EGR & Intake Manifold Clean Results

Lefty loosy righty tighty.

Unless in the Southern Hemisphere .

 

I opted to let those screws win one battle: instead just gently pried up with small screw driver on one side of the valve, a paint can opener on the other, gave it a spray or two, and went round it with an old toothbrush.

 

Wow after reading more and more about EGR system clogging, intake manifold oil and gunk building up, I'm starting to lean toward doing the manifold/EGR cleaning, and adding oil catch can ASAP. I'm currently at about 52k miles, many say it is still early, but kinda don't want to wait for the 100k mark, that's from reading many posts, 90-100k is when engines start burning oil. Since the 40k mark I have been going with a 5k OCI, no oil lost, but better safe than sorry.

 

I wouldn't expect to find much there at that mileage unless you commonly buy low grade gas.

But better to do the job and ease your mind if it keeps you up at night .

 

Late last night I let the brake cleaner drain out, sprayed some more, ran wire through, and end up semi-clean but with a stubborn patina of carbon. @NutzAboutBolts cleaning seemed more effective, maybe different brake cleaner? Or maybe with heavier deposits when it comes off it comes off cleaner?? It's serviceable I think, not sure if I want to do more chemical assault, lol. Considering our low kilometers (70K), that might be the last time I'll visit it. If I do again it'll maybe be to just put in a new one. After cleaning, one full can can of brake cleaner:

Exhaust pipe end:



EGR valve end:



Maybe cosmetically still looking a bit grungy, but seems very clear, especially shining a light through the passages.

 

Good, but there's still a boatload of carbon in there.

Now, seal up one end, stand it up and add a tablespoon of oxyclean and chase this with some vinegar-water in a utility sink or bucket. Rinse with alternating hot and cold water and vigorous shaking (like emptying a ketchup bottle).

If you do this 1-2 times daily for a week the "patina of carbon" will be gone.

 

About 10 minutes further dry cleaning, just running a wire through without any solvents.


I'll persevere a bit longer, then blow some air through.

 

I'm going to try this.

 

From Characteristics of Field-aged EGR Cooler Deposits:

"As the exhaust gas flows through the EGR cooler, particulate matter (PM) will migrate from the hot exhaust gas to the cooled heat exchanger surface by thermophoresis forming a porous deposit that has a thermal conductivity comparable to Styrofoam making it a nearly ideal thermal insulator. In addition, hydrocarbons and water vapor in the exhaust gas may condense on the cooled metal wall. As the thickness of the deposit increases, the effectiveness of the EGR system decreases due to the inability to cool the exhaust gas."

This must be why the EGRs fail and will also lead to much higher combustion chamber temperatures.

 

Mendel took one for the team. Now we know to do this service after 100k miles.

 

Blew the cooler out with compressed air, a moderate cloud of dust came out. Then mixed up a generous tablespoon of Oxy-Clean with 100 cc of hottest tap water I could muster, bunged one end and poured it in.

It's acting like a science project volcano right now, bubbling out, some I'm thinking it's reacting with the stuff in there.

 

@NutzAboutBolts what were you at, 120~130K miles?

 

Kudos to @mjoo, the OxyClean solution really seems to be reacting with the deposits.

 

around 120-130k or so.

 

Anyone for Guinness?

 

Root beer float LOL

 

In OxyClean literature it says it is PH11. Distilled water is 7. Caustic oven cleaner is 13. So somewhat caustic, but not super aggressive, and seems to be working. I'm speculating now, if it would have been the most effective cleaner from the outset. Better for the environment I would think.

On my third cycle, leave each in for at least an hour. Starting to look shiny in there, and the rinse water's always black.

 

Oxyclean is what many homebrewers use to clean their stainless steel kegs.

You were spot on with that Guinness reference.

Pixel XL ?

 

Ive had same ssues at less than 80k .i could save myself lot of troubles if i knew all that was said over here about OCC.. Go for it . not a bad idea at all.