2012 Toyota Prius EGR Assembly cleaning (EGR Valve and EGR Cooler)

in this video, I show you the before and after of what it looks like to cleanout the EGR assembly. In a 2012 Prius, this cleaning helps prevent the notorious head gasket issues that plague the Gen 3 Prius. It's easy to cleaning all you need is some brake or parts cleaner, a 10mm and a 12mm socket head and ratchet.

[@matthewvasquez9278]

The easiest and fastest way to clean the egr Cooler is with a power washer, keep the Nozzle slightly away so you can get every corner on both sides. no Chemicals needed unless you want to. I used a very strong LED Milwaukee shop light to check the fins to see how clear they are

[@WiSeNhEiMeR-1369]

Thanks COOP ...

[@Sagemeister007]

Where can I found the video of you putting it back? Also for the hoses that got disconnected, did you place clamps on those? Thanks.

[@ward26102]

I can see that you wouldn't soak the valve because of the sensor, but could you soak the cooler for a bit?

[@ahmedlaymoun9407]

do you know what the gasket part numbers are? I want to order replacements.

[@DrumPeearl]

Hi ! Thanks for that helpful video . How long did that take to take off and put the parts back together including the cleaning process? I think I have seen people saying that it was not necessary to put back the tricky bolt once you took it off. How many miles did you Prius had when you you did that labor ? What product did you use to clean exactly (how long the cleaning process took with the brushing/drying etc...) and how did you use the products ? I believe you used a brake cleaner. Did you just fill the bucket and let the parts sit in here ? How's your car holding up after almost a year since you have posted that video? Wha'ts about the manifold ? Thank you so much. I got a 2010 147 000 miles Prius and plan to do that ASAP to avoid major issues but I want to know if i'll have enough time to do that in a day.

[@aaronpayne1058]

You can do it in a day, but it may not be all dry by then. My Prius had 117,000 miles, and I would totally put the bolt back on. I did use a spray brake cleaner, but I didn't soak anything, just paper towels and a wire brush. Dont use a super hard wire brush, use a softer one. Car is doing great last I saw it (4 months ago; I sold it a little after the video).

[@CJ-pe5dl]

Where is the assembly video?

[@chubbysmobile9661]

Hey is the break fluid supposed to run through from one end to another? Because right now its just stuck on one end

[@jimsgaragetoys]

Yes, the "brake" fluid should run through, his is still badly plugged.

[@niijipilot]

How does it ride with that strut bar? I have the TRD sway bar.

[@jimsgaragetoys]

It helps a little but it's also in the way. My wife drives hers so easy that I took it off and sold it. The TRD rear sway bar makes a much bigger difference.

[@jimsgaragetoys]

You still need to clean the EGR cooler much better. The best way is to use oven cleaner and let is soak overnight. Plug on end in and fill. It will take several soakings. You should get fluid flowing through it and see daylight through it too. Yours will plug up in no time again. I actually have a spare EGR cooler, EGR valve, and intake manifold so I can remove the quickly and install the cleaned parts I have waiting. This way the car is back on the road in no time.

[@aaronpayne1058]

That's really helpful, thank you.

[@DominiAeternum]

So what's the purpose of all of this? To combat the cold start engine shaking.

[@JA-nr3is]

Cold start shaking is one reason to clean the EGR - the other being that a clogged EGR system is one of the main contributors to head gasket failure in the Gen3 Prius (usually around 175-200k). Side note, the cold start engine shaking could also be caused by a failed head gasket as coolant pools up in the cylinder. This was the case with my Prius which had a failed head gasket about 3 weeks ago.

[@chrissignal8857]

I've had the cold start thing since new. Read something about the egr reversing temporarily that causes it.

[@s980845]

Where's the assembly video?

[@aaronpayne1058]

My apologies, I did not do one. It only goes back together one way though.

[@jdmfans6078]

could a dirty egr cause engine shaking ? my does shaking once in a while

[@JA-nr3is]

@@jdmfans6078 That's usually a dirty EGR or a failed head gasket if it only happens when the engine starts (ie, cold start or taking off from a stoplight)

[@jdmfans6078]

ok here's what happened... it was a blow headache gasket i looked in the cooling reservoir it was low. itcwas at the moment i know I'm fu%k up.. lol end of the story I paid 1200$ to get it fix

[@YOutubewatcher-fo5xg]

@@jdmfans6078 How long was it shaking for? Or did it shake one time and than you notice the coolant was low? Mileage of your prius/ct200h?

[@DominiAeternum]

Wouldn't it be much better and not very costly to just a get a new one and have 0 carbon deposits on the new one? I wish my mechanic told me to do this when he did the spark plugs and got all the wiper and cowl off. Pisses me off so much he didn't recommend this or at least clean it. Guess he didn't want the hassle of getting it off and back on. Lazy ass

[@blakeposter7496]

they want the extra labor

[@DominiAeternum]

@@blakeposter7496 not really. This guy has been my regular mechanic for years and is getting so lazy now he just does the quickest easiest jobs he is used to. I really doubt he has ever cleaned or even replaced an EGR cooler on a Prius. Probably just told people to go somewhere else and get a new engine. Don't even know if he does head gaskets even.

[@jimsgaragetoys]

I have a spare one so I can just swap the clean EGR cooler and valve as well as the intake manifold. Don't forget to clean out the small passages in the intake manifold! The car is back on the road in no time and I can take my time cleaning the EGR system.

[@sprezzatura8755]

Step 1: Get off the floor and onto a workbench.