so I'm getting ready to swap everything on my new long block (22re) and noticed my egr passages are almost completely caked shut with carbon

so how can I clean that stuff out without hurting the valve......

 

try some carb spray and some small wire brushes

 

so carb cleaner isn't taking off.....

 

This can be a tough job; that "gunk" is a mixture of crude oil and concrete, so far as I can tell.

I did it on a 3.0, so it's the plenum that was full. I actually soaked it in the sink overnight with a lot of dishwasher detergent (I live alone; if you have a loved one you should get a big plastic tray -- don't use the sink). Then I had clean "concrete," and I had to scrape it (use a wooden stick; a screwdriver can gouge aluminum). Then repeat; at least once more.

The good news is that a lot of the stuff that relies on vacuum (like the power steering and A/C idle-ups) started working after I cleaned it up!

 

the intake manifold is really clean actually but the egr passages are pretty bad

guess I'll just keep at it with carb cleaner

 

try throttle body cleaner ....more potent than carb cleaner.

 

so I have my intake off again......

looks like some of the passages are plugged shut! What works on this crap? Also is there a way to get the valve to open and close off the truck? I can guess the valve its self is probally gunked shut.....

 

X2. You may have to do a little scraping as previously mentioned. Top-Engine Cleaner really works well too.

 

I used a whole can.......of tb cleaner this is gay

I think I might just block it off for now

 

Try gasket remover or oven cleaner - both good for caked-on carbon if you let it sit long enough. Make sure the stuff doesn't get on any wiring, rubber, plastic etc.

 

Are you talking about the EGR modulator or the EGR unit on the back of the throttle body?

lol. I was actually able to soak the EGR in a jar of parts cleaner, and after a few hours I used a straw from an icee to scoop out the gunky carbon. The Icee straws have those little spoons at the end, and being made of plastic they are able to bend and flex around corners.

 

Oven cleaner