EGR Cleaning: What did I get myself into?

On my EGR cooler clearing.. I'm thinking to soap EGR cooler in a gallon of Gasoline for overnight.. 92 or 87 gas??

 

Drain 2 liter out from the radiator drainer?

My 2013 Throttle body doesn't have Trox Studs. I have cleared my manifold, egr pipe and throttle body.

 

"I'm thinking to soak EGR cooler in a gallon of Gasoline for overnight.. 92 or 87 gas??"

You're joking, right? Waste of gasoline. Use heavy duty oven cleaner: Plug end of cooler (opposite the valve), spray in oven cleaner,
allow to sit and foam for an hour or so. Rinse and repeat as needed.

 

I would use a pressure washer to clean out the oven cleaner. It really helps to clean it out.

 

+1.

I've cleaned many coolers, some severely plugged, and in 15 minutes they are back to clean and ready for service.

You can then clean with other products, like brake kleen or similar, depending on your level of OCD.

 

And a dilemma: how do you safely/responsibly dispose of that gas?

Or Oxi-Clean solution. It's a similar chemical reaction, just a little more benign.

Pressure washers also, fast and effective. I haven't tried it but those that have never look back.

 

Yes.

EGR & Intake Manifold Clean Results | Page 3 | PriusChat

 

I normally suggest to drain the coolant completely to do a full flush. That way you have a fresh start on engine coolant as a maintenance note


iPhone ?

 

Wait... Does it need to be use Oil Based Cleaner Solutions like Brake Clearer etc.. Why you guys recommend, Oxi Clearer, Pressure Clear and Oven Clearer??

 

Oxi Clean is a water soluble powder, a laundry additive. It's moderately basic (as opposed to acidic), and reacts with carbon. It also has some sort of enzymatic action going??

I first used Brake Cleaner, had so-so results. Then did oxi clean solution soaks (as hot and concentrated as I could get it), got it absolutely as-new clean. It took about 5 one-hour soaks with Oxi: you can see it react, bubble, and the froth has carbon flecks. After about an hour the reaction dies down, you rinse and repeat.

 

Oven cleaner is designed to clean the built up cooked food in the oven.
It works on the exhaust build up in the cooler. I used it to decarbonize the pistons and rings on my
RD350. It does a good job. Just let it soak and do it's job.
The pressure washer will do extra work to help clean it.
You can use other things, they do work. But consider the cost, and time, it takes for it to work.
It will also depend on how bad it is clogged. If you have access to a glass beader cleaner, that would
be another easy was to clean it out. I've used one to clean up carbon build up. But I no longer have access to it.
If you can find karocine, you could also soak it in that. But just be careful, it is flammable! NEVER use gasoline!

 

Based you said, Any laundry powder can be work.. Another wise, I need to buy a 3lb box of Oxi Clean powder to soak it. Can found small box of Oxi Clean powder and I don't use Oxi Clean powder as laundry additive.

 

I don't have pressure washer.. Expensive to buy one just for single time usage.
Will try oven cleaner or something BBQ grill cleaner from Walmart. Saw Nut&bolt video using brake cleaner and needs to use about 2-3 bottles to clean that cooler and can not soak it.

 

You can always go to the manual car washes.

That works well too.

I believe that's what @RightOnTime does with the coolers he cleans.

 

I believe Oxi-Clean is different than a laundry powder. Up to you. I believe Oven Cleaners has somewhat similar action. It is more caustic, may not do the same bubbling action, not sure. You do need to be more careful with Oven Cleaners, for sure wear gloves. But yeah, Oxi worked for me. Recommended by @mjoo.

 

Take it to a car wash and use the pressure washer there. Shouldn't cost you more than $10 if it takes several minutes to blast it clean.

 

I would not use an oven cleaner because it will dissolve aluminum, and I think at least part of the EGR cooler is aluminum.

 

No, the EGR cooler is all stainless steel. But good point: don't use Oxi (or oven cleaner, or any aggresive basic cleaner) on the EGR valve; it IS mostly aluminum.

The EGR pipe is all stainless too, but trivial to clean with just brake cleaner and a brush.

The intake manifold can also do an oxi soak (I have) but again it's kinda overkill. Also, rinse the Oxi WELL, and blow it dry, and then maybe a spritz of wd40 or similar: you want to disperse it completely, it doesn't play nice with bolts/studs either.

Oh and don't use vinegar on the intake: the brass-looking threaded inserts start to darken real fast, not sure what's happening there.

Side not, I've always handwashed our aluminum popcorn pot, and it looks like-new shiney. We gave one to a family member, and I guess they popped it in the dishwasher, and the finish is completely dulled. Still functional, but...

 

Ahh, non metallic parts. Then no to the chem dip.