Loss of power, reduced MPG - clean your EGR's Valve

[bluevortex]

Hi all,

Been using cheap supermarket diesel in my current car for years but recently noticed reduction in power, like a turbo lag or flat spot and my MPG's were falling over longer journeys.

Following advice from another forum
I decided to clean my EGR valve as I believed this could be causing the problem...

Also cleaned the carbon deposits on the pipe above the EGR and lower down on entry to the main engine. All in about 40 min job.

What a difference so far, car feels alive again. Haven't checked MPG's yet but going to fill the car with a tank of V power today

I'm certainly going to check how to do this on my other car as it has 80k miles on the clock mainly filled on supermarket fuels!

Just thought this might be of interest on this board

Cheers

Blue

 

[Ian J]

I've never seen a Cat D engine before

 

[richard plumb]

is that the same as when you put your foot down and the car craps out a cloud of black stuff all over my freshly washed car?

 

[qwerty321]

is that the same as when you put your foot down and the car craps out a cloud of black stuff all over my freshly washed car?

I think that's just a build up of carbon which happens with diesel cars. Especiallly if you do lots of short journeys and then floor it. I did the same once and it left a lingering cloud on a cold morning!

It is funny to repel chavs on scooters though.

 

[FZR400RRSP]

I like how the photos jump from untouched engine bay, to EGR open on a piece of paper....
Was it really that simple?

 

[FZR400RRSP]

I think that's just a build up of carbon which happens with diesel cars.

Older diesels, without DPFs (Diesel Particulate Filters)
You shouldn't see any black smoke out of a newer (post 2006/7-ish) diesel at all.

 

[bluevortex]

Apparently, EGR meant reduce emissions and designed for low sulphur fuel at all times. However, it's difficult to source where I live (nearest Shell 35 miles away) so really just used supermarket fuel but this is the result. At worst a clogged EGR puts car into limp mode throwing up a whole host of computer errors. I noticed increased performance after cleaning it out, too early to tell about MPG's

 

[car-man]

Older diesels, without DPFs (Diesel Particulate Filters)
You shouldn't see any black smoke out of a newer (post 2006/7-ish) diesel at all.

Unless it's a Focus or Mondeo.....have a look next time you are behind one, you will see what I mean.

 

[DVD-Man]

Some 1.8 Ford's don't have a DPF after this date which is why you will see black smoke/reek/clouds

 

[Qactuar]

Some 1.8 Ford's don't have a DPF after this date which is why you will see black smoke/reek/clouds

Quite right. The 1.8 TDCi 8v (and 2.0 TDCi 8v) is sans DPF.

Mine (1.8 TDCi 2007) is smokey if you rev it hard, but the newer 1.6 TDCi 16v and 2.0 TDCi 16v are lovely and "clean" - they are the Peugeot-Ford derived diesels of course.

 

[Lunar Humps]

Honda 2.2 i-CTDi was a non-DPF lump too, and remained non-DPF on the Civic upto January this year. Plus it put out a very reasonable CO2 of 135g/km...

 

[Qactuar]

Honda 2.2 i-CTDi was a non-DPF lump too, and remained non-DPF on the Civic upto January this year. Plus it put out a very reasonable CO2 of 135g/km...

Yes, the GF has one of these (56 plate) and the sales guy didn't have a clue when I asked if it had a DPF. Couldn't believe it - he had been bragging about his knowledge shortly before too!

Asked his mechanic and confirmed no DPF thankfully

 

[SteveAWOL]

Hmmm, i wonder if my 53 reg Focus TDCi (115) could do with it's EGR valve cleaning out...

As last Wednesday I was driving home and the glowplug warning light came on proceeded by the engine dying so I drifted to the side of the road and restarted it. The following day I took it to the garage and they hooked it up to diagnostic computer which showed an EGR valve error code (P0404) which they wiped as they said it might just be a one off.

Today the same fault occurred and judging by what the mechanic said I either need to get a blanking plate or to replace the EGR valve but could cleaning the valve fix this problem?

 

[oska]

I got rid of the EGR valve on my Golf and the difference is night and day. Much better spread of power rather than one thick lump and better economy. Pulls better higher up the revs too. Would recommend doing it.

 

[Qactuar]

I got rid of the EGR valve on my Golf and the difference is night and day. Much better spread of power rather than one thick lump and better economy. Pulls better higher up the revs too. Would recommend doing it.

Does this not cause issues with the emissions test on the MOT?

 

[FZR400RRSP]

Does this not cause issues with the emissions test on the MOT?

AFAIK, diesel engine emissions aren't tested (measured) as part of the MOT.
They only check for excessive smoke, by revving the engine to max rpm a couple of times in neutral.
So unless removal of the causes excessive smoke, shouldn't affect the MOT at all.
They only fit them at manufacturing time to get their Co2 levels down for type-approval.
Removal might mean your mpg goes down.

 

[Qactuar]

AFAIK, diesel engine emissions aren't tested (measured) as part of the MOT.
They only check for excessive smoke, by revving the engine to max rpm a couple of times in neutral.
So unless removal of the causes excessive smoke, shouldn't affect the MOT at all.
They only fit them at manufacturing time to get their Co2 levels down for type-approval.
Removal might mean your mpg goes down.

Interesting ... same applies for de-cat as well then I assume?

 

[oska]

Yes, same applies. After removing the EGR there is a lot less smoke too.