aggies09
06-30-2011, 09:24 PM
Before I begin, I will let everyone know that I am not a gear head. Most of my engine experiences and subsequent knowledge were learned because I had to. Usually to try to understand some problem that had happened or was about to happen. This is usually the basis of my understanding. That is why I am always in awe of Jon, Jdub, Truk, and several others on this site that have a keen grasp of the technicalities related to such matters which is also what makes POG so valuable to me.
I just learned this week what an EGR is. I had seen several comments stating this or that about EGR but had no real grasp about what it did.
I was pulling a 16' cargo trailer with a Ford F250 diesel pickup. After a couple of hundred miles I started losing power but was still running. As I pulled into the next town I was pouring white smoke. Not good. My first thought was, it is hot, although gauge did not read as such, and I have blown a head gasket (previous experience). After turning the truck off and turning the key back on, now my gauge pegged out HOT. After a helpful soul stopped and said he had some experience with this particular engine, I filled all reservoirs up with antifreeze, restarted the engine, and headed on home. Ran flawlessly all the way home (another 100 miles). Upon trying to start again, once all had cooled down, the engine would not start, resulting in a tow to the shop. The diagnosis was that the "EGR cooler" had failed. This failure resulted in my antifreeze and associated fluids being dumped in on top of the pistons. Not good. The diesel tech that worked on my truck explained how all of this was to comply with gov't regs, no offense Loc, in order to cool the exhaust that was being pumped back into the engine instead of being released out of the exhaust system as has been the standard before the EPA started trying to help us. The tech's opinion was that the diesel pickups were simply not as useful or reliable as they once were and were certainly costly to maintain. This EGR cooler looked like a piece of 1.5" square tubing with a radiator built inside of it. This immediately made me think of how that was going to apply to buses and obviously it will be the same as the pickup market.
Jon told me one time that once I really understood all that I really had in my vintage '97 Liberty that I would become very comfortable with the amount of coach that I had for the money. As regulations force technology to change and manufacturers struggle to figure all of this out, I think I may stick with the ol '97 for a few more years.
I just learned this week what an EGR is. I had seen several comments stating this or that about EGR but had no real grasp about what it did.
I was pulling a 16' cargo trailer with a Ford F250 diesel pickup. After a couple of hundred miles I started losing power but was still running. As I pulled into the next town I was pouring white smoke. Not good. My first thought was, it is hot, although gauge did not read as such, and I have blown a head gasket (previous experience). After turning the truck off and turning the key back on, now my gauge pegged out HOT. After a helpful soul stopped and said he had some experience with this particular engine, I filled all reservoirs up with antifreeze, restarted the engine, and headed on home. Ran flawlessly all the way home (another 100 miles). Upon trying to start again, once all had cooled down, the engine would not start, resulting in a tow to the shop. The diagnosis was that the "EGR cooler" had failed. This failure resulted in my antifreeze and associated fluids being dumped in on top of the pistons. Not good. The diesel tech that worked on my truck explained how all of this was to comply with gov't regs, no offense Loc, in order to cool the exhaust that was being pumped back into the engine instead of being released out of the exhaust system as has been the standard before the EPA started trying to help us. The tech's opinion was that the diesel pickups were simply not as useful or reliable as they once were and were certainly costly to maintain. This EGR cooler looked like a piece of 1.5" square tubing with a radiator built inside of it. This immediately made me think of how that was going to apply to buses and obviously it will be the same as the pickup market.
Jon told me one time that once I really understood all that I really had in my vintage '97 Liberty that I would become very comfortable with the amount of coach that I had for the money. As regulations force technology to change and manufacturers struggle to figure all of this out, I think I may stick with the ol '97 for a few more years.