Clean EGR Ports Easy Tip P0401 Insufficient Flow

Cleaning EGR Valve Passage
In this video I show how to easily clean an egr passage or any hard to reach area using a can of cleaner and some oil pressure gauge tubing. This is a 2005 Montana SV6 3.5 engine. This method works on many vehicles. Correction. In the video I stated this was a 3.4 engine. It is a 3.5. method and EGR is the same though.

[@gen55976]

I just got in from using your solution on my 05 uplander. The ports was plugged and after using yours plus a piece of speedo cable it is clean as a whistle. Thanks for having the video. It helped out a lot. A+

[@merquryj]

Life saver

[@gregorykusiak5424]

Before seeing this video, I couldn’t figure out how to get to the EGR to remove it without rolling the engine on my 07 Buick Rendezvous - you removed the evap vent (Maybe it’s the purge?) solenoid and there’s just enough room. You can even get to the port inside the manifold without taking the throttle body off - the PCV port above the EGR inner port is big enough to get hose/pick down. Thanks!

[@taffydavenport1965]

Great advice, and very helpful video ! Thanks !

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

@m0bilemechanix I've heard that you can use a speedo cable attached to a drill to clean out clogged EGR ports.

[@wickedPrints3256]

I just replaced the EGR about a month ago and it cleared the check engine light. Now it's throwing the p0401 code again. I doubt the EGR valve went bad that fast. I'm going to try your method. Hope it's just carbon in the intake port. It's an old 2002 Saturn sl1. It's been a good car for the most part but it's old. Thanks for the tip!

[@whisperedgoodbye9985]

Did it work?

[@wickedPrints3256]

Yes! It worked. I haven't had any issues since I cleaned it. @@whisperedgoodbye9985

[@gabe5360]

No way, I’m working on the same car🤣 how’d you do it and did it work?

[@elgatogordo9523]

I’ll need to this on my engine to get rid off P0401 code. It probably has major carbon buildup after 280k miles and it’s been kicking my ass for awhile and this will be the next step.

[@bdmenne]

Same hear $$ spent and still no dice

[@allen41795]

Thank you. I changed my EGR valve, and the scanner is still giving me the P0401 code, I'll use your method

[@3rdeyeoracle434]

Did it work when u clean out the egr passage ways?

[@harveymushman2219]

Rotor rooter carbon out with a drill with a thick wire speedo ? cable attached ???

[@dmascorro76]

when i had my 2004 chevrolet malibu 3.5 i got so used to doing this every year and a half. i'd use a combination of very thin pipe cleaners along with carb fluid. I'd dig out carbon chunks from there. what a horrible design.

[@joseduranjr3152]

I have a 2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette with the 3.4. Are they all the same

[@merquryj]

My part was blocked solid with carbon and some kind of brownish goo. Have you not made this video I would have never even knowing what the problem was so bad that we have to take the intake off to unclog it which turned into a motor overall I'm like since I'm here I might as well do a ultimate tune-up 2005 Buick terraza with 194,000 mi on it no rust body in great shape runs good so worth putting a few dollars into🎉

[@c.518]

I have a p0108. But my car, ford 500, doesnt have a map sensor. Any ideas?

[@FMJAYYY21]

My 09 ram gave me this code today I haven’t been able to find any how to vids on it

[@JasonKale]

hahaha love that straw trick..Nice!!!!

[@m0bilemechanix]

Glad you liked it!

[@olenaerhardt7725]

Some people clean the EGR passages by running the engine for 20 seconds with EGR removed, so the carbon dust is blown off from the ports. They clean passages first then run the engine. May I know your opinion about it? That tiny tube is better when it is fuel line tube with the diameter 0.080". Did you put any teflon tape around the connections? Thank you.

[@johngarrett9310]

Would that actually work. Disconnecting egr and running the engine would get rid of all carbon buildup within egr ports?

[@CosmicCreationsDIY]

Should the egr valve/pipe get hot ?? Tryed to cut out the egr and to put new one in i connected a peice of radiator hose (as a quick patch ) And it melted within 3min in limp mode . . Although once it melted it seemed to open up the air flow to the engine and was able to get higher rpms . Clogged egr pipe?

[@m0bilemechanix]

Yes the pipe gets hot. It's part of the exaugst

[@jerood]

thank you

[@hopper333]

Hi. My valve keeps getting clogged and I can take it off and clean it. However, that's about my skill level. Can u recommend another way to clean inner passage ways with a liquid that I can spray? Does this Sea Foam product work and if so, where to spray it? Many thanks.

[@isoSw1fty]

Spray the seafoam down in the egr pipe and use a long wire thin brush or coat hanger to scrape the carbon around and install the egr valve back on and run the engine to burn the seafoam out. Also check all of the vacuum hoses.

[@olenaerhardt7725]

May I know if every car has that connecting passage between the Throttle Body and EGR valve like in this film? I need to do a similar procedure on 2001 Saturn SL2. I thought just to remove the EGR to clean ports, but it looks like better to remove the Throttle Body as well. I cleaned before (by removing) the Throttle Body and replaced EGR valve, but all that didn't clear the emission code P0446 (it says in description for the code, that one of the issue could be insufficient intake flow). I didn't clean the passages, bcs I didn't know at that time I need to do it. Thank you for the very informative film.

[@erno9248]

Thanks...

[@sailorjt1985]

That's a very common code isn't it?

[@m0bilemechanix]

indeed

[@terrencecarter27]

will WD40 work for cleaning out EGR ?

[@m0bilemechanix]

Noooooo

[@Texaca]

...No, you need some heavy duty chemicals like 99% Industrial Isopropyl alcohol, acetone, toluene, MEK, Xylene, 2-Butoxyethanol, Ethylbenzene, any combination of the above mentioned chemicals, and other industrial toxic chemicals 😳 ✌🏼 they are toxic and flammable 🌋

[@shawnhennity1769]

what is the size of this tube?

[@m0bilemechanix]

I don't remember the size. 3/16 maybe but if you just grab oil pressure hose from the parts store it will work.

[@shawnhennity1769]

@@m0bilemechanix Thanks a lot!

[@BenLittle-bu4cp]

NO SOUND!!!!!!!!!!

[@m0bilemechanix]

There is sound lol

[@seymourwrasse3321]

is this after the valve body, and how do you get the dirty fluid and crud out, air hose? I presume the tube doesn't have to be clear?

[@m0bilemechanix]

if you did and spray until clean then let it dry you will be good. it can take more than one can. tube color doesnt matter back all the plastic oil pressure tubes ive seen were like what i have.