2010- Multiple EGR Power Wash Cleaning, No Chemicals/Soap

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Prius_Angie, Jul 9, 2020.

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  1. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    [​IMG]
    I recently went to the self-serve car wash to clean out 2x EGR coolers and 4x EGR valves. WOW that was a fun, fast, productive and rewarding cleaning all conducted with no harmful chemicals nor soap but only high pressure water alone. I estimate a 90% clean product as some radiator holes were still visually obstructed. I shall revisit this process in ~5 years/100,000 miles, possibly.

    GOAL
    - water freely flowing bidirectionally through EGR cooler and no more brackish water coming out the other end

    PREP EGR-VALVES
    - I separate 2x EGR valve from their 2x EGR cooler
    - I drilled 2x holes into a 2x6 wood block to stabilize the 4x EGR valves for cap extractions
    - I used a high quality CAPRI 1/2" drive impact screwdriver set; a must

    PREP EGR-COOLERS
    - separately with wood screws, I anchored 2x EGR coolers to a block of 2x6 wood; this was sufficient to stabilize both EGR coolers when under the high water pressure; I ensured water nozzle access to both sides of each EGR cooler

    POWER WASHING
    - I gently placed my foot on a wood block to secure positioning of the 2x EGR coolers to clean
    - when entering the water gun nozzle into both ends of EGR coolers I move in 360 degree angles while inside; you will quickly find all kinds of black gunk ejecting; add a few more quarters and keep the 360 rotation going for another 1-2 mins until you find water freely blowing through and no more brackish water coming out the other cooler end
    - run this cycle at least 1-2 more times to ensure thorough cleaning
    - 4x EGR-valves were also power washed without any special clamp downs
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    #1 Prius_Angie, Jul 9, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2020
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  2. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Pressure washer is the way to go:).

    Glad it was successful(y).
     
    #2 Raytheeagle, Jul 9, 2020
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  3. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    thanks to you guys for the tipper
     
    #3 Prius_Angie, Jul 9, 2020
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  4. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Glad to help:).

    It is the way to go to make the job easy and fast(y).
     
    #4 Raytheeagle, Jul 10, 2020
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  5. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    How do you like your new 4thGen? Is your 4thGen free of the EGR issues? I would only assume Toyota promoted up with the 4thGen.
     
    #5 Prius_Angie, Jul 10, 2020
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  6. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Don't you mean bLackish water? Brackish water is where fresh and salt water mix I believe.
    Anyway, if you used oven cleaner afterward, you'll find that it will be black when you pressure it again.
    When I cleaned mine, it looked clean and shiny after pressure washing. I was happy. But I used the
    oven cleaner just to see. I had to use it 3 times I think it was before the water was clear.
    The pressure cleaning alone will clear it, but not completely clean it. Unless you have some type of
    cleaner mixing with it.

    And all that "gunk from the pressure washing goes down the drain.

    Nice photos! And pressure washing certainly the easiest and quickest way to clear it out!

     
    #6 ASRDogman, Jul 10, 2020
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  7. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I am glad I upgraded ;).

    It's not to say the gen3 was bad, just having the ability to get 140 mpg over 23k miles with free electrons at work and with solar panels made this a pretty easy move:).

    As for the egr situation, too early to tell:cool:.

    But once I get over 100k miles, I'll take a look. Already have an oil catch can installed, so I should be prepped for a good bit(y).
     
    #7 Raytheeagle, Jul 10, 2020
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  8. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    My goal was not to be so clean you could eat out of it:whistle:.

    It'll just get dirty again, so why do more if you know you'll have to repeat the cycle again;).

    15 minutes with 1700 psi and you can reinstall and get the rest of the egr circuit sorted:).

    But each person has a different level of OCD, so I can appreciate the cleanliness factor(y).
     
    #8 Raytheeagle, Jul 10, 2020
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  9. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    sorry TYPO "blackish water" definitely not salty-fresh water mixture.
    It was definitely a hot day & me being at the carwash was a treat that directed my focus
    seems that 90% complete seemed good enough
    next time i will bring along some oven cleaner spray
    thanks.
     
    #9 Prius_Angie, Jul 10, 2020
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  10. mjoo

    mjoo Senior Member

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    LOL. With all the work needed to remove the EGR from your Gen 4 (inverter removal) - if that time comes I bet you'll find a new level of OCD.
     
    #10 mjoo, Jul 10, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2020
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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Did you pressure wash EGR valve too?
     
    #11 Mendel Leisk, Jul 10, 2020
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  12. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    :) That's what i figured.
    ocd has nothing to do with it, If you are going to clean it, you might as well do it completely and correctly. :)
    Then it will stay cleaner longer...

     
    #12 ASRDogman, Jul 10, 2020
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  13. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    yes,
    INTERNALLY. I opened up & carburetor spray cleaned all 4x EGR-valves. Also i reset the magnet spinner to full kinetic potential
    EXTERNALLY. I pressure sprayed all the visible carbon on the 4x valve blocks. No chemicals here only water pressure
     
    #13 Prius_Angie, Jul 10, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2020
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  14. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I'm only running the ICE 30% of the time anymore:).

    So even less miles in the engine equation;).

    At that rate, I'll only have to perform the act once, and given Toyota changed the takeoff point for the gases to be after the cat, I might be good regardless(y).
     
    #14 Raytheeagle, Jul 10, 2020
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  15. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    that plug-in option seems pretty good in defraying gas mileage and ICE-engine wear.
    but Im sure not for everybody.
    I dont have a garage but I do drive 5-75 miles/day
     
    #15 Prius_Angie, Jul 10, 2020
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  16. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    My round trip (when I am essential) is 78 miles;).

    So on average I have to use the ICE about 7 miles a day:).

    The rest of the ICE usage is for trips, which there haven't been as many recently:cool:.

    But once we can, that percentage may drop a bit but still good(y).
     
    #16 Raytheeagle, Jul 10, 2020
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  17. SB6

    SB6 Member

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    Just curious, what does this mean?
     
    #17 SB6, Jul 14, 2020
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  18. mjoo

    mjoo Senior Member

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    It sounds like he remodulated the EGR coils to compensate for the temporal flux distortions.

     
    #18 mjoo, Jul 14, 2020
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  19. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    see 1 min marker.
    when you open up the black cap, its evident you will notice the magnetic canister self spins outward and around the spring
    probably a bad analogy is a "jack in the box"
    to close the EGR valve basically spin magnetic canister down and cap lock shut. If left alone, it wants to spin up and out.
     
    #19 Prius_Angie, Jul 15, 2020
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