Help and advice, your EGR questions answered

Most people get in touch with us because something has gone wrong: a warning light on the dash, a car that's sluggish or smoky, or a garage quoting them hundreds of pounds to fix an EGR fault. Before they commit to anything, they want to understand what they're dealing with.

That's fair. So we've put together a set of honest, straightforward guides that answer the questions we get asked most. No jargon, no pressure, just the information you need to make the right call for your vehicle.

Mobile We come to you
Software only No physical parts removed or replaced
Flat £220 No surprises
Same or next day In most cases

What is an EGR valve and why does it cause problems?

The EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve is an emissions control component fitted to most modern diesel and some petrol engines. Its job is to recirculate a portion of exhaust gases back into the intake manifold, which lowers combustion temperatures and reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.

In theory, it works well. In practice, diesel exhaust gases carry a lot of soot and carbon, and over time that carbon builds up inside the valve and the surrounding pipework. The valve sticks, fails to open or close properly, and the engine management system flags a fault. The result is reduced performance, increased fuel consumption, rough idling, or a warning light, sometimes all four at once.

Once the carbon build-up is severe enough, cleaning the valve buys only limited time before the same problem returns. That is when many vehicle owners start looking at their options.

Exhaust after-treatment hardware on a diesel vehicle

Talk to us

We have worked on more than 7,000 vehicles across Greater Manchester and within a 40-mile radius of Eccles. Our mobile EGR delete service, carried out via ECU remap at your home or workplace, is priced at £220 with no call-out fee.

If you have a question that isn't covered in the guides, or you want to find out whether your vehicle is suitable, call us on 0161 694 7331 or use the enquiry form below. We'll give you a straight answer.

Important: EGR delete is for off-road and track use only and must not be used on vehicles driven on public roads.

Frequently asked questions

What does an EGR valve do?
The EGR valve recirculates a controlled amount of exhaust gas back into the engine's intake manifold. This reduces peak combustion temperatures, which lowers the production of nitrogen oxides (NOx), a regulated exhaust pollutant. The downside is that exhaust gas carries carbon deposits, which accumulate inside the valve over time and cause it to stick or fail.
Is EGR delete legal in the UK?
EGR delete is legal in the UK for off-road and track use only. Removing or disabling emissions control equipment on a vehicle used on public roads is an offence under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, and can invalidate your insurance. We make this clear to every customer before any work is carried out.
Will an EGR delete fail an MOT?
An MOT test includes an emissions check, and a vehicle with a deleted EGR may fail if its emissions readings fall outside the permitted limits. The test does not directly check for the presence of an EGR valve, but the ECU remap that disables it can affect how the engine runs and what the exhaust produces. Our guide on EGR delete and MOT covers this in detail.
What is the difference between EGR delete and EGR cleaning?
EGR cleaning removes the carbon build-up from the valve and pipework, restoring it to working condition. It is a temporary fix, the carbon returns over time, and faults often reappear within a year or two on high-mileage vehicles. EGR delete (via ECU remap) disables the valve entirely so it can no longer clog. For off-road or track vehicles where legal compliance is not a requirement, delete eliminates the recurring fault rather than managing it.