97 LT1 EGR question

[BadWS6]

I currently have the intake off my 97 WS6. while it was off I have been thinking about removing the EGR valve and air tube. I was told it is the EGR system that causes the manifold oil leak. Is there any advantage to this performance wise? If I have it programed out of the PCM could I still have issues with the peoples republic of California's smog cops?

[TraceZ]

There is no performance advantage in removing it. Typically people remove it if they buy headers that dont have the proper flange for it.

It only opens during highway cruising to lean out the mixture a bit. It's pretty harmless.

I would recommend insulating the tube with a muffler bandage so its radiant heat doesnt dry out the seal at the rear of the intake manifold.

[Z Ya Later]

As a resident of CA, I can assure you they will flip. You've got OBDII, so they'll hook up to your car's comp and see what its doing. Like Tracy said, insulate it and you'll be much happier. Good luck man. Btw, where in CA are you at?

[BadWS6]

About 80 miles east of Los Angles little town called Hesperia just follow the I-15 from LA toward Las Vegas My sister and borther in law live in Livermore in the bay area though

[Z Ya Later]

Weeeeeeeell, maybe you need to come and visit them...we need more people from F-body around here lol

[BadWS6]

I my be up that way in the spring

[Z Ya Later]

Sweet...we should get together...let the girls mingle lol

[Hobbs95]

if i already have that intake manifold leak can contain it with the insulation?
i have no idea of what to look for either

[TraceZ]

if i already have that intake manifold leak can contain it with the insulation?
i have no idea of what to look for either

no.

If you already have oil leaking off the back edge of the intake it is too late. You will need to replace the gaskets.

The insulation is put on the EGR tube to prevent radiant heat from drying out the intake manifold seal. If the manifold seal is already shot, there is nothing to do but replace it and that means yanking off the manifold. It's a cheap weekend job if you do it yourself.

[Z Ya Later]

Man I love not having an EGR tube . I helped Craig do his twice and its a lot easier than it looks the first time. Get a buddy to come over and help out...makes the work a lot easier.

[Maverick_82]

I currently have the intake off my 97 WS6. while it was off I have been thinking about removing the EGR valve and air tube. I was told it is the EGR system that causes the manifold oil leak. Is there any advantage to this performance wise? If I have it programed out of the PCM could I still have issues with the peoples republic of California's smog cops?

Bottom line, if you remove or bypass the EGR valve it will effect the performance, NOT IN A GOOD WAY!! The EGR valve regulates the amount of exhaust gas let into the combustion chambers. Disabling the EGR will make your car prone to stalling in cold weather and more likely to overheat in warm weather. TAKE IT FROM ME! A previous owner of my 82 trans am put in a V8 engine that uses a Thermastatic Vacuum Switch while the original engine used a EGR Solenoid. Instead of using his few brain cells and easily figure out how to hook the new engine to the orginal EGR he left it unpluged. Everyday when the temp is at freezing or below the car sputters and dies at least once! HOOK THE EGR VALVE UP!!! The manifold oil leak can occur on any vehicle. hell it was quite common on model-t's!!! First check the EGR valve gasket and the gaskets for the manifold; this is the prodominent cause of oil leaks!
You say your in calinornia? Bypassing the EGR valve will make the combustion chamber temperature leap above 2500 degrees F. These high temps will greatly increase the nitrous oxides in your exhaust. Meaning that you willing most definitely fail California's emissions tests!

[pete]

Nope, Maverick seems to have some eroneous information about the EGR. On the Lt-1 engines it is programed to operate at certain speeds and rpm's, usually at regular cruising speeds. When it fails it the open position it will make the car run real bad.

Pulling the EGR will NOT be a power enhancement for the Lt-1, but it will save on torching the silicone seal on the back of the intake manifold that creates the dreaded oil leak there.

I've removed mine a few years ago. Plugged the holes in the intake and exhaust manifolds and haven't had any problems since. I've heard that sometimes after its removal it may set the SES, but that can be programed away in the PCM.

I don't know if any emmissions testing would notice a missing EGR since it wouldn't necessarily operate during the test phase, same as the AIR pump. But then again no testing in Michigan or Florida anymore. Injuneer had more information on this in a previous post.

[TraceZ]

If you remove the EGR from your car and you live in a place that does a visual inspection as part of the emissions testing you will fail.

Otherwise, yes removing it will help the rear seal of the intake last longer. Insulating it does the same thing, without removing it.

[Injuneer]

Bottom line, if you remove or bypass the EGR valve it will effect the performance, NOT IN A GOOD WAY!! The EGR valve regulates the amount of exhaust gas let into the combustion chambers. Disabling the EGR will make your car prone to stalling in cold weather and more likely to overheat in warm weather. TAKE IT FROM ME! A previous owner of my 82 trans am put in a V8 engine that uses a Thermastatic Vacuum Switch while the original engine used a EGR Solenoid. Instead of using his few brain cells and easily figure out how to hook the new engine to the orginal EGR he left it unpluged. Everyday when the temp is at freezing or below the car sputters and dies at least once! HOOK THE EGR VALVE UP!!! The manifold oil leak can occur on any vehicle. hell it was quite common on model-t's!!! First check the EGR valve gasket and the gaskets for the manifold; this is the prodominent cause of oil leaks!
You say your in calinornia? Bypassing the EGR valve will make the combustion chamber temperature leap above 2500 degrees F. These high temps will greatly increase the nitrous oxides in your exhaust. Meaning that you willing most definitely fail California's emissions tests!

I would disagree with a lot of what you posted.

See this post:

http://www.f-body.com/forum/showthre...6539#post56539

[Maverick_82]

I would disagree with a lot of what you posted.

See this post:

http://www.f-body.com/forum/showthre...6539#post56539

All of what I posted I found in other threads and repair manuels.