Are egr cooler and exhaust gas recirculation cooler the same thing?

Yes. "EGR Cooler" and "Exhaust gas recirculation cooler" refer to the same car part. Other common names include Exhaust gas recirculation cooler, Exhaust Gas Recirculation Cooler, EGR Heat Exchanger. The part is the same regardless of which name is used.

What are the symptoms of a failing EGR cooler?

Common signs include white smoke from the exhaust, loss of coolant with no obvious external leak, overheating, and a rough-running engine. A cracked EGR cooler can leak coolant into the exhaust gas, which is a frequent cause of these faults.

What does an EGR cooler do?

The EGR cooler lowers the temperature of recirculated exhaust gas before it re-enters the intake, which reduces combustion temperatures and NOx emissions. It uses engine coolant to draw heat out of the exhaust gas, so internal corrosion and cracking are common failure modes.

How do I know which EGR cooler fits my vehicle?

EGR coolers are matched to the specific engine, so fitment is critical. Enter your registration above and we will show only the EGR coolers confirmed to fit your exact vehicle.

How much does an EGR cooler replacement cost?

The price of an EGR cooler depends on your exact vehicle and the brand you choose. Enter your registration above to see parts confirmed to fit, then compare prices from the brands we stock on this page. Free UK delivery on orders over £99.

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EGR Cooler buying guide — what to know before you buy

The EGR cooler reduces the temperature of exhaust gases before they are recirculated into the intake manifold, allowing a larger proportion of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) without the charge temperature penalty that hot exhaust gas would create. A failed EGR cooler can cause coolant loss, white smoke, and severe engine damage if coolant enters the combustion chamber.

Role of the EGR cooler

Exhaust Gas Recirculation reduces combustion temperature by diluting the intake charge with inert exhaust gas, which significantly reduces NOx emissions. However, at high EGR rates the exhaust gas needs to be cooled before entering the manifold — uncooled hot exhaust gas would raise charge temperatures and reduce power. The EGR cooler is a small heat exchanger that uses engine coolant to cool the exhaust gas passage.

EGR coolers are found almost universally on Euro 5 and Euro 6 diesel engines and are increasingly common on petrol engines as well. They are a known failure point on many high-mileage diesel vehicles.

Failure symptoms

The most serious failure mode is internal cracking of the cooler's tube bundle, allowing coolant to mix with exhaust gas. This manifests as white or grey smoke from the exhaust (steam from coolant), unexplained coolant level loss, and — in a worst-case scenario — coolant entering the combustion chamber via the intake, causing hydrolock or head gasket failure. A slow coolant loss with no visible external leak and white exhaust smoke is the classic presentation.

External coolant leaks from corroded fittings or cracked housings are less dramatic but equally important to address. An EGR cooler leak that drips onto hot exhaust components is also a fire risk.

White smoke from exhaust (coolant in combustion)
Unexplained coolant level loss
Sweet-smelling exhaust
Engine management codes for EGR system
Visible external coolant leak from EGR cooler body

Replacement

EGR cooler replacement requires draining the cooling system and carefully cleaning the intake manifold, which often contains accumulated carbon deposits from EGR use. After replacing the cooler, bleed the cooling system and check for leaks. Use the registration lookup to confirm the correct EGR cooler for your engine code — this is critical as Euro 5 and Euro 6 versions of the same engine may use different coolers.