I had my Egr valve off and while it was off I scooped a load of gunk out the inlet manifold. I've refitted it all now but got thinking, what if I've loosened some of it and it gets sucked into the engine.
Will this happen, and would it be as damaging as I imagine?

My mine has it causing horrific damage, then I think, but bits of it could come off under normal conditions anyway.

In short, should i whip the inlet mani off and clean it, or will it be ok as is?

 

tbh purely to get maximum benefit you should take the manifold off and clean it and the inlet ports out. Not much point doing half the job.

 

I know I 'should' but I'm lazy, so do I need to

 

yes or you will blow your engine up!

 

no i doubt it will be a problem you lazy bastard

 

honestly, make your own mind up. is it a hard material or soft?
i've never done it before as I have a petrol though should probably clean out my mum's 2l tdci mondeo as its done 90k now!

 

Thanks for all your useful help

Anyone who actually has a clue?

 

glad you found it useful

 

you should clean it from a performance point of view but no it wont cause any damage as it will just get squashed quite easily and spat out of the exhaust!

 

Does it have a sensor attached? Most without you can blank off. I took mine out and cleaned with carb cleaner before as I figured it must restrict breathing. I've found oven cleaners remove it well, but can strip a metals finish if you're not careful.

The stuff is meant to be combusted though as the EGR actually let's the gas through to be burnt. The deposits are the build up of shit that happens when it's closed mostly if I understand correctly.

 

It will be fine, just dont start it in an enclosed space cos it will smoke a lot until the debris passes through your engine/exhaust.
Then check your oil and water, take it for a run to get it upto temp and when its warm run it close to the redline in 2nd or 3rd for half a mile, that normally clears it out