Egr cleaning question

[96eb96]

The EGR valve works fine from a vacuum point of view, it opens and closes. It is now fully clean.

Here is the issue:

I cleaned the EGR valve, and I noticed (I'm being too observant maybe??) that the cleaner would leak down thru the pintle when its closed. Then I blew air into the valve, and noticed that a very small amount of air would pass thru the EGR valve even when it was shut.

The valve is thourughly clean with lots of carb cleaner thru it. It opens and closes nicely with vacuum.

Is this tiny leak normal or should I replace the valve?

 

[robertoa1a]

I have one in my hand right now. Im not noticing any leak down on the vacuum side. There is a slight leak from the manifold opening through the shaft side. I would assume that wasn't intended to be a perfect seal.

 

[96eb96]

I have one in my hand right now. Im not noticing any leak down on the vacuum side. There is a slight leak from the manifold opening through the shaft side. I would assume that wasn't intended to be a perfect seal.

Yeah, mine holds vacuum all day with a pump...it will keep the pintle open

but if you blow hard thru the large threaded portion there is some air leaking thru..

I see on ebay they sell EGR blockoff plates. Maybe thats why.

 

[robertoa1a]

Mustang guys use the block off plate to do away with the Exhaust gas recirculation while satisfying the PCM. It turns the EGR into a dummy basically. I don't know if the leakage were seeing can be considered a problem vacuum leak or not but it seems normal.

 

[96eb96]

Well the valve WAS the problem, the new valve is tight as a drum and won't let a drop of air thru the big threaded opening. The old valve was soaked overnight and cleaned with carb cleaner, I could blow a tissue off the opening.

The online dealer that sold it to me said what happens if you have even the smallest EGR air leak is the PCM will just add more gas to that bank until the idle stabilizes. Eventually, either you will get a code or just crappy idle, other little issues that you can't really explain. He said many EGRs never get cleaned right (they are bad) and get overlooked. My symptoms were higher fuel trim readings on one bank and occasional funny idle.

He said in a few months you will pay for a new valve in gas...wow... It is essentially a vac leak.

If you ever do EGR work, its worth blowing thru the big hole on the EGR to see if it really sealing. People are always implicating DPFEs. I can't believe now how much air it was passing thru. The valve is like 45 bucks if you shop around online(The ford price was cheaper than autozone believe it or not!)