All went well for doing it for the first time.I really was expecting it to look alot worse because of all my short trips.The valve was little moist on the top but the rest was dry to the point that the carbon was just falling off itself.When I pulled it out of the intake alot of carbon fell back in but I was able to vacuum it out.I cleaned the intake as best I could but there isn't alot of room.I made myself a little tool and cleaned it the best I could but it's not spotless by any means.

Some info:
28,812 mile's on EGR valve
1000.2 hours on EGR valve
28.8 # from dividing mile's by hours.That number isn't from idleing,I NEVER idle my truck.It's from low speed driving and lot's of stop and go driving.
Lot's of short trips,7 miles to work,7 mile's back
I get fuel from the same station weekly that is right next to a highway(high volume station)
I use Diesel kleen(treats 100 gallons)I divide that into four tank fulls.I do that about once a month.

Here are the pics...







All done with new gaskets...



Here is the tool I made to clean the intake.



Here is the vacuum I used to clean the intake.The hose fit perfectly in the hole so I could reach all the way to the bottom.




Hope you enjoyed!!!

 

Thanks for posting Rob.

My shop vac did not have a hose that would fit but I found that my wifes vacuum had a hose that fit perfectly.
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I won't make that mistake again...but at least my intake under the EGR valve is clean

 

LOL,No mistake's here my friend...That is why I had to go buy this one!

 

Nice write up, love the pics. That's the S.O.B. that slit my thumb and thumb nail in half. Looks great all cleaned up, I just had to toss mine and put on a Billet Block off plate. I'll be healed soon. Thank You, Kelly.

 

Mine looked very similar to yours at 45K, Hrs were similar 1000-1100 IIRC. I think the previous owner made a lot of short trips also. I live about 25mi from work w/12-15 mi of interstate, so she's got the chance to get heated up every day now. I'm interested to check the condition again but I think I'm gonna wait til about 60K to do it. @ 53K now-1338hrs
Also learned my lesson about wearing gloves while doing that job, that crap doesn't just come off w/soap. I think it took almost a full week before it all wore off my fingers. Of course I thought it was a good idea to reach down in the intake and scrape it out w/ my index finger.

 

I know what you mean about the glove's.I wore rubber glove's too,But during the cleaning of the valve the index finger of the glove tore and I didn't realize it.Needless to say I still have a black finger and nail.I look like one of those goth people!