Doing EGR Service Myself

[ecar8]

Trucks registered in Calif. Maine, Massachusetts, Vt, Conn. , RI. , Penn, and NY can have the EGR service done under warranty.

 

[realfine409]

I was quoted $900 by my local dealer, just finished doing it myself, most likely took longer than most because I don't need the truck as a daily driver and doing some other things as well. It's a bit of a pain but I leaned a bit and now know a little more about the truck, and have money for beer next year!!!

 

[AHarris]

I use my truck every day as my daily driver and primary vehicle. I'm sort of dreading this project this summer but there is no way in heck I'll pay $900 for someone to do something I'm capable of doing myself.

 

[sno_bound]

I did the complete egr cleaning along with changing the ccv filter. And one thing no one mentions is that the dealer also cleans the turbo as part of the service. They have a hose that screws into a fitting on the turbo and then by actuating the turbo open and closed through the obd2 port, they spray in 3 cans of a specific cleaner. I know this because after I did this work, my CEL came on, so I went into the dealer to scan it and they said I had 3 codes all relating to hi crank case pressure. So I told them what I did and then they asked me If i cleaned the turbo and also the sensors... ... . to make along story short, turns out i had a faulty sensor that they changed under warranty and I did not have them clean the turbo. Reason being, I always use the exhaust brake and I tow quite often, so I'm assuming there's not much carbon build up to worry about. So for you drivers that putt around more often than drive hard, it might be worthwhile to find out how to clean the turbo too, or just let the dealer take care of it. And yes it took me probably 4 hours to do the service, hardest part was getting at the bolts for the egr cooler. but hey, thats about $400 I saved in labour. and no greasy finger prints left behind from the dealership. I'm happy that i did it, and I'll do it again next time.

 

[Patty]

and no greasy finger prints left behind from the dealership

Exactly! A little more care and attention to detail from some, not all, of the dealership mechanics and they would probably double their business from customers like me who refuse to go there unless absolutely necessary. I'm super picky especially about my vehicles and unfortunately going to the dealership for service work usually just turns out to be a frustrating experience that I can live without! Quality work and a little respect for the customers investment is all I'm looking for. When the time comes and with tips and advice from people like yourself on TDR I'll be doing this service myself as well. And as you said save some cash and learn something along the way. Thanks.

 

[GCP]

... one thing no one mentions is that the dealer also cleans the turbo as part of the service. They have a hose that screws into a fitting on the turbo and then by actuating the turbo open and closed through the obd2 port, they spray in 3 cans of a specific cleaner.

Can anyone elaborate on this procedure? Has anyone performed the service themselves?

 

[Jim W]

Can anyone elaborate on this procedure? Has anyone performed the service themselves?

Geno's Garage has instructions that they include for cleaning the EGR if the truck is so equipped. You can also check out their catalog on page 13 for further information on cleaning the EGR Cooler. Some dealers may clean the Turbo but at an additional cost since this is not part of the service required for the EGR cooler and CCV filter cleaning and replacement.
I had my Turbo drilled and cleaned at 13,600 miles in Dec 08, since than it has not been necessary to clean the Turbo again. I am only replacing the CCV Filter myself around 65,000 miles or by May of this year; the truck has 62,000 miles now.
Jim W.

 

[Bob4x4]

If there is not a dtc for the turbo there is not a good cleaning procedure..... do not get fooled :-{}

 

[GCP]

If there is not a dtc for the turbo there is not a good cleaning procedure..... do not get fooled :-{}

So if I have a DTC, is it part of the 67,000 mile service to have the turbo cleaned? Or is this just a dealer recommended service (say, along the lines of the "fuel injector service")?

 

[Bob4x4]

There are labor op's for most any repair. To find if it is a covered repair the labor op is entered and Ram will come back with for example covered under cummins engine warrantyor if it is not covered it will indicate such

 

[Loren]

Can anyone elaborate on this procedure? Has anyone performed the service themselves?

GCP,

I agree with what Jim W said about the kit from Geno's Garage. My son-in-law's truck needed the service and he bought that kit. He and I did it together. The instructions with the kit were excellent. As I remember, it took us about 4-6 hours and we work slowly and carefully. If we had another truck to do after his, it would have taken about half that time for the second one.

Cleaning the EGR cooler requires some sort of cleaner/degreaser. We used Simple Green, somewhat diluted (I don't remember how much). You should have seen the carbon we washed out of that part. Doing it ourselves, we were able to take the time to wash it several times and allow it to soak as well. I'm sure the dealer wouldn't have taken that much time.

If you are at all handy, and have the right tools, it should be within your capabilities. Also, you'll save $400-600.

Good luck,
-- Loren

 

[PFranzese]

I just finished cleaning my EGR cooler this weekend. I also used the genos kit and simple green, diluted about 50%. The instructions were excellent and it was easy to do. I also cleaned out the air horn and throttle control blade on the end of the air horn. There was a pretty decent layer of soot on everything which came off with some scrubbing. It was a two day job mostly because I soaked the cooler over night and washed it out probably 15 times.

Easy to do and well worth the time, truck is running much better after a good de-soot.

 

[PFranzese]

EDIT: Deleted, double post.

 

[AHarris]

I did the complete egr cleaning along with changing the ccv filter. And one thing no one mentions is that the dealer also cleans the turbo as part of the service. They have a hose that screws into a fitting on the turbo and then by actuating the turbo open and closed through the obd2 port, they spray in 3 cans of a specific cleaner. I know this because after I did this work, my CEL came on, so I went into the dealer to scan it and they said I had 3 codes all relating to hi crank case pressure. So I told them what I did and then they asked me If i cleaned the turbo and also the sensors... ... . to make along story short, turns out i had a faulty sensor that they changed under warranty and I did not have them clean the turbo. Reason being, I always use the exhaust brake and I tow quite often, so I'm assuming there's not much carbon build up to worry about. So for you drivers that putt around more often than drive hard, it might be worthwhile to find out how to clean the turbo too, or just let the dealer take care of it. And yes it took me probably 4 hours to do the service, hardest part was getting at the bolts for the egr cooler. but hey, thats about $400 I saved in labour. and no greasy finger prints left behind from the dealership. I'm happy that i did it, and I'll do it again next time.

Makes me a little nervous about doing this procedure myself, if part of the EGR service includes cleaning the turbo. I think I can do the Geno's Kit with no problem, but I know nothing about cleaning the turbo and hate to mess with it when I don't know what I'm doing, void the warranty, and then be on the hook for a new turbo.

 

[GCP]

I am aware and have investigated the Geno's service kit. I'm glad to hear that it seems like a reasonable DIY job. I became concerned when a previous poster stated their dealership informed him that a "turbo cleaning" was part of the 67K mile service. That was news to me and it looks like it was a dealer recommended service and not a factory recommended service. Am I correct?

 

[Loren]

I became concerned when a previous poster stated their dealership informed him that a "turbo cleaning" was part of the 67K mile service. That was news to me and it looks like it was a dealer recommended service and not a factory recommended service. Am I correct?

GCP,



Yes, you are correct.



I have the factory service manual for my 2008 truck. Page 0-31 lists the requirements for the 67,500 mile service. Cleaning the turbocharger is not listed. In fact, cleaning the turbocharger is not listed for ANY scheduled service.



It’s possible that this may have been modified since 2008 in light of some of the issues that came up with the earliest 6. 7 liter engines. I suggest that you double check by calling a dealer you can trust.



Best of luck,

– Loren

 

[RVTRKN]

The way I understood it, is that if you perform the service properly, the truck will throw codes recommending to clean the turbo, not thats it recommended. So if the dealer techs are worth a grain of salt, they will perform the service knowing the code will pop up at a latter date. The problem will be in the 07. 5 thru 08 MY, there is no cleaning port, unless it threw codes at an earlier date where the cleaning port was then drilled and the cleaning performed. The problem is when the EGR service is not covered, (California requires the service to be performed under emissions warranty) and the turbo service will no longer be covered under the 3/36 warranty.

 

[Bob4x4]

I have never had a Turbo code come up after a 67. 5k service,the real turbo cleaning procedure must have the code to be performed. Sounds like smoke and mirrors to sell additional work

 

[RVTRKN]

If there is not a dtc for the turbo there is not a good cleaning procedure..... do not get fooled :-{}

Did I read it wrong or just misunderstood.