
To Clean An Electronic EGR Valve
- Disconnect the negative battery cable. By removing the negative battery cable from the battery, you ensure no current...
- Disengage and remove any sensors and electrical connections along with any hoses.
- Loosen the bolts to remove the EGR valve and gasket.
- Check the hoses and gasket for wear, to replace or reuse.
- Spray carbon deposits with EGR-valve or carburetor cleaner. ...
- Use a dull scraper and a pipe cleaning brush to scrub carbon buildup. ...
- To deal with rock-hard buildup, leave the valve soaking in the cleaning solution for a few minutes. ...
- Repeat step 3 to fight stubborn carbon deposits.
What are the symptoms of a bad EGR valve?
What Are The 9 Symptoms of a Faulty EGR Valve?
- Check engine light. The easiest way to figure out if your EGR valve is faulty is by noticing your check engine light on.
- Failed emissions test. If your car fails the emissions test, you most likely have a faulty EGR valve. ...
- Engine knock. ...
- Lack of acceleration. ...
- Rough idle. ...
- Fuel smell around the car. ...
- Bad fuel economy. ...
- Black smoke from the tailpipe. ...
How to fix EGR leak?
EGR Valve and System Passages Cleaning
- Tools You'll Need:
- Removing the Valve: On some models, you only need to remove two mounting bolts. ...
- Cleaning the Valve: After removing the valve, use an EGR valve cleaner, if possible. However, you can use carburetor cleaner or solvent as well.
How to clean a dirty EGR valve?
- Locate the EGR valve.
- Remove the valve and the other components that might get in the way.
- Cleaning the EGR valve by spraying an EGR valve cleaner and using a pipe cleaning brush and dull scraper.
- Soaking the valve in a cleaning solution overnight if it is hard to clean. ...
- Putting the EGR back to its original location.
How to Check EGR?
- EGR valve fault codes that light up the check engine light (CEL) on your instrument cluster.
- EGR valve fault codes: P0401 EGR System Flow Insufficient. ...
- Rough idle.
- Really bad gas mileage.
- Lack of power as you accelerate the vehicle down the road.

What can I use to clean my EGR?
1:533:26Cool Trick to Clean EGR Valve in Your Car (Low Flow Code P0401)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd before I put the EGR valve there's another trick get some wd-40 spray it in the hole. I'll letMoreAnd before I put the EGR valve there's another trick get some wd-40 spray it in the hole. I'll let it soak for about half an hour the penetrating oil will get on the stem.
What is the best fuel additive to clean the EGR valve?
STP® Professional Series Diesel EGR Cleaner Cleans air intake system inlet valves and EGR valves. STP® Professional Diesel EGR Cleaner is designed to quickly dissolve gum, lacquer, carbon and tar like deposits from the air intake system.
Is it worth cleaning an EGR?
Why should you clean the EGR valve? A clean EGR valve can reduce the amount of nitrous oxide emitted from your car. Also, cleaning the EGR valve can help increase the longevity and performance of your car's engine. An unclean EGR valve can damage both your vehicle and the environment.
Can you clean EGR valve at home?
An Easy Repair You Can Do at Home If your car is running poorly, you may be having problems with your exhaust gas recirculation valve, or EGR. While you can't test your EGR valve function from home, you can clean it there, a simple task that effectively acts as a repair.
Will fuel cleaner help EGR?
Fuel choice and preventive maintenance can help avoid fouling and downtime due to exhaust gas recirculation systems. Most diesel engines in the U.S. use a combination of technologies to reduce emissions.
Will fuel injector cleaner help EGR valve?
In order to be able to clean properly, 2 products are needed, a product that cleans the fuel system, Tecflow Speed Cleaner and Tecflow Top Engine Cleaner that cleans the fuel system by the air inlet. This optimally cleans the EGR system, the EGR valves, the intake manifold and the inlet valves.
How do I stop my EGR valve from blocking?
0:274:49How to Block EGR to Prevent Carbon Build Up on Turbo Diesel EnginesYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhat I'm gonna do effectively is to block the passage of exhaust gas recirculation to the intakeMoreWhat I'm gonna do effectively is to block the passage of exhaust gas recirculation to the intake manifold without touching the existing.
Can you clean EGR valve without taking off?
0:121:42How To Clean A EGR Valve With Spray Without Removing It - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSimply undo it take the can and then trade it in in small intervals. And when the engine recoveredMoreSimply undo it take the can and then trade it in in small intervals. And when the engine recovered spray another play the PIPA straight too much you will have to make the empty not right.
What are the symptoms of a faulty EGR valve?
What are the symptoms of a failing EGR valve?Your engine has a rough idle. ... Your car has poor performance. ... You have increased fuel consumption. ... Your car frequently stalls when idling. ... You can smell fuel. ... Your engine management light stays on. ... Your car produces more emissions. ... You hear knocking noises coming from the engine.
Does WD 40 clean EGR?
If you just want something to clean your EGR valves that will do the job well without hassle, we recommend going with the WD-40 specialist cleaner. WD-40 products are widely available, and trustworthy, and you will be able to get your EGR valves cleaned effectively using it.
Can you use carb cleaner to clean EGR valve?
To clean your EGR valve, start by cleaning the vacuum hose with carburetor cleaner or a pipe cleaner. Then, unbolt the valve, and clean the return tube and entry port using carburetor cleaner, and a toothbrush or pipe cleaner.
Can you clean EGR valve by driving?
Driving a long distance at high engine speeds of up to 50km should improve the cleaning. You can remove your EGR valve to ascertain the effect of this process.
How often can you use EGR cleaner?
Clean the valve and EGR system passages every 18 or 24 months as part of your vehicle maintenance schedule.
Does diesel system Cleaner clean EGR?
Provides immediate thorough cleaning of the air intake system, air flow sensor, inlet valves, turbo and EGR systems.
What to do if there is carbon build up around EGR valve?
If there is a lot of carbon build up around the EGR valve, you may also want to just save yourself some time and replace it with a new one.
How to remove EGR gasket?
Check the hoses and gasket for wear, to replace or reuse. Spray the valve and hoses with carburetor cleaner, using a brush to clean off the carbon buildup out of any hoses and small hole with the pintle.
How to clean carbon from exhaust gas?
Use carburetor cleaner and a small-bristled brush like a wire brush, toothbrush or pipe cleaner to clean off the carbon from the metal exhaust gas return tube and the gas entry port on the valve (usually the smaller hole with a spring-loaded pin, or “pintle”).
How to inspect EGR valve?
Inspect the EGR valve for damage. Loosen any bolts fastening the EGR valve to the engine. Inspect the gasket lining the bottom plate of the valve. If it's not frayed or cracked, you can reuse it.
What happens if the EGR valve stays closed?
If the valve stays closed, detonation could occur in the combustion chambers; this knocking or pinging will lower mileage and the lifespan of the engine. To smooth a rough idle, or hesitant or surging acceleration, and reduce knocking, clean your EGR valve. Steps.
How to clean carbon deposits from carburetor?
1. Clean and inspect the vacuum hose. Remove the vacuum hose and inspect closely for wear (cracks or weak spots), then clean out the carbon deposits either with a spray can of carburetor cleaner or with a pipe cleaner if the deposits are hardened or compacted. ...
Why do EGR valves open and close?
The warmth of the exhaust lets the combustion chambers warm up quickly, while the spent, inert gases keep the chambers from getting too hot when the engine fully warms up. Whether mechanical or electronic, EGR valves open and close to control the gas flow.
How to clean EGR valves?
Gather the needed cleaning supplies. In order to clean your EGR valve, you will need to have a clean microfiber towel, an EGR valve cleaner, and latex gloves.
How much EGR solution should I use for a 500 ml can?
The EGR valve solution that I use comes in a 500ml can. Ideally, I use half of the can only. Make sure to spray little by little. You don’t want to overwhelm the engine. Short 1 second sprays will do the job just fine. Wipe the EGR valve and surrounding area with a microfiber towel.
What happens if EGR valve is clogged?
Normally, when the EGR valve is clogged, rough idle will occur. The EGR valve can get stuck open and there can be increased fuel consumption and smoke smell while driving. If this happens, you will fail an emission test. Moreover, the check engine light will illuminate and trigger EGR error codes.
What causes a clogged EGR valve?
Usually, this is caused by a blockage and buildup of carbons. If the EGR valve is clogged, there is also a good chance the intake manifold is full of carbon as well. Some of the symptoms of a stuck closed EGR valve are pinging noise, tapping noise, and detonation noise, and a check engine light.
What is the purpose of EGR valve?
The function of the EGR valve is to reduce emission gases exhausted from the vehicle. The emission gas is recirculated back to the engine through the intake manifold to be re-burned in the combustion chamber. Normally, when the EGR valve is clogged, rough idle will occur.
Why does my EGR valve go bad?
Then, it’ll suck so much air that the engine will idle poorly and run bad because there would be more air than fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.
Where is the EGR valve located?
The EGR valve is attached to the intake manifold. Usually, the EGR valve is located where on the backside of the engine. If you do not have direct access to the EGR valve without removing a lot of parts, you can find the nearest access to the EGR valve.
How to clean EGR?
Unfortunately, the most effective way to clean an EGR is to remove it and clean it manually (if you have access to it). You’ll remove the EGR and the periphery pipework. Scrape off as much carbon as you can manually, then use a quality EGR aerosol cleaner such as Ecotec Soot Cleaner Aerosol, to clean the remainder and reassemble the system.
What to do when EGR is clean?
Once the EGR is clean and operational it is important to take the steps necessary to prevent further carbon buildup. While you can never stop it completely, what you can do is maintain a manageable level of carbon that the engine can naturally consume without the deposits becoming excessive. If you were to remove the EGR, what you’d be looking for is a very fine layer of carbon that you can scratch off with your nail. Anything more than that would be considered excessive.
What to use to clean EGR valve?
1. Firstly, use a high quality polyetheramine-based fuel system cleaner and carbon remover to ensure injector and combustion efficiency is restored. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a clogged EGR valve soon after. For this we recommend Archoil AR6400 or AR6400-D MAX for diesel engines.
What is an EGR valve?
An EGR valve, or exhaust gas recirculation system is a primary component of an engine’s emissions system on both petrol and diesel powered vehicles. Its purpose is to reduce NOx emissions by recycling a proportion of the combustion gases that normally exit through the exhaust.
What happens if an EGR valve is blocked?
If the EGR valve begins to stick or is blocked up, the solenoid used to operate it will draw more current to open it. The ECU detects that condition and throws an engine warning light. The symptoms of a faulty EGR include: As deposits begin to accumulate this restricts the flow of gases and disturbs the fuel mixture.
What is carbon buildup in EGR?
It is important to note that the carbon buildup you see in an EGR system and other emission control components is not only from the combustion process . In most cases, it’s a combination of combustion-produced hydrocarbons and also carbons and deposits from the crankcase oil. This is where many fail to correctly arrest deposit build-up on ...
Why is it important to have sufficient heat in an EGR?
It is important that there is sufficient heat. Heat, combined with the cleaner, recycled exhaust gases, helps remove carbon. The problem with the EGR is that the gases are usually cooled by the time they reach the valve and the periphery pipework.
How to Clean EGR Valve?
Spray cleaner in both openings of the EGR valve. The picture below is for reference, but your specific EGR valve may appear different as the ports may be in another configuration.
What to use to scrape carbon off?
If it’s really dirty, you may need to use a pick to scrape off the bigger chunks of carbon or a wire brush.
Where does the EGR valve connect to?
Note where the EGR Valve connects to the intake manifold or cylinder head. This is where the largest amount of carbon will be built up due to the change in temperature as the hot exhaust gases come into contact with the cool intake manifold gases. This will be where you start the EGR passage cleaning procedure.
How to clean carbon fiber?
Start by spraying the cleaner into the port. Then use a pick or a repurposed wire coat hanger to push through the carbon. Continue this until you can spray cleaner all the way through the passageway. Tech Tip: Some passageways may not appear to be passageways at all due to being completely blocked.
Can you have multiple EGR ports?
Some vehicles may have multiple cleaning ports for the EGR system. Reference your vehicle-specific service manual to see if this applies to your vehicle. If it does, remove the access plugs and clean these ports in the same fashion as above.
Why is it important to keep EGR valves clean?
It’s really important that an EGR valve is kept working at it’s optimum performance and to do that, it needs to be clean and free of carbon deposit build up.
What is Holts EGR cleaner?
Holts EGR & Carb cleaner is a professional product formulated to quickly remove deposits caused petrol in carburettors or exhaust gases in diesel engines. By removing the harmful carbon deposits, performance and power is greatly restored and also emissions are reduced.
Why is my EGR valve idle slow?
This could be due to the EGR Valve being stuck in the open position and allowing too much exhaust gas back into the manifold. Conversely, it could also be blocked and not allowing any gas through.
How does the EGR valve affect combustion temperature?
Because of this, the Oxygen content is lowered and increases the water vapour content to the combustion mixture which reduces combustion temperature. Because more NOx is created as peak combustion temperature rises, the EGR valve effectively reduces the amount of NOx produced the engine.
How does an EGR valve work?
The EGR valve begins working once the engine is started and is up and running calculating the correct operating temperature and as the speed increases. Steadily and slowly, the EGR valve regulates the flow of exhaust gases. Once your car starts to slow down and the engine stops, the EGR valve will return to its closed position and prevent the flow of exhaust gases.
What happens if you block an EGR valve?
A blocked or faulty EGR valve can lead to expensive repair bills and time off the road for your car. Using an EGR valve cleaner regularly will help keep the system free of carbon build up, ensure your car is running at it’s best at all times and also have a positive impact on the environment.
What is an EGR valve?
An EGR valve is an essential component of a car engine and can cause a whole host of problems if it isn’t maintained properly. Essentially, an EGR Valve has one purprose, to stop harmful nitrogen oxide pollution from exiting your car via the exhaust system.
