TD5 EGR & Smoke

[thermidorthelobster]

I've been getting quite a bit of grey smoke recently.  Used to get a puff now and then (don't we all) but for the last couple of thousand miles it's been pretty noticeable, when pulling away, accelerating and even sometimes just when it feels like it.  (Not so bad when starting, funnily enough.)  It's been like driving my 170,000 mile 200Tdi again!

I've just tried disconnecting the EGR electrics, and after a few miles it seemed to settle down, and on the face of it it's much better (although this was only 20 miles ago so time will tell).

Should I blank off the EGR, or shall I just leave it disconnected at the plug?  What does blanking it achieve?  Is it the same blanking plate as for the 300Tdi, and how should I fit it (idiot's guide)?

Cheers,
David

[TimM]

I originally stopped my valve operating by sealing the vaccuum pipe, Ileft the electrics in place so as not to send out any 'bad signals'.

Before I get a flood of people telling me that is wrong, I now have blanked it off properly.

It was suggested to me that by disconnecting wiring or blocking the pipe I was effectively stopping the valve - but the question to ask myself was "have I blocked it shut, or was it worn and is blocked partly open?"

With that in mind I didn't hang about and inserted a blanking plate. The EGR is still all there, I haven't got round to removing it yet, but I'm not confident that there is no recirculating going on.

The blanking plates certainly look the same for the 300 and the TD5, but I'm sure someone can give you a proper part number soon.

As for an idiots guide, I could give you one for a 300TDi, but I haven't seen the TD5 setup.

[TimM]

The blanking plate is LR Part No ERR4698 and the gasket is ERR7173

These were for a 300TDi.