TekViper

ok my egr valve on the 3.1L is not right. you know those three torx head screws that hold it down? one of mine is snapped, screw stuck in the threads. the other 2 are nice and tight. however there is some carbon buildup right where the broken screw is so i think its leaking. it also backfires once and a while out of the egr valve when free revving in neutral. my question is, can i just remove those other 2 torx screws and replace the gasket there? is there even a gasket in between there? once i get those other 2 screws out i might be able to take the broken screw out with some of that glue stuff, i dunno. but i have no idea whats inside that egr valve and how it works. would i run into anything if i took those other 2 screws off? i noticed they are on really tight, do i have to torque them down to a specifc ft/lbs when i reinstall it?

also will an egr valve from any 3.1L work on my mine if i go junkyard hunting for a new one if i cant fix the screw? i notice a lot of 3.1L's but most of them are in FWD cars so the engine is mounted differently, and so is the egr valve. would it still work on my engine?

finally, does the egr valve require any maintence/cleaning? i want to do as much as possible to make sure its working right.

Dale

iTrader: (12)

same thing happened on mine somewhat. The screw just came up missing. There is no gasket avaliable for that. It is just part of the egr. Had to cough up 200+ for new one. Look in j/y for a new one.

TekViper

didnt want to hear that. there is no way to take those other 2 torx screws out without permanently disabling the egr valve? if i could take those other 2 out and lift that part of the valve off i could maybe somehow manage to take the broken screw out of the thread.

would a bad egr valve be causing bad gas mileage?

Dale

iTrader: (12)

They said that gasket that blew was part of the egr. No gasket avalible.

As for taking it apart, I didn't even try. After closer inspecting mine, it was cracked at the base, all the way thru. So I was no ddoubt gonna get me a new one.

TekViper

pepboys said they dont carry the gasket i was talking about but they said other stores should. i'll give that a shot. i just wish i could find some kind of diagram of whats in there so i dont go pulling off the wrong bolt or do something stupid. dont feel comfortable just hacking away at something thats 200 dollars to replace

DAN_92RS

lol that same thing happend to me

this is one of the reasons why my car isnt running right now

i tried to fix the old one with an easy out but that didnt work

so i guess i'm gonna half to spend 235$ on a new one

TekViper

what did u try to do to fix it? so i dont make the same mistake...

DAN_92RS

well what happend was i was driven down the road when i herd a load exhaust noise when i got home i opend the hood and saw my egr valve rattling on top of the exhaust manifold

one of the torx srews broke off the mounting plate and i tried to get the rest of it out with an easy out and it didnt work

and the black plastic part that the solenoids go into had hit the manifold and melted so i just said the hell with it i'll buy a new one

TekViper

took a close look at my egr valve today, i can feel exhaust gasses pulsing out from the the valve where the broken screw is. could that alone be causing poor gas mileage and making the exhaust sound bad, backfiring/raspy etc?

my question is, what happens if i remove those other 2 torx screws from the valve? will the unit just pop right off or is there stuff inside there that will fall apart if i take those 2 other bolts out and lift that piece up? this is my only daily driver and if i mess it up im going to be in trouble.

DAN_92RS

if you take those 2 torx screws out it will fall apart. the torx screws hold the egr valve on this plate that mounts to the exhaust manifold

ther ar two bolts that hold the whole thing onto the exhaust manifold . take those off and you should be able to lift off with no prob.

TekViper

that really sucks, if i take those torx's out then the whole egr valve will never work again?

i guess my question now is will any egr valve from a 3.1L GM engine work on mine, be it fwd or rwd?

MDv6man

Yes it will. I think the FWD 3.4s and 3.8s also use the same EGR valve.

TekViper

alright, i seen a lot of 3.1L engines with them, next time im at the yard i'll see if i can pull one. is there anyway to visually inspect the valve to make sure it'll work? or just luck of the draw? is a lot of carbon building a sign of a bad valve or is that normal? anything i should be on the lookout for to avoid?

1991tealRSt-topGuy

funny, last style of this EGR valve i replaced at work had a seperate gasket

this is a lesson: go to a better parts source
Pep Boys sucks

go to any GM dealer and have them order you an AC Delco EGR gasket

the style EGR valve you need was used on various 60* engines

there is also another valve that looks kinda similar except that its just one large cylinder (usually silver in color), you can not use this style

TekViper

well i found one in a junkyard and swapped it on, seems to be working fine. part number didnt match up and theres a slight difference in the build of the egr valve but the base plate is exactly the same and so is the wiring hookup. came off a corsica lt, pretty sure it was a 3.1L but might have been a 2.8, dont really remember. anyway it seems to be running fine. is there anyway to make sure the valve is actually work? all i was really worried about was sealing up that leak and the new valve did that, i just dont know how the internals are holding up in the one i pulled from the yard.

KED85

I KNEW MY SUGGESTION OF A FWD EGR would work.
The later the model car 3.1 the better.
The FWD 2.8 engines say so
The 3.1 say so also.
GREAT SCORE
YOU DID GREAT!
IF car pulls away smooth you did great!

FAST RS

My old gasket was leaking so i took the cover off cleaned the valves and springs got all that caron off made it clean put the gasket on with some hi temp RTV sealent on both sides around the edge screwd it down it dosent leak any more well it lasted 2 years not it is ever so slightley leaking. And now that you got me thinking about this my mom is selling her oldsmobile with a 3.1 same EGR i think i might do a EGR swap.

KED85

YEAH
Save the trip to the yard!
When ya wanna do your chain?
I need to do mine & swap water pumps, too.

FAST RS

Proby be doin the chain when the bird is outta the grague since i hate workin in the street.

KED85

Come on over & we use my garage & driveway!
I'll put the Vett on the street & we'll be done in four to six hours!
Besides, I know of women that do very well working on the street! LOL!

FAST RS

Sounds good to me i gotta wait for my next pay day if you come over today i can get you the gasket and timing chain and use my 20% discount at work i can go to any autozone and use the discount.