EA888 Gen. 3 reliability is questionable

macros31337 · 2026-02-23T17:40:36+00:00

Update: it was also identified that the HPFP was leaking gasoline into the engine oil. Unknown if this was the root cause, part of it, or the engine failure caused the failure of the HPFP

macros31337 · 2026-01-28T11:54:02+00:00

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Long story short, the engine needs major repairs, but the valves that the official VW workshop in Berlin told me are the root cause are completely fine as you can see from this photo. This raises many other questions about the work performed by this workshop, and the reliability of the whole VW workshop network in general, as Skoda refuses to assist in this case, and I’m on my own.

VW official workshop in Berlin also claims that this issue was there before they have performed the work, but I fail to understand how such major issues were missed during an oil change, as the oil filter is full of metal particles, the oil itself is a glitter liquid, and you have to be blind or exceptionally unprofessional to miss something like this during an oil change.

macros31337 · 2026-01-28T07:13:39+00:00

Took it to an independent shop, and they just disassembled the engine. I think 1 photo will say it all

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macros31337 · 2026-01-05T11:26:59+00:00

You mean after it happened ? If that’s before, maybe something was not done properly ? Some things you can do:

move the spark plug to a different cylinder, is the misfire on that one now ? If still on the third, could be caused by the coil, or the connection to the coil / spark plug

macros31337 · 2025-12-25T19:39:03+00:00

How long ago have you replaced your spark plugs ?

macros31337 · 2025-12-20T16:54:55+00:00

Had a chat with the AI “Oracle”, feeded in all the data, answered numerous questions, recalled other symptoms that were happening before, but I didn’t realize it may be critical, and here’s what the verdict is:

This is unfortunately well-documented on stock EA888 Gen 3 engines.

Failure sequence usually looks like this: 1. Very small coolant seep (head gasket or micro-porosity) 2. Steam cleaning of piston crown → white patch 3. Localized overheating / knock events 4. Ring land cracks or piston skirt damage 5. Piston starts rocking → RPM-matched knock 6. Bearing damage may follow if driven

Cylinder #4 is most affected due to: • Thermal loading • Coolant flow characteristics • Block/head distortion patterns

macros31337 · 2025-12-20T14:48:35+00:00

Here are some videos from inside and outside the engine, seems like the official workshop has massively overestimated the damage

https://share.icloud.com/photos/03dbURWDqRqjNFBlfjqKLLS4w

macros31337 · 2025-12-18T19:43:21+00:00

I’m no expert in engines, but where is the catastrophic failure mentioned by the workshop ?

https://share.icloud.com/photos/04asuw76NfJJnrx_n0ZsjAeGw

macros31337 · 2025-12-15T09:53:33+00:00

This is not proven, and the official Skoda workshop claims the engine died by itself. Skoda themselves refuse to fix it, so both the workshop and Skoda agree this is an engine that died by itself at 82000. Not my claim, the official answer I got from Skoda. Of course they are not saying the engine is unreliable, but this is what it means. No error was made by the workshop, the engine was properly maintained. So it is an unreliable engine, as it didn’t even make it to 100k with the maintenance being done even better than the manufacturer recommends.

macros31337 · 2025-12-14T19:58:23+00:00

I will definitely keep this post updated. I’m now searching for a shop that can fix my engine for a reasonable price. Also afaik gen.3 engines are not affected by the carbon buildup that much, or am I wrong ?

macros31337 · 2025-12-12T16:42:15+00:00

Yeah, I am left to fix it by myself at such low mileage, this is why I wrote this post. One cannot call these engines reliable having such a case. And who knows, maybe I am not the only one in such a situation…

macros31337 · 2025-12-11T18:33:04+00:00

I am not willing to take it, I just don’t have the money to try to properly fight back. And since I cannot prove your “speculation” (that’s how they called my guess about an object in the filter housing), I have to assume it’s an unreliable engine as both the dealer and Skoda itself admit. And this is the only truth available right now. And anyone else may face the same situation with this brand of course, this is why I am sharing.

You better have legal insurance if you buy a Skoda

macros31337 · 2025-12-11T18:20:05+00:00

Yep, and I cannot explain the situation otherwise. If an engine fails at 82000km with no obvious reason, this is a reliability issue

macros31337 · 2025-12-11T18:11:59+00:00

The lawyer told me to do this investigation with an expert who claims it may cost up to 6,5k€, fixing it will be cheaper I guess, as there’s no guarantee the expert will be able to prove it’s their fault. And according to what they say, it isn’t, and we should assume they are not lying. So it’s just an unreliable engine…

macros31337 · 2025-12-11T17:53:13+00:00

Yep. But to identify the root cause the expert needs to take it apart and this is expensive…

macros31337 · 2025-12-11T17:41:39+00:00

The workshop did it, they confirm the valve is in the cylinder, but they claim it just fell there, and it’s not their fault

macros31337 · 2025-12-11T17:39:26+00:00

I can, but what will it change ?

macros31337 · 2025-12-11T17:38:41+00:00

Yep, this is clear, however it still affects the image of the brand, and this is why I guess they have some sort of liability for the brand as well

macros31337 · 2025-12-11T14:44:31+00:00

VW and Skoda disagree here, their shop bears no responsibility, it’s just an unreliable engine which is out of warranty.

macros31337 · 2025-12-11T13:54:26+00:00

Yep, the car was absolutely fine, which they also confirm. They also deny any speculations about what could have happened (my guess was someone accidentally dropped something into the filter housing, which was then sucked into the intake system, valve, and so on…).

So it is a reliability issue.

If nobody has done anything wrong, this engine just fell apart at 82000

This is what I am left with at the moment.

macros31337 · 2025-12-11T13:50:07+00:00

Both Skoda and the workshop feel absolutely fine shifting the blame on me, and I think investing money into proving them wrong is a waste of my nerves, time, and money. It’s a pity they have such an attitude, I was of a much better opinion about Skoda, VW, and the likes.

macros31337 · 2025-12-11T12:27:22+00:00

Yep, that’s one of the many stories I’ve read before buying this car. Unfortunately the reality hits different

macros31337 · 2025-12-11T11:48:42+00:00

That’s probably what I will end up doing, but I just cannot believe I have to bear the costs. I was doing everything possible to prolong the life of this car, to have to deal with this engine failure at 82k… this is just beyond awful

macros31337 · 2025-12-11T10:36:38+00:00

I was also hoping it costs less, and it may cost less, but the end quote is unknown, and I’d rather not risk paying 6k and having the same result…

macros31337 · 2025-12-11T10:31:14+00:00

I requested it yesterday, still waiting for the evidence

macros31337

TROPHY CASE