GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: VW91 on 04 January 2026, 14:27
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Hi all. Not long purchased a new GTI a 2012 (62) Plate 80K miles
Ive only done around 300 miles since owning the car and not long after purchasing the check engine light came on. Plugged in a cheap code reader and it had a misfire on cylinder 3. Turned out to be the coil pack so I replaced all 4 with new plugs. Just standard BOSCH from eurocarparts and 4 NGK plugs.
Engine light off and no more misfire.
When I’m driving the car it feels “rough” to drive like I can feel the road too much. Way too uncomfortable. Tyres or suspension issues?
Slight squeak when I press the clutch peddle. Not loud and can only hear it slightly when the cars off not when driving.
seems like hesitation to accelerate when cold/ low gears and speed. very slight.
I’ve cleaned the MAF sensor and put in a new air filter.
4 Michelin tyres on OEM monza’s. Cars not been modified and it’s all standard.
No rattle on start up. Chain seems to be alright. You can hear it when you turn the car off
Any ideas or is this just the way it is?
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Just pulled the new spark plugs i installed under 100 miles/ recently.
Has oil on them
(https://i.postimg.cc/bwL0dSJg/IMG-9726.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fVtSrLYS)
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Hey, welcome, I am going to start like a repeating record here :grin:
Check your PCV.
A stuck-open or clogged PCV can cause a vacuum leak, which can make the engine run lean at low RPMs, especially when cold. That can feel like hesitation or slight misfires.
It can also cause the engine to run unevenly at idle or when accelerating gently.
If the PCV isn’t venting properly, excess crankcase pressure can force oil past seals or gaskets into the intake, which could explain the light oil deposits on your new plugs.
On most VW 2.0 TSI engines, the PCV valve is under the intake manifold. It’s relatively cheap and easy to swap. If it’s been 80k miles, it’s worth replacing anyway.
The rough ride and feeling the road too much could be a few things. Check your tyre pressures and inspect for uneven wear, as underinflated or worn tyres can make the car feel harsh. At 80k miles, suspension components like shocks, strut mounts, or bushings could be starting to wear, which can also make the ride feel firm or bouncy. That said, GTIs have a sportier, stiffer setup compared to standard Golfs, so some of that road feel is fairly normal.
The clutch squeak you mentioned, if it’s very quiet and only when the car is off, is probably just the pedal pivot a dab of grease usually fixes it and it’s nothing urgent.
Overall, some of the “rough” feeling is likely just how a GTI rides, but it’s worth checking tyre pressures, inspecting suspension components, and monitoring the plugs. The clutch squeak isn’t a big concern unless it worsens, and minor oil on plugs isn’t urgent yet.
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Thanks for the reply.
Going to be honest I have not checked the tyre pressure, they look OK but probably worth checking.
I done the PCV test, try to take off the oil cap whilst the car is idle and as soon as I started to remove it the car started to run poorly and it had vacuum pulling It back so i assumed that was ok?
I’m thinking maybe the valve gasket needs replacing?
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That vacuum is normal it means the crankcase is being drawn into the intake correctly which actually suggests the PCV valve is working.
Seeing oil on the plugs, it’s more likely coming from the valve cover gasket rather than the PCV in this case. The valve cover gasket can start to leak, and even a small seep can end up on the plugs. Replacing the gasket is usually straightforward and fairly inexpensive.
Also, don’t forget to check tyre pressures it’s an easy fix and can make a big difference to how “harsh” the ride feels. After that, if the ride still feels rough, suspension components like shocks, strut mounts, or bushings may be the next thing to inspect.
Also, how old are the tyres? I had P-zeros on the back of my GTi when I bought it, they still had 5-6mm across them but were 4 years old. I didnt want to replace them but the rear end felt "hard" and very droney. I ended up caving and putting PS5's on the rear and it was the best decision I made, the tyre fitter told me my P-Zeros had gone almost solid rubber and basically began to break apart when they took them off the rims, shows fracture signs on the inside and they even showed me hairline cracks along the shoulder edges. Soon as I left the tyre shop I instantly felt the difference in comfort and on the motorway, the slight drone disapeared which I first thought might have been a wheel bearing begining to fail. So yeah, if your tyres are 4+ years old, I would recommend have them at least inspected.
On the tyre sidewall, look for a string that starts with “DOT” followed by letters and numbers.
Example: DOT X0YZ 1219
The last four digits tell you the week and year the tyre was manufactured.
First two digits → week of the year (01–52)
Last two digits → year
Example: 1219 means the tyre was made in week 12 of 2019.
So in short: PCV seems fine, keep an eye on the valve cover gasket, and check tyre pressures & tyres. That should cover most of what you’re feeling.
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(https://i.postimg.cc/wjSRXHkx/IMG-9739.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/87mCG23x)
Tyres are pilot sport 5
Looks like 2023. Same on all 4. I’m going to check pressure on them later
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Is that a couple of holes in the tyre?
(https://i.postimg.cc/Y2TSy7Ps/Screenshot-20260105-115708-Chrome.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Z0FZCG48)
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(https://i.postimg.cc/ZKBz2yNV/IMG-9741.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/6yXPGqYv)
Wear indicator I think? Same on all 4 tyres. Think the outer side more worn than inner. So maybe needs a 4 wheel alignment aswell
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Tyre pressure on 3 tyres was 34 PSI
1 tyre I couldn’t remove the cap. Prev owner put on metal VW ones and it’s stuck. Great 😂
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(https://i.postimg.cc/ZKBz2yNV/IMG-9741.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/6yXPGqYv)
Wear indicator I think? Same on all 4 tyres. Think the outer side more worn than inner. So maybe needs a 4 wheel alignment aswell
They look like tyre plugs, meaning the tyre has has 3 puntures :shocked:
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(https://i.postimg.cc/bv7zh3mP/IMG-9743.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sBJFP9FH)
(https://i.postimg.cc/CxnXgYXP/IMG-9747.png) (https://postimg.cc/RW9X1rMK)
I did some research when I seen them. I THINK they are to check tyre wear
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Ahhhhh, decent lol
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Phew