I cleaned my EGR valve as good as I could. It feels free and easy when pushing the plunger with my fingers. Sometimes the valve still sticks anyway and I get the P0401 code. I was wondering if Moly lube spray (from CRC) might prevent sticking. It has a max temp of 650 degrees F. Any lube experts out there?
It won't last. Exhaust gasses get more than twice that! If it's sticking, you can try removing the plunger, clean it with a wire wheel, can perhaps a gun bore brush for port. But likely you'll need to replace it with a new egr valve.
If you buy the egr kit from Toyota it’s only like 150 bucks includes all the gaskets. Takes 1 hour to swap .
The sticking could happen due to mashed "ski jump" in the EGR valve rotor. Start a forum search for "ski jump", you will find a lot of information. Mat
Are you sure the valve is sticking? P0401 only tells you the car has not seen the manifold absolute pressure reading increase as expected during a self-test of the EGR system. Sticking is one but not the only way that can happen. If you remove the valve keeping the wires plugged in, and change the valve step using a scan tool active test, does the pintle move?
