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

Cleaning the EGR cooler. Or Not!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Boffin, Mar 11, 2020.

  1. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,105
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I can't really recall, it flowed pretty good, when I got mine as-new-clean.

    How does it look? Is it shiney clean, a little blackened?
     
  2. Borninblue

    Borninblue Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2018
    233
    158
    0
    Location:
    Cleveland, Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Definitely more than trickle. Power wash, soak it in oxy, and power wash again.
     
    Pdaddy and Mendel Leisk like this.
  3. borgestes

    borgestes Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2017
    78
    72
    0
    Location:
    New York
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Mine was so clogged that after a couple of days with the oxi clean soak wasn't getting it done, carb cleaner wasn't getting it done what I did was take a metal coat hanger and cut out about 8 inches and stuck it in a electric drill and shoved it down each hole to clean it out. The sharp cut end made it through pretty easy and you could rinse after and look for light. Its a painful process but you should see light when you look through it or you just wasted your time. Next time I will start with the coat hanger cause the soaking doesn't cut it for me.
     
    Pdaddy likes this.
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,105
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I used a Cable TV coax wire, found that just about the right thickness. (n)

    Yeah you've got to open up channels if it's utterly clogged. Mine was low miles, and Oxy solution was 100% effective. I did start with brake cleaner.
     
    Pdaddy likes this.
  5. Pdaddy

    Pdaddy Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2013
    153
    49
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Finally got unblocked with the hanger wire and drill and water runs through it at a high rate. A wire piece broke off inside, but was able to easily push it out with more hanger wire. I don't know if this would have worked from the beginning as I surely have softened the deposits up with carb cleaner and oxi, but after my experience with the helpful advice received I would suggest just a couple of soaks and using a hanger wire or other wire with a drill if the egr cooler is all clogged up! THANKS FOR THE HELP!

    SM-G960U ?
     
  6. Pdaddy

    Pdaddy Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2013
    153
    49
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I also power washed it too before drilling out with the hanger wire ;-)

    SM-G960U ?
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  7. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,837
    3,136
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The key is to clean it BEFORE it gets clogged! :)
    Oven cleaner would have been a lot faster and easier.
     
    ccaudio1 likes this.
  8. ilovegirls

    ilovegirls Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2016
    172
    40
    0
    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I used a pressure washer and carb cleaner. It came out pretty clean from what I can tell. Much better than what came out of there.
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  9. Pdaddy

    Pdaddy Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2013
    153
    49
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I tried that too. It was too clogged. And yes, this should be done with spark plug changes or sooner.

    SM-G960U ?
     
  10. Pdaddy

    Pdaddy Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2013
    153
    49
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I am getting a MAF (mass air floor sensor) error code and also AIT (air intake sensor) code. Is the AIT related to the MAF? I cleaned the MSF with carb cleaner (acetone and other lovely cleaners in it)...do you think
    I ruined the sensor?

    SM-G960U ?
     
  11. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,837
    3,136
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    You should really only us MAF cleaner. I used alcohol on a q-tip.
    Certain chemical eat at the element and ruin it.
    Someone on here showed how to use a VOMeter to read the resistance. I would try that.
    Have you used a code reader to see what the code are? Or techstream?

    You could also replace each part. At least you'll know if that is your problem....

    Some egr coolers are super clogged. EXTREMELY hard to clear. Glass or sand blaster would do it.
    But few have access to either. I personally use oven cleaner because it's designed to clean backed on food that
    had been cooked and cooked and hardened. I used it on my RD350 and it worked great and was easy!
    There are several methods, as you can already tell. White vinegar would also work. But all require "time".
    How much time do you have? That's why I bought a spare cooler.

    I "might" be pressure washing the house again this week. I will be using it on my clogged cooler.
    I don't think it has hardened as yours was. I think it's just the soot. I believe it will clear it out.
    But I will also use oven cleaner because it will CLEAN out the carbon.

    Like washing your hands with just water, or regular soap. It won't clean the grease. You need a degreaser soap.
     
  12. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,837
    3,136
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
  13. Pdaddy

    Pdaddy Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2013
    153
    49
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
  14. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,837
    3,136
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Good idea. Also, might not be a bad idea to re-clean the sensor with the proper cleaner.
    I guess it's okay to us alcohol too.

     
  15. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,103
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    If you guys like his videos, find the ones where he voice his opinion on used prius.
     
  16. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,837
    3,136
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I don't agree with everything he says, or does, but he is a decent source.
    And there are other videos that say pretty much the same thing.
     
  17. Pdaddy

    Pdaddy Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2013
    153
    49
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    All good now. I took the air intake off again to get to the MAF sensor to clean it the right way in case there was residue on it and found that the top sensor closest to the air filter which might be the intake air temp sensor was not plugged in. Cleaned the MAF anyway. I had also disconnected the battery while I did this and now it throwing any codes. Thanks again for the advice!

    SM-G960U ?
     
  18. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,072
    14,976
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Just a second here ... where is this MAF sensor of which you speak?
     
  19. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,837
    3,136
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I had forgotten ONE connector when I did mine a few weeks back. It was the only thing I had forgotten.
    I must have had a brain fart!
     
  20. Pdaddy

    Pdaddy Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2013
    153
    49
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    The mass air flow sensor helps the computer to calculate how much gas to send.

    SM-G960U ?