help, blocked EGR valve..

[Silicon Skum]

Need a little help, my Vauxhall Tigra seems to be running really BAD, I suspect that it is the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculating) valve sticking open, I think it is blocked with carbon and gum deposits (common fault with "eco-tech" engines). Anyone know of an additive I can use in the gas tank that will flush it free? Normally I would be straight in there and pull it out and clean it, but I don't have the correct tools (seems Vauxhall dont want anyone messing and have special sized tools, all mine will not fit. ), also I can't even see the damned thing. The engine bay is somewhat cramped with tubes, pipes and wireing looms.

I would rather do this the easy way (flushed with an additive), as I have been told that a new valve is about £200 - £300 I have my reasons for suspecting it's the EGR, my mother is the main driver and she ALWAYS uses cheap supermarket petrol.......URGH! Also the car now sounds like a diesel engine and it has a strange exhaust smell, kinda like smoke from burning coal, which can't be good! It sounds a bit splutery when reved up too.
I know that the valve is probably past it's best and a decoke would only be a temp solution, but chances are I will sell this car soon anyhow, so a bodge job will do for now.

Any ideas guys?

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[Google]

[[KoG]^weaZel]

I dont know of any fuel additive that would clean the EGR that is that bad. One thing that you might be able to do is get the engine to full operating temperature and then pull off a vacuum line that has full vacuum at idle. Then while manipulating the throttle (so that the engine wont die) let the vacuum hose suck up water out of a cup or bottle. Just give it a little water at a time though you dont want to hydro-lock your engine. This may help but not for certain.
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[ToggleHead]

dump a quart of ATF in your gastank on your next fill up...... yeah i know it sounds weird, but with all the detergents in there.... it should clean your fuel system up nice

=]
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[Noxide]

how hard is it to take it off? if possible to remove without breaking anything.... get you some carb cleaner and spray the inside the port of were it sits on the intake. dont spray were the vacume line connects.
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[Sally]

You could always try acetone.
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[Silicon Skum]

I eventually located the damned EGR valve, right in the tightest of spaces under the battery (problem with ECU and alrm system if I disconect the battery).

I think I'm gona try a dose of Redex and maybe one or two other chemicals, rag the engine hard for a 20 min run and then take it on some fast roads. If that doesn't shift the valve, I'll take it up to my local garage where I get all the work on my cars done, they will be able to sort something out for it on the cheap. Plenty of these engines in salvage yards for replacement parts.

Needs a full service anyway, so I might get everything done at the same time.

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[JayDubya]

[Noxide]

here in the US they have....Gumout,STP,Castrol,BerrymanBrymn. even the gen.types I like Berryman Brymn<<<<thats in the white&red can.
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[Ham_fisT]

Berrymans Chem-Dip is Awesome, but it's pretty harsh
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Yeah....... ok

[Noxide]

No.....Not the chem dip!! The carb/choke cleaner in SPRAY can.
No rubber parts in chem dip....you'll be buying a new EGR valve.
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