EGR Valve replacement & repair made easy

The EGR valve is a device that sends a small amount of the exhaust gasses back through into the intake system, thereby reducing harmful emissions.

Whilst there are quite obviously many different engine designs on the market, there are as many different processes to change one.

There are some basic steps though that are common

• The mechanic will physically inspect the area around the EGR valve for leaks
• A full diagnostic test will be carried out with monitoring of live data
• If deemed to be faulty and once the engine has cooled, the EGR valve will be removed and replaced
• Diagnostic checks will be rerun and codes cleared down
• Vehicle will be road tested

Unless you are a qualified mechanic with the required skills, training and equipment to do the job, we strongly recommend an egr valve replacement is only carried out by a professional mechanic. ClickMechanic can help get you a vetted and local mechanic to carry out the work. Just enter your postcode and your car's registration number at the top of this page and select the work needed to get an instant fixed price up front.

An efficiently operating EGR valve is paramount to engine performance and a faulty one can make starting difficult and reduce performance considerably.
Some of the typical symptoms are

• Difficulty in starting
• Rough engine idle and stalling
• Poor running
• Reduced performance
• Higher fuel consumption
• Engine management light illuminated
• MOT failure on emissions

On average, egr valve replacement times can range from 1 hour to 3 hours with an average of 1.5 hours. The time that the job takes will depend on a number of factors, like your vehicle's make and model, year, as well as other factors. Select your car at the top of this page for information on job time and cost for your vehicle through ClickMechanic.

While there is no set lifespan for an EGR valve as soon as you are aware of any issues with the EGR, you will need to get an engine diagnostics check, even if the EML (engine management light) isn’t on. You may have experienced the light come on and then go aff the next time the engine is started and this can be a sign that the valve is beginning to stick.

Once an EGR valve begins to fail, it will expire fairly rapidly. The more the exhaust gases flow over it in a stuck position, the worse it will become. Therefore, get it checked to be 100% certain, then get it changed.

With exhaust gases flowing through the unit, it will eventually succumb to the deposits of carbon and hydrocarbons etc and it will seize. Therefore replacing an EGR valve as an all too common repair.

Whilst you may not think you can have any influence over this, common sense dictates that the more efficient an engine is running, the cleaner the exhaust gasses will be. Therefore regular servicing, including the fuel filter is important.

Using quality fuel with its cleansing additives can also extend the units life as a result of a cleaner burning engine as above.

Using so called EGR system cleaners that simply get poured into the fuel tank, will not directly actually clean the EGR valve, but as previously explained, a cleaner running engine = less deposits.

An efficiently operating EGR valve is paramount to engine performance and a faulty one can make starting difficult and reduce performance considerably. If you suspect there is any issue with your EGR valve or there are concerns about its age or condition, book an inspection with a professional mechanic immediate effect.

If an EGR valve becomes blocked or clogged:
* It can cause the engine to stall or run roughly.
* Engine may also produce less power and get poorer fuel economy
* Combustion temperature of the engine increases
* You may smell unburnt fuel

Yes, a bad EGR valve can cause an MOT failure if the issue on the component leads to the vehicle failing its emissions test.

Yes, EGR valves can be cleaned, however, from a cost standpoint it is not always worth it. Some EGRs take a long time to remove and refit, and adding the cleaning time on top can quickly mean that the cost is significant. If the clean does then not help resolve the issue completely, you'll have to go through the process again. If the EGR is quick to remove it may be worth trying however.

There's a number of issues that can persist when you don't replace your EGR valve:

• Poor running of the engine
• Trouble starting the vehicle
• MOT failure if vehicle fails emissions test due to the EGR issue
• Reduced fuel efficiency

On average it can cost between £150 to £500 to clean an EGR valve, depending on the make and model of your car. Some EGR valves take a lot of time to remove and refit, sometimes up 5-6 hours, and on top of that 2 hours to clean the EGR valve.

In some cases it can be worthwhile cleaning the EGR valve as you can save some money over fitting a brand-new part. However, this usually is only the case if the EGR valve is quick to remove on your vehicle. In many cases it takes up 5-6 hours to remove and refit at which point you may be better off fitting a new EGR valve, seeing that there's always the risk that the clean does not fully remedy the issue.

Using slightly better quality diesel with additives may help prevent the EGR valve clogging up. Regular maintenance is also key to avoid EGR valve problems.