Carbon build up is commonly found in direct injection engine despite of brands. In EA888 3rd gen VW/Audi had applied 2 injection modules, one is direction injection the other is port injection. The application of port injection helps to reduce the carbon build up in intake valve (not remove completely) meanwhile delivery promosing fuel efficiency. It is true the EA888 well known of timing chain stretch but it has been improved in 3rd Gen

You may refer to the following link for better details.

https://www.motorreviewer.com/engine.php?engine_id=118

Dual Injection
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUrMXgDInE0

I hardly drove my beloved Passat HL now due to MCO. Btw I usually use Ron 95 and the power delivery is good enough. Last time when petrol quality is still Euro 2 I can hear the engine noise and quite loud. Outside the vehicle I thought I am driving a small truck while engine is running. But now all fuel upgraded to Euro 4 the engine become much quieter and I enjoy driving it so much.

The move of new Passat using DQ380 is an upgrade of DQ250 since DQ250 launched on 2003. There is no problem of longevity of DQ250 but the logic and smoothness increase in DQ380 with additional gear. I find this DQ250 irritating in 2nd gear as it keep holding it position and hesitate to go 3rd gear in slow speed. In D mode sometime occur the gear hold too long and we lift up gas pedal the car immediate pull back. And sometimes we give a little bit more on gas pedal the DQ250 without any hesitate will lightning fast downshift and push the car. This feeling is less comfortable than conventional AT.

With the new DQ380 I find the gear upshift earlier than DQ250 which feel less pulling in rpm and meanwhile giving slightly more on gas pedal the gear still holding rather than immediately downshift. It feel more comfortable than the DQ250. With lower output the Passat Elegance ride feeling actually feel more comfortable than the Passat HL and yet it still quick.

My current ride is with DQ250 with 220ps 350nm I always caution on my foot. I just feel it always in battle mode even though it was in D mode. Power is undeniable but comfortable is really depend on foot.

I feel the confort mode the absorber is soften but it depend on how I change the mode. If the car moving and I change the mode from Normal to Comfort, the suspension feel a little bit soft compare to Normal. However when I leave the mode in Comfort and get out from car, when I return and restart the car I can feel the suspension is quite different and it come soften than changing the DCC mode while driving. Even my wife can feel the whole car feel softer and the bouncing quite apparent. It is certainly not as comfort as Camry but guarantee softer than Accord.


I have checked with experience sifu (I am working in automotive related industry, known many workshops and service center) and one of the sifu told me changing the mode during driving is less effect. It is because the DCC absorber is using magnetic charge to control the damper. However with driver and passengers inside the car it limit the magnetic charge being change effectively. If we change the DCC to comfort during driving, the certain portion of absorber is unable to release (as the car sink a bit when with passenger inside), example like the car sink 5mm then this 5mm is not being free from magnetic charge. If all people leave the car and re-enter then it will free up the 5mm and the piston rod inside absorber can travel longer distance giving better bouncing to create comfort ride. It is hard to explain in typing. Maybe you can try the mode. If it still not working maybe you can visit the SC to request reset of your whole car system.

Last 3 months I went to SC and I complain the gas pedal too sensitive, give a bit more then it downshift and pull. SC said since I bought the pre-reg car (my car is less than 3k km mileage but I am not sure whether is showroom car or test drive car) maybe the person who drive this car before is very aggressive. The ECU is learning the driver behaviour and will adjust the sensitivity. After reset my car feel better and the car feel less aggressive than last time. The 2nd - 3rd gear holding long still exist as it is unavoidable, but the downshift issue while driving at slope is less aggressive than last time.

My complain to this DQ250 is when the speed is beyond 30km/h only it shift up to 3rd gear. If driving around 25-28km/h and leave the gas pedal it has the feeling of pulling back (some people said it as "jerking". My older Korean car has 6 speed auto and it will shift up to 3rd gear in speed just 25km/h.

Japanese car suspension especially Toyota the absorber is soft and it has multiple rebounces to provide great comfort. European car absorber renounce is quite minimum, it is not stiff but rather feel solid. The new Camry actually has lesser absorber rebounces like before but the car feel more solid drive and greater in corner. My own feeling of Toyota and Honda, TNGA of Toyota did provide the feeling of Conti car but Honda not. Honda car is doing well in corner but the suspension is rigid where it feel less comfort compare to Conti car.

To me I feel the comfort mode of Passat is great, it is still stiffer compare to Camry but certainly more comfort than Accord.

My Passat's brake pedal is sensitive and easy to control. Suggest you to check the brake pad whether it is close to minimum or not.

The new Arteon with 4motion is coming, this will be even greater car compare to Passat. Cabin room is roomier, higher engine output and superb grip thru the 4motion AWD. But I still happy with my Passat except the serious wheelspin in standstill with full throttle. Lolz

As far as I know the EA888 3rd gen has improved the piston ring and also with port injection to reduce the carbon deposit caused by direct injection. The former EA888 2nd gen got 2 major issues, serious carbon deposit on intake valve and piston ring problem cause the lubricant lost. Btw I never wait till 15k km to do the engine lubricant change. I always perform lubricant change without change of oil filter in 7500km. The engine definitely cleaner and run smoother. Since we afford RM 200k vehicle it is little money to invest on early engine oil change. Haha.

Btw it is sad case where the EA888 Evo4 newer engine (should be used in Golf GTI MK8) comes without port injection and instead they put in particle filter. This method is save cost but the carbon deposit is believe will be serious compare to EA888 3rd Gen. The Evo 4 direction injection pressure is increase from 200psi to 350psi, hope this will help to reduce carbon deposit.

Agreed. Port injection is the best way to avoid carbon deposit. But nowadays VW do offer walnut blasting, remove of port injection component save more cost and also giving SC more business.