EGR & Intake Manifold Clean Results

I thought it looked a little thin. Could be a little gas mixed in, and if left out in the air it would vaporize, thicken up. And it's a tablespoon or two. Still, in 333 kms? Anyway, I'm really glad to see something, would be pissed if it was clean, lol.

My premise that ports 1 and 2 were the grubbiest, might be premature. I just put in fresh stuff, and really tried to swirl it and shoot it in quickly (in through the EGR pipe), and all the ports seem to be bubbling uniformly now. The oxy tends to be a suspension more than a solution, and maybe clumped up at 1 and 2?

I seem to be able to do this over and over, without it running clear. This is dumping the heaviest solution/suspension I can get in there, just the EGR channels now. Then after an hour or two dump, run hot tap water in, slosh back and forth, dump, still pretty dark, and flecks of stuff.

For someone doing this for others like @Raytheeagle a spare EGR cooler AND intake manifold might be the way to go.

 

The possibilities are endless .

The spare cooler is a great idea and has seen use.

Maybe @Aaron Vitolins would offer up the spare intake manifold off of his engine.

 

I should look up used manifolds on eBay. I continue to mine carbon out of the manifold EGR passages. If anything it's tougher than the cooler, like a black box. Just sort of guessing what's happening in there.

 

Did you loosen with a brush prior to starting? If not, that might help with cycle time reduction .

Just a thought .

 

I had the manifold off about a week back, did the brush and rag regimen with Brakleen, ran a pipe cleaner type brush down maybe the first 1/3 of the EGR main passage, then a grabit tool with cloth soaked in Brakleen for the whole length. Thought I was done.

But then after doing the EGR cooler first with Brakleen (so-so results), then with OxiClean (completely clean to shiny metal), it occured to me to redo the manifold with OxyClean, in particular the EGR passages.

@mjoo suggested the use of OxyClean on the cooler, and it came through very well for me. He also advocates patience, ie: pour it in, let it soak, and soak. Alternate with agitation and flushing. He was talking about a week for thorough cooler cleaning. I was able to get it shiny clean in about 12 hours, maybe 6~7 cycles.

The manifold is proving more difficult though. Well that's assuming as long as the rinse water runs brown. It's impossible to see the interior EGR passage condition. I'm going to let this cycle soak overnight, wrap it up sometime tomorrow.

 

Perhaps we should call these contraptions combustion-and-crankcase-vapors-fallen-out-of-suspension-spooge catch cans?..

Maybe our resident Eagle Scout/chem engineer can pull a sample from his throttle body and perform a chemical composition analysis?..

 

Maybe some water vapour too? When I pulled the intake manifold off yesterday I noticed water dripping off a bit. This is after having freshly cleaned egr cooler back in there for a day or two. It was enough that as I lifted it off it dripped a bit on the chromed top of the oil catch can below. And yeah it was straight water; I tasted it.

 

Have you tried adding a few tablespoons of vinegar to your oxiclean mixture? I did a search on cleaning soot out of a fireplace - that's what a few websites recommended. The vinegar cuts through grease.

Pixel XL ?

 

Unfortunately I couldn't find any straight vinegar, only apple cider, and I wouldn't wish that on an intake manifold. Just as I'm typing this, it occurs to me: I have some photo grade acetic acid concentrate, maybe a teaspoon of that. It has a colour indicator.

Together with the (fairly basic) oxyclean that'll get quite foamy??

 

I'm not a chemist.

If there was a concern with the vinegar or acetic acid reacting with the oxyclean these could be separated. I.e. fill with vinegar (or acetic acid), soak, brush, rinse, then fill with oxyclean, soak, brush, rinse.

 

Can you refresh my memory: what amount of (5% acetic acid) vinegar per water volume were you recommending/using?

 

hey guys, well in my case I did my 150 mile work drive and the check engine light went away, car is very powerful. managed to pull a 9 second run at the 1/4 mile @ 165 mph. So for now all is well lol

Thanks to everyone for there help, tips and knowledge. And big thanks to nutz for is videos. Without them I'd be lost.

 

Yeah that's a homebrewer's mentality where it takes a bunch of time, water and oxiclean to clean a 15 gallon half barrel keg. The brewer wants the most efficacy for his chemicals allowing time to be the mechanic while he sleeps.

Of course the EGR cooler is a whole lot easier to work with compared with kegs.

Either approach works though. If there's alternative transportation available one can start the soak in the morning and finish it when he gets home from work. Or if you have a day off you can do multiple cleanings in one day and knock it down.

 

Keep in mind over a "standard" oil change interval about 1 litre or US quart of oil in the engine IS lost, but is usually replaced with gasoline in the oil. Which is only one of the reasons we change it. So the oil level not dropping is NOT an indicator of no loss.

 

About a 1:1 oxyclean-vinegar ratio worked well for me - I didn't measure it. I've only cleaned one cooler and with your tenacity you might find a better ratio.

 

Well, the EGR cooler I was able to get sparking clean. The intake manifold EGR passages, not so much. This morning I rinsed out the overnight soak in OxyClean, then ran brushes through all passages, they still are somewhat grubby. Tried a couple of Easy-Off Oven Cleaner sessions as well, kept getting stuff, but not "conclusive".

Looking with the pinpoint light on my phone, I can see some relatively rough interior surfaces, not sure if that's the plastic finish, or a patina of carbon, or both. Things are at least very clear and unobstructed. Reading up a bit on the 3rd gen Prius saga:

INTAKE MANIFOLD INFO:
part number: 17120-37050
supersceded by: 17120-37051
Then, for EGR misfire condition, by: 17120-37054
and then: 17120-37091

And some TSB's I found:

 

Did you do anything else, say battery disconnect for a minute?

I'm asking because...: now I've got check engine light, groan. This was before engine start up even. Pulled the air box off, checked all connectors. Will try just driving, see how it goes.

 

Remember there is that small connector at the top of the engine that you might have taken off to get access to the heater hose that has a T-fitting on it.

 

When I left work to go home, i started the car and the light was gone. I did nothing else. another member on here mentioned it takes a few drive cycles before it clears itself.