When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I am planning to remove the EGR valve and clean the ports. I have the "insufficient EGR flow" CEL code and figure that after 185k on the 97 expy (4.6) it's time to clean it. The vacuum is good so I am sure it just clogged ports. The problem is I can't get the EGR tube out of the back of the valve. The EGR tube was replaced a few years back after rusting out at the exhaust manifold but it still has the factory valve. PB Blaster hasn't loosened it up any and I'm worried about rounding off the head on the EGR tube- which is still in good shape.
Any tips or tricks for getting that thing out? There isn't much room back there so I was wondering if it would be easier to take off the EGR valve to get enough flex from the tube to get a better grip and angle on the nut going into the valve.? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
If you can get the EGR valve off, then maybe you can clean the ports without disconnecting the EGR tube. If you're determined to get the tube off I would be sure to use a flare nut wrench instead of an opened end one. Get the flare wrench on it and shock it with a good hard smack from a 3 lb. sledgehammer. With the flare wrench you'll be grabbing 6 corners of the nut instead of just 2. But don't use a cheap one because it will spread and round the corners, instead go to Sears for one. Heating the nut up with a propane torch can help too.