On Tue, 9 Sep 1997, Lon Herman wrote:

> Amy 81 Westie came without a catalytic converter, and the requisite exhaust
> components to tie the egr tube from the intake manifold to the exhaust pipe.
> So the way it is set up, the egr intake hangs down around the muffler,
> feeding unfiltered air to the intake manifold at all times.  Attempts to
> "adjust" the egr throttle attachment haven't made any difference re: the
> always available suction I feel from the end of the open pipe, at idle, and
> increasing with throttle opening.
>
> Otherwise, the engine seems to be running well, plugs look very good when I
> pull them after 10K or so for inspection, etc.
>
> Questions:
> 1) should I just leave the set up as it is for now, with the egr intake
> open?(it has been running this way for at least 30K, with no apparent ill
> effects.

I'd say NO.  At the very least you're getting an unfiltered air leak.

> 2) should I just block it off?

I'd say AT A MINIMUM do that.

> 3) if (2) what effects will it have (if any?)

If you feel suction at all times at the open end, yet the car seems to
run OK (i.e., not too lean) then I would think that closing up the intake
might expose a too-rich condition, since you'll be closing off a source
of unmetered air.

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Tom Young               young@sherlock.SIMS.Berkeley.EDU
Lafayette, CA  94549    '81 Vanagon
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