What is this pipe for?

[philclemo]

Hi All,

New to Transit ownership, we have picked up a 2003 100 280 (2.0D MWB, FWD) with a modest mileage. She's not the most undented Transit out there but everything appears to work as it should.

Whilst having a detailed rummage around the engine bay I have found a pipe which appears to go to nowhere. It starts at the timing end, runs along the block and around the back of the block and it's flanged end is attached to nothing! It appears to be alloy and has heat shielding on. See pic, I hope it's clear enough.

WP_20160829_13_10_59_Pro.jpg

I also found what appears to be a vacuum pipe hanging ie not attached to anything either end near to the positive battery point.

WP_20160829_13_11_27_Pro.jpg

Notice too the three way plumbing fitting used on the coolant hoses (cream coloured just underneath the rad hose)!

Anybody any ideas? It runs fine by the way (touch wood).

[v8dave]

Show us a picture of the flange on the alloy pipe.

Even before seeing that I'm guessing egr has been removed.

[philclemo]

Hi Dave

That would make sense, I know this is a common mod but why is it done? Is there a picture of this engine on here somewhere, showing it as complete?
Not being that familiar with diesel engines I think I am probably going to be on a steep learning curve!

[rustytransit]

Yes , it is egr pipe . Sometimes they rot out where it bends round the back of the engine to connect to the exhaust manifold,
Use a mirror to check for carbon depostis.

[Brains_transit]

The pipe with the elbow at the battery jump point is the gearbox breather

[philclemo]

Thanks for your replies and sorry for the late response.

It may sound daft but is there any reason I can't refit the EGR (after taking the blanking plate off at the front of the EGR pipe). I have seen replacement EGR units on the bay of fleas for reasonable money.

I would like to have some idea of the coolant hose arrangement as it looks a bit of a bodge at present with the plastic three way connector.

As for the vacuum hose, I can't find where it should fit on the gearbox

Next job will be repairing both front door sills as the previous owner looks as though he has tried to jack the poor thing up on them instead of the correct jacking point!

[ned]

Your just asking for problems re fitting the egr there evil you know N

[philclemo]

Yes ned, I'm beginning to see that. Look what I found with my camera!

WP_20170209_16_54_22_Rich.jpg

[philclemo]

Holy thread resurrection!

In view of last May's MOT revamp is our Transit likely to fail with this 'delete'?

Any advice would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance,

Phil

[philclemo]

Just poked my smart phone in the bay. Should the stainless flange (outlined in blue in lower part of the pic) fit directly to the exhaust manifold? If so the 'blanking' method looks rather Heath Robinson to say the least!

InkedDSC_0425_LI.jpg

[James-B93]

Yes the pipe in the first picture should connect to the flange that appears to have been filled with weld, as has been said above it is the EGR pipe that goes from the exhaust manifold to the EGR valve. Mine had recently sheared completely in almost the same position as this so I have removed the pipe completely and blanked both ends. MOT is next September so a while before I have to worry about it!

[ned]

love the pipe drawing, school of BJT

Yes your van will fail it's mot with the egr not fitted, maybe fit one from a junkyard but leave the pipe welded up

[philclemo]

Thanks both.

So the plan: refit the EGR pipe back to the manifold , I'll scan it to see if the EGR has actually been deleted or if the is a fault showing and then replace the valve?

Glad you like the drawing!

[ned]

No need to check if it's been deleted as the Mk6 egr is vacuum controlled and not controlled by the pcm

[Mashee]

No need to check if it's been deleted as the Mk6 egr is vacuum controlled and not controlled by the pcm

The EGR position and vacuum solenoid is monitored and will show a fault though, hence P0403 and P0404.