EGR should we all be more concerned

[Johnnojack]

Yesterday when driving on the freeway ENGINE EMISSIONS code came up, for first time. Then went away. Should I worry about it or continue to ignore it?

[Greg Roles]

Yesterday when driving on the freeway ENGINE EMISSIONS code came up, for first time. Then went away. Should I worry about it or continue to ignore it?

That would be due to the car registering too little EGR I reckon, 7mm seems to be the minimum hole size of choice.

Its just an annoying light, nothing to do with fuelling etc, I drove with that on and off for years.

[simonD40]

Can some help with the location of the EGR in my 6r polo TDI and can a blank it off?


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[Greg Roles]

Sure, but you will then be stuck with errors and a permanent dash error light. EGR cannot be blanked totally off on most current cars, even via a tune, only reduced. Most current cars must see at least some EGR, and a final kicker is blanking it off messes up your DPF regen cycle.

[Johnnojack]

Since blanking off a greater proportion of EGR the engine seems to be idling faster, (1000rpm) I think it used to be about 900rpm. (1.9TDI)
Are the two related?

[Transporter]

Since blanking off a greater proportion of EGR the engine seems to be idling faster, (1000rpm) I think it used to be about 900rpm. (1.9TDI)
Are the two related?

Remove the restrictor you put in there and I can take care of your EGR in the software with the performance tune, together with other useful software updates.

[Dartiguan]

Have spent the day reading this thread from start to finish, as my 2011 Tiguan TDI with 120,000km, all highway driving to Brisbane and back to the Sunshine Coast showed an Engine Management System fault which turned into a Cat Converter icon and became an EGR valve replacement with the local dealer after diagnostics (cost nearly $2000). In shock, I started to look for answers, as this car is starting to seriously cost money. I have just paid $800 plus for a service three weeks ago. I had a Volvo 240 doing the same run for 20 years which reached 750,000 km without taking the head off and moved to this VW diesel with unrealistic expectations it seems.
I would have thought the long highway driving I do would have stopped/minimised these problems but my question is whether the current VW issues with software and pollution control can be linked to the issues discussed in this thread, as there have been some oblique comments regarding pollution control and EGR made here.

[Johnnojack]

Well only 12 months and 12000ks later and the 1.9 was using more fuel (average over 5l/100 rather than under 5 on computer) so pulled off the EGR, it had around 5-6mm coating of wet (oily) carbon sludge coating the inside. This effectively reducing the area of the intake by about 30% I would guess. Spat the dummy over it and blanked the thing off completely. Will just live with the emissions light for a while and see how it performs. It really is a bad idea to make an engine eat its own waste.

[asa572]

Well only 12 months and 12000ks later and the 1.9 was using more fuel (average over 5l/100 rather than under 5 on computer) so pulled off the EGR, it had around 5-6mm coating of wet (oily) carbon sludge coating the inside. This effectively reducing the area of the intake by about 30% I would guess. Spat the dummy over it and blanked the thing off completely. Will just live with the emissions light for a while and see how it performs. It really is a bad idea to make an engine eat its own waste.

Will probably use more fuel with the egr blanked off.
I just had my 2nd egr valve **** itself so I got the egr deleted so no more CEL and I have been averaging between 600 to 650 klm's to a tank.
Use to average 800 to 850.
I'm getting the delete removed, getting a new egr and fitting a provent.

[Greg Roles]

Guys a physical blank of the EGR, throws out the DPF soot calculations and it will start regenning more frequently, it defaults to a km based regen rather than when it actually needs it, wasting fuel and forever cooking the engine bay. Either delete it with proper software, or fit a Provent and just live with the EGR part like I currently do.

And ALL current diesels suffer with EGR / oil blowby buildup, stalling and burning out EGR motors, including Volvo, had a long chat with a disheartened XC70 bloke last week.

[Ryeman]

The fact that the 189 only requires a 20min 'fix' says to me it's about programming the EGR valve to revert to a more normal active state ......to me, that's the last thing you'd want.

[kaanage]

Guys a physical blank of the EGR, throws out the DPF soot calculations and it will start regenning more frequently, it defaults to a km based regen rather than when it actually needs it, wasting fuel and forever cooking the engine bay.

I don't think either asa572 or Johnnojack have DPFs in their TDi's

[Johnnojack]

Correct kaanage, no DPF in our 2005 1.9 TDI

"And ALL current diesels suffer with EGR / oil blowby buildup, stalling and burning out EGR motors, including Volvo, had a long chat with a disheartened XC70 bloke last week."
It's like, if you want to have a diesel here is a big anchor, you have to tow it around and maintain it. Yet the dealers will say "what anchor".

[Ryeman]

Diesels are for towing type work; not for economy unless you 'get out' early and until the public finally works it out.....or they're legislated out of existence.

[davidno64]

Hi Greg,
I have a Mk5 TDI GT.


Years ago I had a DPF failure (under Warranty) VW refused to come good, Consumable item and all that Bull****. So I chose to fix it myself, consisting of. Millteck performance exhaust with delete option. Fitted a bypass on shutdown valve and blocked off all EGR. Earlier I also fitted a Catch-Can as I too noticed in short KM's build up of soot/gunk in the inlet tract. For EGR, I fitted blank-off plates, removed pipe, etc and of course finished it with an ECU Tune.......Best thing I ever did.........Now the car does take longer to warm. But I also have more HP with better sound and even economy. With tune software, it was manipulated to ignore EGR and to date no problems. No warning lights, no regen, etc. Car runs better, more derivable with power. Great economy 800 to 900 Km per tank around suburban Melbourne. I have had other electrical gremlins but not related to this.....Previously bad soot or smoke in exhaust due to DPF failure. Now only smoke under certain power conditions only but much, much, much less. Overall I am producing less pollution (no smoke) while using less fuel. Simply put, better, better, better. The guy who done my tune (no names) You know him. he is/was in QLD. Doing these tunes for the exhaust upgrade. Overall not cheep but well worth it especially when compared to a replacement DPF and the VW emissions issue.