EGR or DPFE?
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Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: South Carolina
EGR or DPFE?
The code I was given comes up as EGR or DPFE. How do I know which one it is? Should I try to clean the EGR myself or take it to the shop. The mechanic said it would cost about $150.00 to fix. Is this reasonable? Any advice is appreciated.
1998 F150 4.6L 80,000 miles
1998 F150 4.6L 80,000 miles
Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
If you are moderately mechanical, you should be able to clear it. The code I was getting was P0401
Step 1: Take off the elbow that attaches the throttle body to the intake and clean the 2 ports that dump into this elbow. You should find plenty of crud clogging them up. Mine were slam full at only 40K miles.
Step 2: If problem persists, replace DPFE sensor as well as these are very prone to failure according to the Ford tech that fixed mine. I went through this a few months ago, but had both steps covered under my extended warranty and just got to watch it all. The tech said this is pretty much guaranteed to be a problem on any 4.6 sooner or later. They have a TSB about it. I think you can get the sensor at Autozone (Called an EGR Sensor) for much less than at a Ford parts counter.
Step 3: If problem persists, I'm out of ideas! Someone else chime in.
Step 1: Take off the elbow that attaches the throttle body to the intake and clean the 2 ports that dump into this elbow. You should find plenty of crud clogging them up. Mine were slam full at only 40K miles.
Step 2: If problem persists, replace DPFE sensor as well as these are very prone to failure according to the Ford tech that fixed mine. I went through this a few months ago, but had both steps covered under my extended warranty and just got to watch it all. The tech said this is pretty much guaranteed to be a problem on any 4.6 sooner or later. They have a TSB about it. I think you can get the sensor at Autozone (Called an EGR Sensor) for much less than at a Ford parts counter.
Step 3: If problem persists, I'm out of ideas! Someone else chime in.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,295
Likes: 125
From: St. Louis (Out in the woods)
Before embarking on the job of cleaning the intake EGR ports, perform this simple test first:
Locate a short (1-2 ft) length of vacuum line.
Disconnect the vacuum line from the EGR valve and connect the short length of line.
Start engine and allow to run at idle speed.
Pretend you're trying to drink a thick milkshake and suck on the vacuum line. This will open the EGR valve.
You will get one of two response: 1) The engine will drop rpms, even to the point of stalling or 2) no change in engine rpms.
If the rpms drop, the intake passages are clear and the EGR valve is working. Concentrate your efforts on the DPFE sensor and the small vacuum lines that connect the DPFE sensor to the EGR sample tubes.
If there is no change in the rpms, proceed with disassembling the intake port for cleaning.
A simple test can point you in the right direction and to avoid what might otherwise be unneccesary work.
Steve
Locate a short (1-2 ft) length of vacuum line.
Disconnect the vacuum line from the EGR valve and connect the short length of line.
Start engine and allow to run at idle speed.
Pretend you're trying to drink a thick milkshake and suck on the vacuum line. This will open the EGR valve.
You will get one of two response: 1) The engine will drop rpms, even to the point of stalling or 2) no change in engine rpms.
If the rpms drop, the intake passages are clear and the EGR valve is working. Concentrate your efforts on the DPFE sensor and the small vacuum lines that connect the DPFE sensor to the EGR sample tubes.
If there is no change in the rpms, proceed with disassembling the intake port for cleaning.
A simple test can point you in the right direction and to avoid what might otherwise be unneccesary work.
Steve