GX EGR Valve Issue

Having a frustrating issue with my 2016 Lexus GX gasoline engine, about 138k km on it. Check engine light is on, and I've noticed a serious drop in power, especially when accelerating. There's also some nasty smoke coming out when I accelerate, and the engine sounds really rough. Fuel consumption has gone through the roof, and it feels like the car is jerking when I try to speed up. I even hear a loud hissing sound at times. I'm suspecting it might be the EGR valve. Has anyone else experienced anything similar?

4 comment(s)

Sounds familiar! I had almost the exact same set of symptoms on my GX a while back. Reduced power, smoke, rough running, the whole shebang. Check engine light was on constantly too. That hissing sound you mentioned is a good clue – it could be a vacuum leak related to the EGR system. I'd put my money on the EGR valve itself being the culprit. If it's stuck open or jammed with carbon, it'll mess with the air/fuel mixture and cause all sorts of performance problems. Did you check for any specific error codes? That would definitely help narrow it down.

Thanks for the quick reply! Yeah, I did pull the codes and it's pointing towards the EGR valve. So, when you had this issue, was it definitely the EGR valve, and what did you end up doing about it? I'm trying to gauge if it's something I can tackle myself or if it's better left to the professionals.

Yep, for me it turned out to be a defective EGR valve. I tried cleaning it first, but the problem came back pretty quickly. In the end, I decided to bite the bullet and take it to a local trusted workshop I know. Replacing the EGR valve on the GX can be a bit tricky, especially getting to all the bolts. Plus, you might need a scan tool to properly reset the system after the replacement. Given the symptoms and the error codes you're seeing, I'd recommend getting a professional opinion. Might save you some time and headaches in the long run.

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience! It sounds like it's best to get it professionally sorted out. I took your advice and brought it in, and you were spot on – it was the EGR valve. The whole repair cost me around 355€, parts and labor included. Runs like a dream now. Appreciate the help!

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