EGR Valve Cleaning

Restore smooth idle, lower emissions — EGR-valve cleaning

Close-up of a mechanic performing engine carbon cleaning using a hydrogen machine connected to the intake system
Why Drivers Book Us

Keep Your EGR Healthy,

Cut Soot & NOx

In-garage EGR cleaning restores a smooth idle and helps prevent costly DPF faults.

Sticky carbon on the EGR pintle upsets airflow, raises combustion temps and triggers rough running or limp mode. We remove the valve, soak it in a safe decarboniser, scrub the passages clean, then refit and run live diagnostics. Expect steadier idle, quicker throttle response and lower NOx output.

Why Drivers Book Us

Cleaner Intake,

Lower NOx

Sticky carbon on the EGR valve upsets airflow and raises combustion temperature, driving up NOx emissions and causing a rough idle. Bring your vehicle to our Hanley garage and we’ll remove the valve, soak it in a safe decarboniser, scrub the pintle and passages, refit it, then run live diagnostics. You drive away with a steadier idle, quicker throttle response and fewer emission faults—no replacement parts, no guesswork.

Call us on 07827533529 or book an EGR clean online today.

Sticky carbon makes an EGR valve slow to move. When the valve can’t recycle exhaust gas at light throttle, combustion heats up and NOx shoots past MOT limits. We strip the valve in our Hanley garage, soak it in a safe decarboniser and free every passage. Full movement lowers in-cylinder temperature, drops emissions and helps you sail through the NOx test.

A jammed valve also tricks the ECU into cutting boost and fuelling. That means sluggish pull-away and higher fuel use. Once the valve reacts on cue, the ECU restores the right air-fuel mix. Drivers feel smoother take-off, no hesitation and often 2–3 % better mpg on the same run to work.

Ignore a stuck EGR for long and exhaust pressure backs up. Cracked DPFs, clogged intake runners and turbo over-speed faults follow. Cleaning the valve before it seizes solid avoids that chain reaction and saves the £300–£500 cost of a replacement electronic unit — plus labour.

Common EGR Call-Outs

Vehicles We Clean Most

for Stuck EGR Valves

Certain diesel engines coat their EGR valves with carbon faster than others, especially on short urban runs where exhaust temperature never gets hot enough to burn deposits away. Below are the cars and vans we’re called to every week for EGR valve removal, deep clean and refit.

Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi

Town driving and low-speed idling cake the EGR pintle in soot, triggering rough idle and P0402 flow errors.

BMW 118d / 320d (B47)

Short commutes clog the cooler; hot restart brings white smoke and an EGR-temperature plausibility fault.

VW Passat 2.0 TDI

Sticky cooler flaps raise NOx, flagging the EML and forcing limp mode at motorway speed until cleaned.

Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi

Swirl-flap wear drops soot into the EGR housing, leaving the valve jammed half-open and hunting at idle.

Toyota Avensis 2.2 D-4D

High-mileage taxis suffer heavy carbon across the EGR and cooler matrix, throwing P0400. Mobile clean restores flow.

Peugeot Boxer 2.2 HDI

Delivery-van stop-start use clogs the pneumatic EGR quickly; engine drops power on hills until valve is decoked.

Why It Matters

Clean EGR,
Smoother Combustion
When an EGR valve sticks half-open, the engine loses its carefully balanced mix of fresh air and recycled exhaust gas. Combustion temperatures rise, NOx emissions spike and rough idle sets in. Soot flakes can even break away and clog the DPF, shortening the time between costly regenerations. By removing the valve, soaking and brushing away carbon, and resetting adaptations afterwards, we restore free movement and protect your turbo, sensors and DPF from knock-on damage.
FAQ’s
Have Questions About EGR Valve Cleaning?
Real Answers From Mobile Intake Experts
What does an EGR valve do, and why does it clog?
The EGR valve meters a small amount of spent exhaust back into the intake to lower combustion temperature and NOx emissions. Short journeys, low-speed driving and poor fuel quality leave soot and oily vapour on the pintle. Over time the valve gums-up and sticks.
How do I know my EGR valve needs cleaning?
Common symptoms include rough idle, flat spots when you accelerate, higher fuel use, a whistling turbo and fault codes such as P0400, P0401 or P0402. A scan will show commanded vs. actual EGR position not matching.
Will an on-car chemical spray work as well as removal and clean?
Sprays can loosen light deposits, but once carbon has hardened on the pintle and seat it has to be removed, soaked and brushed. Off-car cleaning restores the full range of movement and lasts much longer.
Is mobile EGR cleaning safe for my engine?
Yes. We disconnect the battery, remove the valve without disturbing coolant lines, use manufacturer-approved solvent, fit a fresh gasket and reset adaptations with dealer-grade diagnostics.
How long does a mobile EGR clean take?
Most jobs are finished in 60-90 minutes on your driveway or depot bay, including live data checks before and after refit.
How much does professional EGR valve cleaning cost?
Expect £120–£180 for most cars and light vans. That’s a fraction of the £300–£500 price of a new electronically controlled EGR valve.
Will cleaning the EGR reduce my fuel consumption?
Yes. A free-moving valve helps the ECU maintain correct airflow and timing, often returning 2–4 % better mpg and smoother throttle in everyday driving.
Can a clean EGR help my vehicle pass its MOT emissions test?
Absolutely. A sticking valve raises NOx levels and can put the MIL lamp on—both MOT failures. Cleaning restores proper exhaust-gas recirculation and clears the fault, improving your chances of passing first time.

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Close-up of a black plastic intake manifold with visible dust and carbon build-up on a petrol engine.

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