Natrad HDS now offer aftermarket EGR Coolers
Natrad HDS Now Offer Aftermarket EGR Coolers
If your Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler becomes restricted or does not function properly, the engine’s control management system may alter settings which cause the environmental and engine efficiency performance to be compromised. Timely replacement of the EGR cooler can save your engine from serious damage due to severe overheating.
The EGR cooler lowers the temperature of exhaust gases that are passed back into the engine in order to decrease NOx emissions. The gas circulated by the EGR system can be very hot which reduces the amount of air and oxygen available for combustion. For this reason many modern diesel engines are equipped with EGR coolers to lower the temperature of the exhaust gases before they return to the engine.
The heat exchange process in the EGR cooler works like a radiator in reverse with heat from the exhaust gas flow being transferred to the engine coolant. EGR coolers may use a “tube and shell” or a “stacked plate” configuration and may even have more than one coolant loop. The coolant typically flows to the EGR cooler after it has previously passed through other heat exchangers such as the oil cooler. If these upstream devices are restricted, it can reduce coolant flow to the EGR cooler and cause problems.
This can result in overheating, increased fuel consumption and premature engine wear. In cases with very restricted coolant flow or very high exhaust temperatures, the extreme heat can cause the coolant passageway inside the EGR cooler to crack – allowing coolant to mix with exhaust gases and exit the system completely. Loss of coolant can then lead to catastrophic engine failure.
Warning signs of EGR cooler failure can be a gradual loss of coolant with no apparent leaks. Check for white smoke or steam at the exhaust. A sign of extreme high temperatures in the EGR cooler can be “puking” from the overflow reservoir. This is because coolant entering a very hot EGR cooler can boil inside the unit. The sudden expansion of gas creates pressure which will force liquid coolant into the overflow reservoir and leave air pockets in the engine block cooling channels which will prevent effective engine cooling.
Whenever a cooling issue is detected, it is important to have the entire cooling system checked for failures or restrictions. A problem component can produce issues with downstream parts, especially when coolant flow is restricted.
As cooling system specialists, Natrad HDS can check your vehicle and identify the best solution for your application and provide the best national warranty support. Find your nearest Natrad HDS store here.
Image Above: Failed EGR Cooler, blocked by soot and showing residue from leaking engine coolant.
