First post, I'm a n00b.

Alrighty, I've got a 1996 Civic HX, 155K miles. The first night I drove it home, I got 44 MPG. With gas prices high, I was happy to have a fuel sipper. Well, a couple weeks after I got it, It started throwing a CEL with code 80, or, EGR Valve Insufficient flow.

Now, I have tried everything short of replacing the valve, but that's what I don't want to have to do.

I followed the steps in the Haynes manual on how to jumper the valve into the open position at idle. It made the car sputter and almost stall like it's supposed to. Next I pulled the mofo off and cleaned it all out. I cleaned up the tube from the exhaust manny up to where it connects with the EGR valve.

When cruising along at anything 40 MPH +, most of the time the car will stutter like it's getting either too much air or not enough. If I unplug the valve, the car runs like a champ, but only gives me right around 30 MPG. Now, I don't drive like a grandpa, but I don't rape the hell out of the car either. I shift before 3k RPMs most of the time, so I don't think my driving style is making my gas mileage go to hell. I'm pretty sure that this EGR valve has something to do with my gas mileage. When the car does stutter a little, I have to step on the gas harder to get it to stay at speed.

Anyone got any ideas?