keeping the EGR? benefits?

i seem to recall that keeping the EGR is beneficial to performance at certain engine load/rpms?

can someone please explain?


this would be an '88 EFI 5.0.

I never heard it helped performance but it doesn't hinder it since it cuts off vacuum to the valve and it doesn't work at WOT.

Disabling EGR can cause an engine to ping under light loads since more air\fuel will be introduced into the cylinders than was designed. To correct this you will need to adjust your timing which will likely lower performance.
Best to keep it hooked up.

Removing EGR can cause a loss of fuel economy. Why? Because EGR gases that are reintroduced into the engine help to fill the combustion chambers, which slightly reduces the amount of fuel needed. This only happens at part throttle cruise, and if the EGR system is operating properly, it should never cause a problem with WOT or idle.

I know EGR removal causes loss of MPG because of experience. My old SVO...I cut off the EGR completely and plugged the manifold. MPG dropped from 27 to 22 with no other changes. That is one reason I left EGR on my Merkur....MPG is good and that is the #1 reason I bought the POS.

That's what I was looking for, thanks! Time to braid those wires back into my harness....

Camaro deleted the egr in the last few years, hmmm

Many auto makers have been deleting EGR valves. Changes in cam specs and cam timing are used in some cases to give the same effect as an EGR valve. If the motor came with one, run it. Besides, if you live in a smog state it must work to pass a smog inspection. Disconnecting it can cause it to stick shut and not work when you need it. It can also cause a check engine lamp. On, and on and on...

My thoughts here are two sided:
The EGR valve is required by the lean burning cars with carbs and it is a Federal offense to remove any emission device from the engine.

On the other side is that cars were getting the same milage with carburetors for years before EGR's were used. They fail and seem to always fail in an "open" position that adversely effects performance and milage. It is just one more thing that can go wrong on the engine.

If you remove the EGR valve, you have to replace or modify the carb for richer mixtures that will allow the running of the engine under all conditions. You have to have the advance recurved, including the vacuum advance to match the fuel supply and compression. This can be more costly than it is to replace the bad valve.
In the end I have always been required to follow Federal law or put myself on the line for the $10000 fine and 20 years in jail. If you are in one of the States that require emission testing to license your car you will need to have the EGR on the vehicle and in working condition.
It is your car, and your life - choose a consequence.

good info guys, thank you. i should've been more specific about my particular application in that i do not need to be smog-legal and i have a SD system currently.

if i was to add a twEECer piggyback controller would i be able to clean up these areas of the fuel map to restore the performance and mileage that is lost with the removal of the EGR?

i'm thinking of getting one anyway for some future mods.