Otherwise a robust engine; carbon is a minor DI check

Once the water pump/thermostat are sorted, owners consider the 3.0T very durable — markedly less needy than the 2.7T or 4.2. As a direct-injected engine it does accumulate intake-valve carbon, so a walnut-blast is a periodic check, but it's lower-priority than on the RS4 and some skip it while running well.