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would you clean this EGR cooler (with pictures)?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by jack black, Jun 12, 2019.

  1. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

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    One possibility is that this eBay cooler is not a factory original and made with different metal. Another could be the cleaning method. If what is showing in the pics is not corrosion, and others have cleaned it to shiny, then perhaps it isn't as clean as others got theirs. If others used Oxi-Clean, perhaps that removed whatever is hanging onto the metal. It's hard to tell from photos what's on there, and particularly from a photo of it while wet.
     
    #21 jb in NE, Jun 14, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2019
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  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    If you're not using pressure washer (tip of the hat to @Raytheeagle): cork one end of the cooler only, fill it with a near-saturated Oxi-Clean solution, using hot tap water, let it sit an hour, rinse and repeat. 4~5 sessions thus, it'll be like new. For the valve, clean with brushes and Brake-Clean or carb cleaner.
     
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The EGR valve is mostly aluminum, so I'd avoid using oxi on it. Maybe just cosmetic, but pretty sure it'd turn the finish a dull grey.

    Plus, the valve is quite easy to clean with brushes and carb cleaner. Even without taking the plastic cap off: just gently pry up the valve, apply a shot or two of carb cleaner, brush with something like brass bristle brush.

    I was not able to break loose the plastic cap screws, just worked around it, let them be.
     
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    How many times can you say brass bristle brush?
     
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  5. jack black

    jack black Active Member

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    you guys were absolutely right about cleaning it more. i hit it with oven cleaner, let it soak for a few hrs and rinsed with water. what came of that looked like coffee with a few carbon particles. i honestly don't know why pressure washing was not good enough.

    IMG_20190614_205444949.jpg
     
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  6. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

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    Looks nice! Sometime you need a solvent to break up the crud. Now you're set to install it and cruise for the next 100K miles.
     
  7. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    The pressure washer is only a neutral fluid where the others you used carry a more basic makeup;).

    That cuts really well once you bust up the buildup:).

    Glad it worked out(y).
     
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  8. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    Redex soaked overnight dissolves carbon build up.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah I think @Raytheeagle means that literally, in the chemistry sense: Oxi-Clean is a fairly strong base. Oven cleaner solution a bit more so. And straight lye crystals mixed with water even more so.

    Also known as "caustic". The opposite is "acidic".
     
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  10. egn83b

    egn83b Junior Member

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    A cleaned egr is a working egr but if you wanna spend more to buy a new one to get a better feeling go for it.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Off-topic but anyway: was looking for lye crystals, couldn't find: it's apparently pulled from the shelves due to use in meth production.
     
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  12. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    You'll just have to buy meth now and break it down :whistle:
     
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  13. Merkey

    Merkey Active Member

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    I bought a new EGR tube from Toyota dealer (part no. 25610-37012) for $77.54 including tax and 10% discount. This way I can take my time cleaning the old one. By the way, after Oxiclean soak, pouring boiling water through tube helps clear out more of the deposits.
     
  14. egn83b

    egn83b Junior Member

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    Great you found a better cheaper repair method. I normally run brake cleaner because it breaks down faster. My only complaint with toyota, they should have redesigned the pcv suction line to flow at atmospheric pressure in the intake not vacuum pressure because it chokes the egr and slowly ruins the cat converter by allowing oil to be introduced in the exhaust.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  15. jack black

    jack black Active Member

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    update: the EGR cooler in my car (about 113,000 miles) was more dirty (especially the exhaust side), but not as much as i expected. i could still see light coming through and i guess it was 30-40% clogged. the EGR valve was also fairly dirty.

    IMG_20190615_145555508.jpg IMG_20190615_145528956.jpg IMG_20190615_145233933.jpg
     
  16. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Looks like you’re doing the right thing and addressing this;).

    Good luck on reassembly (y).
     
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  17. jack black

    jack black Active Member

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    thanks, reassembly was much easier than disassembly, LOL. that lower nut was a pain, i didn't put it back. the whole thing was not designed right. i haven't fired it up yet, i'm still soaking the pistons and will replace the plugs and change oil later. coolant replaced already.

    edit: i also changed the spark plugs, changed oil and everything works great. i did 8 different services on the prius in one weekend (and did some painting at home), wow, busy father's day.
     
    #37 jack black, Jun 16, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 16, 2019
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That's getting pretty groddy. Keep in mind too: besides flow restriction, carbon coated fins on the cooler are likely less effective at cooling.
     
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  19. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Here’s what I do with the lower cooler nut:

    95E8B211-EA8A-49FC-8133-33D0F6A52A1A.jpeg

    Just increased my collection by one last weekend(y).
     
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  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Make a necklace?
     
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