Professional EGR Cleaning Resources

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Mendel Leisk, Oct 5, 2022.

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  1. Lottamoxie

    Lottamoxie Member

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    I recently spoke with a Prius mechanic and that's what he works on: Prii. He's not located in my area. Anyway, I asked him about EGR cleaning and all the other bits involved as well for my Prius that has less than 40K miles.

    He said, "I would not consider cleaning the egr until 100k miles. The last 2 EGR cleanings I did (both in 130k range) were dirty, but neither was close to being clogged. They both could have easily gone 150k miles before their cleaning. No, you do not have to clean the EGR every 50K miles, that's not necessary IMO."
     
    #201 Lottamoxie, Jun 9, 2025 at 8:02 PM
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it shows how varied the experiences are
     
    #202 bisco, Jun 9, 2025 at 8:04 PM
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  3. adrtho4

    adrtho4 Junior Member

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    Good insight here. My Prius is 160k. Just cleaned it for the first time. Considering buying an ultrasonic cleaner to really get is deep cleaned. Will keep this in my notes.
     
    #203 adrtho4, Jun 9, 2025 at 8:06 PM
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    When deciding an EGR cleaning interval, having a garage, semi-complete tool collection, being comfortable with routine maintenance, and being retired/bored, “may” colour my judgement. Our ‘10’s my test subject. ;)
     
    #204 Mendel Leisk, Jun 10, 2025 at 9:25 AM
  5. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    Don't go over board....
    The 'pinch down spots' are in the tiny individual intake ports.
    Those can be made new in a few minutes with a small brass rotary brush on a drill. After the intake manifold is on the floor, that is....
    The rest of the system can handle the patina of crud on the walls of the passages.
     
    #205 Bill Norton, Jun 10, 2025 at 10:33 AM
  6. Lottamoxie

    Lottamoxie Member

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    That's a vital set of facts that should be disclosed, whenever you're giving your opinion to other Prii owners about the EGR and related systems.

    It's not standard protocol for a Prius owner to be cleaning the EGR before 100K miles, and certainly not every 50K miles. That you choose to clean your EGR system often, is not something recommended by Prii mechanics, and advising other owners to clean their EGR systems often, which isn't necessary, increases maintenance costs for fellow owners.
     
    #206 Lottamoxie, Jun 10, 2025 at 11:23 AM
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  7. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    :eek::confused::eek:o_Oo_Oo_O:barefoot::barefoot:(n)(n)(n):whistle:
     
    #207 ASRDogman, Jun 10, 2025 at 12:33 PM
  8. johnHRP

    johnHRP Active Member

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    Had anyone tried removing the EGR completely like Prius sold in Brazil or other parts of the world? It probably solves the cleaning completely:LOL::LOL:
     
    #208 johnHRP, Jun 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
  9. adrtho4

    adrtho4 Junior Member

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    Yeah, I'm not out to make it 100% new straight from the factory clean. I used just what you suggested, a small brass rotary brush and my drill and got the bulk of the crud out.
     
    #209 adrtho4, Jun 10, 2025 at 1:03 PM
  10. johnHRP

    johnHRP Active Member

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    I will focus on the EGR valves, pipes, and intake manifolds. The cooler is too much time to fidling around if it is not clogged.
     
    #210 johnHRP, Jun 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I'd get an opinion from Tampa Hybrids as well.

    Toyota's NEVER going to conceed they messed up with third gen EGR. Or the low-friction piston rings. So here we are.

    All you can do is tell people how it is, leave it there. If they see what's involved, and/or the $'s to have a competent pros do it, and get cold feet, that's their business.

    fox and grapes?
     
    #211 Mendel Leisk, Jun 10, 2025 at 4:11 PM
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2025 at 4:20 PM
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The EGR cooler may have trouble cooling, with that patina of crud...

    Same story. Curious too, how you determine it's condition, without removing it.
     
    #212 Mendel Leisk, Jun 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
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