EGR stands for Exhaust Gas Recirculation, and it is an effective process to control the discharge of pollutants such as nitrogen oxide. The EGR doesn't eliminate impurities completely, but it does an efficient job of diluting its power. EGRs are most profound in light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty trucks, all of which share a diesel engine. Diesel engines are notorious for emitting unwanted pollutants into the air, making up a generous portion of the pollution to date. When diesel trucks go long periods without a proper EGR flush, they increase the chances for the functionality of their diesel truck to decline and invite unwanted repairs on its parts. The EGR valve is an essential part of every diesel truck, regardless of size. Diesel engines have pros and cons, and pollutants in the atmosphere such as nitrogen oxide are number one on the list of its downside. The buildup from emitting carbon deposits can often be unnoticeable and happen slowly.
Why is an EGR Flush Important?
Routine maintenance is vital for all vehicles, and lack thereof can create severe engine damage and expensive repairs. Cleaning your EGR valve through frequent flushes and other maintenance processes can improve a truck's diesel engine performance. Routine maintenance on a diesel truck consists of air filter replacements, fuel filter changes, and fluid flushes for the exhaust system, the brakes, and the transmission. The maintenance process is the best way to reveal any and every possible issue that may be going on under the hood of a vehicle. Diesel truck repair is typically much more costly than gas-powered vehicles since the vehicle itself is more expensive. Implementing an EGR flush into the routine maintenance regimen guarantees limited amounts of carbon deposits, and build-up occurs.
Carbon Deposits
Carbon deposits and build-up are the outcomes of the combustion process in an engine combusting improperly. Most people label these elements black soot. Black soot can harden onto important internal engine components like the injector nozzles, cylinder walls, and intake valves. Once the black soot reaches these components and this state, a decrease in their designed functionality will occur, which can negatively affect the part they work for; the engine. Nowadays, newer diesel engines are designed to improve pollution emittance through advanced technology. This advancement makes these engine models more susceptible to declines due to carbon build-up.
The EGR Flush
The EGR flush is crucial because it guarantees a diesel truck is always on point in its ability to emit pollutants into the air that can also affect the engine and the parts in place to keep a diesel truck functioning correctly. This fluid flush is the easiest way for the driver to be in control to steer clear of unwanted downtime due to diesel truck repairs.
What is an EGR Flush, and What Are the Signs of EGR Failure?
An EGR flush is an alkaline detergent put together to extract carbon build-up from the exhaust system and other residual contaminants. These contaminants are discovered in large truck exhaust system parts like the sensors, the valves, the coders, and the filters. This fluid will break down and flush out any build-up that may have reached the exhaust gas recirculation valve, turbochargers, intake manifolds, coolers, and the diesel particulate filter. A properly cleaned Exhaust Gas Recirculation will eliminate the amount of nitrogen oxide released from the diesel truck, which protects the environment and the diesel engine, granting the diesel engine longevity and performance. When the proper steps aren't in place, such as the recommended EGR flush procedure every 12 months or 100,000 miles, then build-up will cause a sequence of events such as the following:
- Check engine light
- Difficulty steering truck
- Vibrating engine
- Rough idle
- Overheating
- Decrease in gas mileage
These listed diesel truck notifications can be due to carbon deposit build-up in the EGR valve, which is the most common contributor to decreased diesel truck performance. The primary function of the EGR valve is to control the emission of nitrogen oxides by diluting the oxide that goes into the combustion air. Without a properly functioning valve, there is nothing in place to prevent proper exhaust flow, leading to unwanted diesel truck repair. Professionals recommend flushes occur at least every twelve months by a certified diesel truck technician. Allowing a professional to perform proper fluid flushes and other routine maintenance procedures ensures quality performances and an expert's eye should any issues arise.