Prius Plus 2013 P0401 EGR Flow insufficient

What components exactly did they clean? I'd expect a higher charge for thorough cleaning, which would include cooler, valve, connecting pipe, and exhaust manifold EGR passages.
It's possible that the problem was not clogging as much as something wrong with the valve or wiring.

 

Intake manifold

 

I certainly hope the small passages in the intake manifold were also cleaned; to clean the rest of the EGR system and not those is arguably worse than cleaning nothing.

All the same, before putting everything back together, it is a good idea to check the rotor inside the EGR valve for a rutted ski jump.



If there is a rut, the valve will not open properly, and should be replaced.

A hand impact driver (the kind you bop lightly with a hammer) is usually needed to loosen the screws to get the valve apart. Trying to do without risks stripping the screw heads.

 

Yikes.................203,000 miles......prime for big problems

 

Most shops simply clean the egr valve and the egr tube connecting the valve to the intake. Along with an active test of the valve which almost always works. Easy to access and all that is needed on other vehicles.

The real cause 95% of the time is a completely clogged egr cooler which usually takes hours to clear or costs more new than they charged you total ($254 US) in London.

Clogged egr cooler


Clean egr cooler


"Discounted" price new egr cooler

 

Head gasket next

 

Likely already blown. When you buy a 3rd gen or v with those miles, odds are VERY good it has long-neglected EGR (including intake EGR passages, and consequential head gasket failure. Seller may have poured a stop-leak product into engine coolant, to mask symptoms.

 

@rjparker i “think” those are my EGR cooler pics lol. The top one is not dirty; it’s after hours of brake cleaner soaking, which was only partially effective. Bottom pic is after repeated soaks with concentrated/hot soulutions of this:

 

Should have taken the pics looking through the cooler at a light or sky or something and top picture does not looked plugged.... I'm familiar with this device..... and not a fun affair...just a messed up toy screw up...

 

I have a 2010 Prius mileage 163K. I've had it 13 years, it had 45K miles. Regular oil changes mostly at the dealer. Recently got an EGR code and the dealer replaced the EGR valve and an ABS sensor $1800 USD. A week later, my check engine light came on again and this time it's the EGR cooler. Quote is $986 USD. I'm in California.
The car has been using oil for the past few years, I typically add about a litre/quart every 1100 miles. I've had to do very little on this car mechanically and wondering if repair (since I don't think I'm up to taking it apart and cleaning the cooler it.) makes sense and what a reasonable cost would be? Reading about the time involved to clean it, I'm thinking the labour would seriously add up. T
The code has been cleared. How long before it comes back on and is this repair time sensitive.
I am also starting to think about getting a different car. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

I would spend my money on a rebuilt engine from an independent instead of throwing thousands at egr clogging caused by the defective rings and pistons. Even if it meant shopping around a bit at Gasketmasters and Hybrid Pit, both in California.

Otherwise your catalytic converter will be the next to be ruined for another $3-4k followed by another egr clog down the road.

 

EGR will clog without oil consumption.

 

Not a Prius v but whatever