How do you clean an EGR valve on a 1999 Ford Taurus DOHC? What do I do and what can I use? Will water work? I've read a lot about a plunger mechanism but I have no idea what this is. Please explain in the best detail you can how to remove, clean, and re install the EGR valve?
The egr valve doesnt get dirty on its own; if there is a problem with foreign material in it, its coming from the exhaust stream, not the valve. But if you need to clean it anyway, then just unbolt it, push in the valves plunger from the bottom, and pick out anything blocking the valve from closing. They do not plug up. Also, check to make sure the vapor holes where the valve bolts on are clean, they do plug up. the mechanics of it are pretty basic.
you don,t want to use water. the way i clean mine on my oldsmobile is i take it off and take a rag and some carburator cleaner and clean the bottom off where those little pintals are at. make sure the pintals work back and forth without sticking.
You will have to use an appropriate size ratchet wrench set. The valve is held in place by 2 bolts, usually. It is round and flat, and has a diaphragm inside the metal cannister. Once you have removed it, invert it. It will be full of unburned carbon which is easily removed with spray Gum-out and a small brush. If you are unlucky, and the internal diaphragm has broken, you will need to replace the valve. This is pretty rare, though. EGR stand for exhaust gas recirculation. This is what the thingy does. Under acceleration, vacuum from the engine causes the valve to open and scavange exhaust gas from the attaching pipe. Usually, and I should not write this, I just plug the vacuum on these things to prevent them from opening at all. Then I install a set of Bosch Platinum, Fusion or nippondenso Twin Tip plugs. This will reduce pollution, anyway, which is the goal of having an EGR valve. WHen it is diconnected, no carbon will get sucked back into the intake system, and the engine will stay cleaner inside. If you are smart, you will begin using Mobil One 0W-30 oil. This will improve your gas mileage, keep the inside of your engine cleaner, and you will only need to change it once every year or so. This oil will help prevent the formation of unwanted sludge and carbon deposits. You will be amazed at how much gasoline you end up saving!!!
