Hi,

Last year, second-hand Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI [manufacturing year 2022, 200PS(EA288, DTUA)] was purchased to our family.

Car has full service history and milage is now 110'000km.

Can you please share your experience, when this specific engine might need carbon clean up**? I would like to invest time and money, before the symptoms start to appear.

Does it make sense to disconnect EGR pipe and check its condition? Or milage is evident, that carbon cleaning shall be done.

**- my family second car is VW Passat 2.0 TDI(EA189, 130KW). No ad-blue system, no turning flaps for this engine. Opening up intake- manifold , after 100'000km, showed remarkable carbon build up already- which I properly managed to clean.

Thanks in advance,

Olari.

Edited 18 January18 Jan by olari

Hi,

Sorry, I can't answer, but will follow this topic, since I have the same engine (also MY22) but currently only approaching 60000km on the clock...

i had Yeti 2.0 tdi EA189 110 kW and on 150000 kms i removed intake shutdown flap and see 10mm deposit od intake mainfold, all was covered in black dirt, restricting airflow. it is because EGR didnt work properly, many short trips etc. need to be clean earlier, as you say at 100000km.

Edited 3 February3 Feb by imart143

From what I know, EA288 uses a low-pressure EGR system that draws exhaust gases from after the DPF. This means the recirculated gases are cleaner (soot filtered out), which significantly reduces intake and valve carbon deposits compared to the older EA189 and PD engines.

And with the twin dosing SCR in the newer generation EA288 Evo engines, the carbon build-up should be reduced even more.

PS: I had similar concerns when I was about to purchase my current Scout TDI 147kw with EA288 Evo engine due to the lack of availability of the petrol version for this trim, in the period I did the order.

On 03/02/2026 at 11:09, fr1nklyn said:

From what I know, EA288 uses a low-pressure EGR system that draws exhaust gases from after the DPF. This means the recirculated gases are cleaner (soot filtered out), which significantly reduces intake and valve carbon deposits compared to the older EA189 and PD engines.

And with the twin dosing SCR in the newer generation EA288 Evo engines, the carbon build-up should be reduced even more.

PS: I had similar concerns when I was about to purchase my current Scout TDI 147kw with EA288 Evo engine due to the lack of availability of the petrol version for this trim, in the period I did the order.

Thank you for this valuable feedback.

I plan to open one of the EGR/ intake pipes, to able to look into the condition of the carbon deposits.

On 03/02/2026 at 19:39, fr1nklyn said:

From what I know, EA288 uses a low-pressure EGR system that draws exhaust gases from after the DPF. This means the recirculated gases are cleaner (soot filtered out), which significantly reduces intake and valve carbon deposits compared to the older EA189 and PD engines.

And with the twin dosing SCR in the newer generation EA288 Evo engines, the carbon build-up should be reduced even more.

PS: I had similar concerns when I was about to purchase my current Scout TDI 147kw with EA288 Evo engine due to the lack of availability of the petrol version for this trim, in the period I did the order.

I'm no expert but thought that SCR dosing (Urea based?) was injected into the exhaust gases to reduce NOx and so would have no effect on the buildup of intake carbon deposits.

I think my 12yo and 120km 1.4tsi (direct injection) is experiencing a similar issue.

Car drives perfectly well but consumption at highway speeds has worsened noticeable since it was new.

Not unexpected since 90% of the time the vehicle is driven short distances in an urban environment.

I love the old diesels to drive but would not consider a diesel, new or old, unless I was doing a lot of long distance driving, preferably pulling a caravan .