Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve (EGR Valve)

What Does The EGR Valve Do?

The EGR valve is designed to reduce the level of harmful emissions from a vehicle. It achieves this by opening under certain vehicle conditions to allow some of the burnt exhaust gases to recycle back into the combustion chamber. This lowers the combustion temperature which results in lower amounts of harmful gases.

Where is The EGR Valve Located?

The EGR valve is most often situated on the intake manifold but can occasionally be found elsewhere.

What Are The Failure Symptoms Of The EGR Valve?

Common symptoms of EGR valve failure include excessive fuel consumption, engine overheating, stuttering and the engine management light illuminating (often putting the vehicle into ‘limp mode’). A faulty EGR valve will also result in an increased level of harmful emissions, causing failure at an emissions check (part of the MOT process).

Maintenance Of The EGR Valve

Over time, EGR valves become clogged with dirt & carbon deposits which cause the valve to stick open or closed. Sometimes the EGR valve can be cleaned, but changing of the valve is recommended to avoid the problem quickly recurring.