Quick question - has my EGR valve been blanked?

[Mm75]

Hi guys, after reading many posts about the benefits of at least cleaning out the egr valve, if not blanking it, i decided to look at mine in my 1999 transit. After taking it out I came to the conclusion that a previous owner must have blanked it, as it has a metal square covering the hole!
Am i correct in thinking this?

A bit annoying if it is as i am having many issues with it having a very low speed and lots of black smoke and thought this might help!
Thanks

[gotgcoalman]

hole blocked by plate = blanked off.
On a mk5 they cause more problems than they are suposed to cure.
here's a plate i made a while ago to fit to mine.

WP_20160225_011.jpg

Low speed and black smoke..........

Too much fuel and not enough air to complete the combustion process.

Check your air filter isn't full of nasties and blocked.

When was it last serviced?
oil / filter change,fuel filter and air filter.
Valve clearances as well.
Inlet manifold might be full of nasty black EGR stuff.

just a few things to think about.

[Mm75]

hole blocked by plate = blanked off.
On a mk5 they cause more problems than they are suposed to cure.
here's a plate i made a while ago to fit to mine.

WP_20160225_011.jpg

Low speed and black smoke..........

Too much fuel and not enough air to complete the combustion process.

Check your air filter isn't full of nasties and blocked.

When was it last serviced?
oil / filter change,fuel filter and air filter.
Valve clearances as well.
Inlet manifold might be full of nasty black EGR stuff.

just a few things to think about.

Thank you! I'm new to mechanics but have lots of spare time so will look into the things you mentioned

[CamperVanBeethoven]

Uh very low speed and black smoke?

I had that happen and it had an easy solution ... thankfully.

Does it run fine at idle, but as you increase the throttle, it sounds like the WORST case of 'pinking' you ever heard, accompanied by lots of black smoke and no power? Can't get past about 1,000 revs?

Even though the EGR has been blanked off there may still be a rod going to a throttle butterfly on the intake. It connects from the diesel pump via a rod to an actuator on the side of the air intake ... as you increase revs, the butterfly opens. If the actuating lever falls off, you will get the symptoms you describe. The rod goes from the diesel pump to this butterfly valve. Even if EGR was blanked off the rod may have been left in place (instead of the butterfly valve being tied up to fully open position) so that there's no external sign the EGR was tampered with.

If the butterfly fails to open you get far too much fuel and far too little air ... leading to lots of black smoke and no power

PS Welcome to the forums

[Mm75]

Uh very low speed and black smoke?

I had that happen and it had an easy solution ... thankfully.

Does it run fine at idle, but as you increase the throttle, it sounds like the WORST case of 'pinking' you ever heard, accompanied by lots of black smoke and no power? Can't get past about 1,000 revs?

Even though the EGR has been blanked off there may still be a rod going to a throttle butterfly on the intake. It connects from the diesel pump via a rod to an actuator on the side of the air intake ... as you increase revs, the butterfly opens. If the actuating lever falls off, you will get the symptoms you describe. The rod goes from the diesel pump to this butterfly valve. Even if EGR was blanked off the rod may have been left in place (instead of the butterfly valve being tied up to fully open position) so that there's no external sign the EGR was tampered with.

If the butterfly fails to open you get far too much fuel and far too little air ... leading to lots of black smoke and no power

PS Welcome to the forums

Thank you!
I am very new to engines but am determined to at least try and see if there's anything I can fix before going to a mechanic. Is this the part you are describing? Someone has cabled tied it already.

IMG_20170412_093725.jpg

I might be looking at the completely wrong part though!

I've also noticed what looks like a broken part attached to something to do with the accelerator ( as i said - very new to all this! I noticed when the accelerator pedal goes down, this thing moves!). Hopefully you can see it in the attached pic.

IMG_20170403_175223.jpg

The symptoms are very much how you described though - if i get past a certain number of revs (no rev counter unfortunately) the engines feels like it's pushing back and will put out black smoke without increasing speed.

[CamperVanBeethoven]

Ah well it was worth checking that is indeed the part I was describing, the EGR butterfly valve.

I'd loosen off the hose clip, take off the big rubber hose, and check it's horizontal and nothing is obstructing air flow. It would only take a few minutes and rule that out ...

The other bit? That's the throttle cable, and the broken bit is the throttle cable adjuster. Mine is broken like that too I bought a replacement, because there's a risk it will fray and snap, but I have not fitted it yet.

[peter5761]

I find that putting everything back to factory std sorts out 99% of problems, The new MOT in 2018 will make everyone put back EGR to factory std or a FAIL will be given.

[rebuilder86]

im not sure why people block these off. if you want to stop EGR, I think u can just unplug the vacuum hose that operates the EGR vavle and plug that hose. The valve is normaly closed and the vacuum opens it.
thats how i did it on my old corolla.
perhaps its difernet on a big diesel, but im pretty sure its pointless.
Perhaps the issue is that the electronic sensor on the EGR valve will tell the ECU that the EGR isnt activiating, but in my opinion thats a good thing as mapping will be adjusted to compensate, leading to an increase in power, but maybe a decrease in economy.

[cherniy_chack]

Hi guys!
I see that you communicate in your native language, do not understand each other.
I hope you will understand me through Google translator.
CamperVanBeethoven correctly indicated the cause of black smoke and lack of traction - a closed air damper on the intake manifold.
download/file.php?id=14932&t=1
This photo confirms his guess.
The ball-point support on the drive arm of the air damper must be tied with a thrust with such a support on the gas lever on the injection pump.
This binding tag is absent.
The air damper is always closed and the motor is low in air, and therefore black smoke.
While Mm75 will search for traction, the lever should be turned to the open position and lock it so.
The smoke will disappear, the thrust will appear.
rebuilder86,you're a little confused.
Mm75 has an atmospheric "crab" motor. The air damper is always closed.
You have a turbo engine where the air damper is always open.
A cable of a drive of the lever of gas injection pump it is necessary to replace.
It's easier and cheaper than replacing a broken length regulator.
But if you have the time and inspiration ...

[rebuilder86]

yes confused as to why ppl blank off EGR valves.

[ernie b]

Perhaps the issue is that the electronic sensor on the EGR valve will tell the ECU that the EGR isnt activiating, but in my opinion thats a good thing as mapping will be adjusted to compensate, leading to an increase in power, but maybe a decrease in economy.

From his pic it's a non turbo so no sensor or ecu on that one

[gotgcoalman]

yes confused as to why ppl blank off EGR valves.

Have you ever had to clean an inlet manifold?

[rebuilder86]

yeh what im saying is u just undo the vacuum hose to the valve. u dont need to remove the valve and blank it. the valve is naturaly in the closed position.

[cherniy_chack]

A serviceable EGR valve is always closed.
Defective-does not close.
Therefore put a plug on the line of recirculation of exhaust gases.
To have confidence that the line is closed.

Have you ever had to clean an inlet manifold?

I cleaned the intake manifold.
I used a device for flame cutting steel.
You can put the intake manifold in a large container of water, add detergent and boil for several hours.
Until the mud gets destroyed.
You can wash off dirt with kerosene or another solvent.

[rebuilder86]

hmm interesting thoughts about dirty intake manifold from years of EGR.
Im not game to pull my intake manifold off just yet, but i wouldnt be surprised it it was 50% clogged, as the useless bloke who sold it to me pretty much said
"YOU DONT HAVE TO REPALCE ANYTIHGN IN THESE THINGS, I NEVER REPLACE ANYTHING" haha.

Sorry i should elaborate about the confusion i have with EGR delete. Deleteing and blank plating them when they are broken, fair enoough.
Its the large number of people who do it for "PERFORMANCE" benefits, that confuses me. Just unplug the thing haha.