Are you having problems with your EGR valve? Find out whether replacement or cleaning is the better solution and which symptoms indicate a fault. Also: How much is the cost for EGR valve replacement or cleaning in the UK?
How much to replace an EGR valve in the UK?
» ON AVERAGE £150 – £500
A new EGR valve will cost depending on car model between £90 – £350. The labour costs for replacement are usually significantly higher. Here it depends on the hourly rate of the workshop and how long the replacement takes.
The average in the UK is about £60 – £150 per hour. The total price includes the diagnosis, a new EGR valve and its replacement. Here is an example of the EGR valve replacement cost for a VW Golf 4:
Cost example: EGR valve replacement – VW Golf 4
Overview | Cost |
|---|---|
New EGR valve | £120 |
Labour cost, 1 hour | £100 |
Total cost | £220 |
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The EGR valve replacement cost vary widely
From car model to car model, there can sometimes be significant differences. This means that the costs will be different for an Audi A3, Vauxhall Astra, Jaguar XF or Ford Focus. For a BMW 1 or VW Caddy the cost can also be over £500.
In general, it is usually cheaper to make a change in older vehicles, as the EGR valve is more easily accessible. In modern cars the parts are usually installed more tightly. Below is an overview with average estimated prices for different car models.
Car model | Cost |
|---|---|
Alfa Romeo Giulietta • Alfa Romeo Mito • Chevrolet Spark • Chevrolet Matiz • Fiat 500 • Fiat Panda • Fiat Punto • Ford Fiesta • Ford Ka • Ford Escort • Hyundai i10 • Hyundai i20 • Kia Ceed • Kia Picanto • Kia Rio • Nissan Micra • Vauxhall Corsa • Vauxhall Meriva • Peugeot 206, 207, 208 • Renault Clio • Renault Twingo • Seat Altea • Seat Ibiza • Smart Fortwo • Toyota Corolla • Toyota Auris • Toyota Yaris • VW Fox • VW Lupo • VW Polo | from £150 |
Audi A1, S1 • Audi A3, S3, RS3 • Citroen Berlingo • Citroen C3 • Citroen C4 • Citroen Jumper • Dacia Duster • Dacia Logan • Dacia Sandero • Ford Kuga • Ford Mondeo • Honda Civic • Honda Jazz • Hyundai Tucson • Kia Sportage • Mazda CX 5 • Mercedes A Klasse • Mazda CX 3 • Mini • Nissan Qashqai • Vauxhall Astra • Vauxhall Mokka • Vauxhall Vectra • Vauxhall Zafira • Peugeot 308, 3008 • Renault Kangoo • Renault Megane • Seat Alhambra • Seat Leon • Skoda Fabia • Skoda Octavia • Skoda Roomster • Skoda Superb • Skoda Yeti • Toyota Avensis • Toyota Prius • Volvo V60 • VW Passat • VW Tiguan • VW Golf 4, 5, 6, 7 | from £200 |
Audi A4, S4, RS4 • Audi A5, S5, RS5 • Audi A6, S6, RS6 • Audi Q2 • Audi Q5 • BMW X1 • BMW 1er • BMW 2er • BMW 3er • BMW 5er • Fiat Ducato • Ford Focus • Ford Galaxy • Jaguar XF • Land Rover Freelander • Mercedes B Klasse • Mercedes C Klasse • Mercedes E Klasse • Mercedes GLK, GLC • Vauxhall Insignia • Porsche 911 • Rover 75 • Seat Alhambra • VW Caddy • VW Sharan • VW Touran • VW T5 | from £250 |
If an EGR cooler is installed (especially in more modern vehicles), it may also be defective, which increases costs. In addition, prices may also vary regionally. Hourly car garage rates are generally higher in and around large cities like London, Edinburgh, Birmingham or Manchester than in rural areas. All prices on this site serve as guideline values incl. VAT and may vary.
The 4 biggest cost factors for EGR valve replacement
1. Good or bad accessibility of the EGR valve
2. Type of damage to the EGR valve
3. Hourly rate of car garage
4. Price for the new EGR valve
Choose an EGR valve in original part quality! For safety reasons, it is always advisable to use parts in the original part quality. Brand-name parts in original part quality increase the service life and minimize the risk of engine damage. Well known manufacturers of quality EGR valves include: Triscan • Herth+Buss • Valeo • Meat & Doria • Febi Billstein • Pierburg • Hella • Blueprint
What is an EGR valve?
The EGR Valve (EGR stands for Exhaust Gas Recirculation) is a very important component of exhaust gas recirculation. It serves to reduce the temperature of the exhaust gases produced during the combustion of the fuel in the engine and the release of nitrogen oxides into the environment.With exhaust gas recirculation, some of the exhaust gases produced return to the intake side of the engine via a pipe and the valve, where they enter back into the engine combustion chamber together with the fresh gases.The recirculation of the oxygen-depleted and carbon dioxide-laden exhaust gases suppresses fresh air in the intake pipe, which reduces the oxygen content of the gases in question. The recirculated exhaust gases are not involved in the combustion process, but must still be reheated, i.e. they absorb thermal energy, which lowers the overall combustion temperature.
What does an EGR valve do?
Exhaust gas recirculation does not continuously take place, but only in the partial load range when the engine is running especially lean. Exhaust gas recirculation makes little sense after a cold start, during the warm-up phase or when the engine is running at full load. The EGR valve is required to control the exhaust gas recirculation. It opens and closes the connection between exhaust manifold and intake pipe. The valve is located on the engine, usually near the exhaust manifold. Using control electronics, it is possible to activate exhaust gas recirculation only under certain load conditions and engine temperatures and to deactivate it in driving situations when makes little sense to use it.
Signs and symptoms of a faulty EGR valve
» Do not ignore signs of a faulty EGR valve!
There are various warning signs that can indicate a defect. Below is a frequently occurring problems and symptoms. If any of these symptoms occur, you should examine your car’s EGR valve and replace it if necessary.
» Lighting up of engine indicator light or exhaust gas warning light
» Black exhaust smoke
» Decreased engine power
» Higher fuel consumption
» Gas pedal does not pull through properly when pressed down
» Storing an error code in the error memory
» Jerking engine while driving
Can I still drive with a faulty EGR valve?
» Visit the workshop soon!
We strongly advise against a longer journey. A bad EGR valve causes an unclean combustion. This causes the engine to run at the wrong combustion temperature and soot deposits in the cylinder head and other components. This soot further worsens the handling of the car and can lead to expensive subsequent damage, so that even more parts have to be replaced.
EGR valve cleaning or replacement?
The main cause of failure is when the EGR valves are stuck open. This means that after a thorough cleaning, the component can sometimes work again. Here it is worthwhile having the garage check whether a cleaning is a worthwhile option. Although this does not represent a permanent solution to the problem, it can temporarily ensure that the symptoms disappear. In many cases, however, cleaning is only recommended to a certain extent because, depending on the vehicle, the turbocharger and possibly the drive shaft must also be removed when removing the valve. The installation work drives up costs while the EGR valve itself is relatively inexpensive. In the event of mechanical or other visible damage, it is absolutely essential to replace the component. By the way, it is not worth resorting to used car spare parts here, as the degree of wear inside the valve cannot be estimated.
EGR valve cleaning: How does that work?
Often the garage recommends replacing the entire valve, which can quickly cost several hundred pounds. Sometimes an EGR valve cleaning can be a cheaper alternative. But what exactly is done in the garage with egr valve cleaning?
» Removing the cover The EGR valve is often hidden on the vehicle by the engine cover. This is usually only plugged in and can be easily removed. The EGR valve is then visible. In some newer vehicles, which are more tightly built, the turbocharger and drive shaft must be removed first.
» EGR valve is disassembled The EGR valve can now be removed. To do this, the plug, if present, must be disconnected and the fixing screws loosened. The valve is often very tight and must be levered out with a screwdriver. With the older models, the valve is often easier to reach. Often only a hose has to be removed, after which the valve is visible.
» EGR valve cleaning If the valve has been removed or is now visible due to the removal of the hose, cleaning can begin. Any coarse or stubborn dirt can be scraped off and removed with a screwdriver. The valve must then be sprayed with an appropriate cleaner such as an intake system and throttle valve cleaner.The cleaner must now be left on for several minutes. Afterwards the cleaner can be rubbed off with a cloth. Repeat this procedure until the valve is clean.
How much are the EGR valve cleaning costs?
If one EGR cleaning is enough, you can expect to spend about an additional hour for this work. This depends on the hourly rate of the garage. Authorised service centres are usually somewhat more expensive than independent car garages. However, the average hourly rates in the UK are around £60 – £150. The cost for EGR valve cleaning is in most cases somewhat lower than for replacement. This is because the material costs for EGR valves can be saved and they are usually higher than one hour of labour.
When to replace an EGR valve?
It is difficult to standardise the wear of an EGR valve, as the interval is very much related to the driving style. It is therefore all the more important not to ignore possible symptoms and to act promptly.
One tip for a longer EGR valve life: Drive on the motorway now and then! If the engine very rarely reaches operating temperature due to frequent short-distance driving, the residues in the EGR valve are not burned and can therefore be deposited more easily. Therefore, it can help to drive on the motorway from time to time to bring the engine up to operating temperature.
How long does the garage need for an EGR valve replacement or cleaning?
» On average 1-2 hours
Usually the replacement of the EGR valve is completed after 1 hour. For some older models, half an hour is sometimes sufficient. For tighter built models, the replacement can take 2-3 hours. The exact time and effort required depends on whether the valve is easily accessible, or whether it is in a difficult to reach installation position, where it may be necessary to dismantle the valve beforehand after additional parts. In the case of an EGR valve cleaning, a little more than one hour can be added for cleaning.
How you can save money with the EGR valve
1. Reacting early on symptoms can save a lot of money Dont ignore symptoms! If you react directly at the first symptoms of a faulty EGR valve, you can save yourself a lot of money and trouble. This saves you expensive subsequent damage.
2. Make a price comparison! Even in the same city, EGR valve replacement prices can vary greatly from garage to garage. To save time and effort and to find the most cost-effective solution, it is worthwhile to compare the prices in different garages and check the prices for your region before each visit.
For this you can use the free garage comparison (all offers at a fixed price) on this page.
