T-Cross Poor Performance & High Fuel Usage Issues

I experienced these exact symptoms on my 2018 VW Polo TSI. The check engine light came on, combined with rough idling and major fuel economy issues. The diagnostic scan revealed faulty fuel injectors, which were causing uneven fuel distribution. The symptoms match perfectly, jerking during acceleration and rich fuel mixture are classic signs of injector problems. In my case, two injectors were clogged and one was leaking. This affected the air-fuel mixture and caused the engine management system to compensate incorrectly. The repair involved: Complete fuel injector removal and testing, Replacement of two defective injectors, Cleaning of fuel delivery system, Reset of engine management system, Test drive to confirm proper fuel spray patterns This is a serious issue that requires proper diagnosis and repair. Continuing to drive with faulty injectors can damage your catalytic converter and cause further engine damage. Would recommend having it checked at a shop with proper diagnostic equipment that specializes in VW fuel injection systems. After repair, the engine ran smoothly again and fuel consumption returned to normal levels. New spark plugs were also installed as a preventive measure since the rich mixture had caused some fouling.

Thanks for the detailed explanation of the injector issue and repair process. That does sound very similar to what I am experiencing right now. Just wondering, do you recall how much the entire repair ended up costing? Also, since getting it fixed, have you noticed any other issues pop up with the fuel system or air-fuel ratio? I want to make sure I budget properly and understand if there might be related problems I should watch out for. Since the air filter and spark plugs were already involved, I am also curious if the shop recommended any specific maintenance schedule to prevent this from happening again.

Thanks for asking about the follow-up details. The repair cost me 515€ for replacing the faulty injection valve, which solved the rich mixture problem completely. The oxygen sensor readings are now perfect and the engine runs exactly as it should. Since the fix, fuel consumption returned to normal and the engine performs smoothly without any problems. The air-fuel ratio stays consistent now, especially during acceleration when it used to act up before. The mechanic recommended changing the air filter every 30000km or sooner if driving in dusty conditions. They also suggested replacing spark plugs at the same interval since a rich mixture can cause them to foul up faster than normal. One useful tip they gave was to use high-quality fuel and avoid running the tank too low, as sediment buildup can affect injector performance over time. Regular fuel system cleaning every 60000km was also recommended as preventive maintenance. Have not experienced any related issues in the months since the repair. The catalytic converter readings are good and the check engine light has stayed off. The investment was worth it to prevent more expensive damage down the line.

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice about the injector problems. I finally got my car checked at a reputable shop with specialized diagnostic equipment. They confirmed it was indeed a faulty fuel injector causing the rich mixture issues. The total repair came to 590€, including parts and labor. The mechanic showed me the clogged injector after removing it, it was pretty badly gunked up. They also found some carbon deposits in the intake manifold which they cleaned out while the system was apart. The repair included: New fuel injector, Fuel system cleaning, Fresh spark plugs, System diagnostics reset Car runs like new now. Fuel economy is back to normal and the jerking during acceleration is completely gone. The shop gave me a 12-month warranty on the work, which gives good peace of mind. They recommended I change my air filter every 25000km and keep up with regular fuel system maintenance to prevent future issues. Really glad I got this sorted before it caused more expensive problems with the catalytic converter or engine.