EGR Valve now completely blanked off...

[Dan_BlackSRi]

Just thought I would start a thread on the progress of completely blanking off the EGR in my CDTi 150. I regularly have issues with my EGR on my car (from new it will be perfect for a few weeks, then slowly deteriorate, give it a good clean, be perfect for a few weeks, then it will deteriorate and the loop goes on) - basically I wanted to make sure it was the EGR valve at fault before I spend the money on the no-EGR EDS remap.

I have made a blanking plate from an old biscuit tin - used the original Fiat Gasket plate as a template and sandwiched it in-between two standard VX gaskets between the EGR and inlet manifold - as soon as it starts you can tell its better as it cranks instantly and immediately settles to a smooth idle - quick test drive shows that its how all CDTi 150's should run, almost instant power and quickly building boost from 1200rpm.

As expected the car/spanner light comes on for a couple of restarts and results in the emissions light staying on (with the car/spanner light going out) - I don't care about this as I am not expecting limp mode but if the car performs like this for longer than it did (after new EGR / EGR cleaning) before the power deteriorates then the EDS remap will be bought which will clear any of the errors picked up by the ECU.

Any updates I will post here (good or bad) as I know others may want to try this out, I will not "sweeten" the updates but say as is, as it wouldn't be much help to anyone other wise.

[Vaux-Man-G]

....and now following this thread with a very keen eye!

My dad's CDTI 150 is back in with the stealers today, with a view to them giving me a new EGR valve as im prerry certain its kaput.

Also Dan, the EGR you gave me, with the plug disconnected, the power is present, so I put back on the NEW EGR Valve that I had and even with the plug disconnected, the power is nowhere to be seen.

My diagnosis, scrooged EGR Valve. What do you think?

Let me know how you get on, I may just have to do this too. Whats the re-map likely to cost?

[Dan_BlackSRi]

Also Dan, the EGR you gave me, with the plug disconnected, the power is present, so I put back on the NEW EGR Valve that I had and even with the plug disconnected, the power is nowhere to be seen.

My diagnosis, scrooged EGR Valve. What do you think?

Let me know how you get on, I may just have to do this too. Whats the re-map likely to cost?

It does sound like an EGR issue, but seems strange how with the new EGR there is still a power issue - I had found something similar with mine, I have had two new EGR's on mine and at best it would be perfect for a few weeks - my first new one never worked (but my mate has an issue similar but alot worse) - blanking the EGR has had the effect of a fully working new EGR, but hopefully without the risk of power degradation and fouling up the inlet.

The EDS map is about £460 - all being well I will be getting the one with the handheld unit like what ChrisK has bought recently direct from EDS.

http://eds-motorsport.de/shop/en/Ope...-Tuning-System

[Dan_BlackSRi]

Quick update, done over 250 miles this last couple of days and the car is still as sweet as a nut, replaced the blanking gasket I had (previously made out of a biscuit tin) with a new one made from the bottom of a pan (told by a Jaguar specialist is the best to make one from - also they unofficially back the blanking of the EGR on the VX CDTi, and Fords TDCi engines) no notable difference in MPG, if anything its better as the extra pull makes town driving a doddle.

Will keep this thread updated as the miles pour on

[diesel dog]

As pointed out in another thread, I put this in the wrong thread.

Tried blanking plate in mine again today. Definitely hotter under the bonnet with it on. Watch those EGTs boys!

I'm not trying to put people off doing this mod, I'm just aware that having read similar things on forums for other diesel engined cars, that the non-EGR exhaust gases do increase heat around the turbo area, and additional heat anywhere near the induction/turbo side of the engine is a bad thing for both reliabilty and performance.

There is definitely extra under bonnet heat with the (not fully) blanking plate in place. Which is hardly surprising since most driving is done under part throttle (EGR valve opened) as opposed to full throttle/load (EGR valve closed) conditions.

[Dan_BlackSRi]

All the hot exhaust gases are now only going in one place, straight down the exhaust (as they are meant to be) there is non of the extremely hot exhaust gases being fed back through the inlet at all - obviously I can only report my findings (as from someone who has actually done it - not just regurgitating forum talk and alleged experts ) and I have found the engine runs far smoother, engine temp if anything is lower, I have noticed no increase of under bonnet temperatures or anything detrimental as yet - apart from the car/spanner light at first, now just the emissions light - but this is expected and normal.

This thread is purely to keep people updated as to what I find regarding the complete blanking of the EGR to give an 'actual' account as to what results are found.

[diesel dog]

The problem is not with the inlet temperatures, it's with the combustion temperatures. It's better to have all the heat in the inlet manifold at part throttle, rather than going around the turbo.

But as you say, this is your update thread.

[Dan_BlackSRi]

The problem is not with the inlet temperatures, it's with the combustion temperatures. It's better to have all the heat in the inlet manifold at part throttle, rather than going around the turbo.

But as you say, this is your update thread.

More forum hearsay.... my recommendation to anyone (when doing anything) is to get info from either a) people who YOU KNOW are experts in the particular field, or b) HAVE DONE IT themselves.

If people purely went of what others 'thought was the case' then we wouldn't do anything now would we

When are yo getting rid of you Vectra DD..?

[diesel dog]

When are yo getting rid of you Vectra DD..?

It's really surplus to requirements now that I have recently bought an RS6. Always open to reasonable offers for a 54 plate 42,500 mile SRI in black, however.

With regards to the EGR subject. There is plenty of information about EGT temperatures and the effect of EGR thereon, from many scientifically backed sources on the internet. Our cousins across the pond have now found that EGT monitors are an absolute must on their tuned diesel engined vehicles, especially important if you have blanked off the EGR system. Seek and ye shall find.

Bear in mind that your vehicle was optimised to run with EGR functioning, even in it's previously standard state of tune. If you add more heat through tuning (particularly if turbo boost is altered with remap) and take away cooling by disconnecting the EGR system, then it doesn't take an Einstein to work out that things are not going to be the same as they were. And don't rely on your coolant temperature guage to let you know that all's well, because that won't necessarily register any heat build up in the turbo. Hence EGT monitors.

Also bear in mind that anything that you are handing money over for, will always be 'alright'.

[OPC]

The EDS map is about £460 - all being well I will be getting the one with the handheld unit like what ChrisK has bought recently direct from EDS.

http://eds-motorsport.de/shop/en/Ope...-Tuning-System

Might be worth checking out Regal......
http://www.regal-shop.co.uk/acatalog..._Software.html