You’ve likely previously been aware of the popular EGR valve, the anti-pollution valve. It is not usually appreciated by drivers because it is likely to cause more concerns than anything else… In reality, according to the use you are going to make of your vehicle, it can become blocked and trigger you a lot of concerns. If this is the case, you are likely wondering how to clean the EGR valve of your Mini Cooper ? Don’t stress, we’ve prepared this article content to help you with this procedure. To accomplish this, we will first look at the intent of the EGR valve, then what are the failures that the EGR valve of your Mini Cooper can bring on and at last the section that will likely concern you the most, how to clean the EGR valve Mini Cooper?
How to Clean your Mini Cooper EGR Valve: Role and Operation
Goal of the EGR valve
The EGR valve of your car has been integrated to diesel engines mainly to reduce pollution released by automobiles and to fulfill EURO specifications on Mini Cooper . It will as a result influence the quality of exhaust gas output and eradicate toxic particles, mainly Nitrogen Oxide.
Operation of the EGR valve
Before we discover how to clean the EGR valve on your Mini Cooper , we will have a look at how it operates. As described 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 principally at low speed because at high speed the combustion is enough to burn all these gases.
How to clean your Mini Cooper EGR valve: Identifying faults
The EGR valve, despite the fact very beneficial to limit the pollution emissions of your Mini Cooper , will sadly tend to clog up because of soot/gas deposits that will build up in its mechanism, which will ultimately risk obstructing the functions of the valve, until completely blocking the engine unit, here are the signs of illness that a faulty EGR valve on your Mini Cooper can cause:
- Motor light on
- Performance loss
- Technical inspection refused
- Black gases
- Vehicle that grazes at low speed
- Low RPM settings
How to clean your Mini Cooper EGR valve: In practice
And now we’ll commence the section you are most curious about, how to clean the EGR valve of your car. Here are the two ways that you can use.
Do it yourself
How to clean your Mini Cooper EGR valve system: Without taking it apart
Nevertheless this methodology 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, similar to the products used to clean the injection. These specific 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 Mini Cooper.
How to clean your car EGR valve: With disassembly
Here is the most effective methodology, which will require enough access to the EGR valve to do the treatment yourself. If so, the operation 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 finished, 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 conduits 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 Mini Cooper.
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 problems (removing too many parts that hinder access for example), how to clean the EGR valve of your Mini Cooper? In this instance, it would be better rather than launching yourself into an overly complex procedure, 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 according to the difficulty of access is between 70 and 300 €.
Remove the EGR valve of your Mini Cooper
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 Mini Cooper, they just choose to block it in the closed position. This treatment will have the result of greatly increasing the pollution released by the vehicle, of no longer complying with pollution standards, of having an engine warning light all day on and finally risk fouling the engine. We highly advise 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.
To get more tips on the Mini Cooper, take a look at the Mini Cooper category.
