Sunday, May 11, 2014
How Does the Egr Valve Work

An exhaust gas recirculation valve is used to reduce the amount of emissions that an automobile puts into the atmosphere. The EGR valve was first used in the early 1970s and is now a standard feature used on most engines.
Operation
The EGR valve redirects a small amount of the exhaust that exits the cylinders through the exhaust valve into the intake manifold. Exhaust is pulled through a small tube via the intake vacuum. The EGR valve stays closed while the engine is cool or idling and opens when the engine is hot or running under a load.
Purpose
At high temperature, oxygen and nitrogen are combined to create nitrogen oxide (NOx). Among other problems, NOx causes respiratory complications and contributes to acid rain. The EGR valve introduces exhaust into the air intake to reduce the temperature of the combustion in the cylinder to prevent or reduce the creation of NOx.
Signs of Failure
When an EGR valve fails, the engine combustion temperature will increase causing performance problems for the automobile while also increasing NOx and hydrocarbon emissions. Engines will tend to knock or ping due to early detonation and the exhaust system may be damaged by the higher temperatures.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
How to Replace an EGR Valve in a 3 8

The exhaust gas recirculation valve is an essential part of your engines emissions system. Its job is to recirculate a precisely measured amount of exhaust gases back into the engine, thereby decreasing unwanted nitrogen oxide emissions. On older model vehicles, the EGR valve is typically mechanically controlled. With newer model vehicles, the EGR valve is most commonly electronically controlled.
Instructions
- 1
Disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery, using the socket wrench and the appropriate sized socket.
2Locate the ERG valve on your engine. It will either be bolted to the intake manifold or the exhaust manifold depending on your 3.8 engine.
3Disconnect the air supply hose, vacuum hose and/or electrical connections from the EGR valve. You might need the screwdrivers for this step.
4Remove all the bolts that mount the EGR valve to the intake manifold/exhaust manifold, using the socket wrench with the appropriate size socket.
5Remove the old EGR valve and gasket.
6Install the new gasket and EGR valve after making sure the mounting surfaces are clean. You may use the putty knife for this step.
7Attach all hoses, wiring and bolts that were previously disconnected.
8Reconnect the negative battery cable to the battery, and then take the vehicle out on a test drive.
Monday, December 2, 2013
How to Locate the EGR Valve on a 2003 Dodge Intrepid

The EGR or exhaust gas recirculation valve is part of the 2003 Dodge Intrepid emissions system. The EGR valve helps to reduce the levels of nitrogen oxides (NOX) in the vehicles exhaust. As your 2003 Dodge Intrepid ages, carbon deposits will eventually begin to build up on the valve and in the passages inside the intake manifold that lead to it. These carbon deposits will eventually decrease the efficiency of the engine, and could lead to the check-engine light illuminating.
Instructions
- 1
Locate the air-filter housing and duct. It will be on the right side of the engine bay.
2Locate the throttle body. It will be positioned between the air duct and the engine.
3Locate the bracket directly underneath the throttle body.
4Locate the EGR valve. It will be bolted to the engine just to the right of the bracket and beneath the throttle body.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
What Is an EGR in a Mazda 626

An exhaust gas recirculation system is a very important automobile component. It plays a large role in keeping each automobiles emissions from polluting the atmosphere to a large extent.
Function
The primary function of an EGR system in a Mazda 626 is the same as it is in any car -- to reduce nitrous oxide emissions. When the combustion chamber in a cars engine gets too hot, nitrous oxide can form. The EGR system prevents this by recirculating exhaust into the intake stream to cool down the combustion process.
Significance
When nitrous oxide is formed in a cars combustion chamber and released, it can combine with hydrocarbons to form smog. The exhaust gas recirculation system is a means of reducing nitrous oxide production and thereby reducing the harmful emissions of your Mazda 626 or any other automobile.
Considerations
In considering an exhaust gas recirculation system in a Mazda 626, there are a few things you should take into account. The EGR system must control the flow of recirculated exhaust very precisely. This is partly to maintain national standards and partly because the performance of the EGR system will affect the cars performance as a whole. Too much flow may cause a lull in acceleration, and too little flow may cause engine ping.
Friday, September 27, 2013
How to Replace an EGR Valve On a 2001 Honda Odyssey

The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve, as the name implies, recirculates some of the exhaust gases that are emitted from your Honda Odyssey. The EGR valve cools down the gases and runs them through the engine a second time. This allows greater fuel efficiency and helps reduce emissions. If your Odyssey is idling rough or does not accelerate as it should, an EGR valve could be causing the problem.
Instructions
- 1
Disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery terminal. Make sure that the cable connector cannot touch metal to prevent accidental electrical shorts in the Odyssey.
2Locate the EGR valve. Look for the vehicle vacuum schematic on the underside of the hood or consult an Odyssey repair manual. Usually, the vacuum wires are green; however, if an aftermarket hose has been installed, this may not be the case. Assuming that you are working with the original equipment, follow the green hose to the EGR valve.
3Remove the vacuum hose and unclip the electrical connectors from the EGR valve. Remove the bolts holding the EGR valve to the exhaust manifold. These likely will be 10 mm bolts, but they could be 12 mm if theyve been replaced with aftermarket parts. Use a ratchet with an extension to remove the bolts.
4Unbolt the EGR valve piece from the exhaust manifold tube that delivers the gas back into the combustion system. You will need a large crescent wrench for this step. If the bolt sticks or is rusty -- and only if the engine is cold -- use a few bursts of PB Blaster spray penetrating lubricant on the bolt and give it a few taps with the wrench. This will allow the spray to work into the threads of the bolt.
5Examine the area from which you removed the old valve for carbon deposits. Use a generous amount of Carb Cleaner and scrape the deposits off with a small brush. Inspect the gasket for wear, carbon deposits or cracks. If the replacement EGR valve you bought was an OEM product, a new replacement gasket should be included.
6Install the new gasket and EGR valve. Reconnect all the parts in the reverse order that you removed them. You may want to spray some anti-seize lubricant on the bolts as you reinstall them. This will make removing the bolts in the future an easier task.
Reconnect the negative battery cable to the battery terminal. Then, drive your Honda Odyssey a short distance. If you are still experiencing the same issues, you may need to replace the exhaust manifold or clean out the carbon deposits.