How does an EGR valve in an engine work?

An EGR valve works by recirculating used exhaust gases into your engine. These gases contain unburned fuel but very little oxygen, and they’re very hot. A hot intake charge carries less oxygen, so a working EGR system effectively makes your engine act smaller than it really is.

What are the symptoms of a closed EGR valve?

EGR Valve Stuck Closed. A closed valve does not let exhaust gases entering the engine at all. As a result, the temperature in the combustion chamber goes up and creates various problems. Common symptoms are: Exhaust emission going up. Surging at Cruise speeds. Spark knock. A lighted check engine light.

When to test the Ford EGR valve solenoid?

The following are the most common symptoms that a Ford (or Mercury or Lincoln) car or truck will usually experience when there’s a fault in the EGR System: Car or truck runs fine, but the check engine light (CEL) is on with an EGR Valve Fault Code: P0401 EGR System Flow Insufficient. P01406 EGR Valve Pintle Position.

How often should I Check my EGR valve?

Most countries require a vehicle’s emission test every six months. Check the EGR system if your car fails the test. You already know that all problems occur due to two reasons – the EGR valve stuck open or it stuck closed. So, it’s possible to divide the symptoms of a bad EGR valve into two categories:

What does the EGR valve do on a GM 4.3L?

More GM 4.3L, 5.0L, 5.7L Tutorials. As you’re probably already aware, the EGR valve’s job is to let a metered amount of exhaust gas (that is oxygen free) into the intake manifold to reduce the amount of oxygen entering the engine.

What happens when the EGR valve gets stuck?

So, when the EGR valve gets stuck open, it isn’t able to stop the flow of exhaust gas from entering the intake manifold and thus the combustion chamber and your pickup or SUV will idle rough. Here’s a few more specific symptoms you’ll see: Rough idle. Code 32: EGR System Problem. Code 33: MAP Sensor Signal High.

Do you need to replace the EGR pipe?

Even though the functioning of the EGR system may seem complicated, replacing the EGR pipe won’t be. You may need to remove various air intake parts to get at the EGR hose Then you’ll need to unbolt the EGR tube from the exhaust manifold and separate it from the EGR valve, unbolting it and disconnecting the associated vacuum hoses.

Where is the vent port on an EGR?

In case you’re wondering, the letter J is embossed above the vacuum port on the throttle body. The other side of the EGR vacuum solenoid has 2 ports. One is a vent port (that vents vacuum to the atmosphere) when the engine is idling.

An EGR valve controls and regulates a proportion of the exhaust gas into the inlet of the engine. The main reason for this is to reduce Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) levels at the combustion stage. When the air/fuel mixture is burnt in the combustion chamber the formation of Nitrogen Oxide increases as the temperature rises.

How does the NOx work in an EGR valve?

When the air/fuel mixture is burnt in the combustion chamber the formation of Nitrogen Oxide increases as the temperature rises. Re-circulating a proportion of the exhaust gas back into the air/fuel mixture lowers the combustion temperature in the cylinder, reducing the rate of NOx formation.

What to do if you have an EGR fault?

When presented with an EGR valve fault, At M B Jarvie Ltd we offer our customers the repair option of renewing or removing the EGR valve. Modern EGR valves are often buried in the engine bay and renewal can be very expensive (factoring in both parts and labour).

How does an EGR system reduce the peak temperature?

EGR systems recycle a portion of the exhaust gas back into the combustion chamber, where it combines with fresh intake air. This lowers the amount of Oxygen and increases the water vapour content to the combustion mixture which reduces the peak combustion temperature.

What is an EGR valve and what is its purpose?

What is an EGR Valve? The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve is found in most gasoline and diesel engines, and its purpose is to help re-circulate the engine’s emissions by returning them to the combustion chamber rather than sending them to the exhaust emission system.

How serious is an EGR valve?

If the EGR valve is stuck open, it will essentially cause a vacuum leak, leading to inefficient combustion, rough idling, hesitation, and sometimes stalling in extreme cases. This is because the car cannot combust on carbon dioxide from the tailpipe — it needs atmospheric oxygen.

How difficult is it to replace the EGR valve?

How hard is it to change an EGR valve? In most models, replacing an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve is not difficult. You can do it in your garage in about an hour or two, depending on your particular system, using some common tools and a good solvent like carburetor cleaner.

What are the advantages of EGR valves?

A properly operating EGR can theoretically increase the efficiency of gasoline engines via several mechanisms: Reduced throttling losses. The addition of inert exhaust gas into the intake system means that for a given power output, the throttle plate must be opened further, resulting in increased Reduced heat rejection. Reduced chemical dissociation.

As engine combustion temperatures approach 2500 degrees, formation of smog-producing nitrogen oxides (NOx) increases. EGR valves function by recirculating small amounts of exhaust back into the combustion chambers. Since exhaust is mostly carbon dioxide, it doesn’t burn.

How do you replace an EGR gasket in a car?

Replace hoses if necessary. Remove the bolts holding the valve to the cylinder head. If you have trouble removing the bolts, spray them with WD-40 and let them sit before trying again. Remove the valve and any remaining gasket material. Avoid having debris fall into the cylinder head. Install the new EGR valve, following factory instructions.

What can I use to clean an EGR valve?

This is a home experiment and an unbiased use of JLM Diesel Air Intake & EGR Cleaner. Similar products are available. This product is designed to dissolve carbon deposits, gum and varnish build up. It should restore air flow to the engine thus improving power and acceleration while reducing exhaust smoke.

How often to replace EGR?

You can clean an EGR valve, usually done every 15,000 miles, to prolong the life of the valve. It’s less expensive than a replacement, but the amount of work involved in cleaning an EGR valve is equivalent to a full replacement.