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EGR Cleaning: What did I get myself into?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Bay Stater, Jan 1, 2018.

  1. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Speaking of egr cleaning:

    A58DAFDA-7AFB-434E-9C40-08090F2F580C.jpeg

    Getting my spare ready for the next person;).

    If I only knew who that would be:whistle:.
     
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  2. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    Of course this incident happened on a Sunday when all Toyota parts department establishments were closed. :mad:
     
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  3. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Even if they were open, I’m not sure they would have em anyway:(.
     
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  4. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    Very cool! I haven't touched my original EGR assembly yet (now the spare). I'm very curious of it's condition after 120K.:whistle:
     
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  5. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    Aah, we can get you one in two days.:ROFLMAO:
     
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  6. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I’d check before then based on what I found after the spare getting swapped in and checked at 57k miles ;).

    But taking your time through the cleaning process has it’s benefits(y).
     
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  7. Simonak

    Simonak Member

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    Tell me about it I dropped the gasket then a socket then extension 1 screw and when almost all was done and put together I checked phone for photos on the wiper blade assembly and dropped my phone into the engine belly.
     
  8. 4est

    4est Active Member

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    Well, at least you managed not to fall yourself into the engine bay :)

    Maybe you should install some safety net under the engine ;)
     
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The rear gasket on cooler is almost guaranteed to fall in there, because:
    1. The aforementioned lack of clips.
    2. By the time you get to lift it out, you are so stoked to be actually accomplishing something, that you are completely distracted from trivia like catching the gasket, or even thinking that it might exist.
     
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  10. Luckykat32

    Luckykat32 Junior Member

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    Thanks for the tips everyone. My 2010 with 227k was never cleaned until i started 5 days ago...with the soak, then another, then another... i did three 8-12 over night soaks with oxyclean, water, & vinegar...the egr cooler was submerged the whole time & then I took a nozzle on a hose (like a less powerful pressure washer) & spray it through the cooler...everytime i did some deposits or dark water would come out...3 days straight... I was ready to give up & buy a new cooler...but kept reading this thread...bought some 19 gauge utility wire from OReillys & started poking through the cooler...worked amazing...The cooler was just so built up with crud, I took about 4 hours to really go to EVERY port of the cooler, then back to the hose, i got water to easily flow through the cooler & no more deposits coming out! Im pretty excited after a week of doing this! I bought a new gasket, in case i drop my in the abyss ;)
    I cleaned the IM & TB a couple months ago, but I think I'm gonna clean them again, while I have everything out, plus I just ordered the OCC & will want to install it too.
    Plus, I'm running the new TT plugs, but I think I'm going back to the originals...they ran almost 150k before I had the "shakes", replaced them, & they lasted til about 220k miles & put the TT's in & a few thousand miles later started throwing the egr codes & misfire codes. Hopefully those go away when I reinstall the egr system...trying to make it to the 300k club!
     
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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Could be just the EGR clogging and the PCV dumping oil, that's causing the problems? Maybe just clean the plugs (with something non-abrasive, say carb cleaner with a tooth brush) and reinstall, see how that goes. OTOH, it is a good time for replacement, with the cowl off, can't agree with myself, lol.

    (Carb cleaner doesn't dissolve toothbrush bristle does it? Seem to recall that's what I used.)
     
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  12. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    Glad to see that you stuck it out with the cleaning! :) The spare EGR Cooler that I bought was completely clogged. I must have spent over a month cleaning it. Poked the ports from both ends multiple times with a pointed wire poker. Crud broke loose every time. (y)
     
    #192 Bay Stater, Jul 17, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2018
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  13. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    Wise move. Could not get mine out of the abyss after dropping it. :mad: Had to improvise by making one. (y)
     
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The back gasket of the EGR cooler? That *#$! thing should have clips. I dropped it too, but managed to spot it, fish it out.
     
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  15. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    A spare cooler is the way to go. Mine was not that clogged. I used gunk and oven cleaner which did a good job.
    Only took about 30 minutes to clean it out.
     
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  16. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Sounds like you need more practice ;).

    At least you got it back(y).
     
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  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I was so excited to lift the cooler out, that I forgot there even was a gasket back there. :oops:

    It was only when I was putting things back that I realized, maybe looked at the diagrams too, then starting looking. Luckily it was hung up and fairly visible.
     
  18. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    That’s a tough Easter egg hunt :(.

    But a mirror in a stick and a pole magnet are up for the task;).

    Excellent tools to have are around “just in case”(y).
     
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  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah, I have grabber and magnet reachers. No mirror one yet.
     
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  20. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    Despite having a telescoping mirror, and a telescoping magnet, I still couldn't get it out! One attempt was almost successful. Had the gasket about a third way up, until it dropped from the magnet. :mad: Then on another attempt, I accidentally knocked it into the underlying chassis components and out of view. :mad::mad::mad:
     
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