NCV3 Limp Home Mode Poll

[dukepilot]

Seems like excessive idling, substandard fuel, and lots of city driving can lead to EGR problems. It might help to get it out on the highway every couple of days and get the operating temps and rpms up for a period of time to blow the crap out of the intake and exhaust.

Originally Posted by BigBlueBus

I've had the EGR replaced 3 times and the van just turned 37k miles. What is it with these EGR valve failures? Is it the poor quality fuel? Are the EU Sprinters experiencing similar EGR issues?
I've also been running Diesel Kleen for most of the 37k miles. What good is a well engineered and built diesel machine if it can't run on US diesel fuels?

[OrioN]

Originally Posted by BigBlueBus

I've had the EGR replaced 3 times and the van just turned 37k miles. What is it with these EGR valve failures? Is it the poor quality fuel? Are the EU Sprinters experiencing similar EGR issues?
I've also been running Diesel Kleen for most of the 37k miles. What good is a well engineered and built diesel machine if it can't run on US diesel fuels?

The wrong oil did most of the damage.

[BigBlueBus]

Originally Posted by dukepilot

Seems like excessive idling, substandard fuel, and lots of city driving can lead to EGR problems. It might help to get it out on the highway every couple of days and get the operating temps and rpms up for a period of time to blow the crap out of the intake and exhaust.

This van is not used for city driving, we have a station wagon for that. We only take it out of the garage for long road trips. I routinely drive it at or above 75MPH which translates to 3200 rpms for hours at a time. Hence I was very surprised about the multiple EGR problems.

[dukepilot]

Originally Posted by BigBlueBus

This van is not used for city driving, we have a station wagon for that. We only take it out of the garage for long road trips. I routinely drive it at or above 75MPH which translates to 3200 rpms for hours at a time. Hence I was very surprised about the multiple EGR problems.

It is surprising that you have gone through several EGR valves in such a short time. I hope it doesn't happen again, but if it does, ask the dealer to provide a diagnostic scan report. Examine the report, look up the codes here on the forum and see if there are other codes present that would indicate other types of problems. The sensor interaction on these Sprinters is very complex and it could be that there is another issue causing premature EGR failure. Simply replacing the EGR valve may solve the problem for a while but if the underlying issue is not fixed, the problem could reoccur.

[BigBlueBus]

Originally Posted by dukepilot

It is surprising that you have gone through several EGR valves in such a short time. I hope it doesn't happen again, but if it does, ask the dealer to provide a diagnostic scan report. Examine the report, look up the codes here on the forum and see if there are other codes present that would indicate other types of problems. The sensor interaction on these Sprinters is very complex and it could be that there is another issue causing premature EGR failure. Simply replacing the EGR valve may solve the problem for a while but if the underlying issue is not fixed, the problem could reoccur.

Like I said, after the oil was changed at 18k miles, I've had no more EGR issues. I had just one CEL come up recently, but that was for a glow plug. I replaced the glow plug and the CEL went off the same day.
Now that I am out of warranty, I'm thinking of an ECM tune with DPF delete.