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3 Common Causes of Excessive EGR System Flow

Most cars produced in recent years contain an exhaust gas recirculation system or EGR system for short. This system routes a portion of your exhaust gases back through the engine. Such recirculation eliminates many toxic exhaust substances and also provides vital cooling to your engine. Ultimately, EGR systems promote cleaner emissions and better fuel efficiency.

As time goes on, however, an EGR system may develop problems that hinder it from providing the correct results. In some cases, the system may allow an excessive amount of exhaust back into your engine. If you would like to learn more about what can cause this problem, keep reading. This article outlines three frequent causes of excess EGR system flow.

1. Valve Stuck in Open Position

In order to optimize performance, an EGR valve allows exhaust to enter your engine at some times while preventing it from doing so at other times. Your car uses information provided by its sophisticated sensor system to determine when – and for how long – to open the EGR valve. Yet if your EGR valve becomes stuck in an open position, it cannot prevent exhaust from entering the engine.

This issue almost always stems from the accumulation of problematic deposits on the valve body. Soot and other byproducts found in your exhaust can build up to such an extent that the valve cannot fully close. The excess flow of exhaust dilutes the amount of oxygen available in the air-fuel mixture, leading to rough idling, misfires, and even engine stalling.

To prevent build-up from affecting the performance of your EGR valve, most experts recommend having your EGR valve cleaned and inspected about once a year.

2. Dirty Air Filter

In a perfectly balanced engine, air and fuel would mix together in such precise proportions that every last bit of the fuel got burned up. Yet few engines can achieve this result in real life. Instead, some unburned fuel escapes from the engine along with the exhaust. Your EGR system promotes fuel efficiency by recirculating this fuel through your engine a second time.

Unfortunately, this function can end up leading to problems for engines whose air-fuel ratio gets too far from the ideal. Rich fuel conditions – in other words, too much gasoline relative to the amount of air – means that more fuel than usual will escape your engine unburned. As a result, the EGR valve will remain open even at times when it normally wouldn’t.

One of the most common culprits here has to do with your car’s air filter. An overly dirty filter restricts airflow into your engine, often leading to rich fuel conditions. By replacing your air filter, you should not only restore an ideal air-fuel ratio, but also the problems associated with excessive EGR system flow.

3. Bad Gasket

Another common cause of excessive EGR flow has to do with the gasket used to create an air-tight seal between the EGR valve and its mounting surface. Although EGR gaskets consist of heavy-duty and heat-resistant materials, they may develop cracks and other problems as time goes on.

A damaged EGR valve gasket potentially allows exhaust to leak into your engine, even when your EGR valve remains in a closed position. The only solution to this issue involves having a new gasket installed as soon as possible. EGR valve gaskets come in a variety of different materials, including paper and asbestos-containing copper, and steel gaskets.

Yet car owners can usually get the best results from a rubber gasket – one that contains both rubber and silicone. Such gaskets can withstand high temperatures while still retaining the flexibility needed to create a fully air-tight seal.

Your EGR system plays a vital role in the overall efficiency and performance of your car. For more information about how to prevent excess EGR valve flow, contact Columbus’ auto repair experts at White’s Automotive Center.

Decipher What Your Car Is Telling You

Many times a car will warn you before a breakdown, but if you continue to drive it and ignore those indications of a problem, you will find yourself in need of a tow. Here are some helpful hints to watch for with your car.

Dash Warning Lights

The first sign of trouble is often one of the dash warning lights coming on. The oil pressure light can mean you are low on oil. The battery light indicates a problem with the charging system. Or the worst one – the check engine light, which can indicate just about anything.

Keep in mind, these lights are indicators of a problem, but diagnosing the issue means taking the car to a mechanic so they can go over the car and check the computer for warning codes.

The check engine light can indicate a lot of different things. A loose gas cap can cause the computer to report a problem in the evaporative emission (EVAP) system and turn the check engine light on. In contrast, the problem can be much deeper in the engine or transmission. Even if you have a code reader, the code descriptions can be vague.

If you have warning lights on in the dash, take the car to a mechanic for a proper diagnosis.

Smoke From the Tailpipe

Anytime you see smoke coming from the tailpipe of your car you need to take note of it. Smoke indicates many things, but the color and the quantity of the smoke can help you decipher what is happening inside your engine.

White Smoke

White smoke coming from the tailpipe of your car is often an indication of coolant leaking into the cylinders inside the engine. The coolant should not be able to get into the cylinders, so the smoke can be an indication of a head gasket that is leaking or worse – a crack in the head or the engine block. This situation is serious, however, if you catch it early, repairing the problem may be easier and less costly.

Blue Smoke

When you see blue smoke coming out of the tailpipe of your vehicle, it typically indicates an engine that is burning oil. Worn seals in the cylinder heads, worn oil rings on the pistons, and cracks in the block can all let oil through.

In any case, if the car has blue smoke coming out of the tailpipe all the time, take your car to a mechanic before the engine is damaged permanently.

Steam From Under the Hood

Steam coming from under the hood of the car needs to be investigated further to determine where the steam is coming from. A hose with a crack in it can produce steam when the engine is shut off; a pinhole in the radiator may also be the source. If you can’t find the leak, take the car to the shop so the mechanic can pressure test the system.

A cooling system that has a small leak will eventually stress the leak until it becomes a large leak.

The hose or radiator will fail under stress and may cause damage to the engine if it overheats as a result of the failure. If you have a major leak occur or you see a lot of steam coming from under the hood, pull over the shut the engine off right away to avoid damage to the engine.

At White’s Automotive Center, our ASE-certified mechanics will diagnose the problem with your car and get you back on the road. We can handle minor repairs and maintenance as well as complete overhauls and rebuilds in our shop.

3 Common Signs of Throttle Body Deposits

Your car depends on a steady stream of fresh air to generate its power. The faster you go, the more air your car needs. The flow rate of air moving into your engine lies under the control of the component known as the throttle body. Each time you press down on the gas pedal, a special flap inside the throttle body opens wider.

This flap may be referred to as either the throttle body blade or the butterfly. The wider the blade opens, the more air passes through your throttle body to the intake manifold. When you let up on the gas, the blade’s opening grows narrow, restricting airflow. If you don’t give your car any gas, then the blade will close all the way.

Over time, the throttle body tends to accumulate deposits that affect the overall performance of a car in unwanted ways. Unfortunately, many people fail to recognize the signs of excessive throttle body deposits. This article will boost your automotive troubleshooting knowledge by outlining three common signs of throttle body deposits.

1. High Idle Speeds
Deposits become especially problematic when they start to impede the free movement of the throttle body blade. Often deposits become thick enough to prevent the blade from closing all the way – even when you take your foot completely off the gas or put your car in idle. As a result, air continues moving into the intake manifold.

Although your car’s computer recognizes that the transmission is not engaged, the car has to increase the amount of fuel entering the intake manifold in order to compensate for the extra air. Otherwise, your engine would stall entirely. Instead, you may notice that your car’s engine seems to rev up too much higher than usual speeds while idle.

If engine deposits are at fault, having your throttle body cleaned should be enough to resolve this issue. In that case, the throttle body blade will be able to close entirely when your car enters idle.

2. Engine Stalling
Even when your throttle body’s blade closes entirely, some air has to get through to the intake manifold. Otherwise, your engine would stall. This air flows through a special tunnel known as the idle air bypass. This bypass provides just enough air to keep your engine running while your car is idle.

Unfortunately, the small interior dimensions of the idle air bypass make it susceptible to accumulating deposits. As these deposits grow thicker, they begin to impede the flow rate of air. At a certain point, your engine will no longer be able to receive enough air to keep it running while the throttle blade is closed.

As a result, your car will display a greater and greater tendency to stall out when you put it in idle. As with blade deposits, the answer here involves a good, thorough cleaning. Restoring proper airflow through the idle air bypass should alleviate the stalling.

3. Erratic Performance
Throttle body deposits don’t always lead to such uniform signs of trouble. Instead, the throttle body deposits may result in general erratic performance from your vehicle. This kind of erratic behavior stems from the deposits’ negative effect on the internal sensors used to regulate the throttle body and related components.

As deposits become more excessive, your car’s computer has a harder time monitoring such things as the flow rate and temperature of the air. The incorrect information the car computer receives causes the computer to make unnecessary changes. These changes often cause your car to inexplicably rev up or die down at unpredictable times.

Ensuring proper functioning from your throttle body doesn’t take much. Regular inspections and cleanings should be enough to keep things working right. For more information, please contact Columbus’ car pros at White’s Automotive Center.

How to Diagnose Coil Spring Problems

It’s uncommon to hear about a car having coil spring failure because these springs are generally very durable and last for years. However, damage and breakage can and do happen to coil springs as well as the components that support them.

Since the springs work directly with your shocks and struts, a broken spring can sometimes be initially mistaken as other worn suspension components. Here is more information on what your coil springs do for your vehicle and what causes them to fail.

How Coil Springs Help You Handle Your Car

Coil springs have long been used to stabilize vehicles around corners and over bumps and dips. These springs basically keep the vehicle stable and all four wheels on the road. Previously, most vehicles used leaf springs, which work great on heavier vehicles but made the suspension stiffer. Coil springs allow for more range of movement.

How Coil Springs Can Break

Because springs are situated near the wheels and close to the road, they are susceptible to corrosion and damage. While many springs are coated, this coating can break down and rust can form causing cracks and breakage.

Also, a severe bump can even break an already old and weakened spring. Overloading your vehicle can cause severe strain on your springs, especially if it’s repeated over and over again.

Signs Your Coil Springs May Be Worn or Broken

The biggest sign that your coil springs are damaged is if your vehicle droops or sags on one side or corner. The drooping or sagging could be caused by one side of the vehicle being repeatedly overloaded. Your car may also sway more around turns or bounce higher than normal.

In some cases, you will hear a squeak or clunk, especially over bumps. All of these signs could indicate other suspension problems since the whole system has many components that affect each other, so a visual check is necessary.

How to Check for Broken or Damaged Coil Springs

The easiest way to check for broken springs is by doing a visual check. Springs are located near the wheel just above the axle. It is usually helpful to lift your vehicle as it will make a broken spring more visible. Be sure to safely secure the body against any dropping or another sudden movement.

If you’re lucky, the broken spring will be easy to spot near the wheel. However, it may be more difficult to spot if it’s broken in the middle or in a less visible area.

How to Repair Broken Coil Springs

The only way to safely repair a broken spring is by replacing it. While this option may seem simple, most springs are highly compressed and can be dangerous if removed without the right tools and experience. For best results, have the spring on the opposite side of the car changed as well. It is also generally recommended that new shocks be installed along with the spring.

How to Prevent Coil Spring Damage

Though metal can bend and weaken over time, in most cases, coil springs are very durable, so they require little maintenance. However, you can do a few things to help your coil springs last longer. Be careful while driving on rough roads, especially those with deep holes or bumps. Do not overload your car, especially over long time periods. And if you live in an area where they salt or use chemicals on the roads, have your undercarriage cleaned at regular intervals.

Though many people seem to ignore the coil springs on their car, they perform an extremely vital function to keep your car safe. If you have a broken coil spring, or you’re having other suspension problems with your vehicle, let the professionals at White’s Automotive Center check it out and fix it for you.

Going on a Road Trip? Have Your Vehicle Inspected

Going on a road trip in your everyday vehicle involves more than simply topping off the gas and checking the oil. You want your vehicle to make it to your destination safely and in one piece. Here are some inspections and services that a mechanic should perform on your vehicle prior to setting out on the road for your next adventure.

Replace Car Oil

Unless you’ve had a very recent oil change, it’s best to go to the mechanic for an oil change prior to setting out on an extensive road trip. You should also buy a few quarts of the same oil your mechanic uses in your car so when you check your oil periodically during your drive, you have the right oil to top off your oil reservoir to keep your engine going strong.

Check the Tires

The last thing you want on your road trip is a blow-out on the road. Being stranded on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck is no fun, and a tire blow-out can be dangerous and cause an accident.

Your tires should be free of bulges and bald spots. If your tires are lacking in the tread, replace all four tires. If your tires are in decent condition, have your mechanic rotate your tires so you continue to have even treadwear throughout your trip.

Check the Fluids

All fluids, from your transmission to your radiator should be checked, drained, and refilled as your mechanic sees fit. Your car is about to embark on a long journey that will likely use more engine power and fluids as a result, and you don’t want to cause engine troubles by assuming your fluids are at decent levels.

Even if you opt to check and fill your car’s fluids yourself, make sure you check underneath your vehicle for any signs of leaks. You can also check for leaks under the hood: a worn hose or leaking reservoir will leave drops of fluid or stains under the hood.

Check the Lights

Have your mechanic make sure your head, tail, and blinker lights are working as they should. Your mechanic can also clean your light covers to give you greater brightness while on the road.

If your headlight beams are not aiming straight your visibility during night road trip driving can be compromised, especially as you drive through unknown territory. Your mechanic can adjust your headlights and replace bulbs as needed.

Check Your Battery

Your car’s battery may need replacing, even if your vehicle starts (most of the time) without issue. Your mechanic can test your battery for you and help you choose a new battery if yours is old or worn. The average car battery lasts around four years with regular driving.

Test Drive Your Car

After the mechanic makes these minor adjustments and repairs to your vehicle, have them take your car for a test drive. Your mechanic will be able to sense if other issues are wrong with your vehicle that need immediate attention, such as:

• Braking issues
• Problems shifting up or down
• Poor vehicle alignment
• Shock absorption problems

A test drive is necessary to make sure your car is road-trip-ready. An honest mechanic will give you a detailed explanation of what is wrong with the car and how they can repair it.
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Your road trip will be a much safer and more fun experience once you know your vehicle is up to the task. Remember, your car is used to everyday driving, not vast miles of driving at freeway speeds, so always have your car inspected prior to embarking on a long journey. Our team of mechanics at White’s Automotive Center will ensure your vehicle is in its best condition – call us today.