I just picked up a 86 4runner with a 22re it it and I'm having some problems trying to pass California Smog. Luckily it's was a no pass, no pay place. The guy who works there told me that he checked my EGR valve with a vacuum pump and that it's clogged. My question is how can I clean the EGR valve? Thanks

Patrick
86 4runner

 

Well, I think the best way would be to clean it on a bench(or a parts washer if your fancied up like that) with some solvent. I've heard throttle body/carb cleaner works, anything that doesn't leave a residue. Maybe brake cleaner, or what I use for all-purpose solvent, mineral spirits. I'm not sure how you'd clean it without removing it, might be doable.

 

Cleaning an EGR is pretty easy. The hard part is getting it out. You don't need a wash tank or anything fancy. Bench cleaning will do the job.

You will need -

1. Carb/Throttle body cleaner, two or three cans.
2. Replacement gaskets for the EGR pipe and the EGR valve.
3. A few feet of vacuum hose

Use carb/throttle body cleaner. It won't damage anything. Buy a few feet of vacuum hose if you don't have some laying around. You will need to apply some partial vacuum to the valve, once you get the worst of the gick out. To completely clean the valve you need to clean it while activating it.

Soak the hell out of the inside passages. Wait a few moments, then blast away the gick that has loosened up. Don't skimp on the cleaner, that's why you bought extra. Once the valve is looking pretty clean inside, soak it down again and apply some vacuum. I fabbed up a vacuum pump out of PVC pipe and pipe washers. I used the plans at

http://www.sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/aero/vacuum/

Your mouth can pull plenty of vacuum to activate the valve, but I don't recommend it. Be careful with the pump. It pulls WAY more vacuum than you need. You can pop the valve if you aren't careful. Your mouth can't pop the valve... the pump can. Make your own call. With a stuck valve it might be a good idea to be very very careful.

You can hear the valve activate when you apply vacuum, once it unsticks. Keep blasting with cleaner and activating the valve until it moves freely.

Re-install the EGR per the FSM. Make sure to use new gaskets and torque everything down to spec.