100% Free

No Scanner Needed

Carly logo

charleswilliams1

S6 Diesel Fuel Injection Issue Causes Rough Running Engine

My S6 diesel from 2021 (192k km) runs pretty rough lately and triggers the check engine light. The onboard diagnostics showed an error related to reset quantity drift compensation. The fuel injection seems off and the engine performance feels unstable. Had a bad experience with my last mechanic, so I want to avoid another costly mistake. Has anyone dealt with similar symptoms and can recommend what to check first? Really trying to figure out if this needs immediate attention or if there are some things I can verify myself before heading to a shop.

4 comment(s)

detleffeuer1

Had the exact same symptoms on my S4 TDI from 2018. The reset quantity drift compensation error pointed to failing fuel injectors. Initially thought it was minor, but the rough running and unstable performance kept getting worse. The fuel injection system needed urgent attention. After system reset attempts failed to resolve the issue, onboard diagnostics confirmed injector malfunction in cylinder 2. The problem required professional diagnosis and repair since faulty injectors can damage other engine components if left unchecked. The repair involved replacing the defective injector and performing a complete reset procedure for the injection system. This job requires specialized diagnostic equipment to properly calibrate the new injector with the engine management system. Would strongly advise against driving the vehicle much longer in this condition. Faulty injectors can cause poor fuel atomization, leading to increased engine wear and potential damage to the catalytic converter. The repair is complex but essential for proper engine function and preventing more extensive damage. Based on the similar symptoms and mileage, suggest having it checked by a certified shop with experience in diesel fuel injection systems. The onboard diagnostics data will help them pinpoint which injector is failing.

charleswilliams1 (Author)

Thanks for sharing your experience. This is really helpful since I am facing the same injector problems with my S6. Got the check engine light and rough running just like you described. The performance tuning seems completely off. The compensation adjustment and system reset you mentioned make sense as first steps. Did the shop perform any additional tests before confirming it was specifically the second cylinder injector? Just want to be thorough before committing to the repair. Could you share what the total repair cost was for your injector replacement and reset procedure? Also wondering if youve had any related issues pop up since getting it fixed?

detleffeuer1

Thanks for asking about the details. After taking it to the certified shop, they confirmed the faulty injector through comprehensive testing. Their diagnostic equipment ran a full car sensors check across all cylinders before confirming the issue. The reset quantity drift compensation error cleared completely after the repair and has not returned. The engine runs smoothly now, the compensation adjustment and system reset resolved all the performance issues I experienced before. The total cost came to 515 Euro for replacing the defective injection valve and performing the necessary calibration procedures. While not cheap, the repair was essential to prevent more serious engine damage. Have put about 25000km on it since the fix without any related problems. The rough running and performance issues disappeared completely after the repair. The drift compensation values have remained stable during all subsequent system checks. Definitely worth getting it properly diagnosed and fixed rather than continuing to drive with a faulty injector. The risk of additional engine damage would likely lead to much higher repair costs down the road.

charleswilliams1 (Author)

After reading about similar experiences, I finally took my S6 to a certified diesel specialist. The airflow sensors and fuel system diagnostic confirmed what others suggested, a faulty injector was causing the drift compensation issues. The shop did a thorough job testing all cylinders before replacing the problematic injector. The system reset and compensation adjustment took about 3 hours total, but the results were worth it. Total cost came to 490 Euro, which included the new injector, labor, and complete calibration. Its been 2 months since the repair, and the engine runs perfectly now. No more check engine light or rough performance issues. The shop explained that catching it early prevented potential damage to other components. Looking back, I stressed too much about finding the right mechanic, but the specialist shop handled everything professionally and kept me informed throughout the process.

Join the discussion now: