Plugged in my truck and the codes read that was too much and too little flow meaning the EGR valve is most likely clogged. Am I better off buying a new one or just simply replacing it?

How hard is it to remove and does it disrupt the engine if I don't fix it?

 

You're better off NOT relacing the EGR valve since they seldom fail.

Replace the DFPE sensor instead. This assumes P0401 & P0402 codes were pulled. This part has had its warranty extended by Ford by 2 years/24,000 miles past it's original warranty for certain model years, which, of course, you didn't identify.

Steve

 

What year truck and what motor?

Adrianspeeder

 

its a '01 f-150 v8 4.6 L

the codes were P0401 and P0402. AZ that there was a lot of carbon build up in it and it would make the plunger inside not work very well if at all. He said to remove it and clean it out with some brake cleaner until the plunger moved pretty easily and you could feel air coming out of the hole.

 

Usually a faulty DPFE sensor causes EGR codes. I usually take the time to clean out the EGR ports, replace the EGR valve and replace the DPFE sensor all at the same time.

The truck will probably run just fine with the EGR system down. I drove my 97 4.6L SCab for 18 months with clogged ports and a faulty DPFE and actually got better gas mileage than when the system was working. The 4 & 6 cyl engines tend to run badly when the EGR system is bad, but I never noticed any degrade of performance in a V8.

 

At least you came and asked before letting Autozone sell you an EGR valve.

Being a 4.6, the EGR ports are probably stopped up. Might as well replace the DPFE sensor too.

 

where are the egr ports located i have the 4.6 and have 100k maby i should clean mine ?

 

The ports are in the elbow between the throttle body and the upper intake manifold. You'll need to remove this elbow and get in there and physically scrub all the carbon and crap built up in there. I use a .22 caliber bore brush chucked up in a cordless drill and carb cleaner.

 

Most likely the DPFE sensor that needs replacing is the metal one (zinc casting). A plastic sensor also exists, which is made by a different company and has much better reliability.

Greg

 

Replace the dpfe sensor with the plastic one from Ford (not aftermarket).

You have opposing codes. Replace the sensor.

If you still have probems, then address the EGR ports in the throttle body.

Factory Ford procedure is to automatically replace the sensor for these codes, then address any remaining issues since they know the sensors are crap.

Steve

 

Check this link out
http://www.fordf150.net/howto/throttlebodyclean.php
Several good photos on egr valve

 

The DPFE replacement part is not aftermarket..........it is a current production OEM part, which was made by Motorola and now, just recently by Continental. Yes, Motorola sold its automotive group to Continental. You can not get the metal sensor anymore (or at least you shouldn't be able to), which is made by Kavlico. All replacement and new vehicle DPFE sensors are made by Continental.

Greg

 

Yeah.... I had the same codes. I thought it was because of my Flowmaster exhaust, but it was just because of a bunch of carbon deposits in the EGR ports. My dealership said they were the worst deposits they have ever seen in that shop. Not sure how accurate that is, probably just helped them justify how much they charged me. But either way, the code is gone now and the truck seems to run significantly smoother. You could clean them out yourself I guess if you know your way around the intake manifold. But for me it was a lot easier to just have them handle it. And normally I don't have that attitude, believe me.