I have my UIM off to service my injectors and replace the PD (my old one rattles like a snake when I shake it. Spooky huh?).
so, since I had the UIM off and I'd been on the razor's edge when it comes to emissions, I decided to take the EGR off to see what it looks like.
Totally and completely clogged.
I've cleaned out the passages a ton but the valve makes a crackling noise when I move it by hand so I'm looking into buying a new one.
Now the DOH! part. Part of the gasket broke off when I was taking the EGR valve off the engine and it fell into the big hole (also gunked up pretty good). It's about an inch and a half worth of gasket and I can't reach it.

How bad is this?

Cory
If I'm not bleeding and didn't brake anything, I wasn't working on the car.

 

same gunky crap on mine-can't we just block that hole off w/ no ill affects? BTW, I don't know if that loose gasket is a prob or not...

 

woah, Mazda Competition Parts price on a new EGR is $151.30. Guess I'll be looking for another one somewhere else...

Cory

 

maybe just stick the shop vac in the hole and suck it out? i dont know ive never tried this

 

I'm still wondering if it's completely safe to just remove the sucker and block the opening...Anyone???

 

Well, It's part of the emissions system that helps reduce NOx emissions.
I'm not sure what the issues are if you remove it but I don't think you get any gains from it either. if you're removing ALL the emissions stuff, this is one of the pieces to chuck into the woods.

As I stated earlier, I need to get any help I can on the emissions front. She passed blowing exactlly the limit two years ago, 1ppm under last year, and I test again in March.

Anybody know anything about that EGR passage in the center iron? If I dropped a chunk on gasket in there, is it going to end up in the combustion chambers?

Cory

 

Sorry to dig up such an old thread, but although EGR valves do primarily work to lower NOx levels, they also help prevent detonation. By injecting these inert exhaust gases back into the intake, there is less usuable air in the combustion chamber, so the a/f will be a little bit more on the rich side...exhaust gases don't have good energy potential. By changing the a/f ratio just that much, adding as little as 10% exhaust gas, chances of detonation are reduced.

Just some info.