How To Clean The EGR Valve

Through the Exhaust Gas Recirculation valves or EGR valve, exhaust gases recirculate, reducing nitrous oxide. How to clean the EGR valve at home is a frequently asked question among amateur and experienced drivers.

In this combustion process in which the valves open and close to control the passage of air, if they remain open, the excess air could cool the engine, which would lead to failures. On the contrary, if they remain closed, this would cause overheating that could even generate explosions.

This constant inlet and outlet of gases make it a part prone to clogging due to excess nitrous oxide, which is why the valve works in such a way that it cleans the gases that emanate from the engine and are expelled into the environment.

In order for your car to rev up properly, it is important that you keep your EGR valves clean. Really, it depends on this that the operation of the car is in tune because simply a dirty EGR valve would reduce the engine revolutions.

To know how to clean the EGR valve you don’t need to be a mechanical expert, with some knowledge you can get to it. In this post we show you the easiest way to  clean the EGR valve of your car at home.

How do you know when you should clean the EGR valve?

• You must be attentive to the lighting of the witnesses on the dashboard if the valve is electronic.
• When a warning light comes on it is because the valve is dirty.
• In general, EGR valves do not have a witness that indicates that they need cleaning.
• When a fault in the engine, injection or heaters lights up, it is possible that it is the valve.
• Read the car manual well, specifically where the indications of the witnesses appear.
• Other signs that the EGR valve needs cleaning appear during the car’s trajectory. If on the road, your car’s engine jerks or loses speed, you should check the valve.
• If you have starting problems or the car consumes excessive smoke, you should also check them.

Instructions for cleaning the EGR valve

Do not be alarmed when you open your hood and see the engine of your car with so many parts. The first thing you should determine is the type of EGR valve that your car has;  They can be: mechanical or pneumatic, and electronic. Remember that you must be especially careful not to confuse the type of valve that your car engine has.

Mechanical valves have very sensitive membranes and electronic ones could suffer some electrical damage if you don’t know how to distinguish them. After knowing what type of EGR valve is in your car, very carefully disconnect all the connectors.

Be careful and break nothing, because due to the high temperatures emanating from the engine, some parts could dry out. Also, while you are disconnecting the tubes and connectors from the valve, make sure of the condition of the vacuum tubes, in case you need to change them.

Cleaning of mechanical or pneumatic EGR valves

1. The first thing you should do is remove the vacuum hose and look for tears or holes.
2. Clean carbon deposits with a specialized cleaner.
3. It is a carburetor cleaner to remove carbon or fuel residues.
4. Unscrew the nuts that hold the EGR valve to the engine.
5. If the gasket that is at the base of the valve is deteriorated, you should replace it.
6. To clean the valve, use a small brush and carburetor cleaner.
7. The brush must fit through the recirculation tube, so that you can remove the carbon remains from the interior.
8. The recirculation tube is where the exhaust gases pass through, it is a small hole with a bolt on a spring.
9. The port is also the inlet port where the tubes are attached to the car’s engine.
10. This is located by the intake manifold.
11. Now, you can install the valve again.
12. But first, check that the vacuum diaphragm moves freely.
13. Reconnect all the parts.

Electronic EGR valve cleaning

1. The first thing you should do is take off the negative battery cable.
2. This way you will avoid any electrical accident.
3. In the same way, disconnect the sensors and tube or hoses that go directly to the valve.
4. Unscrew the bolts and separate the valve from the engine.
5. Check if the tubes or hoses are worn and replace if necessary.
6. Moisten the valve with a carburetor cleaner product.
7. After a few minutes, rub with a small brush to remove the toughest residue.
8. Reinstall the EGR valve back to the engine.
9. Don’t forget to reconnect the battery cable.

What do you need to clean the EGR valve?

• Set of screwdrivers and wrenches for screws.
• Toothbrush is a hard bristle brush.
• Carburetor cleaner.
• Manual on the engine of your car.
• Pipe cleaner is ideal for hoses and tubes.
• Gaskets, tubes and hoses in case you have to replace high.

Tips for cleaning the EGR valve

• All the parts that you separate from the valve and the engine can be soaked in the carburetor cleaning fluid.
• You can also use gasoline to remove carbon residue that fouls the valve.
• Make sure that the gasoline and cleaner do not touch the gasket as they will damage it.
• If the valve is electric, it is vital that you do not wet the connectors with any cleaner.
• Clean the EGR valve in the open air, the gases emanating from the engine could affect you.