VW Arteon PCV Valve Failure Causes Power Loss & Smoke

Had almost the exact same issue on my 2016 Passat. With some experience working on VWs, I recognized those classic PCV valve symptoms right away, the smoke at idle and acceleration was the biggest tell. The crankcase ventilation system started acting up around 80000km, causing similar symptoms to yours, check engine light, drop in power, and that distinctive smoke coming from the engine. The PCV valve was completely clogged, letting pressure build up in the crankcase. Took it to my regular workshop where they diagnosed and fixed it, replacing the entire PCV assembly and checking connected components. Complete job took about 4 hours and cost 360€ including parts and labor. Running perfectly since then with no smoke or power issues. What engine variant does your Arteon have? Also, have you noticed any oil consumption or rough idle? These details would help determine if your symptoms match what I experienced and whether other components might need attention. Worth getting it checked soon, a faulty PCV can lead to bigger issues if left unaddressed.

Just had mine fixed last week after the last service at 60414km. The symptoms matched exactly, smoke during acceleration and idle, reduced power, and the check engine light. Got the PCV assembly replaced and the emissions are now perfect. Worth noting the repair took just under 4 hours, and the engine runs much smoother since the ventilation system got sorted. The symptoms started pretty suddenly, similar to your situation.

Thanks for the update, great to hear you got it sorted. The repair time matches exactly what I experienced on my Passat. These ventilation issues tend to show up quite suddenly around that mileage range. The improved engine performance after fixing the crankcase ventilation system is a typical outcome. When the PCV gets clogged, it disrupts the proper air-fuel mixture, causing that rough idle and smoke we both experienced during acceleration. Since you mentioned the emissions are now perfect, keep monitoring oil consumption over the next few maintenance intervals. A properly functioning PCV system should help stabilize that too. My car has gone another 40000km since the repair without any smoke or ventilation related problems. The 4-hour repair time seems to be standard for this maintenance job, especially when they check all connected components. Catching these symptoms early likely prevented more extensive damage to other engine parts.

Good to know I made the right call getting it fixed quickly. Surprised how common this malfunction seems to be around the 60-80000km mark. The repair cost at my shop came to 385€, which seems in line with what others paid. The ventilation system working properly makes such a difference, no more smoke issues during idle or acceleration, and the engine response is way smoother now. Definitely keeping an eye on oil consumption going forward. The emissions test numbers from last week were spot on, so the fix clearly addressed the root cause. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences with similar valve problems. Helps confirm this was a typical PCV issue and the repair process went as expected. Will update if anything changes, but so far the car is running perfectly after the maintenance.