Have you ever heard about dirt clogging up a pipe and preventing the free flow of water or other substances? This is an illustration of the problem caused by carbon buildup in a Volkswagen TSI engine.
While Volkswagen’s Turbocharged Stratified Injection (TSI) engine was built to deliver excellent performance and improve fuel efficiency, it can develop faults that will prevent it from achieving its goal. In this guide, we will explain the major causes of carbon build-up in a TSI engine and how you can spot the problem; this will help you provide better care for your VW.
Leading Causes of Carbon Build-Up in Volkswagen’s TSI Engine
When carbon deposits accumulate on various components of the engine, it could result in various issues from poor performance to fuel efficiency. Here are some of the common causes of this issue with most VWs.
- Substandard Fuel Quality: Low-quality fuels are one of the leading causes of carbon buildup in most engines and this could be due to two reasons. One, with low-quality fuels, the air-fuel mixture needed for engine combustion could be affected. When this happens, combustion may not take place as it should. The result of incomplete combustion in most cases is a buildup of carbon deposits. Also, low-quality fuels contain contaminants which can attract the buildup of carbon deposits around the engine’s components.
- Poor Maintenance: Poor maintenance habits are another leading cause of carbon buildup in Volkswagen’s TSI engine. Regular servicing or maintenance helps to keep the engine in good shape and prevents problems such as carbon buildup. Essential maintenance actions, including routine oil changes, inspection of the engine and its components, and intake cleaning, can help get rid of carbon deposits before they become a problem. Poor maintenance means a chance for deposits to clog up the engine.
- PCV Oil Vapor: Aside from the results of incomplete combustion, oil vapor is another culprit in the matter of carbon deposit buildup. The Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve helps to return gasses from the crankcase to the intake manifold for proper engine combustion. While this is great for the engine’s performance, one problem is that oil vapors can also be introduced to the intake manifold in the process. Oil vapors stick to the internal components of the engine and over time, they can attract carbon deposits, leading to a buildup in the affected components.
- Frequent Short Trips: While many drivers prefer short trips as it is less demanding and draining, it is not always great for your car, especially if you are concerned about carbon deposit buildup. With longer trips, your Volkswagen’s engine has sufficient time to heat up and reach the appropriate temperature needed for complete combustion. However, if you only take short trips, your car’s engine will most likely experience incomplete combustion. If this happens often, carbon deposits from this failed combustion can then build up in the engine’s components, causing various engine issues.
What are the Effects of Carbon Buildup in a Volkswagen’s TSI Engine?
Since it is now clear that carbon build-up can result from low-quality fuel, poor maintenance, and frequent short trips, let us look at what happens when these factors come into play. Here are a few things that this carbon buildup can cause:
- Poor Engine Performance: When carbon deposits build up in the engine, the engine’s performance can be affected. This happens because this carbon buildup will not allow free airflow into the engine’s intake. This usually results in a disruption in the air-fuel balance, causing incomplete combustion and thus, engine performance problems.
- Reduced Fuel Efficiency: Another effect of this carbon deposit is a reduction in the fuel efficiency of the affected car. This usually happens as a result of incomplete combustion in the engine. This makes the engine work harder to compensate for the problem, leading to more fuel consumption and thus, poor fuel economy.
Where You Can Fix Your VW’s Carbon Buildup Problems in Denver
Finding a reliable mechanic for your 
car’s faults is as important as getting new parts for a faulty system. Not only will an expert provide a detailed diagnosis of the cause of the problem, but they will also ensure the use of original parts and fix any fault with the engine.
DART Auto is one of Denver’s finest auto repair centers. We are committed towards providing top-notch services for European car owners. Hence, if you are in Englewood, Littleton, Centennial, or Denver, you should let us have a look at your car and we can help you decide the best course of action.
