How do i clean my EGR valve in my 1994 Camry 1MZ V6?

[swagger_wagon468]

hey everyone.
so, i have a CEL on and its my EGR valve.(code says it has insufficient flow) i dont want to replace it if i dont have to. how do i clean it? i bought engine degreaser. do i need to take it off? or no? also, where do i spray the engine degreaser?, do i spray it and let it soak ?
any and all helpful comments appriciated.
and btw, i already searched for it. cant find it. so dont post," search button is your frined."
thanks
-jonathan

[Kiwi-Corolla]

It's best to remove it to clean it, as the cleaning process won't be anywhere near as effective with it still fitted to the car, and the deposits could sit at the bottom of the pipe after they drain down.

Refer to this thread to get instructions on how to remove it:

DIY : EGR Valve removal

Once it's removed, let it soak in either seafoam, carb cleaner or brake cleaner etc. You could try the engine degreaser that you've got, but it may not be strong enough to cut through all of the carbon deposits (an old toothbrush or something similar would help). Be sure to check the hoses for any carbon deposits too.

There are loads of threads available here:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/se...=2932777&pp=25

[LynchburgCSI]

Ahhhh P0401. The search button is your friend. Really. And so is the sticky. (Search "EGR" not "EGR V6 how do I clean this lolwut so many words?!") Also, engine degreaser is usually an EXTERNAL cleaner. Use seafoam or seafoam deep creep spray for the EGR valve.

[AliRazoR]

EGR Valve Replacement, DIY.

[swagger_wagon468]

thanks for the help. and ken... SmArTaSS.

now tht i kno how th take it off, all i will need is the 2 new gaskets right?

[rty]

Originally Posted by swagger_wagon468

thanks for the help. and ken... SmArTaSS.

now tht i kno how th take it off, all i will need is the 2 new gaskets right?

I didn't replace mine. No problems.

[swagger_wagon468]

Originally Posted by rty

I didn't replace mine. No problems.

thanks.

soooo, assuming i take the EGRoff, clean it, and put it back on. if it turns out to not be working properly or whatevr...can i drive with it like tht?

[73sport]

Before you spray anything, just get the egr off and take a bent wire to it. You can poke and prod and twist for an hours and chunks will continue to fall out. Try not to poke the shaft or scratch it. I think you can get 99% out with out subjecting the diaphram to solvent and potentially damaging it.

Then you'll want to address the intake plenum where you pulled the valve from. Same thing with the coat hanger or what ever you use. The downside is all the crap you knock loose here, will go into the engine. You can remove the intake plenum OR use a vacuum cleaner to suck some of the chunks back out of the intake. Get a flash light and look to see what you;re doing it helps.

Once again, you'll dig a ton of stuff out of the portal into the plenum. Bend the wire of choice into a hook and drag, drag out the chunks so they fall out vs pushing them in to the intake. You don't want to pack the carbon into the small opening. If it makes you feel better, use the creep here but know that it takes time to be effective.
Clean the gasket surfaces with metal gasket scrapper and re-use the cleaned up gaskets. Shouldn't be a problem.

Then pull the tube off the bottom and clean it too. You'll want a longer more flexible wire to poke about with. Hopefully your tube is not rusted out.

Hope this helps.

Take a look here - It is search Friendly. . .
P0401 related to Catalyst Monitoring Y/N?
P0401 related to Catalyst Monitoring Y/N?

I guess I never said "how" I cleaned it. But thats what I did. That and compressed air to blow the loose carbon free.

Give it a shot. . .

[73sport]

Originally Posted by swagger_wagon468

thanks.

soooo, assuming i take the EGRoff, clean it, and put it back on. if it turns out to not be working properly or whatevr...can i drive with it like tht?

Yes. . .

Hint to get this valve off,


you need to open the throttle plates to WOT to sneak it out. And it IS possible to get it out without bending anything or taking the lower pipe off. But is much easier with the pipe off.

No solvents used on this part. . .