D5 engine: Cleaning EGR and associated parts

[Turbodave]

Chaps,

Have a 2005 V70 D5 with the 163bhp engine and whilst all seems well, plenty power and fuel economy is great and there's no smoke when it's given a bit of stick... it does at times just feel a wee bit sluggish and has the tiniest of wee hiccups when coming on boost in say 4th and 5th at motorway speeds.

Vida doesn't say anything and there's nothing obvious... no boost leaks, no fuel leaks, no adverse noise or popping so I'm starting to think it may benefit from a good clean out in terms of the EGR set up and so on, just to try and get things back to how they should be or as near as dammit after 180k.

I've read a few posts on the topic, watched some Youtube videos so quite happy to strip off the EGR and clean it out along with the inlet elbow and such like. Whilst I'm not about to strip the engine to it's component parts, is there anything else that would be benefit from a clean whilst I'm on the case... boost sensors, MAF, any other vacuums / pipework / bits and pieces that are prone for a build up of crap?

As said, runs fine and no adverse symptoms but having seen a few examples of high miles D5 and their clogged arteries, would like to try and give mine a bit of a helping hand to clear its lungs so any advice / tips / points to consider greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[TiredGeek]

Before doing that I'd change the fuel filter. Usual cause of coughs afik.
If that's already been done then make sure you double glove, that carbon is a bitch to get off your hands

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by TiredGeek

Before doing that I'd change the fuel filter. Usual cause of coughs afik.
If that's already been done then make sure you double glove, that carbon is a bitch to get off your hands

And carcinogenic...

[TiredGeek]

Originally Posted by Bonefishblues

And carcinogenic...

Good point, get someone else to do the job

[Turbodave]

Cheers, it's already had a fuel filter and was all the better for it but as a preventative maintenance job, I'd like to try and de-gunk and unclog as much as I can without reducing the engine to kit form. The EGR and associated pipework seems reasonably straight forward, it was more a case of establishing if there are any other sensors or such like that benefit from a clean whilst I'm in there... or indeed any other jobs to tackle whilst it's in pieces.

Fully prepared for it to be a rather disgusting job but most thing diesel related are... can't be any worse than replacing the fuel filter, carefully placing the now full filter cap on the ground whilst you fit the new filter then knocking it over and observing as your t-shirt absorbs a good half litre of diesel. That one went straight in the bin and I went straight in the bath.

All good fun though...