EGR cleaning

[518ranger]

this ? has alot of variables i'am sure but anyway how often should egr valve be cleaned under normal conditions ( some highway,some city, very little towing )every oil change,every fuel filter change,is there any rule of thumb?
new to diesels trying to learn the easy way.
thanks

[npccpartsman]

Actually you're not supposed to clean the EGR valve (according to Ford) you're supposed to just replace it (NOT!!!) Just be sure you use carb cleaner not brake cleaner, and I don't think there is any rule of thumb as to when to clean it.

[bismic]

It is amazing how different the EGR valve can look from truck-to-truck. Unfortunately, my EGR valve was very dirty (oily wet gunk, not just dry powder) at 30k. I replaced it at 30k instead of cleaning it due to the fact that Ford had a slightly new design on the valve and I wanted the newest part. I plan on cleaning it at 60k. I also installed a ccv filter right after seeing the gunked up EGR valve.