EGR Valve Location (How to Locate the EGR Valve in Any Car)

Are you trying to find the EGR valve location in your vehicle in order to replace it?

If so, then you are in the right page.

EGR is an abbreviation that means Exhaust Gas Recirculation. It is a feature of the exhaust system. It helps the car not go above the healthy operation recommended limits; it also ensures that all the harmful waste products from the vehicle’s engine can not be released into the air at once.

This guide will help you know your vehicle’s EGR valve location. You’ll also learn how to locate the EGR valve in any vehicle, bad EGR valve symptoms, How to replace the EGR valve and its costs, and tips on maintaining the EGR valve.

Let’s get started!

There is not much difference in the location of the EGR valve in the most vehicle:

• Search around the engine side or top to locate the valve.
• Another place to look is near the intake or exhaust manifold.
• Also, Look thoroughly around the throttle body.

Some valves can be seen around the engine part that closer to the steering or hidden away under some other vehicle parts and not clearly seen.

Also Read: Egr Valve Replacement Cost & Steps

How to Find the EGR Valve Location in Any Vehicle

A vehicle’s makeup and type determine the particular EGR valve it uses. There are three basic types of EGR valves found in vehicles they are;

the electronic-vacuum controlled valve( recent models) or new electronic control digital valve, vacuum controlled(models that are a bit older).

The EGR valve can be found beside the engine or on top of it. However, you may not be able to see it clearly because other engine components might block it. Here are some tips for identifying the EGR valve in your vehicle.

• Some car models that are a bit older use A metallic disc that is round and thick, semi-flat, and has a diameter of about 3 inches. At the top, there is a remote vacuum hose connection.
• New models use the same valve with a box-like sensor and an electrical harness on it.
• Some models use a block or cylinder configuration with an electrical harness and sensors attached to the valve.

The EGR valve can be found beside the topmost part of the cylinder. Look closely around the intake manifold, throttle body, or firewall.

It can also be located by online search, inserting the vehicle’s type, engine size, and the make into the auto parts website. Most sites include the EGR valve picture for each car model and brand for easy identification.

Pay keen attention to the diagram, and you will be able to find what you are searching for.

Seeking answers from the repair manual of your car’s model and brand is also advised. You can order inexpensive repair manuals online or at stores specializing in auto parts.

Apart from the EGR valve location, the manual gives pictures and diagrams of the valve and other components, steps for repairing, and other processes for removing and placing EGR components such as the pipes, vacuum hoses, and sensors.

What Is an EGR Valve, and What Does It Do?

EGR is an abbreviation that means Exhaust Gas Recirculation. It is a feature of the exhaust system; what role does it play?

First, to not go above the healthy operation recommended limits, all the harmful waste products from the vehicle’s engine can not be released into the air at once.

Some of the engine’s gas returns to the combusting system with the help of the EGR valve, leading to a reduction in the quantity of pure air needed for the same function.

This leads to a decline in the temperature of the operating system due to carbon dioxide’s (the gas that goes back) inability to burn.

A decrease in temperature makes the production of harmful nitrogen oxides impossible, which reduces the emission rate while driving.

What Are the Symptoms of a Bad EGR Valve?

Some of the challenges a vehicle encounters due to bad EGR valves include power reduction, decreased speed, and reduced fuel productivity, affecting EGR system operation and flow. It causes the increased release of gases as well.

Pile up particles from the fuel, carbon residues, and soot constituents that can forcefully open or close the EGR valves.

EGR valve thrives better when driving on the highway because the engine releases carbon residues due to the rise in temperature in fast and long travels. Driving in the metropolitan area leads to a pile-up of residues.

The signs of EGR valve can be different; some frequent symptoms include:

1. Your Engine Has a Rough Idle

If you notice a rough idle when starting your vehicle or during brief stops (i.e., slow speeds with a warmed-up engine), it is because the EGR gets opened all the time, and there is a constant flow of emission fumes inside the intake manifold.

2. Increased Fuel Consumption

Poor efficiency sets in when there is a decline in temperature due to frequent valve opening, causing the fuel to burn at a degree not favorable. This leads to higher fuel consumption.

3. The Car Frequently Stalls When Idling

If the valve remains open permanently, allowing the emission of fumes into the EGR system, your car will frequently stall when idling.

4. Poor Performance

Constant opening and closing of the valve can lead to low performance in a car. As a result, your car performs abnormally due to the EGR valve working incorrectly.

5. The Car Produces More Emissions

More fumes will be released whenever the EGR valve is not functioning correctly. As stated earlier, if there is a reduction in temperature whenever the valve is opened, it will hinder the total burning of the fuel.

This leads to higher hydrocarbon gases that have not been entirely burnt from the exhaust pipe.

Increased temperatures enable excess NOx gas formation in the combustion chamber whenever the valve is closed.

6. Knocking Noises Coming From the Engine

Whenever the EGR is closed, knock-like noises can be heard from an engine.

At low revolutions per minute, the fuel gets ignited on time when it encounters a higher temperature. After an initial ignition, detonations become regular as ignition can take place the second time after the first.

7. You Can Smell Fuel

Fuel can be perceived due to the constant flow of emission fumes into the intake manifold because the fuel doesn’t burn entirely at low speed.

In other words, there is higher emission of hydrocarbon gases from the exhaust pipe. Therefore, fuel can be perceived.

8. Engine Management Light Stays On

Immediately the vehicle sense any problem concerning the EGR valve, and the engine management light stays on. This happens whenever the EGR is frequently opened or closed.

However, it should be noted that the EGR valve begins deteriorating before failing totally, and the engine’s management system might not detect it until it fails totally. Therefore, checking out for other indications and signs is advised.

Also Read: Oil Pressure Sensor Location (How to Locate the Oil Pressure Sensor)

How to Replace an EGR Valve

1. Park the car. Emergency brakes should be applied. The EGR valve can be found with the help of the user’s guide or repair manuals.
2. It should not be connected to any electrical parts, and it should be completely drained.
3. Pipes joined to the EGR valve should be checked for tear or leakage, affecting efficiency. Leakages on the pipes can be detected by spraying starting fluid on the vacuum line when the engine idles. One way to know the vacuum line takes in the fluid is when the Rpm of the engine picks up. Therefore, there should be a replacement of the hose as well.
4. The nuts that hold the valve and cylinder head together should be removed. WD-40 sprayed on the nuts helps with easy removal.
5. The valve and any other gasket parts should be taken off. Particular attention should be given to particles, so they don’t fall into the head of the cylinder.
6. Using the user’s guide, install the new valve.
7. reconnect the electrical pipes and hoses.
8. Using the diagnostic device, look out for codes, and the engine’s light can be reset again if needed. Five minutes without a battery are sufficient to reset the engine codes and erase them for older cars. Drive short distances and make sure the car runs and idles evenly.

Check out this video for more tips on how to replace the EGR valve

EGR Valve Replacement Cost

EGR valve replacement costs range from $250 to $350. The cost of EGR valve replacement is influenced by factors such as the car’s year of production, brand, make, and the system it uses.

The component price can be $190 to $270, whereas labor fees may be around $60 to $80. Note that this does not include taxes and extra charges included in the total bill.

After the replacement has been done, services such as erasing of trouble codes, vacuum pipes examination, EGR transducer test, EGR valve test to enjoy smooth running, and removal of carbon residues from EGR pintle should be done by the mechanic.

EGR Valve Maintenance Tips

1. Sludge and carbon in the car’s air intake system should be cleaned using an air induction service every 50,000 miles.
2. Frequent oil change in the engine also lowers the possibility of sludge accumulation.

Frequently Asked Questions – EGR Valve Location

Conclusion – EGR Valve Location

The EGR valve is located close to the intake manifold, with a tube leading to the exhaust manifold. A vacuum or an electrical connector (or both) which leads to a valve can be seen as well, which might need to be detached.

We hope this post was of help to you. Please feel free to check out our other blog articles if you want to get more tips for preventing car troubles!