EGR should we all be more concerned

[CatonaPC©]

As I said in a previous post, this is all very interesting stuff, but it doesn't help people like myself who have no interest in modifying their car.

It doesn't help either to suggest that VW service are not dealing with the issue, if it really is an issue anyway. I have no doubt the gunk builds up, but it would be a very brave VW (particularly in litigious US) to deny it exists.

As was evidentallly posted in another thread someone was quoted $180 to clear the EGR as part of the routine service. So obviously, VW do have some plan in place. For the majority of us mechanical neandrethals that will be our only option.

[mikinoz]

If you are not interested in making modification to the car you have, the developments in the above thread despite not matching your choice in approach to car ownership, still has a place. What it does do is provide some further insight into an issue that has been fairly well documented around the world - based on Australian environmental anecdotal evidence.

Maybe we won't experience the issues here due to the quality of our fuel or other environmental factors (ie. not living in cold snow prone areas).

I have had a dealer perform the 'intake decarbonisation' as it was outlined on my invoice. I am unsure if it extended to the removal and cleaning of the EGR, as it was described it was the throttle side that was getting the clean. I am more than happy to be wrong, but I would have expected an EGR clean to cost me more than 1 hour of labour.

FWIW, I don't run a Provent and neither endorse using or not using one. It is still interesting that you can remove so much oil from an oil breather though. I have had other cars with catch cans that saw nowhere near the volumes that are being discussed here.

[Greg Roles]

For the record, the Provent has turned up in this months Diesel Power mag in a US kit for the various new diesels over there that are starting to have problems with gunk buildup. I for one am convinced it's the modern diesel's achillies heel.

Motivation to add one for me was two fold. To maintain max performance, economy and clean intake plumbing, and secondly, it's written in the VW tech bulletin book I have that the ash from burnt oil cannot be actively regenerated or removed from the uber expensive DPF I have. It IS going to clog one day, and that's a $5k bill I'd rather not contemplate! I've easily removed well over a litre in 45k from my provent drain hose.

About time HiTorque chimed in with his 100k EGR gunk experience....

[niss_man]

Has anyone considered or tried ebay catch cans? These seem much cheaper than a provent and have hose and fittings supplied. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ROUND-ALLOY-O...item25575b4b41

or this with a filter on top. What exactly is the filter on top for? Would it be similar to th eprovent pressure relief? I would lean towards the answer being no.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Radiator-Over...item27aa1314ba

[Greg Roles]

Yep, but didn't work. Too small fittings, too restrictive, and no internal filter / structure really designed to do much more than be a container. A Provent is stupid dear, but a very clever design, and it simply works in a diesel / bigger engine situation. A modified e-bay jobbie would be better than nothing, but I couldn't get mine to do much at all despite several attempts at different "fillings". Steel wool, fine, corse, scourer pads, you name it. Didn't work in my hands anyway.

[niss_man]

So you tried thenCogdoc. Looks like the provent is the best way to go then. On a side note I just had my Golf Comfortline TDI serviced in Brisbane and asked the question whether my Warranty would be void if I installed an oil/air separator. The answer was "Yes it will void warranty in the area used - i.e. Engine etc". Thats riddiculous news as it would help engine longevity as written all over these forums. Anyone else know about these mods affecting warranty? What have you heard? I must say I'm more than a little dissapointed.

[Transporter]

So you tried thenCogdoc. Looks like the provent is the best way to go then. On a side note I just had my Golf Comfortline TDI serviced in Brisbane and asked the question whether my Warranty would be void if I installed an oil/air separator. The answer was "Yes it will void warranty in the area used - i.e. Engine etc". Thats riddiculous news as it would help engine longevity as written all over these forums. Anyone else know about these mods affecting warranty? What have you heard? I must say I'm more than a little dissapointed.

When the Provent is installed correctly it can't do any harm to the engine, so if there were any warranty issues with the engine or engine management, the proper diagnosing would reveal what was the cause of the fault.

[Greg Roles]

Keep the factory inlet points, plumb it in an easy to remove fashion, and if you do have an issue, just convert it back to stock. I would do this with absolutely no guilt as this indeed will only help the engine. A chip or pipe, cold air inlet etc is entirely a different story, and I accept the consequences of adding those to my engine.

[niss_man]

Where do you guys get your cars service? By Vw or a third party mechanic ie ultratune. My last30k service from vw seemed a bit overpriced especially when they charge just to rotate the tyres! If I had a provent installed and went to VW I'm afraid they'd take note of it sitting there and then if something engine wise went wrong whatever it would be they would blame the provent (wouldn't suprise me if this happened). On the other hand I could get a 3rd party to service the vehicle and they wouldn't care about the provent. If something goes wrong then I could remove the provent before fronting up at VW to fix. Anyone know any third party mechanics on the Southside that do a quality job and don't charge for ridiculous things like wheel rotation and balancing? A wheel is usually balanced when a new tyre is put on to my knowledge and then again when the tyre is worn or you get vibrations whilst driving(the rotate and balance charge is a Scam). They've got the same scam at Honda and probably other service departments as well.
Sorry for the vent.

[tonymaroney]

niss_man....

Mike Weber Performance is your best bet at Cooparoo...
http://www.prestigeandperformance.com.au/
Unit 2 / 29 Clarence Street, Coorparoo.
I have used him once (my last service...60K major service) and was happy. I got a quote from VW and it was massively more expensive. Mike did some extra work on top of the 60K service (at my request) and it all came to $860, but VW's quote for the service alone was $1195. Mike is a trained VW mechanic and has been recommended by many....he uses oil etc purchased directly from VW, so there's not alot of non-genuine "stuff" going into your car. Just less fluff and cost.

Tony