The other day I dropped my car off at a European specialist shop, and while I was there, a technician was working in the engine bay of a Mk7 Golf R, cleaning out carbon deposits off the intake valves.

Q: I have a 2009 VW with gasoline direct inject and a 2.0-liter turbo engine. It recently needed the intake valves cleaned (a very costly job) after just 54,000 miles. I understand many manufacturers ...

There are many things that can degrade your vehicle's performance over time, from a dirty air filter and low tire pressure, to fouled spark plugs and worn out plug wires. However, nothing will rob ...