Slowly losing MPG

you can always do things is "steps" just to make sure you can do it , like if you plan to clean the EGR cooler and valve , take a day and see if you can get the windshield wipers off and the plastic panel , motor and metal panel , and reinstall them . then you take a look and see what has to be done to take out the EGR cooler , do lots of reading about the procedure on here and Youtube (NutsaboutBolts has some excellent videos) You will gain confidence and save a hell of alot of money

 

Removal of the wipers and cowl is pretty predictable, anyone should be able to manage that. It's mainly tedious and maddening, to have pull off that much, just for spark plug access.

You can spend an hour or two just trying to get a socket and ratchet wrench on the lower nut holding the EGR cooler on. I actually did that once in advance, just to make sure I wasn't going to be stymied. In hindsight: not sure why I reinstalled it afterwards.

 

Neglected to mention, in case anyone doesn't know by now: @NutzAboutBolts (god of DIY) has produced videos on both the cowl removal and EGR cleaning (and pretty much anything else you can think of). Thread with video links is pinned at top of 3rd gen Maintenance forum.