Emissions carbon build-up

Tiny
LACKEYR
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 MERCURY SABLE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
How do you clean out EGR passages?
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010 AT 6:17 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Remove and clean
also clean its passages and on the intake side

what do you have for codes
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Tuesday, November 30th, 2010 AT 7:22 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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It's pretty simple to test for a plugged passage. Just apply vacuum to the EGR at idle. If it tries to stall, the passage is fine. Did you replace the DPFE as you were advised already?
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Tuesday, November 30th, 2010 AT 7:31 PM
Tiny
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Wrenchtech, thank you for the reply. I will test the EGR tomorrow and get back to you. I don't have a standard vacuum device but will try to improvise. Will replace the DPFE as soon as I figure out where it is. The part is the easy part. Finding the DPFE is the hard part.
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Tuesday, November 30th, 2010 AT 11:57 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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It's right on top of the engine in the right rear.
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Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 AT 12:13 AM
Tiny
LACKEYR
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Thanks, you've been incredibly helpful. Will get back to you.
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Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 AT 12:33 AM
Tiny
LACKEYR
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Well. I used the dryvac to test the EGR. No appreciable difference - no change in the idling, etc. I assume that I now need to remove it, clean it, etc.
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Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 AT 4:42 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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Make sure that the valve actually opened. You can feel the diaphragm moving if you stick your fingers in the holes on the back side of the EGR. If still nothing, then you going to have to find the passage. You may have to remove the throttle body to access it. It starts at the EGR and ends into the intake and may get very narrow in places. That's the spaot your looking for.
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Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 AT 4:51 PM
Tiny
LACKEYR
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Checked it again. Looked up the part number to make sure it was the EGR valve. Part F5DE-9D475-E2A. Couldn'r feel anything moving underneath the disk.
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Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 AT 5:11 PM
Tiny
LACKEYR
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  • 18 POSTS
Should I remove the EGR or the throttle body. I was going to remove the EGR, clean it and the passage, then reattach with a new gasket. I could pick up a new DPFE at Autozone while I'm there, if needed. Do they reset the engine light?
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Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 AT 5:20 PM
Tiny
LACKEYR
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  • 18 POSTS
Today was an olympic disapointment. I tried to pry off the last EGR bolt to no avail - stripped it despite every other possible intervention, BP, WB40, heating it, etc. That inner EGR valve bolt is tighter than my grandma's ****. I'm stuck and frustrated.
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Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 AT 11:19 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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That's why it's sometimes cheaper to let the professionals handle it.
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Thursday, December 2nd, 2010 AT 12:26 AM

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