What are the symptoms of a faulty EGR?

[LukeRose]

EGR valve failure may cause symptoms such as extremely unstable idling or even stalling, flashing malfunction indicator light, failure to meet annual emission inspection standards, burning engine oil, and blue exhaust smoke. Here is some information about the EGR valve: 1. The EGR valve is part of the exhaust gas recirculation system. When the EGR valve remains open, the car may exhibit black smoke, poor acceleration, and increased fuel consumption. When the EGR valve remains closed, it can affect the vehicle's exhaust emissions, potentially causing it to fail the annual inspection. 2. The function of the exhaust gas valve is to appropriately reduce fuel consumption, improve engine efficiency, lower exhaust temperature, and decrease the formation of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide.

[DiOscar]

If the EGR system fails, the engine may behave strangely. At idle, you might feel the car shaking like an unsteady boat, especially noticeable when stopped at a red light. Acceleration becomes sluggish, with the car responding slowly when you press the gas pedal, making it harder to climb hills or overtake. Sometimes, you might even smell a bit of smoke because the EGR valve gets stuck, preventing proper exhaust gas recirculation and increasing emissions. Fuel consumption also goes up, with the distance you can travel on a full tank noticeably shorter, likely due to the EGR valve sticking and causing an imbalance in the air-fuel mixture. If you drive like this for a long time, the engine warning light might come on, indicating a fault code. For a check-up, it's best to visit a repair shop for a diagnostic scan with a tool. A simple valve replacement might cost a few hundred dollars, but delaying repairs could lead to greater engine strain and higher costs. In short, don’t ignore it—get it fixed to keep your car running smoothly.

[Nellie]

While driving, I noticed an issue with the EGR system, with the most obvious symptom being unstable idling. Previously, the car would idle smoothly at red lights, but now it frequently shakes intermittently, causing the steering wheel to wobble as well, making it uncomfortable when parked. Acceleration isn't as sharp as before either—when I press the gas pedal, the power comes on slower, and even climbing a small hill feels laborious. At highway speeds, the engine sound has changed, producing a creaky noise that's quite annoying. What's worse, fuel consumption has increased. A full tank used to last around 400 kilometers, but now it's about 30-40 kilometers less. I checked, and the engine warning light isn't on, but there's definitely something wrong. I tried cleaning the EGR valve myself, but it didn’t help much. A mechanic told me the valve might be stuck or the pipes clogged, and replacing it would cost around 500 yuan. Delaying repairs not only leads to higher fuel consumption but could also damage engine components, so fixing it early saves both hassle and fuel.

[EstherDella]

When the EGR is faulty, the driving experience feels off. The car shakes noticeably at idle, with significant steering wheel vibrations, and even the seat feels wobbly. Acceleration becomes sluggish—stepping on the throttle results in a delayed response, especially noticeable when climbing hills. Fuel consumption definitely increases, with a full tank covering fewer miles, potentially burning 10% more. The engine light may not always come on—mine didn’t last time—but the exhaust sound changes, sounding wheezy or making a puffing noise. For diagnosis, a repair shop can detect trouble codes like P0401 using diagnostic tools. Ignoring the issue can lead to increased engine carbon buildup, affecting long-term performance. Replacing the EGR component costs a few hundred dollars—don’t wait until bigger problems arise.