1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

EGR cooler lifespan.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Paul33570, Nov 17, 2019.

  1. Paul33570

    Paul33570 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2019
    14
    0
    0
    Location:
    Ruskin FL
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I have a chance to buy a 2011 EGR cooler. I have a 2015 that I need to clean the egr cooler. Can't be without my car for a day. Do the egr coolers have a lifespan? The Prius I am buying the egr cooler from has 400,000 miles... Anyone?
     
  2. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    1,607
    877
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I would think a very disciplined cooling system maintenance schedule would increase longevity significantly. Hard to verify used part with extreme service life.
     
    mjoo likes this.
  3. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    5,884
    3,486
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Have not of heard of an EGR cooler leaking. Just make sure it been cleaned on the inside.
     
  4. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,096
    2,163
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    The lifespan of the EGR cooler should be unlimited. It is made of welded stainless steel with no wear parts. It is almost subjected to no corrosive or physical damage. When totally cleaned, it is as good as new.

    It will likely outlast the car, itself.
     
  5. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    1,607
    877
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Aside from getting plugged up from poor maintenance.
     
  6. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,035
    10,010
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    But will that hurt the cooler itself? Won't it be fine after cleanup?

    The real damage is to some other components.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,467
    38,102
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Seriously? The simplest way to remedy this is to make some time for the car maintenance.
     
  8. Paul33570

    Paul33570 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2019
    14
    0
    0
    Location:
    Ruskin FL
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I plan on taking a few days to clean it. I am sure its gunked up. Why not buy a cheap factory part clean it and reuse it? My Prius currently has 133k. I want to be ahead of the game. I do the maintenance on my car. Oil changes, tranny oil changed, spark plugs, cleaned the EGR tube. Egr cooler is next step.
    Thanks for the replies!
     
  9. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2018
    1,669
    546
    3
    Location:
    SE Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Let the cooler soak in carb cleaner for a couple of days.. needs to be super clean.... blow out with car wash or power washer....
    Car will be down for at least four hours if you know what your doing or expect longer. I have done this. Luckily I have several vehicles.
    Mine had 200,000 plus when I did it..........
     
    #9 Tim Jones, Nov 18, 2019
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2019
    Raytheeagle and Georgina Rudkus like this.
  10. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,096
    2,163
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    I wanted mine totally clean, so I soaked it for 6 weeks. I plugged the openings with rubber stoppers, filled it wit cleaner, and checked it every week. Every week, the solution came out a tan color. The last time, it came out totally clear. So, I knew it was as clean a brand new one.
     
    dig4dirt likes this.
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,467
    38,102
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Mine only had around 70K kms when doing this, but I managed to have it as-new clean in about 8 hours with multiple Oxi-Clean soaks. Previously I did Brake Cleaner soaks, with very mediocre results.

    With the Oxi:

    Mix the (powdered) Oxi with hot tap water, as concentrated a solution as you can get, plug one end of the cooler, and shoot it in. In practice I usually exceeded "saturated solution" by some, had some granules undissolved. On the flip-side I usually didn't mix enough volume to fill the cooler. So I would do a first pour, then add a little more hot water to mix container, swirl the remaining Oxi granuals and try to shoot it in quick while they were still in suspension.

    Let it stand for about an hour. It'll bubble up, and you'll see a "head" with carbon flecks. Very reassuring. Then drain and rinse with hot tap water, and repeat. Took 5 or 6 repetitions in my experience.

    What I really like about the Oxi: it's not an oily hydrocarbon, just a strong soap (of some sort). And it was 100% effective, given time and repetitions.
     
    dig4dirt likes this.
  12. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    1,607
    877
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Coffee pot cleaner/descaler would probably work Pretty good.
     
  13. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,834
    3,136
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Get the spare! It's an easy job when the cooler is already cleaned.
    I used oven cleaner, took 30 minutes. I used a garden hose to rinse it out, but next time I'm going to
    use my pressure washer.
    Order all the parts you need to do the cooler and intake manifold and double check to make sure you have
    everything! Some reuse gaskets, but they are inexpensive enough, so it's not worth the risk of them leaking.

    And trust me, it's NOT as hard as it seems. :) Watch and rewatch the videos and it will go easy.

     
    Georgina Rudkus likes this.
  14. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2018
    1,669
    546
    3
    Location:
    SE Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Mine had 200,000 plus on the clock........ it was not easy......stuff was like concrete....had to run a wire through it....
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,467
    38,102
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I believe it!

    My 70K kms is like brough..., just slightly more than zero miles??
     
  16. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    1,607
    877
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    No! Seriously! No joke.