Hey guys,

 

I know that there might be plenty of topics about cleaning/changing EGR valve but somehow I wasn't lucky enough to find information about my engine (2.0 TDI, 103 KW).

 

Everything started some time ago when the glowplug indicator flashed and "I had to check the engine" (the engine saving mode turned on as well). After turning off the ignition and turning on again that annoying thing disappeared. It happened a few times and then I visited my local car dealer to find out the cause.

They said that EGR was the reason and I had to change it (the car has mileage of ~150k km). They offered me to do that for approx. 600 EUR... seems rather expensive to me. I started reading about this EGR and seems like most of people simply clean that thing by themselves or by some local garage guy for some little money.

 

So I took a look at my car and it seems that this device is EGR (look below).

 

 

Changing it may take some time but it can't bet that hard. Why did my dealer want 2,5 hours for taking off/putting back on DPF as well? I thought that DPF was installed in the very end of the exhaust system... they also have wheel alignment adjustment for all 4 wheels. It makes me curious  - why do they do that? At first I thought they simply wanted to earn some easy money on a foolish person but after some while I started to worry - maybe in this case there is something I should know - maybe THIS EGR is a very tricky one or something like that.

 

I'd be grateful for any comments on this. In case you need information (VIN number or stuff like that) - I'll try to provide it.

It's not too hard to do yourself.

 

It has a cooler built in too so you need to remove some coolant pipes and drain some of the coolant.

 

You should be able to remove, clean and refit.

 

The DPF is actually near the engine so that may explain the cost.

 

Phil

On my 1.9 tdi I tried cleaning the egr only to later find it had a failed vacuum. I note on the failed one with a length of tubing on the vacuum if you suck, it provides only a little resistance allowing air through. On the new one it doesn't allow air through, instead it opens the valve with an audible click. Worth checking before tackling what is a very messy cleaning job.

I always put a blanking plate in them and if needs be map them out. makes the car run mush better IMHO.

On my 1.9 tdi I tried cleaning the egr only to later find it had a failed vacuum. I note on the failed one with a length of tubing on the vacuum if you suck, it provides only a little resistance allowing air through. On the new one it doesn't allow air through, instead it opens the valve with an audible click. Worth checking before tackling what is a very messy cleaning job.

 

I think that it might be useful after such mileage. Even if not now it might get dirty after some while...

 

whitep,

at first I thought about such option but a friend of mine suggested not to do that. Well, he has got some knowledge in cars so I'll probably should take some beer and visit him

whitep,

at first I thought about such option but a friend of mine suggested not to do that. Well, he has got some knowledge in cars so I'll probably should take some beer and visit him

 

Whyever not? It makes such a difference, I have done about 200k miles in 3 cars that I have blocked them off on and its never ever been an issue. But cars that still have them experience all sorts of issues.

I"m not sure right now but I'll try to call that guy later to get some explanation.

One of the reasons was warming up the engine faster. Well, I live in a rather cold place and it might be useful.

Oh yes I have heard that, but never experienced it. My PD170 which is affected more because of the EGR cooler still reached the operating temperature in exactly the same place as before i did it. So unless you live in northern norway I woul dsay it probably doesnt make much difference. Im no mechanic but thats my experience. And Essex/Suffolk is hardly the bahamas.

 I' m not a mechanic either and I cannot tell you how much faster is that warming up... but if it is then it's useful. I don't live in Norway but at least 4 month period is considered to be winter with ice and snow and at least 2-3 months from the rest are rather cold. Roughly speaking half of the year is the cold and very cold period.

I believe the EGR valve (with cooler) is on the rear of the engine near the DPF hence removing/refiting the DPF.

 

I had a ERG fault on one of my cars and I tried first with Bardahl egr cleaner a couple of 1,000 miles ago and not had a problem since.

I believe the EGR valve (with cooler) is on the rear of the engine near the DPF hence removing/refiting the DPF.

 

 

Well, you are right. My friend told the thing I circled in the picture wasn't the actual EGR. It's somewhere under the DPF... it's not the easiest case and I'll better leave it to the garage guys. But... I haven't got time right now to do that but I'm planning some trips. Won't that be bad for the car?

The first time that thing showed up was like ~4k km ago. Then like 1k km ago. Then it appeared 2 times in a row like 500 km ago and there has been no warning lights since then. Except that car saving mode everything seems to be OK. Engine works fine and I don't see any difference...

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Edited 17 May, 201511 yr by gazpot0111645

I have used a spray cleaner before now (on a Rover L-Series engine) and it gave a small improve in engine response so it seems to have done something.  As long as you follow any precautions the manufacturers may suggest (such as not spraying directly on to the MAF sensor element), you may find it does enough to keep you going until you can get the full job done.  I forget which one I had - I think it was the more powerful of the two that Wynn's supply, but I'm not sure.

Well, after all I decided to disable that annoying EGR (map it). Cleaning it wasn't a possibility because it ain't that easy to get out.

I took my car to a guy that seems to be a professional (I've heard lots of good reviews). He did it and told me a lot about this EGR thing. For example I didn't know that it does recirculation all the time (except some occasions, for example, hard acceleration) - I thought that it happens only when you suddenly release accelerator pedal (seems like this was for older cars only).

 

Haven't tested it much but the engine seems to be louder (as the guy said) but I don't hear some weird noise I used to hear before (it appeared when I released the accelerator pedal - definetely connected to EGR). He also told me that fuel consumption should go down and that car might be more powerful (not sure I might be able to see the difference).

 

At least I hope that I won't have to think about that annoying thing in the future.