Caravan EGR Valve and MPG
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Registered User
Joined: Jul 2012
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Caravan EGR Valve and MPG
Have a 2007 Grand Caravan and had our first mechanical issue with the engine.
Was getting the P0404 errors and it was determined we needed an new EGR valve.
The mechanic recommended getting one from the Dodge dealer instead of an after-market one as supposedly the dealer one has "better specs" (evidently there were some bulletins on EGR valves from Chrysler).
Anyway, after getting the repair done our MPG is 3-4MPG lower than before.
My coworker has a 2008 Caravan and has always complained about his MPG (he runs 3-4MPG lower than I did normally).
So...anyone familiar with this "new improved" EGR valve and have any knowledge of why it makes your MPG worse?
Was getting the P0404 errors and it was determined we needed an new EGR valve.
The mechanic recommended getting one from the Dodge dealer instead of an after-market one as supposedly the dealer one has "better specs" (evidently there were some bulletins on EGR valves from Chrysler).
Anyway, after getting the repair done our MPG is 3-4MPG lower than before.
My coworker has a 2008 Caravan and has always complained about his MPG (he runs 3-4MPG lower than I did normally).
So...anyone familiar with this "new improved" EGR valve and have any knowledge of why it makes your MPG worse?
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 64
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Interesting. Have an '06, 3.3L here, replaced the EGR valve @ 14,000 miles ago (almost a year this month) with the Bosch or whatever Advance Auto Parts sells. Have had no problems and did not notice a decrease in MPG.
FWIW, the engine has ALWAYS run like it has EGR problems, so maybe there is something to the Chrysler "improved" part. I don't recall the EGR issues when I was working at the dealership in '07 but maybe they weren't prevalent yet at that time.
In my case the EGR position sensor went bad and it's part of the unit so the whole thing got replaced.
FWIW, the engine has ALWAYS run like it has EGR problems, so maybe there is something to the Chrysler "improved" part. I don't recall the EGR issues when I was working at the dealership in '07 but maybe they weren't prevalent yet at that time.
In my case the EGR position sensor went bad and it's part of the unit so the whole thing got replaced.
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 340
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From: Lindsay, Ontario, Canada
I am very thankful my 02 GC is factory EGR delete. They are a headache on these engines.
I would be concerned losing 3-4MPG. I am averaging 18MPG mixed driving as per the overhead display and I would crap myself if it dropped to14-15MPG average. Sounds like there is some other underlying problem here.
First thing I would do is reset whatever your using for MPG calculations and pay close attention to the way you're driving just to rule that out. Then I would start checking tune up items if the van is running correctly. That is a large drop for something that I am assuming runs like it did before the problem.
A properly functioning EGR system should not effect mileage in any way. All it really does is lower cylinder temeratures for better emissions while the vehicle is cruising. If anything, it will slightly lean out the system but not to the point of altering fuel ratios.
I would be concerned losing 3-4MPG. I am averaging 18MPG mixed driving as per the overhead display and I would crap myself if it dropped to14-15MPG average. Sounds like there is some other underlying problem here.
First thing I would do is reset whatever your using for MPG calculations and pay close attention to the way you're driving just to rule that out. Then I would start checking tune up items if the van is running correctly. That is a large drop for something that I am assuming runs like it did before the problem.
A properly functioning EGR system should not effect mileage in any way. All it really does is lower cylinder temeratures for better emissions while the vehicle is cruising. If anything, it will slightly lean out the system but not to the point of altering fuel ratios.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 12
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From: Windsor, ON
Hi all, first post here, just signed up.
Anyways....I have a 2007 Gr Caravan as well, just turned over 100,000 km (about 104,000 I believe). I got the P0404 code. I took off the EGR valve and vacuum tube, cleaned them both up as good as I could. I put everything back together. I even unplugged my battery cables for a good 20 minutes - hoping to reset the computer. The code did not display again, until about 15km worth of driving - same code.
I assume that the EGR valve must be replaced now.....?
Anyways....I have a 2007 Gr Caravan as well, just turned over 100,000 km (about 104,000 I believe). I got the P0404 code. I took off the EGR valve and vacuum tube, cleaned them both up as good as I could. I put everything back together. I even unplugged my battery cables for a good 20 minutes - hoping to reset the computer. The code did not display again, until about 15km worth of driving - same code.
I assume that the EGR valve must be replaced now.....?