Semi completed egr service

Did you happen to collect any EGR flow monitor values from before or after the cleaning?

 

On that EGR monitor thread there are examples of people using other OBD-II scanners, smartphone apps, or what-not, that also can retrieve the EGR flow stats; all that's needed is a tool that can issue "mode 6" monitor status queries. For a tool that hasn't got this knowledge built in, the EGR flow monitor result is monitor ID 31 (hex), test ID bd (also hex).

 

Have you done the small passages in the intake manifold yet?

That's, in my opinion, the easiest subtask and also the one most worth doing, because the single MAP sensor used for the feedback control of EGR isn't able to detect different levels of occlusion in those four ports.

 

Equals: doesn’t know some might be more clogged than others.

Cyl 1 passage (nearest passenger end) seems to invariable clog up fastest.

Have you got the wiper and cowl off? It makes cooler access (for removal) much easier.

 

In much the same way that taking your shirt off makes a DIY splenectomy much easier.

 

That tends to be the general order of things anyway. Of the nuts attaching the valve to the cooler, one becomes pretty inaccessible once it's all been secured to the cylinder head. If you ever want to just replace the EGR valve for some reason, you may find it necessary to loosen, at least, the cooler mountings.

Once the cooler and valve have been removed together, removing the valve from the cooler is easy-peasy.

 

Wouldn’t mind being proved wrong, but I think full removal is ultimately easier. And cleaning is way easier, cooler likely fully cleanable, with patience. I found oxi-clean soaks good. Check out “bad flywheel” link in my sig, some tips on avoiding coolant spill.

 

Or just schedule for when you want a coolant change anyway, and spill it on purpose.

 

I don't think I spilled a drop, using method in the "bad flywheel" link. Clamping the coolant hoses on the cooler is an absurd excercise: you clamp them, pull them off, and the coolant all spills out of the cooler, which is above. A preemptive drain of 2 quarts drops the level below the system, then just pour back into reservoir when done. Helps to have coolant vent open when refilling (2010~2011), and for later years (which nix the vent) disconnect a topmost hose will accomplish same thing. And NO need to disconnect throttle body coolant lines.