Skoda Superb - Fuel additive charged despite locked fuel cap...?? - Walp64

Hi all.

For the second time my garage has charged for diesel fuel additive during a full service (helps keep the exhaust and emissions system clean supposedly)... Trouble is that I've fitted a locking fuel cap with a separate key that wasn't handed over at either service..

Am I definitely being ripped off or is there an explanation (such as a simple way that they'd be likely to be able to add the stuff despite a locked fuel cap that they don't have a key to)?

I've always rated the service and price but would welcome opinion on this (especially from trade). I just can't see how they could get the additive in without fuel filler access. Am I missing something or is it time to change my garage... Again...?

T

Skoda Superb - Fuel additive charged despite locked fuel cap...?? - badbusdriver

Couple of questions, first is why you fitted an extra level of security to the fuel filler?, is fuel theft a big problem in your area?. Second is why don't you bring it up with the garage?

It may simply be a lack of communication. If it is a very small garage where the mechanic who did the work also did the invoice, that would seem very suspect (unless there is a means of adding the additive somewhere along the fuel lines, which I doubt but I'm not a mechanic!). If it is a bigger garage and fuel additive is something which is added as a matter of course, whoever does the invoices would have no reason to expect they wouldn't actually be able to put the additive in. And if the place is busy, the mechanic may simply have forgot to mention it.

Skoda Superb - Fuel additive charged despite locked fuel cap...?? - elekie&a/c doctor
If it’s had a fuel filter replaced, the additive could have been filled here .
Skoda Superb - Fuel additive charged despite locked fuel cap...?? - bathtub tom
If it’s had a fuel filter replaced, the additive could have been filled here .

Would you have added it to the fuel filter. Wouldn't that be dodgy, Isn't it supposed to be diluted in the tank?

I raised a query about being charged for windscreen washer additive, when I knew the bottle was full. They claimed it was re-filled after checking the washers.

Skoda Superb - Fuel additive charged despite locked fuel cap...?? - elekie&a/c doctor
Fuel filter on these have a diesel return system , so not all the fuel in the filter housing flows directly into the engine . Any excess is pumped back to the tank .
Skoda Superb - Fuel additive charged despite locked fuel cap...?? - mcb100
Easy - service advisor raises an invoice based on standard procedure (fuel additive added as routine).
Technician hasn’t told front of house that it couldn’t be done.
Raises two questions - best practice for service advisors is to itemise the bill with the customer at collection time. Was this done?
If it was, why did you pay for it?
If it wasn’t done, the customer needs to check it properly before parting with any money.
I’ve long maintained that the busiest people in any dealership are service advisors - they’ve got customers in one ear and the workshop in the other. Mistakes are made.
Skoda Superb - Fuel additive charged despite locked fuel cap...?? - John F

Did the invoice emerge from a computer controlled printer? Service invoices probably say almost exactly the same thing, so the printer might be made to print out the details of all the tasks with just a very few keystrokes. In my previous life as a GP much time was saved by such elementary programming. For instance, I could create a detailed record of a common problem and a printed prescription with merely a couple of clicks from my 'favourites' list. The problem for a big garage is the person doing the service might not be the same person operating the printer.