Check out the thread I posted over on BITOG:

EGR passages cleaned

 

Just was wondering if you pulled the rigid hose between the EGR and the manifold as well. When I cleaned my '97 F150 4.6l's EGR and throttle body, I found that I needed to pull this as well since it was clogged. I ended up using a 12 guage shotgun bore cleaner to get it cleaned up.

The gunk in the throttle body was extremely hard like you said, I even had to get a drill with a drill bit after it to break it loose. Completed it two years ago, no more check engine light, idles smoother, and the gas mileage went back up. I did that at 100,000 mileas, and it now has 162,000 on it and my son still drives it daily and not a bit of problems. I'm glad you posted pictures, I did not have the forethought to take any, and it sure would have been easier for me when I was putting it back together.

 

Even though the pictures don't reflect it, I actually removed the EGR valve, to clean all the old gasket material off. This particular EGR valve is only about a year old, & the EGR pipe itself was never clogged. For whatever reason, the carbon blockage was confined to the throttle body only.

 

this buildup is known by ford as a issue. this is why they came out with the 929a and 930a spec oils. it almost eliminates it.

 

Does FoMoCo have a list that shows which oils meet those two standards?

FWIW, I'm currently running Havoline synthetic 5w30. Do you think that synthetic oils would reduce this carbon clogging problem even better than oils that meet the 929a & 930a specs?

 

synthetic oils have no effect on it . just look at the label it will say what spec it meets. the 5w20 is the best for deposit control. i know the havoline 5w30 meets the 929a spec.

 

ford390gashog,

Upon what information do you base that statement? I'm not doubting you; I'm simply curious.

Thanks.

 

Update:

300 miles & multiple driving cycles after cleaning the EGR passages, the CEL has not returned. Hopefully that demon has been defeated.

 

Thanks again for the great documentation. The oil guy site looks like a good resource too!