Some vehicle owners love to tinker with their vehicles by adding aftermarket kits or removing/pulling off some parts entirely from the vehicle. EGR delete is one of these modifications.
Removing a vehicle’s exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system can benefit the engine in a couple of ways. However, an EGR system delete does not only come with its countless pros, the cons also do matter.
So, if you are considering deleting your vehicle’s exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, please read this article before proceeding to understand what you are getting yourself into. The following sections explain what an EGR system stands for, what it does, its pros and cons, and if it is worth it.
What is EGR Delete?
An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system delete is the process of turning off the system or removing the EGR valve on your vehicle by using a performance kit or other. This is done to stop redirecting the exhaust gas through your engine.
When this occurs, it has several after effects on your car. Some of the effects of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system delete may be positives.
However, there are cons you do not want to overlook, or you might end up harming your ride in the end. So be sure to weigh the pros and cons in the next section to determine if it is good or bad when EGR is deleted.
What Does EGR Delete Do?
You’ll definitely notice a few engine differences once you install the EGR delete kit. First, it will help the engine power.
As described above, the EGR system restricts the engine and affects overall performance. Secondly, you will notice improved fuel economy. Since the engine will not work as hard, it burns less gas to generate the same power as previously.
Thirdly, EGR delete will improve the service life of the engine. The exhaust gas recirculation into the engine usually deposits soot on engine parts and accelerates wear of the engine parts.
With EGR delete, the exhaust gas is not recirculating back into the engine. This way it will limit deposits of soot on engine parts.
Pros and Cons EGR Delete
Paying attention to the EGR delete pros and cons below will help you make the best decision concerning either removing or retaining your vehicle’s EGR system.
Pros
- Reduced engine temperature
- Improved fuel efficiency
- Enhanced throttle response
- Extended engine life
- Engine power maximization
- Limits vehicle breakdown
Cons
- Illegal in the United States
- Possibility of EGR being stuck open
- It may reduce horsepower (HP)
- The vehicle may fail an MOT test
- Engine knocking
- May trigger the Check Engine light
Is it worth doing an EGR delete?
With both the benefits and drawbacks of an EGR delete presented, it’s difficult to determine conclusively if deleting the EGR is worth it. An EGR delete improves fuel economy, maximizes engine power, limits your vehicle, extends engine life span, etc.
On the flip side, it will reduce horsepower, trigger your engine warning light, and more importantly, it’s illegal. In view of all these things, it’s most likely that EGR delete is not worth it.
Not only is it illegal in the States, it will also trigger your check engine light, meaning that you won’t know when the car computer detects a new problem and triggers the check engine light.
FAQs.
Q: Is an EGR delete illegal?
If you’re asking, “Is EGR delete legal?” Deleting your vehicle’s exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system is illegal across the 50 States of the United States of America since laws tend to be created that set a certain standard that all vehicles must meet in the country to be considered eligible for use on the road.
You must possess an EGR system using the law as a standard as one of the implied requirements that meet the said eligibility.
With the government showing interest in the good health of the citizens, laws and regulations have been put in place to reduce/remedy or avert anything detrimental to the citizen’s health and well-being. If you are considering deleting your vehicle’s EGR system, kindly think twice as it is illegal in the U.S.
Q: Does EGR delete add horsepower?
Deleting a vehicle’s exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system will essentially increase the density of Oxygen in the air/fuel mixture that’s being sucked into the engine which will in turn increase horsepower.
However, you may not easily take notice of the increase in horsepower since the boost may not exceed 1%. The removal of the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system will also help prevent the inlet manifold of the vehicle from becoming dirty over time.
If you want to increase your vehicle’s horsepower, removing the EGR system may help you attain that, however, that may not be the right thing to do because of the position of the law.
Q: What happens if you delete EGR valve?
If you are asking, “What does EGR delete do?” EGR system delete will impair vehicle’s engine efficiency and threaten the safety of the environment.
The adverse effect of the EGR system delete can also be damaging to other drivers on the road as well as pedestrians or those using different road vehicles.
On the flip side, deleting your vehicle’s EGR system could get you in trouble with the United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA). The reason is that removing the component from a vehicle will cause an emission issue.
You should weigh up everything regarding an EGR system delete before going ahead. Weighing the consequence of an action is one of the ingredients of good decision making.
Q: Will EGR delete cause black smoke?
An EGR system delete will not cause black smoke because it does not involve itself with incomplete combustion. A vehicle will emit black smoke because of fuel running into the combustion chamber in excess, thereby leading to incomplete combustion.
Incomplete combustion will cause gas that is not burned to blow from a vehicle’s exhaust pipe. When this happen, one of the first signs will be black smoke issuing from the pipe. In other words, firing your vehicle’s EGR system will not lead to black smoke coming from your pipe.
Finally, note that if you are experiencing black smoke coming out of your car’s exhaust pipe, EGR system delete will not take care of it. Also, note that EGR delete in gas engines come with the same sort of effect as diesel EGR delete.
Q: Does EGR delete make louder?
Of course, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system delete will ultimately make your vehicle sound more obnoxious.
Exactly! The EGR system helps to reduce the “sound pollution” emanating from a vehicle’s engine. So, deleting the component is just like giving it a voice.
The loud noise is Michael Jackson to you because it makes your car different from others. But it could be an OFFENSIVE noise to other road users and your close and distant neighbors.
While considering deleting your vehicle’s exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, don’t forget about other road users and pissed off people in your neighborhood.
Q: Is it possible for me to drive without an EGR?
Yes, you can drive without the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system in your car. The component doesn’t have a hand in the performance of your engine or the four wheels.
But driving a car without an EGR isn’t the best option. Aside from the government issue that applies to the illegal deletion of an EGR system, noise is another factor to consider.
Too much noise is bad, and vehicle manufacturers figured out a way to diminish the sound coming from an engine. But if you love the distinctive sound an EGR system delete produces, you might as well get ready for the noise pollution.
Q: Does EGR make sound?
Yes, a vehicle’s exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system can make the engine produce a knocking sound.
This happens when the EGR system is kept permanently closed. So if you’re noticing a knocking or rattling noise coming from your car’s engine, it is likely that you have a defective EGR system.
The noise is often little or not at all noticeable when the vehicle is idling; otherwise, it increases as soon as you start accelerating. If you’re facing that challenge right now, consider contacting an expert auto mechanic to check out the problem and fix it.
Q: Can you roll coal with an EGR?
Rolling coal requires operating aftermarket kits to circumvent a vehicle’s exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. In other words, you can’t roll coal with an EGR system. Meanwhile, it’s important to find out if you really want to roll coal because that is illegal as per the extant law of the Clean Air Act of the United States.
The EPA – Environmental Protection Agency is responsible to enforce absolute compliance by vehicle manufacturers.
Consequently, violating the Clean Air Act by rolling coal can cause you a heavy fine in tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Final words
Regardless of the many perks of doing an EGR delete on a car, one should always be wary of the cons as well. The fact that it’s illegal to do so should get you to have a rethink.
There are other ways of getting some of the EGR delete benefits (like increased horsepower) without uninstallation of your vehicle’s EGR system. You should try to figure out other ways of enjoying the benefits and be safe with the law.
You wouldn’t want to face the wrath of the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) just because of a simple EGR system delete.