You’ve likely previously read about the famous EGR valve, the anti-pollution valve. It is not always appreciated by drivers because it is likely to create more problems than anything else… Actually, dependent on the use you are going to make of your vehicle, it can become clogged and trigger you a lot of concerns. If this is the situation, you are likely wondering how to clean the EGR valve of your Chevrolet Volt ? Don’t worry, we’ve written this content to help you with this operation. To achieve this, we will first take a look at the goal of the EGR valve, then what are the failures that the EGR valve of your Chevrolet Volt can bring on and finally the part that will likely appeal you the most, how to clean the EGR valve Chevrolet Volt?
How to Clean your Chevrolet Volt EGR Valve: Role and Operation
Goal of the EGR valve
The EGR valve of your car has been added to diesel engines mainly to reduce pollution emitted by cars and to meet EURO specifications on Chevrolet Volt . It will as a result control the quality of exhaust gas output and eradicate toxic particles, mainly Nitrogen Oxide.
Operation of the EGR valve
Before we learn how to clean the EGR valve on your Chevrolet Volt , we will check out how it works. As described just before, its mission is to clean the exhaust fumes, so it will be positioned 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 eradicate all unburned toxic particles. It will run mostly at low speed because at high speed the combustion is enough to burn all these gases.
How to clean your Chevrolet Volt EGR valve: Identifying faults
The EGR valve, nevertheless very effective to limit the pollution emissions of your Chevrolet Volt , will sadly tend to clog up because of soot/gas deposits that will accumulate in its system, which will finally risk obstructing the functions of the valve, until totally blocking the engine unit, here are the signs of illness that a faulty EGR valve on your Chevrolet Volt can provoke:
- Motor light on
- Power loss
- Technical assesment refused
- Black fumes
- Car that grazes at low speed
- Low RPM settings
How to clean your Chevrolet Volt EGR valve: In practice
And now we’ll start the part you are most excited about, how to clean the EGR valve of your car. Here are the two methods that you can use.
Do it on your own
How to clean your Chevrolet Volt EGR valve system: Without taking it apart
Nevertheless this procedure is less effective, it is however possible to consider a “rough” cleaning of your EGR valve, the reality is, you will only need to use fuel additives, equivalent to the products used to clean the injection. These specific products 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 Chevrolet Volt.
How to clean your car EGR valve: With disassembly
Here is the strongest procedure, which will require enough access to the EGR valve to execute the process without help. If so, the process is fairly easy. 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 completed, 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 even 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 Chevrolet Volt.
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 elements that hinder access for example), how to clean the EGR valve of your Chevrolet Volt? In cases like this, it would be better rather than launching yourself into an overly complex operation, you turn to an auto mechanic. He will be able to accomplish the job more cleanly and will be able, if required, to change the valve if it is dead. The cost of cleaning dependent on the difficulty of access is between 70 and 300 €.
Remove the EGR valve of your Chevrolet Volt
At last, some individuals make a more radical decision to limit the risk of a failed valve. Rather than cleaning the EGR valve of their Chevrolet Volt, they just prefer to block it in the closed position. This treatment will have the outcome 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 in the end risk fouling the engine. We strongly suggest against making this choice. If you have other questions or want to learn more about your car, don’t think twice to check out our dedicated page.
If perhaps you have any further questions about the Chevrolet Volt, do not hesitate to consult our Chevrolet Volt category.
