Gunk in EGR pipe

[stevenlizuk]

Changed the glowplugs on the Funbus recently and when I had the intercooler pipe disconnected saw loads of gunk in the EGR pipe.
Is stripping all of the pipework off and getting in there the only way to clear this or can I get some horribly damaging chemical to use the engine to burn it out?

Anyone had any problems from this build-up and can anything be done to avoid it?

Cheers
Steve

[swiss]

[stevenlizuk]

Arf arf arf.

[eoin27]

Arf arf arf.

LMAO.

Seriously, if anyone could help out steven here it would be great because i have excessive black smoke and I think i need to clean out my EGR but havent a clue how to go about it.

[mark21TD]

from memory the fun buss is a 2.1 yes, if so I don't know how to clean the gunk out but to block the EGR remove the top part of the inlet manifold and put a 10p down the EGR intake pipe on the manifold it's self and hamer it in good and hard with a 1/2 inch socket exstention bar, the pipe tapers so it fits nicely inside. this worked for me and has had no ill effects at all.

[HimBigChief]

Excuse the basic questions, but what does the EGR actually do? And what does blocking above said pipe achieve? Is it worth doing on mine, and what are the pros and cons? Do I actually need to do it, and how do you tell whether it's blocked or not?

Like I said, apologies for the basic questions but I've got a 2.1TD too, and would like to know whether this is beneficial as I do near enough 400miles a week commute so anything to help either power or economy can only be a good thing!

[steve_earwig]

Not sure, read this: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5920&p=58220&hilit=egr+nox#p58220

[mark21TD]

The EGR recurculates exorst gasses back into the intake when the engine is cold and when you're on light throttle, this is to worm the engine up quicker and to reduce the emmisions (NOx) to pass EURO3 regs. What it doe's do is pump all that black smoke back into the engine, this mixed with oil vappers from the engine breather (another emmision controle thing), coats the inlet path manifold/head ports/valves with black sticky gunge and slowely chokes up the engine. blocking it off will make no differance when it comes to MOT as the NOx is not tested, just smoke levals. you may get a very small increase in power and throttle responce but most wont notice anything. it will stop the engine slowly looseing power over many many miles.

Hope that all makes sence.

Just read the above post and the ECU on the 2.1 is not as complicated as the HDI, you will not get an engine light on the dash, you are not stopping the valve from operating just stopping the gasses from curculating and chokeing you're engine.

[HimBigChief]

It seems like a good idea to block off the EGR then, so is it worth me hammering a 10p piece up the pipe then?

[swiss]

My ducts are all full of thick black gunk too, ultimately they'll all be removed and scrubbed clean with de-greaser. Fingers crossed it might cut down the smoking at start-up a wee bit

[Welly]

I had a shiney new EGR fitted and the smoking stopped

I'd recommend changing the thing, they only last about 6/7 years really. Watch the outlet 15mm? tube connection though - it has a strange clip/joint which can leak (I had to re-use the original clip here) well I say 'I'......

[swiss]

Which parts did you replace? The piping, the valve, the tiny demon which controls the system, or the whole lot?

Might have to add this to my shopping list...

[Welly]

I had the EGR valve itself replaced and it comes with a new clip for the outlet/recirc tube - this has got like a swaged end but it didn't fit too well with the crappy clip supplied so the original joint/clip was reused with lots of exhaust'o paste

Sometimes the recirc tube itself can be cracked.

That's it there.......

[eoin27]

Where did u get your new EGR from welly? How much was it?

[Welly]

My mechanic got it, I fink it was from one of those motor factors places that deliver to garages - it was about £69.00 I fink. It is an aftermarket one (hence the trouble with the clip but if I recall the Dealer one was reported as being the same make now anyway but double the cost).

TBH it formed part of a rather larger bill at the time so I was in a dream, just kept saying yes to everything......