Hi All, got a frustrating problem with my 1992 Dodge B350 van with the 360. I burned up an EGR valve a few weeks back and just recently replaced it. Not 2 days later, it burned the replacement valve up! It has that metal piece that bolts to the intake manifold, along with a plastic piece. The plastic piece keeps melting away and causing a huge vacuum leak (obviously). I'm thinking that my exhaust is somehow too hot, but what would cause that? A plugged catalytic converter and/or muffler? Maybe the engine is running too lean? In the meantime, i've blocked the vacuum hoses so I can drive the van, however it has absolutely no power (can barely go up hills). Any help is appreciated.
alloro
03-11-2008, 11:26 AM
A disconnected egr valve will not cause a loss of power, something else is doing that. It sounds like you might be on target in thinking of a plugged exhaust system. The back pressure has to go somewhere and the egr port is one of the possibilities. If the exhaust is being forced through the egr non-stop, then the egr (or the spacer) has no opportunity to cool down. A constant flow of exhaust into the intake will cause a significant loss of engine power.
Dodgevanman
03-11-2008, 11:39 AM
Another thing that could cause a problem is a stuck heat riser valve in the exhaust manifold (either in driver or passenger side manifold). If it is stuck shut it will divert exhaust gases under the intake constantly and may cause the EGR to burn and it could cause a lack of power because the exhaust is being restricted.
However, I do not know if you will have this setup on you're '92 or not.
chuddy117
03-11-2008, 03:54 PM
Thanks for your help, guys. I brought it to a muffler shop today and they found an extremely clogged catalytic converter. When I drove it home, I was absolutely amazed at the amount of power it had. I knew when I bought it a year ago that it didn't seem to have the power it should, now that it's fixed I am amazed.
