The exhaust gas recirculation valve, also known as the EGR valve, is responsible for recirculating emissions from the engine back into the internal combustion chamber. This keeps the emissions out of the exhaust emission system. This is the system that ends up releasing exhaust fumes into the atmosphere and damaging the environment. With a functional EGR valve, it keeps the emissions in the engine where they get reused during the combustion process. As a result, there is a reduction in the cylinder temperatures and in the number of emissions that get released into the atmosphere.
The EGR valve must stay functional if the exhaust emissions are to be managed properly. If there was ever a problem with the EGR valve, it would prevent it from opening and closing at the right times. The timing of this must be precise or else emissions won’t go to the internal combustion chamber. Several other symptoms will soon follow.
5 Bad Symptoms
You may think emissions are no big deal because it only affects the environment. However, the results of a bad EGR valve can also affect your vehicle too. The symptoms that arise will interfere with your ability to safely drive the vehicle. That is why you should replace your EGR valve as soon as you notice these symptoms.
Below are the top 5 symptoms of a bad EGR valve in your car.
1) Emissions Test Fail – One of the main symptoms is the inability to pass a standard emissions test. Some states require drivers to get emissions tests done ever 6 to 12 months. This ensures their vehicles are not emitting too much carbon into the air. Well, if you have a bad EGR valve, then more exhaust emissions will end up coming out of the vehicle instead of going back to the chamber. As a result, you will fail the emissions test.
2) Rough Idle – You may experience a rough idling engine if you have a bad EGR valve. When the valve opens and closes, it tends to get stuck when it goes bad. This causes a rough idle because either a lot of exhaust emissions go into the internal combustion chamber or not enough of them do.
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3) Gas Smell – A bad EGR valve typically causes the engine to consume too much fuel. Not only will this reduce your overall fuel economy, but it will also cause a distinct gas odor to be found inside the passenger cabin. This happens because an excessive number of hydrocarbons are coming out of the tailpipe instead of going into the chamber. It is not a good idea to smell this odor for prolonged periods of time because it could become a health risk.
4) Weak Acceleration – The performance of your engine can suffer when you have a bad EGR valve. You’ll step on the gas pedal and notice the acceleration not going as fast as it should. This happens because a bad EGR valve disturbs the air to fuel ratio in the internal combustion chamber. That causes more fuel to be consumed than normal while reducing acceleration too.
5) Check Engine Warning Light – There are several reasons why your Check Engine warning light would illuminate on the dashboard. One of those reasons has to do with a bad EGR valve. The engine control unit communicates regularly with the EGR valve. It can easily detect whenever there is a problem or malfunction with the EGR valve. For instance, if the valve doesn’t open or close properly, the engine control unit will know about it. Once it does, it will know something is wrong and it will alert you by turning on the Check Engine warning light.
