How do you tune it out?
I'm getting this done Tuesday with a Malone tune. I think you just specify to your tuner (unless doing it yourself) to do an EGR delete. I'm doing both the cooler bypass and removing the EGR motor, both with blockoff kits I got from fixmyvw.
Exactly.
You may just be missing a bracket. It was common for dealers servicing the the EGR area to leave it off causing that pipe to fail.
We don't smog test where I live (rural Virginia). If I was going to delete it, I would have only removed the lower pipe and blanked the exhaust manifold and the bottom of the cooler, leaving everything else in place. That probably would've fooled most of these hillbilly mechanics on the physical inspection.Exactly.
Also worth noting that unless you get a software tune you will have a permanent check engine light.
And you're tampering with federally-mandated emissions equipment.
And the car will flunk any smog test based on physical examination.
Your car, your call.
That's why I deleted mine - it was cheaper than fixing the broken pipes after the dealer screwed up the recall (several missing screws and brackets). I made the plates from 1/4" aluminum and didn't need any hose couplings. One hose from each pair can be relocated to bypass the other. Cost me nothing at all. That kit looks pretty decent (I'd skip the plastic hose coupler)
Not having to replace the EGR cooler hoses every 20-30K. I was pricing those parts, and dang they're expensive!
I purchased the motor block off plate and cooler bypass made by buzzken, from fixmyvw. Unfortunately, the bolts that attach my cooler to the turbo (or some bracket in between) are rusted solid, so I'm just going to replace the VNT17 in the next week or two and get it removed while the turbo is out.
If you only block off the lower pipe and leave the upper open - the car will suck unfiltered air. It'll probably keep the ECU happy (needs to see a drop in MAF readings to confirm EGR flow) but not really good for your engine.
I will block both ends. The car won't suck unfiltered air because I'll block the bottom port of the EGR cooler where the lower pipe would connect. It won't suck anything at all. I don't have enough money for a tune, so what will happen if I block it and don't get one?
Sorry - I missed where you said "and the port on bottom of the cooler". My first round of delete was two simple sheet metal gaskets installed - one at the turbo outlet and the other at the intake. Everything looked stock but of course I had a CEL. At that point, NY did not emissions test diesels. Next, I pulled the intake flapper (motorized one) and the actual EGR valve itself. Once I decided to install a bigger turbo, I ripped out everything and got a tune - more for the turbo, but it included a delete. Then NY started testing them but since there is no EGR coded in the ECU, I don't get any faults - just a N/A from that controller.
Trust me, you'd really enjoy that Stage 1 tune. But if you're really that strapped for cash, for $99, you can just do an EGR delete tune (nothing performance related):
The problem isn't with the brand of pipes, it's typically because the EGR cooler was not installed properly. There was a recall years ago and the dealers cheated and didn't install all the brackets or follow the instructions to get them installed correctly. This causes the flex lines to break. Theoretically, you should be able to realign the cooler (there is a PDF posted here somewhere if you search - keywords BEW EGR recall?), make sure all the brackets are installed (good chance there is at least one missing) and replace the flex lines and be good-to-go.
Stealership mechanics cutting corners. Why am I not surprised? Ok, I'll throw on the block off plates for now to get my boost back to normal and I'll save up to order a new pipe and do my homework on that PDF.
Ha, almost literally cutting corners. My EGR cooler was bolted one with ONE nut before we removed it on Saturday. The turbo was held to the exhaust manifold by 5 nuts.
How sluggish are we talking about? If you're getting no black smoke out the tailpipe, I'd guess you've got a bad MAF. Unplug it and go for another drive and let us know if there's any improvement.