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Did an EGR clean out Plus Spark Plugs. Plugs look pretty rough.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by chuckiechan, Jul 23, 2022.

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  1. chuckiechan

    chuckiechan Member

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    Attached is a photo of my plugs - 90k hot California miles of all kinds of weird seasonable blends.
    They are pretty beat up, comments welcome.
    59EA71B1-CFEA-4E5F-91B6-AA3B18AD8B10.jpeg A185B16C-2C84-4BC8-9185-D128DF2DF2D6.jpeg
    Lastly and most important the EGR cooler was completely clogged, barely passed water. I was about to give up and buy a new one and my pit crew suggested a pressure washer. Blew that baby clean in five - ten minutes.
    BTW, the pressure washer was a gasoline model, fyi.

    BTW, what actually happens when the EGR cooler is clogged tight?
     
    #1 chuckiechan, Jul 23, 2022
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2022
  2. nicosprius

    nicosprius New Member

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    From my experience it can cause a nasty misfire it’s crazy how you can’t see through those things at all before a crazy clean job
     
    #2 nicosprius, Jul 23, 2022
  3. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Hmm, 90k is kind of low to have a completely, or nearly clogged egr cooler. You must spend more time than average with the ice engine running.

    Our egr cooler on a 2011 at 124K was only about 80% plugged up with carbon and oily gunk. Spark plugs looked really good too.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #3 xliderider, Jul 23, 2022
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  4. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    You should have installed an oil catch can between the PCV valve and the intake manifold as well.

    Did you also clean out the intake manifold and the small EGR passages under each intake opening?

    If your cooler was clogged, your intake egr passages will need attention as well.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #4 xliderider, Jul 23, 2022
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  5. chuckiechan

    chuckiechan Member

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    Yes I cleaned everything including the throttle body, EGR cooler, EGR valve, EGR pipes, manifold passages and everything else recommended in the various videos, plus a set of plugs.
    And speaking of plugs, at 90,000 miles a couple of the electrodes looked cooked. (See photos). The ground electrodes were white and the plug black. Don’t know what to think of that.
    But…
    It definitely runs better. MPG indicator hasn’t settled down yet.
    We don’t do much freeway driving in the Prius mostly large, fast boulevards.
     
    #5 chuckiechan, Jul 23, 2022
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the clogging probably affects the plugs. normally, when most change them at 120k, they look very good still
     
    #6 bisco, Jul 23, 2022
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  7. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    Was that engine drinking a lot of oil? When the cooler is completely clogged, the computer should back off on ignition timing to minimize knocking. That would impair efficiency.
     
    #7 CR94, Jul 23, 2022
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  8. chuckiechan

    chuckiechan Member

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    It was using quit a bit of oil. I’ll know if something changes I check it often.
     
    #8 chuckiechan, Jul 23, 2022
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