What is the Average Life of an EGR Valve?
by Sasha Maggio
The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve reduces the combustion temperature in vehicles, which helps reduce the amount of nitrous oxide emitted from the exhaust system. The EGR valve was first added to automobile engines in 1972 to help recuce smog production.
Maintenance and Repair
EGR valves rarely require maintenance or repair and they also rarely need to be replaced. An EGR valve can sometimes become clogged, however, with carbon deposits, resulting in a valve that sticks or does not close completely. A dirty or clogged EGR valve may possibly be cleaned, but most mechanics would recommend replacing the valve to ensure emissions are kept to a minimum.
When to Replace the EGR Valve
Symptoms of a bad EGR valve include stalling or differences in how the vehicle idles. If the owner's state requires an emissions test upon inspection, the car will likely fail part or all of the emissions test when the EGR valve is not functioning properly. Other symptoms could be jerking, rough idling and hesitation in the engine when the vehicle is running.
Average Life of EGR Valves
The life of car parts varies as actual drivers may operate cars differently than they are operated for lab tests. An EGR valve may last 100,000 miles if the part is designed well, or it may last only 30,000 miles. Occasionally a part is faulty and requires replacing, but this is often covered under warranty depending on the age of the vehicle.
References
Writer Bio
Sasha Maggio specializes in topics related to psychology, fitness, nutrition, health, medicine, dentistry, and recovery after surgery, as well as cultural topics including Buddhism, Japanese culture, travel, languages and cooking. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and Japanese from the University of Hawaii, as well as a Master of Arts in forensic psychology. She is currently pursuing Medical and PhD programs.
