 10 metres from the vehicle.
▶ Inform the emergency services that it is a natural gas vehicle.
Regular gas system checks
Regular gas system checks must be carried out in a specialist workshop on
natural gas-powered vehicles. The vehicle owner is responsible for ensuring
tests are conducted properly. 193Inspecting and replenishing

CAUTION■Under no circumstances must radiator antifreeze or other additives be added
to the windscreen washer fluid.■
If the vehicle is fitted with a headlight cleaning system, only cleaning prod-
ucts which do not attack the polycarbonate coating of the headlights must be
added to the windscreen washer fluid.
■
Do not remove the filter from the windscreen washer fluid reservoir when re-
plenishing it with liquid otherwise the liquid transportation system can be con-
taminated, which can cause the windscreen washer system to malfunction.
Engine oil
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Specification
197
Checking the oil level
198
Replenishing
198
The engine has been factory-filled with a high-grade oil that can be use
throughout the year - except in extreme climate zones.
The engine oils are undergoing continuous further development. Thus the in- formation stated in this Owner's Manual is only correct at the time of publica-
tion.
ŠKODA Service Partners are informed about the latest changes by the manu-
facturer. We therefore recommend that the oil change be completed by a
ŠKODA Service Partner.
The specifications (VW standards) stated in the following can be indicated sep-
arately or together with other specifications on the bottle.
The engine oil should be changed after specified service intervals » page 49.
WARNINGThe engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area. The following
warning instructions must be followed at all times when working in the en-
gine compartment » page 194.
CAUTION
Do not pour any additives into the engine oil – risk of serious damage to the
engine parts.Note■ Before a long drive we recommend that you purchase and carry with you en-
gine oil which complies with the specification for your vehicle.■
We recommend that you use oils from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
■
If your skin has come into contact with oil, it must be washed thoroughly.
Specification
Read and observe
and on page 197 first.
Vehicles with variable service intervals
Petrol enginesSpecification1.2 l/63, 81 kW TSI
VW 504 00
1.4 l/110 kW TSI1.8 l/132 kW TSI2.0 l/162, 169 kW TSIDiesel engines a)Specification1.6 l/66, 81 kW TDIVW 507 002.0 l/105, 110, 135 kW TDIa)
Engine oil VW 505 01 can optionally be used in diesel engines without a
DPF.
Vehicles with fixed service intervals
Petrol enginesSpecification1.2 l/63, 81 kW TSI
VW 502 00
1.4 l/81 kW TSI G-TEC1.4 l/110 kW TSI1.6 l./81 kW MPI1.8 l/132 kW TSI2.0 l/162, 169 kW TSIDiesel engines a)Specification1.6 l/66, 81 kW TDIVW 507 002.0 l/105, 110, 135 kW TDIa)
Engine oil VW 505 01 can optionally be used in diesel engines without a
DPF. 
197Inspecting and replenishing

Checking the level›Check the coolant level in the coolant expansion tank » Fig. 207.
If the engine is warm, the test result may be inaccurate. The level can also be
above the mark A
» Fig. 207 .
In the event of an insufficient coolant level, a warning light 
is displayed in
the instrument cluster, as well as the relevant notification » page 37. We still
recommend inspecting the coolant level directly at the reservoir from time to
time.
Loss of coolant
A loss of coolant is first and foremost an indication of a leak in the cooling sys-
tem. Do not merely top up the coolant. Have the cooling system checked by a
specialist garage.
Replenishing
Read and observe
and on page 199 first.
The coolant expansion tank must always contain a small amount of coolant» page 199, in section Introduction .
›
Place a cloth over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir and unscrew
the cap carefully .
›
Replenish the coolant.
›
Turn the cap until it clicks into place.
Do not use an alternative additive if the specified coolant is not available. In
this case, use just water and have the correct mixing ratio of water and cool-
ant additive restored by a specialist garage as soon as possible.
Only refill with new coolant.
Brake fluid
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Checking the brake fluid level
200
Specification
201
The brake fluid reservoir is located in the engine compartment » Fig. 208 on
page 200 .
WARNING■
The engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area. The following
warning instructions must be followed at all times when working in the en-
gine compartment » page 194.■
Do not use used brake fluid - the function of the brake system may be im-
paired – risk of accident!
CAUTION
■ Do not continue your journey if the fluid level has dropped below the “MIN”
marking » Fig. 208 on page 200 ,  do not continue driving - there is a risk of
an accident! Seek help from a specialist garage.■
Brake fluid damages the paintwork of the vehicle.
Note
■ The brake fluid is changed as part of a prescribed inspection services.■We recommend using brake fluids from the ŠKODA Original Accessories
range.
Checking the brake fluid level
Fig. 208
Brake fluid reservoir
Read and observe and on page 200 first.
The fluid can be checked if the following conditions are met.
The vehicle is on a horizontal surface.
The engine is turned off.
The bonnet is open.
Checking the level
›
Check the level of brake fluid in the reservoir » Fig. 208.
The level must be between the “MIN” and “MAX” markings. 
200General Maintenance