An EGR (exhaust gas recirculating) cooler is another way that engine manufacturers have been able to lower today’s emissions standards. Its main job is to remove as much heat out of the spent gasses as possible before re-entering the engine’s combustion chamber.
But, like with anything else, the EGR cooler can fail, taking down other key components with it. These can include the VGT turbo as well. In most cases, the problem starts inside the EGR cooler itself. Knowing when and how to recognize EGR cooler issues and how they can impact your VGT turbo is the key to keeping potential damage down to a minimum.
What Is An EGR Cooler?
Like the name may have you believe, an EGR cooler’s design is engineered to cool down gasses the spent gases before they re-enter your engine. If the cooler fails, it can cause harm to many critical internal components such as the turbo.
Cool air is much better for produce more power as it is much denser. Simply put, an EGR cooler has the same job as an intercooler. However, its job is much harder as the gasses entering the cooler are already much higher in temperature.
Many owners will argue that the only good EGR system is non-existent. As a result, the engine EGR system, including the cooler will get deleted or simply decommissioned. Here is a post outlining why you SHOULDN’T delete your EGR system.
Symptoms Of A Failing Egr Cooler
Spotting EGR Cooler troubles early on will is the key to keeping possible issues down to a minimum. Some of the most common problems include:
- Losing coolant
- Steam or white smoke being emitted from the exhaust
- High engine temperature
- Sticking VGT Turbo Actuator
Keep in mind that the symptoms noted above are just the most common, but are not the only ones. Have a look at these other EGR valve failures here.
EGR Cooler Problems Explained
Is coolant present in parts other than the EGR Cooler? If yes, red flags should go up and the source of the leak will need to be identified and stopped immediately. Generally, the pipes carrying the coolant throughout the EGR cooler will break to due temperature, repetitive hot/cold cycling, or extreme vibrations. Whatever the reason, the problem will need to be resolved right away.
Does white smoke or steam seem to be coming out of the exhaust? On startup, a little steam or condensation is normal until the tailpipes acclimatize to the ambient outside temperature. However, a constant amount of steam could be a telltale sign that the EGR Cooler is defective. If left unchecked, it could harm the turbo as well.
Bad welds, poor soldiers, or old and worn-out unions/nuts will be the main cause of EGR cooler failure in your diesel engine. It can be as simple as a bad O-ring or gasket(if equipped) that joins the rest of the cooling system. Alternatively, it can be cracked in a place where it cannot be repaired and the only option is to replace the entire unit.
The state of your VGT turbo can also help shed some light on whether or not your EGR cooler is defective. If the turbo is already apart, having a closer look inside will tell you a lot about the cooler itself. If the impeller and internal turbo components are “gummed up” chances are that you have a coolant leak.
A visual inspection of the cooler will not always let you know that there are issues. If anything seems out of the ordinary, a quick look inside the turbocharger may help confirm(or deny) that there are any EGR cooler issues.
Final Words
Do you the EGR cooler is to blame for the loss of coolant, overheating, or other VNT turbo issues? DIF is here to help. If your turbocharger or EGR cooler(or both) needs to be replaced, our ASE-certified staff will be glad to help. From ordering the parts to installation, we got you covered.
