Thread: Can someone make a detailed "How to Clean the EGR" thread?

I have done some searching and through that and others I have found some info about cleaning the EGR, but nothing too detailed. Can somebody put together a more detailed thread on it? Such as what cleaners you can use (carb cleaner, throttle body cleaner, etc), can you take apart the EGR, should you soak it, should you mess with the diaphragm at all, what should one avoid doing, etc? I have done some light scrubbing with toothbrush on some parts, but there is still some build-up. I want to attack them with a wire brush, but I'm unsure which parts are relatively delicate. Also, the guy at the parts store thought I might be able to unscrew a piece on the bottom of the EGR (bottom part of the second picture below) to take it apart to clean it more thoroughly. Is that a good idea?

Here are some pics I took of my EGR valve, feel free to use those.









And here are a couple of the resources I found or had suggested to me:

SR20 Forum - View Single Post - How to clean EGR valve B14

Problems and Fixes

i attempted to clean mine once.....then just took it all off and trew it away....rerouted som vac lines then had a much cleaner looking engine bay....if you car has passed its recent emmisions then there should be no need for it(older then 95 = no testing...atleast here in illinois)....unless youd like to not polute the earth...

easy throw it in the garbage

Yeah, I kinda like the Earth.

EGR also helps you get better gas mileage while cruising.
If I had the means I'd help out with a how-to but I don't. Sorry. =/

Explain?

I would try hitting that stuff with brake cleaner, assuming that doesn't harm any of the components?

Other then that I am clueless...sorry.

Dudeman

dremel both the manifold and egr valve entrys.. clean off debry. let it sit over night or for an hour with mineral spirits.... change all vacuum lines goin to an from EGR... buy the gaskets NEW clean both surfaces off where gasket goes on manifold and egr valve with a razor... and bolt everything back up re coonect battery and bam.. fixed.. unless the valve itself has a ****ty diaphram in which that case youd have to buy new from nissan

when all else fails..remove egr completely bBUUUUUUUUUUT buy a new cataytic. so you pass those fag smog tests

Gunna try to keep this short. I believe Vadim was the one who clued me in to this.
It's similar to why a diesel engine with no throttle body will get better fuel economy than one with a throttle body. If you can prevent the piston from having to create a vacuum during it's intake stroke you can save some energy. On a diesel engine they do that by removing the throttle body and basically run WOT all the time (power production is controlled with fuel injection and extremely lean mixtures instead). Since extremely lean mixtures don't work on gasoline engines, you'll want to intake a gas that is inert instead. Exhaust gas is inert, so it is drawn in with the intake charge to prevent the piston from having to fight against a vacuum.

I don't know for sure, but I don't think OBDI cars do this, but I believe OBDII cars are tuned to take advantage of this.

Thanks Ben, very cool. Sorry to sidetrack Isfahan!

Dudeman

Oh snap!! I almost removed my EGR. I prefer MPG over HP. Im going to have to clean my EGR and see if I get any gains. I lost 2mpg on the highway after the S4 cam install. My city gas mileage stayed about the same though. Thanks Ben and Vadim for the info.