Cleaning EGR

DJMK4 · 7 Mar 2017 at 12:00

Hi all,

Just a quick question really, I am due to clean out the EGR valve again, tackled this a couple of years ago, last time I used a can of spray carb cleaner, and a lot of elbow grease, was wondering is there a preferred method of getting the liquid stuff and pouring it in a container, and placing the EGR value in and letting it soak for a while before trying to get all the crud out?

BMW 320D E90 is the car,

paradigm · 7 Mar 2017 at 12:49

I believe Wynns EGR cleaner is better suited to removing the carbon deposits than carb cleaner, but the last time I cleaned an EGR I did it the manual way, as you describe.

bJN · 7 Mar 2017 at 17:16

Petrol.

DJMK4 · 7 Mar 2017 at 20:36

Im going to have a nosey in halfords and eurocarparts tomorrow I think for the cleaning agent.

Need something stronger than a toothbrush this time

I was using a toothbrush and a big flathead.

Some sort of wire brush I think will be good

Finglonga · 8 Mar 2017 at 09:33

Dremel can be handy to clean them if you have one.

Big Spender · 8 Mar 2017 at 16:42

bJN said:
Petrol.

Second this. Tub full of petrol. Leave the egr in there a while and then clean it.

Iamzod · 8 Mar 2017 at 21:37

Don't use **** fuels, I run my Mondeo MK3 TDCi on V-Power, a waste of money some say but I removed the EGR after 85k when a boost hose split and it was pretty clean.

I got it shiny with a cap full of engine degreaser and an old toothbrush.

Conscript · 8 Mar 2017 at 21:46

Italian tune up?
I tried a can of Wynn's, the stuff you spray into the intake, to clean the EGR valve on our XTrail when it threw a fault code for the valve being stuck open. It worked for a bit, but the EML light eventually returned. A good hard thrash along the motorway saw it cleared up for good though.

DJMK4 · 9 Mar 2017 at 08:39

Just got some carb cleaner for £3.50 and a wire brush set (slightly larger version of a toothbrush) with wires on the end.

Yeh I know I should use good fuel really. I have been running up and down motorway over the last week.

Orionaut · 9 Mar 2017 at 09:00

If you can find somebody who has one, an ultrasonic cleaning tank. (I am thinking of getting one myself for doing this sort of thing)

DJMK4 · 11 Mar 2017 at 17:16

Run out of cleaner, but here are the results, it wasnt as messy as I thought it would be, I was expecting a lot more in 2 years and running on not the best fuel.

Below was 2 years ago before I had given its first EGR clean in my ownership

Was going to take the MAF sensor off, as I have been reading up on that, and giving it a clean, people clean the actual MAF enclosure, but the important (and delecate thing) is a wire inside which is the actual sensor, and needs to be cleaned carefully with a cue tip or tip of some sort with a delicate cloth and some maf cleaner? anyone done this?

Conscript · 11 Mar 2017 at 18:48

I usually just spray them liberally with electrical contact cleaner then allow them to dry, rather than touch the wires inside. The cars I've done this on though, I don't think were suffering particular problems with the MAF - I just did it when servicing them. So hard to tell if it had any effect.

Cracking job on that EGR by the way. I wanted to take it off our X-Trail and do something similar, but it was so inaccessible, I ended up just booting the throttle wide open on the motorway when the engine was nice and hot. Seemed to do the trick - nice big cloud of black smoke, and the engine management light never returned

DJMK4 · 11 Mar 2017 at 20:36

Cheers

yeh i used a single can of carb cleaner with that and a wire brush. There was still a little bit there. I may try the petrol bath method next time if i ever have to clean an EGR.

Re maf
Yeh will go with that i think, although its the wire bit that needs the clean. I have been told elec contact cleaner, Or carb cleaner. Probably won't touch it if i do find it. I will just give it a spray and let it dry, need to read up more on it