Look up how an EGR system works, why it works, and the end result of why it is there :awesomework:
This is a layman's example: A properly working EGR only works under part throttle cruising and allows exhaust to enter intake to take place of O2 entering engine effectively making a 8cyl run like a 6cyl. This whole cycle, because of the reduced amount of O2 burn actually ends up lowering a engines combustion temperature to, the end result, lower greenhouse emissions. The lower combustion temperature then has an end result of a cooler running vehicle. A very simple system or shall we say a predecessor to the new vehicles that shut down cylinders while driving.
The problem with diesels is the newer units try to cool the incoming charge of exhaust gases by running the exhaust through a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger utilizes your engines coolant through this process. The problem with most of us is we put these fancy programmers that F@#$ with stock parameters to a point that the vehicle requires less throttle on a climb. The stock computer thinking the engine is at a low load keeps the EGR valve open to circulate the exhaust gases. The end effect of less throttle is the EGR is open while climbing a hill causing some bad overheat issues for some.
There are a lot of vehicles on the road that has a "gremlin" in the system that causes drivability issues and the easy fix is to plug the system, have the system fall off, etc. These are not the correct fixes for the problem but they "get er done" so to speak.
On most all of the diesel trucks on the market I don't really see why they need an EGR system at all. With some very fancy tuning the newer diesels can burn quite clean but we as end consumers don't want to stop burning dead dino bones. I am included in the bunch that likes to burn the old bones. The other problem is the systems become so complex that the price is too much for consumers to buy.
My truck lost the EGR for the problem of loosing a small amount of boost on long climbs at a high boost level. This loss was a sudden and abrupt loss of boost. The loss only happened for a split second at a time but when you are towing 25K over snoqualmie doing 60MPH and your truck hiccups it is a little discerning. I never had a problem with heat from my EGR and have noticed no problems from the EGR while it worked or since it has been blocked.
Any of this make sense:redneck:?