EGR valve cleaning

**linoleum** · 6-14-03, 13:26

I pulled off the EGR [yes, very easy] and cleaned it up as well as possible.

Question: To those of you who have done this before, did you have a metal gasket whose openings DIDNT match the actual ports? I'm thinking a dealership who serviced the EGR many moons ago used a universal gasket. I'm talking this thing isn't even close, the opening for the gasket is as round as a nickel, and the port is oblong and twice the size??????

Valve:
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/ecruiting...c=ph%26.view=t

Gasket:
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/ecruiting...c=ph%26.view=t

wacky.

**mxicer** · 6-14-03, 17:38

Naw bro!! You're definately right, because it's not supposed to look like that!! I took mine off 2 last month and it didn't look like that! Mine was shaped exactly the same way as the ports and same size, if I remember correctly!! Hey how did you clean it? I used wd-40 and a metal brush to scrape out all that black carbon deposits!

**linoleum** · 6-14-03, 17:59

Thanks for replying man. I doubt there is a functional reason for my N/A to have the mismatched gasket. Probably just a cheap way for the manufacturer to cut costs, one gasket for all applications. [I think we can blame Mitsubishi for this one]

I'm gonna drill out the holes proper [i have a carbon caked template on each side].

Thanks again ~

Almost forgot: I cleaned using brake cleaner [probably not the right caustic chemical to use] and a lil wire brush. Also scraped a bit w/a screwdriver.... pretty gunked up.

**moebius** · 6-14-03, 21:48

well, I changed my EGR (because it was bad) about three months ago, and that valve, and the replacement I bought for it looked exactly like yours. The old gasket, and the replacement gasket also both looked like the gasket, except the holes were bigger, but not the same shape as the ports. I left the ports alone, and it didn't seem to make a difference.

**mxicer** · 6-15-03, 1:12

yea i had a lot of carbon build up on both the little gasket and in the egr valve too!! I think I should just buy a new one because cleaning it seems to be only temporary! My check engine light still comes on and the car feels weird again. so for the time being I've disconnected the sensor and she seems to run way better!

**iggypop** · 6-15-03, 1:29

where did you buy new one ?
and also , what are the signs of bad EGR valve(other than check engine light) ? i made 40K on mine since i bought it and i never had to mess with the EGR valve...