Cleaning Or Blanking

hotwheels · September 19, 2010

It's been 2 weeks since I bought an is 220d se with 92k miles on.

I have noticed that the flat spots below the 2 - 2,5k rpm are very bad and I'm sure that my egr valve is full of carbon deposits.

I'm planning to take the part out and clean it maybe next weekend if the weather allows but at the same time I'm thinking of blanking it all together.

Has anybody blank it? What are the positives and negatives of that?

Any advice is more than welcome.

Cheers

George

Matus · September 20, 2010

I would like to blank it but the result of my research is that it is not easy at all. Bloody technicians in toyota somehow managed to controll the flow of exhaust gases, som when you blank it, after 5-10 minutes it will go to limp mode. :tsktsk:

It must be deactivated in the ECU software, which is possible but toyota/lexus won't do it, and I will not let "somebody" to play with it...

but give it a try, may be you will find another possibilities. It would be definitely the best to switch it off.

hotwheels · September 20, 2010

I would like to blank it but the result of my research is that it is not easy at all. Bloody technicians in toyota somehow managed to controll the flow of exhaust gases, som when you blank it, after 5-10 minutes it will go to limp mode. :tsktsk:

It must be deactivated in the ECU software, which is possible but toyota/lexus won't do it, and I will not let "somebody" to play with it...

but give it a try, may be you will find another possibilities. It would be definitely the best to switch it off.

Hi Matus,

Thanks very much for your feedback.

I will give it a try this weekend.

It's also quite difficult to find a blanking plate for the IS.

I have found this one : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220661348487&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

which seems to be the same shape as the Lexus.

Rgds

George

fonserg · September 21, 2010

If the plate without an aperture that the computer shows of 3,5-4 mm CHECK VSC, I have established a plate under EGR the valve with an aperture of 3,5 mm - have passed very little, the error isn't present.

hotwheels · September 21, 2010

If the plate without an aperture that the computer shows of 3,5-4 mm CHECK VSC, I have established a plate under EGR the valve with an aperture of 3,5 mm - have passed very little, the error isn't present.

Hi fonserg,

Can you take a photo of the plate please to get an idea?

If I understand well, you have simply made a small hole with 3,5 mm diameter on the actual blanking plate in order to allow just a little bit of gases to pass and to fool the computer and prevent it of showing the warning.]

That sounds interesting...

Rgds

George

dgman · September 23, 2010

If the plate without an aperture that the computer shows of 3,5-4 mm CHECK VSC, I have established a plate under EGR the valve with an aperture of 3,5 mm - have passed very little, the error isn't present.

Hi fonserg,

Can you take a photo of the plate please to get an idea?

If I understand well, you have simply made a small hole with 3,5 mm diameter on the actual blanking plate in order to allow just a little bit of gases to pass and to fool the computer and prevent it of showing the warning.]

That sounds interesting...

Rgds

George

if you only have a diameter hole of 3-4mm it will soon get blocked with carbon and then the car would go into limp mode?

hotwheels · September 25, 2010

If the plate without an aperture that the computer shows of 3,5-4 mm CHECK VSC, I have established a plate under EGR the valve with an aperture of 3,5 mm - have passed very little, the error isn't present.

Hi fonserg,

Can you take a photo of the plate please to get an idea?

If I understand well, you have simply made a small hole with 3,5 mm diameter on the actual blanking plate in order to allow just a little bit of gases to pass and to fool the computer and prevent it of showing the warning.]

That sounds interesting...

Rgds

George

if you only have a diameter hole of 3-4mm it will soon get blocked with carbon and then the car would go into limp mode?

Hm... that's true dgman.

I think the whole point of blocking it, is a bit contradicting.

If you leave it get very dirty until it's completely blocked then you achieve the same as it would be to blank it with a plate.

But as we have seen if you clean it then you get better mpg and smoother acceleration below 2k rpm.

I cleaned mine yesterday evening and i have to say that all was left was a 1cm hole. I guess it wasn't cleaned before.

The car feels so much better now and it accelerates very smooth. I do recommend this to everybody, it is not a difficult job at all, just 4 bolts.

I think the best option is to clean it a couple ot times per year.

George

hotwheels · September 28, 2010

After 4 days of driving with the valve cleaned I have an increase of the mpg by 3,5 - 4. I'm at around 38 - 38,5 mpg.

The best improvement is the acceleration though.

By doing a search at the Alfa romeo forum I found that JTD owners use a sim that won't completely blank the egr valve but it will restrict the ammount of fumes.

The funny thing is that it's not an aftermarket part but it is manufactured by FIAT...

It seems to be the same size as the one in the 220D.

Matus · September 29, 2010

lol

I love italians :)

hotwheels · June 26, 2011

Check this out guys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCzXQ0dVHis

This is very simple to do if the fix is permanent.

Instead of dirty fumes you send clean fresh air into the cylinders.

Does anybody know Spanish?

hotwheels · June 30, 2011

Nobody is interested in blanking his EGR valve? Hm then please read this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exhaust_gas_recirculation

In diesel engines

By feeding the lower oxygen exhaust gas into the intake, diesel EGR systems lower combustion temperature, reducing emissions of nitrous oxides. This makes combustion less efficient, compromising economy and power. Diesel EGR also increases soot production, though this was mitigated in the US by the simultaneous introduction of diesel particulate filters.[5] EGR systems can also add abrasive contaminants and increase engine oil acidity, which in turn can reduce engine longevity.

paolo1 · July 2, 2011

Nobody is interested in blanking his EGR valve?

Dear Hotwheels,

I'm Italian, not Spanish, so unfortunately I can't be of much help.

Anyway, the Spanish guy has cut the pipe feeding the EGR valve in order to recover the bent part of the pipe.

He says that he has put a closing plate on the EGR valve with a small hole with diameter similar to the screw indicated by the guy's finger on the top of the engine.

The other side of the original pipe is closed with a plate without hole in order to stop the gas exit.

Clean air feeds the EGR valve through the long plastic pipe.

Oil fumes are collected into the blue condenser.

At this point I have not understood why he says to use a T-shaped pipe to connect the three plastic pipes instead it seams that he has not done it.

I hope that a Spanish forum partecipant, if any, can help us.

Anyway I have substituted my EGR after 40,000 km ( during warranty period ) and I have cleaned it at 80,000 km after the usual VSC warning light.

I am quite unhappy with this situation, so anything which can improve it will be welcome.

Regards and CIAO.

Walter

hotwheels · July 3, 2011

Ciao Walter,

Thanks for your translation. I asked a Portuguese colleague at work and he explained to me what the Spanish guy has done.

At the moment I'm getting all the things needed in order to do the bypass.

It will all cost me around 25 euro and about 2 hours work time.

Once I receive all the parts I will make a guide for anyone else that might be interested in doing it.

Rgds

G.T.

Matus · July 3, 2011

can't wait!

hotwheels · July 10, 2011

So what you will need to do the bypass:

1 metre heater pipe with diameter 15-16mm

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160544764883&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

1 reducer from 25mm to 16mm

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300458865230&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

The reducer is needed because the egr pipe is one inch (25mm) and a one inch tube will be too large to pass it around the front of the engine.

4 clips

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330382583250&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

1 oil breather filter

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300553664381&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

I'm going to use the breather instead of a Tee joiner. The reason for that, I have been using it for 6 years on my 180 hp alfa 156 and the air intake was so much cleaner after installing it. All the oil from the crankcase sits around the intake pipe and makes a layer of crap. I prefer my air intake to be clean.

I have been trying to find a cheap used EGR pipe but without luck so far. I would prefer to take mine out and chop the other one so in case I want to take out the bypass pipe I can still have my egr pipe.

Will let you know how I'm going to do it.

Rgds

G.T.

Maliggno · August 24, 2011

Check this out guys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCzXQ0dVHis

This is very simple to do if the fix is permanent.

Instead of dirty fumes you send clean fresh air into the cylinders.

Does anybody know Spanish?

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=66990

http://clublexus.eu/foro/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2773

RAV · August 29, 2011

So what you will need to do the bypass:

1 metre heater pipe with diameter 15-16mm

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160544764883&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

1 reducer from 25mm to 16mm

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300458865230&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

The reducer is needed because the egr pipe is one inch (25mm) and a one inch tube will be too large to pass it around the front of the engine.

4 clips

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330382583250&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

1 oil breather filter

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300553664381&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

I'm going to use the breather instead of a Tee joiner. The reason for that, I have been using it for 6 years on my 180 hp alfa 156 and the air intake was so much cleaner after installing it. All the oil from the crankcase sits around the intake pipe and makes a layer of crap. I prefer my air intake to be clean.

I have been trying to find a cheap used EGR pipe but without luck so far. I would prefer to take mine out and chop the other one so in case I want to take out the bypass pipe I can still have my egr pipe.

Will let you know how I'm going to do it.

Rgds

G.T.

Hi hotwheels, Have you tried the egr bypass yet ?

Are you going to connect the air feed to the egr from the air intake or after the turbo ?

Cheers

Rav

hotwheels · September 1, 2011

I just spent 30 minutes writing a full guide and because of my stupid internet connection that went down due to many pics I lost everything..... ffffffffffffffffffff........................................kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

Attaching just the photos for now because if i keep writing i will break the keyboard.