You’ve likely previously been aware of the well-known EGR valve, the anti-pollution valve. It is not always appreciated by drivers because it has a tendency to cause more trouble than anything else… In reality, depending on the use you are going to make of your vehicle, it can become congested and bring about you a lot of concerns. If this is the situation, you are likely concerned about how to clean the EGR valve of your BMW 3 Series ? Don’t worry, we’ve made this article content to help you with this process. To do this, we will initially check out the intent of the EGR valve, then what are the failures that the EGR valve of your BMW 3 Series can provoke and to finish the part that will likely appeal you the most, how to clean the EGR valve BMW 3 Series?
How to Clean your BMW 3 Series EGR Valve: Role and Operation
Goal of the EGR valve
The EGR valve of your car has been integrated to diesel engines primarily to reduce pollution emitted by cars and to meet EURO specifications on BMW 3 Series . It will consequently influence the quality of exhaust gas output and reduce toxic particles, mainly Nitrogen Oxide.
Operation of the EGR valve
Before we learn how to clean the EGR valve on your BMW 3 Series , we will have a look at how it functions. As seen just before, its mission is to clean the exhaust gases, so it will be placed at the engine outlet, thanks to a valve, it will be able to return the unburned exhaust gases to the engine for a second burn which will reduce all unburned toxic particles. It will work principally at low speed because at high speed the combustion is enough to burn all these gases.
How to clean your BMW 3 Series EGR valve: Identifying faults
The EGR valve, despite the fact very effective to limit the pollution emissions of your BMW 3 Series , will regrettably tend to clog up because of soot/gas deposits that will accumulate in its mechanism, which will ultimately risk obstructing the operation of the valve, until completely blocking the engine unit, here are the symptoms that a defective EGR valve on your BMW 3 Series can bring about:
- Motor light on
- Performance loss
- Technical inspection refused
- Black fumes
- Automobile that grazes at low speed
- Low RPM settings
How to clean your BMW 3 Series EGR valve: In practice
And now we’ll begin the part you are most excited about, how to clean the EGR valve of your car. Here are the two solutions that you can use.
Do it yourself
How to clean your BMW 3 Series EGR valve system: Without dismantle
Nevertheless this technique is less effective, it is however possible to consider a “rough” cleaning of your EGR valve, in reality, you will only need to use fuel additives, similar to the products used to clean the injection. These particular solutions must be injected into the running engine, at the right operating temperature, diluted in about 20 litres of fuel and run the engine for 3 or 4 minutes in high rev to clean the EGR valve of your BMW 3 Series.
How to clean your car EGR valve: With disassembly
Here is the more effective technique, which will require enough access to the EGR valve to perform the operation on your own. If so, the procedure is fairly straightforward. You will need to disconnect the electromagnet from the EGR valve, remove the few screws that hold it in place, and remove it. Once these simple steps are accomplished, now comes the time for cleaning. To accomplish this, you will need to use a product such as solvent, petrol, oven cleaning product, which you will leave to act for ten minutes, then scrape off the rest using a scraper, finish cleaning with wire brush. If you want to go further, you can as well clean the two canal on which it is connected which may be scorched, for this, use a scraper and a vacuum cleaner to avoid dropping deposits in the conduits. You will only have to reassemble it and you will have finished cleaning the EGR valve of your BMW 3 Series.
Have it done by a professional
If, your EGR valve is not reachable because of the series or the engine of your car and if removing it would cause too many complications (removing too many auto parts that hinder access for example), how to clean the EGR valve of your BMW 3 Series? In this instance, it would be better rather than launching yourself into an overly complex process, you turn to an auto mechanic. He will be able to perform the job more cleanly and will be able, if required, to change the valve if it is dead. The cost of cleaning depending on the difficulty of access is between 70 and 300 €.
Remove the EGR valve of your BMW 3 Series
Finally, a number of people make a more radical decision to limit the risk of a failed valve. Rather than cleaning the EGR valve of their BMW 3 Series, they just prefer to block it in the closed position. This modification will have the effect of greatly increasing the pollution emitted by the vehicle, of no longer complying with pollution requirements, of having an engine warning light permanently on and ultimately risk fouling the engine. We highly suggest against making this choice. If you have other questions or want to learn more about your car, don’t hesitate to take a look at our dedicated page.
To get more tips on the BMW 3 Series, take a look at the BMW 3 Series category.
