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EGR & Intake Manifold Clean Results

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Rebound, Jun 25, 2017.

  1. GabrielD

    GabrielD Member

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    OVEN CLEANER contains Sodium Hydroxide, so you can find it as a free cleaner agent, "Sodium hydroxide is useful for its ability to alter fats. It is used to make soap and as a main ingredient in household products such as liquid drain cleaners. Sodium hydroxide is usually sold in pure form as white pellets or as a solution in water"

    From my experience, intake manifold is dirty with carbon deposits, I scratched them to remove, no substance was good enough to clean the 2 mm thick deposit. After that, sodium hydroxide did the job.

    EGR Valve is steel made and accept anything to clean, except acids...

    GUNK Parts Cleaner is a solvent formulated to thoroughly clean metal parts, and remove soil and grime deposits as well as paint and varnish...

    My personal conclusion: Keep any steel part in sodium hydroxide for few hours and will be as new.
    Exception is aluminium, is not allowed to come in contact with sodium hydroxide.
     
  2. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    That reminds me...our 2010 is due for the EGR maintenance! Daughter is putting a lot of miles on the 2010 now that she graduated from college and is starting a 'real job' ( well at least a paying job (y)). Last weekend she said the rear brakes were squeaking...and it turns out the pins on the drivers side caliper were completely seized! o_O I had to acquire a new caliper bracket. Luckily, I had put premium brakes/rotors on the front a couple years ago. Everything good now....but I need to get on to the engine maintenance stuff.
     
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  3. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Stay ahead of it before it reminds you ;).

    Glad to hear the Barcelona Red 2010 is still alive and kickin'(y).
     
  4. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

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    Depends on the oven cleaner: There is a spray-on oven cleaner with a blue cap that does not contain sodium hydroxide; still shouldn't be used on aluminum because it will dull the surface, but it's not actually corrosive like sodium hydroxide.
     
  5. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Sodium Hydroxide is free? Where is that?
    If yor intake manifold has carbon deposits, you're in bad shape! Rather the engine is.
    Unless you are refering to the egr passages. Scratch them? Do they itch? :whistle: Hard on the fingernails.
    Gunk, the flammable can, does a great job when used with a bore brush. I had all 4 ports cleaned in
    3 or 4 minutes.

    As I stated, do NOT use the OVEN CLEANER on the egr valve. It's aluminum, except for the valve itself.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Oxi-clean, the powdered format, does a decent job. It maybe has sodium hydroxide as well, plus some sort of enzymes. Easier on the hands. And yeah, strictly for stainless steel cooler is best.

    sodium hydroxide seems to be no longer available locally, but you can get it readily on Amazon, in soap making supplies.
     
  7. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    If you buy oven cleaner, it will come with it! :whistle:
     
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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  9. GabrielD

    GabrielD Member

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    In Florida you can find here
    Be careful, this is a 99.9 % caustic soda, for washing you will need only 5 %..

    Also you can find here
     
  10. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    ???? Find what? I know where to find oven cleaner. I've already cleaned my
    egr cooler twice, and cleaned the spare...

     
  11. GabrielD

    GabrielD Member

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    I just answered your questions...
    Sorry if I was wrong...
     

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  12. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Oxi Clean worked wonderfully for me...but you need to give it time to work.

    Just buy another EGR cooler on Ebay, etc...make sure it is clean, swap it out with the dirty one, and then clean the dirty one. Not too difficult... Used EGR coolers are pretty reasonably priced as well. (y)
     
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  13. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    I didn't ask any questions.
    And you didn't do anything wrong...

     
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  14. Scott2011

    Scott2011 Junior Member

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    Hey Mendal. Odd question, but do you know anyone on this chat or a business that does a stellar job with the whole intake/EGR cleaning, OCC process. Willing to drive a ways to do it. I could probably do it, but sounds like I would need several days to accomplish and I'm a courier. I feel like this is something you cant just trust a dealer with. Thoughts?
     
  15. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Best way is to have a spare, pre-cleaned egr cooler that's ready to install, better if it has the EGR valve too.

    That's what I did, it saves a lot of time. I now have an extra intake manifold as well.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  16. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    once or twice in a lifetime event, no need for spare
     
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  17. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    In Michigan?
    Too far for me!
    But you ought to mention where you’re located.
     
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  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That feller you see in the mirror is your best bet; I’m not kidding. (y)
     
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  19. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Depending where you are in Michigan, maybe @mjoo is close:).

    He's done the job before;).

    Good luck(y).
     
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  20. Scott2011

    Scott2011 Junior Member

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    Lansing… happy to travel tho, lol!