Hello Scotty and the community and happy new year to you all! I have a 2004 Volkswagen Golf 2.0 FSI with 6-speed standard tranny and 165k miles. The check engine light is on and it idles most of the time very rough and it happens very very rarely that it even shuts off when idling, but starts right up again and doesn't shut off again. It smells a lot like gasoline from the exhaust (not from the engine), especially when cold. But it runs perfectly fine and consumes sometimes the usual amount, but sometimes up to 1 liter per 100 km more (e.g. from 39 mpg to 34 mpg), not always though and doesn't lose any power. I've had it checked and my mechanic mentioned something about valves, but it would be way too expensive to fix and I should just keep driving. What could be the issue? And is that something that I could fix myself when taking the time and tools? I've had this issue now for thousands of miles and it hasn't changed anything, so it didn't get worse or something. I'd actually love to keep it, since it has been pretty solid for the past 95k miles that I've owned it, had almost only some age related seal repairs that were dirt cheap and a melted control unit (that obviously shouldn't melt), but was luckily only 200 bucks to fix. Engine burns a quart of oil every about 7k miles. A/C doesn't always work, so does not the passenger door lock, but I don't mind. Are these FSI valves a ticking time bomb or will it just run rich when idling, but fine when driving?

Have a good weekend you guys!

Kind regards, Stefan