Tuesday Night:
So last night I went to Sears and Harbor Freight to find a better tool for removing a few of those difficult to reach nuts where the heat exchanger connects to the thermal reactor. The 2 top nuts on each side were giving me fits. A sign of the times the stores (particularly Sears) have so few clerks it's very difficult to get help. Anyhow, I left with just a pair of overalls and a long handle 17mm wrench.
When I got back to the car I realized I could get to the bolts rather than the nuts with a socket and an extension. So, the problem was mostly that I was tackling the problem from the wrong side. They were still very difficult to remove but I managed to get them all loose.
So as of last night all of the 14 nuts are loose and I was able to remove the right side heat exchanger exposing the valve cover. I can see that it is leaking as well so that means I have both lower valve covers leaking and at least 3 of 4 oil return tubes. Will remove the left heat exchanger tonight hopefully.
Couple of questions if anyone can help. Any recommendations on a cleaner to start cleaning these parts? Lots of grime on the heat exchangers. Also, looking at the photo of the thermal reactor there is a smaller 'tube' looking thing right next to it. Anyone know what that is? (Someone posted on Rennlist that it is the EGR Filter) Anything I need to know before I remove it? I can't get to the right side oil return tubes without either it or the reactor being removed. It looks to be the easier component to remove especially based on comments above regarding the studs.
Including some pics from last night's work.
