EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) delete is the process of removing the EGR valve in order to prevent unburned carbon from recirculating back into the engine.
The EGR does not reduce engine performance like most people believe except the valve fails and gets stuck in the open position. If you blank or delete the EGR, this might prevent carbon buildup in your intake and also increase the combustion temperature inside your cylinder. When this happens, an engine knock is likely going to occur.
If the knock sensor of your engine senses that, the ECU (Engine Control Unit) will enter into a fail-safe mode, thereby delaying the ignition timing to its maximum retardation until you turn off the engine.
When the ignition timing is delayed, the engine performs poorly. So instead of your initial goal of increasing performance through EGR delete, you might just do the opposite.
Pros of EGR Delete
1. Reduced Engine Temperature
EGR delete can help to reduce the engine temperature, which means that there is little chance of your car overheating. This can in turn increase your engine’s efficiency.
2. It Improves The Life of an Engine
When you take out the EGR system, you’ll see your vehicle’s performance improve dramatically because it no longer has anything restricting its ability to breathe properly. This means that your car will have more power and better gas mileage as well.
3. EGR Delete Allows for Improved Fuel Efficiency
EGR deletes allow for improved fuel efficiency, as they reduce the amount of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) that occurs. The EGR system is designed to mix a small amount of exhaust gas with the incoming air charge, which lowers the combustion temperature and pressure in order to improve emissions.
4. Engine Power Maximization
You’ll notice the power difference immediately. The engine will feel like it has been infused with new life and its fuel efficiency will increase. You’ll have more power for acceleration and the car will also have a better compression ratio, meaning that it can burn off more fuel for each combustion cycle.
5. It Creates More Efficiency Within Your Engine
The EGR coolant system was designed to reduce harmful emissions by pushing exhaust gas back into the intake tract when the engine is cold. This helps warm up the car’s catalytic converter faster and increases fuel economy, but it also interferes with an efficient combustion process. Once you remove the EGR valve, you can find out how much power and mileage you’ve been missing out on.
6. EGR Delete Makes The Air Flowing Through Your Engine Cleaner and Less Polluted
When you delete your EGR, the exhaust gases flowing through your engine will be less polluted. You’ll see a decrease in emissions like hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen.
7. It Limits Vehicle Breakdown
Removing the secondary air injection system from your vehicle can help reduce wear and tear on the engine, increase engine life, and decrease the risk of vehicle breakdown.
8. It Reduces Emissions
An EGR delete kit reduces emissions by removing the restriction of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valves and catalytic converters. This means that more fuel enters the engine, which results in increased power and reduced emissions overall.
Cons of EGR Delete
1. It is Illegal in Some States in The US
It’s illegal in some states. Be sure to do proper research on the laws of your state as regards EGR delete. before you proceed with it.
2. EGR Delete Can Be Expensive
EGR delete is not a cheap modification. Depending on what kind of vehicle you have and who performs the work, an EGR delete can cost hundreds of dollars for parts alone—and that’s before labor costs are added on!
3. EGR Delete Can Cause Problems with Emissions Testing
In the United States, emission testing is a way to ensure vehicles are meeting emissions standards. If a vehicle fails an emissions test, it must be fixed before it can be registered.
If you’ve carried out an EGR delete and you get your car tested for emissions, it’s possible that your car will fail the test because of the deleted EGR valve.
4. It May Reduce Horsepower (HP)
EGR deletes are known for reducing horsepower. It’s a simple matter of physics: if you remove the exhaust gas recirculation, you’re removing a vacuum created by the engine which allows air to enter the intake manifold. Less air means less power, so your car may feel slower after an EGR delete.
5. It Can Cause Engine Knock
Ignition timing can be thrown off if your engine is tuned for an EGR delete. In some cases, this can cause engine knock—the phenomenon by which the fuel mixture ignites in the cylinder before the spark plug fires. Engine knock is a serious problem because it can cause damage to your engine.
If you have a performance-oriented car and want to install an EGR delete, remember that it will affect the timing of your camshafts and ignition system.
If you don’t know how to adjust these components yourself, I recommend consulting with a professional who knows what they’re doing before proceeding with an EGR delete installation on your vehicle.
6. It May Trigger Check Engine Light
Removing the EGR valve and all associated components will trigger a check engine light. This is due to the fact that your car’s computer, or ECU (engine control unit), relies on feedback from these sensors to run properly. When they’re gone, so is their ability to provide this feedback.
A “delete” is one of several options available for removing an EGR valve. However, it’s important to keep in mind that doing so will trigger a check engine light in some cars.
In other words, if you remove the EGR, then there could be serious consequences for your vehicle’s operation over time—and not just because of possible emissions issues!
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Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand the EGR system and the advantages and disadvantages of carrying out An EGR Delete.
Even though you get benefits like engine efficiency, limited vehicle breakdown, reduction in engine temperature, improved fuel efficiency, and cleaner air from an EGR delete, you should also be prepared for side effects like failing emission tests, triggering the check engine light, reduced horsepower, the fact that it is illegal in some states, and of course, engine knock.
These can be serious or detrimental to your vehicle. So, if you would like an EGR delete, be sure it is what you really want for your vehicle.
Ugo is a passionate car enthusiast with a Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering degree and hands-on experience in troubleshooting and fixing automobiles.
I combine my electrical and mechanical engineering knowledge with practical skills to address car-related issues.
My love for cars and dedication to educating others led to the creation of Fixandtroubleshoot.com!
