Volkswagen Repair: 2002 1.8T Acceleration, synthetic oil change, valve cover gasket

Question
About 3 weeks the check engine light on my 2002 has come on,bu thte car was running fine. I checked the codes and it indicated that there has been some misfires and that the #1 cylinder was running to lean.  But twice in the last week(mostly on Rainy Days), the car has started shaking on acceleration...the engine seems to rev fine when not in drive. Could the shaking be related to the misfires, and what should i do first to deal with this? I am considering new plugs, wires distributor cap and coil. Do any of these make sense to you? Oh and if it matters at all this is an automatic.

Answer
Hi James;
99% of all Passats run into this problem.  The oil needs to be changed more often, and with synthetic only.  That's for after the repairs.  Never go over 2500 miles on a pure synthetic oil change in a Passat.  It's too heavy a car for the size of the engine.  It just generates too much heat.  It doesn't have a distributor cap, and it has 4 coils.  There is software to update the ECM at the local Volkswagen dealer.  The plugs should be replaced, and more than likely the coil for #1 should be replaced too.  Switch the coils, and see if the misfire moves!  The valve cover gasket, the cam tensioner seal, and the suction jet pump, are all broken, seeping oil, or clogged.  Replace them, along with the coil, the software update...maybe an oil flush, and a full premium synthetic oil change using the factory filter...it's larger than other brands, and it holds the pressure at the oil cooler flange better than any brand period.  You can use a plastic jug, cut to fit around the filter so it doesn't spill all over when you loosen it.  That will be expensive all together, but worth it if you want to keep the car.  Probably less than 48, to 72 new car payments, but don't let the oil get dirty again.  It will break down to sludge, and carbon abrasive.  Good luck, James.