EGR Disabling, Good Idea?
 

Hey Guys,

I've heard people say that the EGR is a bad idea on a diesel and it should be disabled to prevent it from harming other parts. Is this true? If so, how can I do it? The vacuum cables seem to all be connected still. Can you just remove the whole unit and cover the opening somehow?

Thank you,
Nick

Nick,
Being an emission component, you pose a question that can be tricky to answer. Please do a search on the topic and you will find ways to disable and/or remove some vacuum lines for "off-road or test" purposes. What you do from there would of course be an individual decision. I have my '87 in test mode based on the available threads with the EGR vacuum components resting in a card board box. This is of course to see how they perform away from the vehicle.

I am not sure exactly what your looks like. I removed the tube from mine and cut it lenght wise. From that I made caps for the two ends.

Just what I hear
 

Long, Long time ago in a state far, far away I was informed that one could put a regular BB just inside where the vacume line connects. This would be for testing purposes only. Several years later I am still waiting for the results of this test. :D

Durabibity testing
 

takes time. :D
Which will fail first?
#1. The hose.
#2. The BB.

The world needs to know. :D

Im testing a golf tee in mine ;)

how scientific, all this talk of tests

The vac line going to my EGR got up and walked over to my tool box one night. ;)

what does disableing the ERG do?

EGR plugged.
 

Stops exhaust sludge from building up in the intake manifold.

whould the engen run better with out exaust gass running through it?

I would think the cleaner the air, the more dense the oxygen would be. Breathing outdoors versus a smoke filled room :confused:

Just break that stupid peice of junk, your engine will thank you.

But remember this statement applies to MB diesels only, gas engines actually need there egr's. I think with a gas engine besides getting a CE light you could burn a valve.

Two questions:

1) Will removal of the EGR improve performance of ANY MB diesel engine? For this answer, the question of the legality of this procedure is a moot point, and doesn't apply whatsoever.

2) Okay, now it does. Is the EGR covered by Canadian law?

Thanks,
Dunl

Did you use a lead, steel, or aluminum bb? I used a lead one for my test. Will my Benz get lead poisoning? :P

would a 81 240D have egr ?

I couldn't see one...

is the EGR the sickest, most rusted up brown POS in your engine bay?
it is in mine.

My BB was stainles steel. At least it won't rust! :D

I suggest you put a plate between the egr valve and the intake manifold as well as pluging the vac line. plug the vac line up close to the control valve (on the valve cover) the egr valve has a tendencie to leak vacuum. put a plate under the egr valve, mine was frozen in the partally open position, pluging the vac line would not have stopped exahust gasses from going in the intake manifold. I used a small piece of stainless I had lying around. use an egr valve gasket as a template. WD40 is recommended on the egr valve attach bolt as they can get pretty rusted up. you dont' want to break them off. I had the intake manifold cleaned before I did this, it's still pretty clean inside after 20k miles. you could pull the whole system off, but that might be noticed if you have emissions testing done in your area like we do in Denver.

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the funny and helpful responses. I can't remember, are there one or two vacuum hoses going to it? Should I block both?

I was thinking it'd look great if I could remove it altogether, would that be easy to do or would I have to cover the opening to the engine with something?

I guess disabling it should only make the engine warm up a little slower if anything, is that right? What was the worst case in what it could do to the engine if left functioning?

Thank you,
Nick

Does the 602 euro version have an EGR? If yes can someone show it on a pic please.

You would be correct, it does look great.

I manufacture and offer a suitable kit to do exactly that. However, I do it once per year, due to the fact that I need at least 30 people to keep the cost reasonable ($28.00).

I'll offer the kit in April of 2006 with a new thread on this forum. The kit completely eliminates the valve and covers the hole in the exhaust manifold and blocks the passage in the intake manifold with a polished stainless steel plate that matches the original machined face.

And I can vouch for the fact that Brian's kit is first class and worth waiting for. He included instructions, OEM gasket, SS hardware and sealant. Patience usually wins.

I tried to post this before, but I guess the form never sent (my internet connection is lousy at home). Here's my Q: Is there any harm to plugging the vac line while NOT using a blocking plate? What is the effect of having the vac line plugged when the unit is stuck open? Is that any worse than leaving the unit to function untouched? Basically, my understanding is that plugging the vac line is helpful at best and harmless at worst. Is that a correct assessment?

The valve operates on vacuum. If the valve is working properly and you disconnect and plug the vacuum line, the valve can't open. The blocking plate simply allows you to remove the valve.

However, if the valve is mechanically stuck open, it doesn't need any vacuum to open and removal of the vacuum line won't accomplish anything. You must remove and clean up the valve so that it is unstuck. Or, you must use the blocking plate.

Plugging the vacuum line is helpful most of the time and harmless if the valve is stuck open. ;)

Thanks Brian, for the thorough answer!

Bodhi I thought we took care of your egr back in May at the meet? :D

Plate kit
 

I'm in for a kit. I've recently sold Dieter and I have started to restore Brutus...

All good things will come to those who wait. ;)

You did! :D I was just making sure there wasn't something else I was supposed to be doing on top of that. It does seem to get better mileage ... about 2 or 3 more mpg, and I feel as though it has more oomph (although that could just be the power of expectation).

Replace the manifold
 

My intake manifold was so clogged with gunk I thought it would be bad for the environment to use all the solvent it would have taken to clean it. So I took a nice shiny manifold off a 1979 300 SD and put it on my 1982 300D. It is obvious to any inspector that the car was built without a EGR valve and it looks so much nicer without the extra junk cluttering the engine compartment or that god awful looking cover plate besides I like to leave no evidence, so that is a nice clean solution to a ugly problem shoot any one from the government that looks under the hood is so baffled by the lack of spark plugs they have no clue there should be a EGR POS on the car. :D
Dave S

.... :eek:

Brian,
That sounds like fighting words!!! :sword2: :pain10: :uzi: :dark: :whip:

Nah.........he had to be looking at somebody's cobbled up affair........couldn't have been mine.............. ;)

oops
 

Appears I stepped in something I assure you it was unintentional. I will assume some one here is making just out standing cover plates and I for one think they look almost as good as the W116 manifolds that never had the EGR valve. I hope that helps remove my boot out of my mouth.
Dave S

No sweat Dave.

I make these kits every so often that can eliminate the valve. The intake is covered with a 1/8" machined stainless plate that matches the contour of the machined surface on the intake. They are fastened with stainless button head cap screws. Looks pretty good, especially when compared to an old rusty valve. ;)

my '82 doesn't....

The unit off of my 300SD seems to like being kicked multiple times as I walk through the garage and look at it, all pitiful on the floor.

You time has come to an end little EGR.

My 80 240D did not have one...

so does an 83 240D have one? I can see a corrogated tube.
BTW does my car have a air bag? I wanted to know something exploding in your face when you crash is not a good idea IMHO :ukliam3:

I'm fairly certain that the 240D has EGR. It does not have an airbag.

THe later 240D's have an EGR...

It's kind of hidden under the front of the air cleaner, just follow the corrogated tube. It will be the rusty thing with the vacuum line attached to it. :)

On a 1985 300DT, where is the egr vacuum line connected to? I found an EGR "black box" behind the passenger side kick panel. I'd like to remove that unit as well and have my toolbox inspect it for a while. Any hints/tips would be greatly appreciated.

an 82 240d would have one right? i think that i may do some long term golf tee testing on mine then ;-)

It would be nice to have a Mercedes star stamped onto the cover plate.

I just bought an 83 300 D and when fixing the vacuum leak from the door mechanisms so my car would shut off with the key, I saw that whoever had the car last plugged the plug output to the EGR with a bolt and left the place where the tube should go on the EGR open.

Should I plug the EGR or is is ok to leave open?

Mine doesn't but I think my engine might be from a different model :)
Just look for the ugly beast on the intake manifold.

Has anyone bothered to point out that the EGR on diesels actually helps lower the combustion temerature and the exhaust gas temperature. These are both good things. High combustion temps and exhaust temps are some of the few things that will kill a diesel. Lowering the combustion temperature reduces NOX emissions, lower exhaust gas temperature drasticly extends turbo life. In a turbo diesel there is already more than enough oxygen in the combustion chamber, disabling the egr isn't helping combustion only making it a lot hotter than it should be for a long lived diesel. If I were building a higher performance turbodiesel I wouldn't remove the EGR unless if was for a full out competition engine. For a daily driver EGR is a GOOD thing and doesn't hurt power.

As for the gunking of the intake manifold, EGR isn't the culprit there either. The gunk deposited in the intake manifold is from the crankcase vent. Volotile hydrocarbons from the crankcase are vented before the turbo. They get very hot after the turbo and the lighter componets evaporate leaving the heavier componets behind to form the gunk. Since the EGR valve is even hotter than the turbo a lot of gunk gets deposited there as the more volotile stuff evaporates. Think about it, what does the inside of the diesels exhaust pipe look like or for that matter the hot side of the egr valve. It's only a thin dry film of carbon. IF the EGR was the cause of deposits those would also be a thin dry film, and not the thick gooey gunk that cloggs diesel intakes.

Sorry for the rant but as a responsible hot rodder I get miffed at people who automaticly assume that disabling emissions equipment is the only way to make power. Don't even get me started about all of the wanna be racers removing the catalyst from their 16 second car to make it a 15 and 3/4 second car. I've built several fast street cars and make it a point to keep emissions related equip. in tact. That way when hotrodding is regulated out of existance I'm gonna be the one pointing at you. :mad:

The reason the gunk is formed is because the egr lets soot get through the intake. These cars are turbo charged and some oil always gets past the bearings. Throw that oil in with the soot and let it cook for 15 years and you have a nice mess.

Btw euro 603's never had egr's.

Relax, this is not personal.
 

The engine was designed and engineered to run without the EGR.
I have opened 150K mile MB diesel intakes, found ten millimeters of soot sludge coating the inside, and the engines did not have blow by issues.
EGR was added to the OM617 only as an after thought to meet USA emission demand.
Oil from the crankcase vent tube flows through fairly clean, when soot is added it becomes a thick sludge that builds up and effects engine performance. :(
:) Many of us do not care about the emissions because we run vegetable oil for fuel = emission is not applicable.

Note:
These cars do not, and never did have a catalytic converter...