EGR Cleaning: What did I get myself into?

I bet you’re glad you looked before just installing .

While you have some work to do, you’ll be ready for the install .

Good luck and keep us posted .

 

It’s cooked on carbon deposits, it’s a challenge .

I wouldn’t worry about it if it isn’t thick.

Try scraping the surface and see how thick it is . If thin, I’d just let it be. Doesn’t need to be spotless, just better than what’s going in.

Good pics and progress .

 

It probably is, but you never know.

Remember, this spare is is going into dirty service and you’ll do this again (or at least I assume so given you bought a spare).

So IMO not critical to get it “spotless”.

Looks good though.

 

Agree with Ray in that the carbon coking in the EGR valve is a non-issue. What's important is that the circuit will allow the exhaust gasses to move freely from the exhaust manifold all the way to the combustion chamber. Your valve and cooler are both looking excellent, IMO. Plenty good enough for me, even before the Oxi soaks! Nice work.

 

It would be cool to have a PriusChat Circulating EGR Cooler. Get a clean one from the last person, make the swap, clean up your old one, send it to the next person....

-Chap

 

Already started in the Bay Area.

Excellent concept and idea .

 

That sounds great! Currently looking on eBay for an extra EGR setup to prepare for the upcoming job... currently at 97k and change... but they all seem overpriced.

 

What price were you seeing?

I paid $35 for the cooler a couple of years ago.

Thought it was a great price .

 

That's a fantastic price! I've read others have found a pipe/cooler combo for around $85-100. But at the moment, I'm seeing $60+ for the pipe and $150-200+ for the cooler.

 

I picked mine up locally at Rancho Toyota recyclers.

$35 for the cooler and $65 for the valve.

With the benefit of hindsight, I would have just gotten the cooler, but always good to have a complete swap ready for the next use.

 

I'm not sure about Oxi-Clean on the valve, since it is mostly aluminum. I'd stick to the Stainless Steel cooler with the Oxi.

OTOH, I think the worst it can do is dull-grey the surface.

It shines on the cooler though, just mix it as thick and hot as you can, dump it in with the south end plugged. Let it sit an hour or so, maybe run a thin wire through the passageways as it sits. Then rinse well with hot water and repeat.

I'm thinking this purchased one might be in worse shape than the one on your car? But at least it reduces the car down time. Personally, daily use of our car is never mandatory, and I found the whole process was maybe 36 hours, just fiddling around, cleaning the one I pulled off the car.

 

Yes, oxi-clean dulls the aluminum on the valve. I tried it. I don't think it will hurt the valve with a few soaks of Oxi but that's not proven yet.

Why not get another 5k miles out of the cooler with a few extra soaks of oxi-clean? The EGR valve is much easier to remove compared to the EGR cooler.

Next time I swap EGR coolers I'll try an Oxi-clean only cleaning. Oxi-clean does such a tremendous job that I wouldn't be surprised if it grabs all the carbon. That would be a huge time saver compared to drilling around the cooling fins.

 

Oh yeah, I'm enthusiastic about using Oxi-Clean on the cooler, and that was your suggestion, appreciate it. It took maybe 5~6 one hour soaks, and came out shiny-new clean.