Not many people have ever heard of an EGR valve, fewer still know what it does. EGR stands for “exhaust gas recirculation.” What your EGR valve does is send certain especially flammable elements in your vehicle exhaust back into the combustion chamber to be further immolated. The purpose is to prevent dangerously flammable substances from being spat all over the highway. The result is that CO2 and very fine carbon are almost the only substances to ever exit your exhaust pipe. Imagine how many forest fires would be caused each year if burning particles were regularly ejected from the exhaust pipe of every automobile on the road. It would be a disaster, especially in the summer months.
For the reasons described above, having your EGR valve in good condition is important to drive legally and safely. However, some vehicles do not even have an EGR valve. The original EGRs were pretty simple. Around the mid-70s, they began to react to a manifold vacuum which caused them to operate differently under changing conditions. Many of today’s vehicles do not have EGRs at all due to advancements in engine performance technology. If your car or truck does have an EGR, it might be time to have it checked out and serviced or replaced.
In order for your vehicle to pass a state inspection, it probably needs to have a clean EGR valve. Because these things are regulated in almost every state of the union, your mechanic will simply include EGR valve service with your DOT inspection/service package. However, it could be more cost-effective in some cases to take care of it pro-actively. Here are some signs you should look for to determine whether or not your EGR valve needs service or replacement:
Another valuable, but not essential, function of an EGR is heat ejection. A dirty or poorly performing EGR will not cause a vehicle to overheat, but a good one can help keep your vehicle well below the red line during those hot summer months.
Here at Gregg Young Chevrolet of Norwalk in Des Moines, Indianola, and West Des Moines, IA- we can help make sure your EGR is doing its job to keep your vehicle running at full power, safely, and efficiently all year long. Get in touch today to learn more and schedule your EGR valve inspection service. Choose the service department at Gregg Young Chevrolet for the best certified service around.
