2.3L ('83-'97) EGR and PCV valve- replace or delete?

[Chapap]

Well this is tough to search cause the search engine doesn’t accept 3 letter searches.

I'm trying to get my truck running smooth- 1994 2.3. Here’s how I understand it:

EGR system cools combustion and helps the cat do it’s thing. It can’t be deleted cause the computer is assuming it’s working. On a 94, it’s effectiveness may not be too impressive.

PCV system is good so the crank case doesn’t become pressurized and spit oil out in undesirable places, and environmental reasons. This also can’t be deleted cause the computer is expecting it to work.

is that about right?

 

[97RangerXLT]

EGR can be deleted, you will need a tuner to tell the computer to eff off though... it will look for the EGR and not find it and complain.

PCV, leave it alone other than to make sure the valve is changed everyother oil change. they are cheap, like a dollar on Rock auto. also make sure the hoses to them and the grommet that they are in are in good condition and not cracked or hard.

AJ

 

[97RangerXLT]

another note on PCV... if it is plugged or not working, you tke the chance of blowing out all sorts of seals in the engine... like valve cover gaskets, rear/ front main... etc

AJ

 

[Chapap]

EGR can be deleted, you will need a tuner to tell the computer to eff off though... it will look for the EGR and not find it and complain.

PCV, leave it alone other than to make sure the valve is changed everyother oil change. they are cheap, like a dollar on Rock auto. also make sure the hoses to them and the grommet that they are in are in good condition and not cracked or hard.

AJ

Sweet feet! One more thing not to worry about. Didn’t see any electrical connections on EGR. I figure it’s just vacuum controlled and the comp is programmed with assumed flow. Will have to figure out comp tuners now

 

[97RangerXLT]

your 94 may not be computer controlled, but you might look around for a solenoid that opens and closes it. Vacuum will be an input, as the egr will not open at WOT which is determined by vacuum.

AJ

 

[97RangerXLT]

Also I believe that the EGR will not open until the engine is past warm up...

AJ

 

[Chapap]

your 94 may not be computer controlled, but you might look around for a solenoid that opens and closes it. Vacuum will be an input, as the egr will not open at WOT which is determined by vacuum.

AJ

was just perusing rockauto and found the egr solenoid. I saw that under the hood so the comp does have something to do with controlling it. I thought that was the PCV valve.

 

[97RangerXLT]

yep, pcv is all mechanical on the Ranger, and is usually on the driver side valve cover in a rubber grommet with a vacuum hose going to the top.

EGR is on the driver side exhaust manifold and has a solenoid and a vacuum input onto it. at least in the 97, the computer does not allow it to open at WOT or during warm up. I also believe that if your truck has a DPFE sensor, it is also connected, but I might be wrong on that...

AJ

 

[Roert42]

The EGR just lets the intake pull exhaust gas into the intake, but only about certain rpm, so cruising on the highway or so. Helps reduce tailpipe emissions by pulling unburnt fuel back into the system.

The PCV valve is supposed to help increase available power and mpg by reducing the amount of resistance the rotating assembly faces, by reducing the pressure in the crank case.

This is how I understand it. I would keep the PCV and remove the EGR if I had the option, but I must conform to the emissions standards of my state.

 

[sgtsandman]

The PCV is an environmental preservation thing. They don’t want oil vapor being pumped into the atmosphere or oil from a clogged crank case vent dripping down on the ground. They’d rather clog and gum up your intake instead for cleaner air and earth.

That being said, the PCV does help with crank case ventilation since it not only relieves pressure but creates a bit of a vacuum.

As mentioned above, the EGR system is an environmental control as well. If you’re ever near the back of a pre-emissions vehicle, you can smell the unburnt hydrocarbons coming out of the exhaust pipe. They do make a difference from an environmental stand point. More gunk going back into the engine though.

If your truck is pre-OBD II, you may have a problem passing an emissions test if you are subject to that testing. If it has OBD II, as long as the computer thinks everything is running correctly and no codes are generated, passing an emissions test wouldn’t be a problem since they hook up to the OBD II port for the test.

That being said, if you ever get caught circumventing emissions equipment, there could be fines and penalties. Not a huge risk since enforcement is lax but the potential is there. Also, to protect TRS, we do not endorse or support such actions since doing so could place the forum and it’s owner at risk.

 

[Chapap]

Also, to protect TRS, we do not endorse or support such actions since doing so could place the forum and it’s owner at risk.

Ive read that allot in these types of discussions. The PCV valve I understand. It’s just the EGR I don’t quite grasp. I bought the truck without a cat (or that entire section of pipe) and I think the easiest, cheapest, and most environmentally minded way to go is to get a cat section to install. It’s illegal for me to mess with emissions, but do you have any idea what legal responsibility I have if I bought a vehicle that’s been tampered with?

 

[sgtsandman]

Ive read that allot in these types of discussions. The PCV valve I understand. It’s just the EGR I don’t quite grasp. I bought the truck without a cat (or that entire section of pipe) and I think the easiest, cheapest, and most environmentally minded way to go is to get a cat section to install. It’s illegal for me to mess with emissions, but do you have any idea what legal responsibility I have if I bought a vehicle that’s been tampered with?

That would be a decision and call made by the EPA. I only know that there is potential ramifications but have no idea what they are or how big. There is fines and potential jail time depending on the offense. They might provide some in sight on their web page.

There is also the distinction between off road vehicles that are never used on the road and on road. Off road dedicated rigs are unregulated from what I understand but I have heard that may be changing. On road vehicles have to meet the requirements to which they were built to meet. The older they are, the less requirements there are.

So, you can have a dedicated off road rig for, say driving around the property, with no safety equipment and running straight pipes. Race cars and mud buggies can be the same way. But as soon as you pull out on a public road, they better meet all the rules and regulations or you can get dinged.

That is why you see race cars and off road rigs often being towed on a trailer. They can’t be driven on road at all. So the only option is to trailer them.

 

[Chapap]

another note on PCV... if it is plugged or not working, you tke the chance of blowing out all sorts of seals in the engine... like valve cover gaskets, rear/ front main... etc

AJ

I just remembered about an old quad I had. It was a Yamaha Blaster with a 650cc, 6 speed Suzuki motorcycle engine, and a fire extinguisher for an oil reservoir. I bought it like that but it needed allot of work… needed allot of work when I sold it too. Well I got it to running condition and engineered in a dip stick that had a rubber pluggy top so it would stay sealed. I cranked it up and it purred for about 10 seconds followed by a POP. The dip stick was gone and the tube looked like a tiny exhaust tip. Found the stick 10 feet away. That’s how I learnt about blow-by.

 

[scotts90ranger]

EGR is a way to lower exhaust temperature which lowers NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen) emissions at high engine speeds and loads, not necessarily just a catalyst thing but in general... There are a lot of things that go into engine emissions and ways that are used to combat certain things, EGR is just a way to lower NOx instead of adding fuel to richen the mixture which does similar but since the exhaust gas should be inert (not flammable and no excess oxygen) the engine can stay in closed loop fuel control a little bit longer. For an average Joe to get in trouble for missing emissions parts would be rare in an area that is not tested, if it was a work vehicle and had visible emissions that would get you attention... not that I'm condoning things, but if you're making money with a vehicle they care a LOT more... they want their share...

The EGR system on a '94 should have a flow sensor around the heater box area, has two hoses going off the EGR tube going to a sensor, they stopped using the EGR position sensor on the 2.3L around '92 I think

Changing the PCV every other oil change is a bit excessive, it's a $2 part sure but it's two pieces of metal and a spring, if your engine has enough blowby and other stuff going on to plug up a PCV in that time you've got bigger problems

 

[Chapap]

Is this my pcv valve? It goes from the crank to the intake, but it sure doesn’t look like the one I ordered.
Motorcraft EV-147 4J09