Should I get my EGR system checked/cleaned?

For the money the shop will charge you for cleaning (IF they really clean it) you can buy a new one /

 

Not sure what they did, or cleaned, or whatever.
If you search junk yards around the country you can find a cooler for well
under $100. And you can get an intake manifold also, not sure of a price though.

You can clean these parts, and give them to the place you take your Prius and have them
replace them and clean the pipe, which should only take a few minutes.

Then you can clean the other coooler and manifold, for the next time.

 

When I cleaned my EGR a couple years ago now it was barely dirty, nothing clogged. I've seen some pictures on here where it's scary looking! Make me wonder if the type of gas used is why. I only use top tier gas.

 

At what miles? Never cleaned before?

 

it's not worth the risk of a blown head gasket. if you're going to keep it, get it done, but make sure the understand the intricacies and nuances.
but keep in mind you're heading toward possible hybrid battery and brake actuator territory

 

The more work I have done by a shop, the more I learn that I shouldn't trust shops to do the work.

Don't trust any shop to do more than the absolute minimum. If they didn't explicitly say they replaced the EGR valve, and they soaked the cooler, I wouldn't take it as meaning more than they gave them a quick shot of compressed air.

 

No they did not clean the egr, egr cooler or intake manifold with that largely unneeded chemical treatment that takes them maybe 30 minutes. To clean the egr system and intake takes four or more hours and a dealer will only replace parts. The egr valve and intake have revised parts. Another thread on here today has a woman getting charged $2k for the egr valve and cooler alone.

 

Yeah do it yourself, budget a weekend, especially the first time 'round. See top two links in my signature for tips/links/info. Especially: there are things you can do in advance, before you dive in, to make it go much quicker. Things that don't disable the car in any way:

1. Remove EGR cooler lower bracket nut and associated stud. (just leave it off permanently) Note: remova of this stud this will allow you to pull the EGR cooler straight out, without removal of the rear studs, and greatly reduce the chance of the rear gasket dropping down, getting lost.

2. Remove EGR valve nut and stud, clean threads on stud, reinstall both.

3. Remove EGR cooler upper bracket bolt, clean threads, apply light coat of anti-seize, reinstall.

4. Get all the tools and cleaning supplies ready. (see top two links in my signature.

I'd strongly suggest to have both Oxi-Clean Versatile Stain Remover (powdered laundry additive) AND lye crystals (available on Amazon) on hand, for the EGR cooler cleaning. A bottle of the Toyota Super Long Life Coolant (pre-mixed) is good to have.

Also a clean container and some clear vinyl tubing, sufficient to collect 2 quarts/liters of coolant from the radiator drain. This partial drain will completely negate coolant spillage, can be poured back into reservoir afterwards.

(If on a phone turn it landscape to see signatures)



When doing the main job, start with removal of the EGR cooler, and get cleaner soaking in it ASAP. Depending on condition that could be Oxi solution, or if heavily carbon-clogged, lye solution. Be VERY careful with the latter, read up on proper method to mix, safety precautions. See links in my signature for more info.

 

From what I’ve learned, just go ahead and replace the parts now, as opposed to cleaning them. Just be sure you do t skimp on the parts otherwise things may get worse in the long run.

 

Hmm, I'm at 160k miles now, so was about 140k I think. No, it was never cleaned before.