I installed a complete newer 5.4L engine in my '99 Superduty that does not have an EGR system on it. I now get a DPFE trouble code, which seems to make sense since there isn't a DPFE sensor on the engine anymore.

original thread about engine swap

I've been doing some reading on the different discussion forums about the EGR system and see many people have deleted their EGR systems for various reasons,, both the components and from the computer chip somehow. If I could delete the EGR code from my computer I'm guessing I would be fine since the EGR components no longer exist.

How do you get the EGR codes deleted from the computer????

 

Hi Sod,

Yes, we can do that, it's done via custom tuning.

In this post will be some comments that do apply to you, and some that do not, just general comments, so bear with me a sec here...........

In all fairness just so you know up front, we will NOT do that on a vehicle that originally required EGR from the automaker to meet the allowable emissions level on that model & model year *and* that will be driven on the street.

Why, some may ask? Because that is illegal as hell - that will NOT pass emissions and thus is extremely illegal everywhere in all 50 states. Contrary to what some claim, that's Federal law, not state law as some try to use as an excuse for removing catalytic converters, or eliminating EGR, etc., claiming their local state inspection station doesn't check that, or their state doesn't check this, etc. That's self-serving BS, it's still illegal and can result in company-crushing fines from the Feds. It doesn't matter that someone might slide that by a dummy inspector or that a given location in a given state might not look carefully, etc. - it's illegal because the vehicle is producing emissions levels above the legal limits for that model in that model year. It's not legal in Florida, or legal in South Carolina, or any other state - period.

Now if it's an off-road or racing only application, then sure, we will do that even on a vehicle that originally required EGR, as it's no longer being operated on the street and thus is not subject to those emissions laws any more, it's an "off road" application at that point. We just won't ever KNOWINGLY help someone defeat emissions systems on a street-driven vehicle. If someone wants us to do that on a street-driven vehicle that originally came with EGR, they need to be getting a multi-program product from us with at least one tune that *IS* legal for the street and utilizes EGR, so they'll be legal for street operation - then they can use the non-EGR tunes for their "off road" purposes.

There are some gas & diesel engine SuperDuty applications that do not require EGR or even a catalytic converter, but that is only because they are beyond the legal weight limit classification as provided for in the Federal emissions law structure.

There is no EGR under heavy load or at heavy throttle openings (or at higher rpms regardless of load), so it does NOT affect peak power output, contrary to some rumors. EGR is only present at lower rpms & load levels - generally, from above idle thru to the mid-range (part-throttle only).

Now in *this* case with sodhead's new motor, we're talking about an engine that didn't have EGR to begin with apparently, and that being the case, not having EGR won't hurt the motor from the higher temps in the combustion chamber - but it will *never* pass an emissions sniff test, as the NOx will be thru the roof.

Bottom line? My advise is to put the original DPFE & EGR routing back on the new motor that came off the original motor, so it works correctly - you won't lose even 1 HP of peak power doing do. If that is not acceptable, then as long as it's not driven on the street with said custom tuning, we'll be more than happy to take care of the EGR issues in the PCM's programing for you.

Sorry for the diatribe sodhead, & hope this info helps!

PS - FLASH UPDATE - our staff just passed on the fact that you called us about this matter this evening, so I'll get a call back to you within the next 48 hours to go over this in proper detail with you, sodhead - & thanks for calling!

 

Now that's what I call a straight up and honest answer. Kudos, Mike.

 

Well I ended up moving all my EGR equipment from my original engine to the new one. All is now well now, the computer is happy - no more codes and no more CEL.

I really appreciate all the info Mike!! I will probably get ahold of you some time in the future to talk about impriving the performance of the new engine after its all broke in,, but for now I better take a little break from spending money (this engine swap project was a lot less expensive than the local Ford dealer quoted me for a new engine,, but a few thousand is still a lot of cash for me).

Thanks again,
Bob

 

Hi Bob,

You're very welcome, & congrats on the engine R&R!

Glad to see you got the EGR from the original motor back on the new motor and took care of that problem so you can get on to enjoying the new motor.

It's never cheap to buy a new engine and get it in - being able to do the labor yourself doesn't make the engine itself any cheaper, it just makes the project "do-able" financially in most cases.

Since you have everything taken care of by now on the mew motor, etc. we can just talk at some point in the future, whenever you'd like.

Nice to see everything is running OK, & hope you enjoy the fruits of all that hard work!