"EGR DELETE" Instructions

It's the EGR Valve. [edit] No other sensor, but there is a MAP sensor that could tell the system if there is a problem with calculated EGR flow.

edit: I think my Gen 1 Insight had a feedback linear pot as part of the EGR Valve that went bad sometimes..
sorry for the confusion.

 

I'm on my 3rd Gen3 also!
I have never done the dreaded EGR system cleaning. I know I should at 153k miles.
But instead, for the meantime, I'm joining the club of EGR Unplugged.
I have the Torque app so I can clear the code when I want to.
My driving and FE changes all the time so it will be hard to put a number on before / after.
I'll eventually clean the system and reconnect the EGR Valve, so I'll have 3 sets of MPG data to try to see if there is a difference.

 

There is no feedback sensor in the EGR valve. The valve actuator is a six-terminal stepper motor, and that accounts for all six of the pins in its electrical connector.

The only feedback the system has is from the MAP sensor, which gets used in the self-test that can set the P0401 code, which runs every now and then when the car is decelerating with the engine turning and the fuel cut off.

 

EGR Delete follow up:
My '10 has ~2k miles with the EGR valve disconnected.
1400 miles on a +80 mph blast to the Rockies and back.
Fuel economy seems the same.

I swear I feel a new smoothness to the engine now. When very slowly adding power, I used to feel the engine 'not respond/stumble a bit before it started to accelerate. Now it just accelerates with slight throttle inputs.

It was easy to disconnect the valve and cover both sides with tape to keep them clean.
The P0403 code comes up as soon as I start the car. "EGR Control Circuit". That's the safe code to have. The ECM knows the EGR is not playing along and adjusts things accordingly.

 

(The copper & steel wire mesh is to keep rodents away / )

 

Lovely job.
I have a cat. He's on a mission to rid the neighborhood of rodents, lizards, cicadas, and unfortunately birds. I wish cats were trainable...

 

My friend has trained cat but only playing. it still kills whatever it likes. Rodent is not too much big deal as long as we kept it clean and check the car under the hood quarterly. The intake for the air duct can be covered with stainless mesh to prevent rodent nesting.
What annoys me more is Weasle or Martin. It chews anything in no time. Even just for 1 night park at the wrong spot
The EGR unplugged is an interesting idea. It is useful if we have clogged EGR and has not time to fix it.

 

+1 member to join the NOEGR club. My Pirus3 had this issue for years, my wife was always complaining that the car is vibrating and shaking. I cleaned EGR several times, but the issue continued to came back every time. After one of the mechanics told me that its a serious issue and wanted to charge 530 euro to change the EGR, i desperatelly started to search for solutions, and thanks god i found this thread. It saved me money, and mental health.

So far after 1 month of EGR disabled, no issues at all, i can finally enjoy the rides that a real hybrid should offer, smooth and silent transitions from EV to Engine, smooth acceleration and engine sound on highway, the car is finally breathing fresh air, without that stinky muddy useless EGR system. Thanks Paladin, amazing tip.

 

What’s the miles?

 

Dumping raw exhaust into a clean fuel/air mixture before combustion is like a person who smokes. It won't kill you right away, but it's going to shorten your life. The egr system is not healthy for engines.

 

Well Gang, , I'm at 167k mi. after 5 month and ~11k miles of running with the EGR disconnected.

About a week ago on a 500 mile drive, twice I noticed a stumble/misfire while lightly accelerating coming from a stop. It lasted maybe 3 seconds each time.
"Spark plugs, finally!" I said to myself.

But when I checked the next morning my coolant was down 3/4". Uh Oh..... HEAD GASKET failure has begun.
Topped it up and drove it the next day with the coolant cap loosened to avoid pressurizing the coolant system and had to do another 500 mi. day. Coolant was low 3/4" again.

I have an appointment with Gasket Masters next week. Hopefully FelPro makes a long life version compared to stock.

Let the skeptics begin! I was told I'd "Blow up my engine" if I disconnected the EGR.
Is this the same chronic head gasket failure that all Gen3's experience count as a blow up?

 

Recorded history suggests your head gasket failure has nothing to do with egr disconnect...and more to do with 167,000 miles on a 2010 GEN III.

 

Yeah, I agree. It seems to be a chronic issue.
I changed the coolant , a half gallon at each Mobil1 oil change at ~5-6k mile intervals.
After the EGR disconnect I could not tell a mpg change, just a new smoothness in light throttle accel.

I've been driving 81 mph true (+6) into 20 mph headwinds in single digit temps, some negative, and getting 37-39mpg. I'm fine with that.
When I get it back with a functional and clean EGR system the temps will be much higher. It will be hard to claim an increase in mpg due to the EGR.
Looking forward to driving this Level 5 with the Advanced Tech Package to the limit. The LKA tries to 'assist'. The ACC is awesome!
I was tempted at first to just sell it, buyer beware, and get a Gen5 and use the Comma3, but dang, they're so expensive.... And it sounds like they haven't figure out everything with the Prime....12V batter failures....