Question

How do I clean my EGR valve myself?

Cleaning an EGR valve isn’t easy, especially when you need to disassemble it.

How to clean an EGR valve

Here’s how you can get the gunk out of an EGR valve: 

1. Park the vehicle on a flat surface, switch off the engine, and engage all brakes. Take off the negative terminal of your car’s battery.    
2. The next step is to find the EGR valve in your vehicle. The placement can differ from vehicle to vehicle. Refer to the owner’s manual if you’re confused about it. 
3. Remove the hoses and other parts of the valve without damaging them. Make sure to swap out the gasket if it’s too worn out.  
4. Spray the EGR valve cleaner on the carbon deposits and remove them using a pipe cleaner or a wire brush. 
5. Wipe down once again using a clean cloth.  
6. Now that the EGR valve is clean, place it back in its original position. If the check engine light on the dashboard remains off, you have successfully cleaned it. 

Tip: If the deposits are hard to remove, soak the EGR valve in the cleaning solution for a few minutes. But if the buildup is still severe, it’s better to replace it.