P00400 EGR valve, 2012 Ford Escape - the Old Hobo fixes it after mining YouTube's knowledge base 

Best Escape EGR video on RU-vid. Took me all of 5 minutes to get it out, clean it (completely clogged), and reinstall it. Saved me a giant headache

Finally a repair channel that invested in a tripod! It's so helpful to actually see how you're removing parts instead of the ol "oh shoot can't do this with one hand" bit!

Shout out Hobo! Best video for this fix on RU-vid. Reset the code and we’ll see. The gunk on the mounting bracket pipe was crazy tho so had to be the fix!

Doing it now, wow, surprised how stiff that tube is (to make matters worse have a left hand injury so it ain't worth much). Was putting blocks of wood on top of the EGR between manifold to keep it out of the way BUT it looks like you have to get it out "from the top." Have to figure out a rigging to hold the EGR out of the way. LOL so far lucky, dropped the far 8mm screw AND FOUND IT! Yeah. Have lots of spreading clamps but a "duckbill" might be best (I have a 10 ton porta power duck that that ain't happenin') Thinking how to maybe use long pieces of wood (2x4 etc) maybe even something rather big. A spreader that would push against the hood would work, but have to figure how to not slip off hood. I'll get this one way or another! Will report back All done! TRICK: can get an expanding clamp in there to push aft, but also need a pry bar to move sideways a little. Once that figured out easy. Then oxy-acetylene decarbon, ultrasonic clean back together. BUT there is some bulling to get the EGR bolts started, can do by hand. NOTE: Using the clamp to spread minimum amount, you get the least yielding. I took some pics but no way to post here.

Will be using your method on my 2011 V6 w/230k on it! The tube nuts would not be agreeable!