I just blocked off my EGR valve!

**ANDY W** · 17th April 2008, 21:41

I have a mate who has a Zafira 1.9 cdti 150 and his EGR packed up and the dealer said straight away that there was a delay in new parts and so removed/ disabled the EGR and he says it runs just as before.
He also runs it on 50/50 mix of diesel and Aldi vegatable oil and again says that it runs like a dream.

**nutron** · 18th April 2008, 18:23

The EGR is only any good on new cars, after a year it's doing more harm.

**nutron** · 18th April 2008, 18:25

I wouldn't use pure vegy oil in it, the glycerin in the oil could varnish the pump and reduce it's life. Processed to remove the glycerin and free fatty acids it should be fine though.

**WeDesign** · 18th April 2008, 18:30

Originally Posted by nutron

The EGR is only any good on new cars, after a year it's doing more harm.

My car has been in to the dealers and they told me the RGR Valve needed replacing, that was 2 weeks ago, since I returned home the emissions light is constasntly but the car drives fine, would this be normal if the valve needed replacing?

**nutron** · 18th April 2008, 18:35

Yeah, it can be un-noticeable depending on how the valve has failed.

**WeDesign** · 18th April 2008, 18:37

Originally Posted by nutron

Yeah, it can be un-noticeable depending on how the valve has failed.

As it stands seems to drive fine but would it get progressively worse and fail totally, would I be correct in saying that?

**nutron** · 18th April 2008, 19:05

Again, I don't know how it has failed but if the solenoid has seized like most then it shouldn't get any worse.

**Maverick** · 18th April 2008, 19:28

Originally Posted by nutron

I wouldn't use pure vegy oil in it, the glycerin in the oil could varnish the pump and reduce it's life. Processed to remove the glycerin and free fatty acids it should be fine though.

I agree with Karl here, I think it even states in the Vauxhall hand book about using vegi oil the cars and warranty etc.

It is not wise to use any vegatable oil in common rail diesel cars.

**Kcs** · 18th April 2008, 19:58

Originally Posted by nutron

Yeah, it can be un-noticeable depending on how the valve has failed.

I have read a few post on this subject, so i am thinking that the normal
operation of the EGR is : when engine is at idle the valve is open, and
as rpm picks up as you drive, the valve closes ! if this is correct, blanking
the EGR will just make the engine run as it should do ? some people say
their cars have more torque, others say it feels the same !

**nutron** · 18th April 2008, 20:26

That is indeed how it works (with some variation for load as well) but the ECU get feed back of whether it is operating from the mass air flow sensor. This means that although it should run correctly you may get a fault light. The big problems come when the valve get jammed open, this could happen because of either carbon build up or the solenoid corroding and sticking in the open position.

If you do get a solenoid stuck open then remove it and hammer it back in. Carbon build up is obviously quick simple to sort, you just clean it off and put it back but make sure you oil it.