What Is an EGR Delete Kit?
EGR stands for Exhaust Gas Recirculation. The factory system routes a portion of exhaust gases back into the intake manifold to lower peak combustion temperatures, reducing NOx emissions at the cost of running dirty, soot-laden air back through your engine.
An EGR delete kit permanently removes or blocks off that hardware, so your engine only breathes fresh air.
Important: EGR delete kits are designed for off-road and race use only. They are not street-legal in most U.S. states and are not compliant with EPA emissions regulations for on-road vehicles.
Why Diesel Owners Delete the EGR
The reasons diesel owners pull the trigger on an EGR delete usually come down to one or more of these:
- Carbon buildup and intake fouling. Every time exhaust gas recirculates through your intake, it deposits soot on the intake manifold, intercooler, and valves. Over time, that buildup restricts airflow, kills throttle response, and causes rough idle, especially on the 6.0L and 6.4L Powerstroke platforms.
- EGR cooler failure costs. The EGR cooler is a heat exchanger that uses engine coolant to cool hot exhaust gases before they re-enter the intake. It's a known failure point across all three platforms. On a 6.7L Powerstroke, a cracked EGR cooler can mean $800 to $2,500 in repairs, and that's if it fails cleanly. A coolant-into-combustion failure is far more expensive. Deleting the EGR removes that repair cycle entirely.
- Reliability and performance gains. Cleaner intake air means more consistent combustion, better throttle response, lower intake air temperatures, and often modest horsepower and fuel economy improvements under load. For trucks that work for a living, the reliability case alone is usually enough justification.
EGR Delete Kit Components
A quality kit should include all of the hardware required to cleanly remove the EGR system. Here's what you should expect in the box:
- EGR valve block-off plate — Seals the port where the EGR valve connects to the intake manifold or head.
- EGR cooler delete / bypass plate — Replaces the factory cooler. Some kits include a coolant bypass; others use a solid block-off depending on the platform.
- Coolant reroute fittings — Redirect coolant flow to maintain proper thermostat and heater core function after the cooler is removed.
- High-temp gaskets and hardware — Stainless fasteners and heat-rated gaskets are non-negotiable. These are high-heat areas; cheap gaskets fail.
- ECU delete tune — The tune is arguably the most important piece. Without it, your truck will throw codes, go into limp mode, and run poorly. A matched tune disables EGR commands in the ECM and recalibrates fueling and timing for the delete.
EGR Delete by Platform
6.7L Powerstroke (2011–Present)
The 6.7L Powerstroke is Ford's in-house diesel and the first Powerstroke not built by International. It's a capable engine, but the EGR system is a consistent source of problems ranging from cooler failure to excessive soot loading in the intake.
EngineGo carries Powerstroke EGR delete kits for the full 6.7L model year range, with specific fitments for 2011–2014, 2015–2016, and 2017–2019 builds.
If you're seeing EGR-related symptoms on your 6.7, check out EngineGo's deep-dive on 6.7 Powerstroke EGR problems before buying.
6.7L Cummins (2007.5–Present)
The 6.7L Cummins is one of the most popular platforms for EGR deletion. The engine is enormously capable from the factory, and owners are reluctant to let a weak-link emissions system be the thing that takes it down. The Cummins EGR system is prone to soot buildup and cooler failure, particularly on heavily worked Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks. A properly installed Cummins EGR delete kit paired with a matched tune eliminates the cooler failure risk and keeps the intake clean for the life of the engine.
EngineGo stocks kits for the 2007.5–2009, 2010–2012, and 2013–2024 Cummins generations, each with platform-specific fitment.
Duramax LML / L5P (2011–Present)
The Duramax is GM's answer to the heavy-duty diesel segment, and the LML and L5P generations are among the cleanest-running diesels ever built until the emissions hardware starts failing. The LML in particular is a common EGR delete candidate, as the EGR cooler sits in a tight location and runs hot under sustained towing loads. The L5P is more complex from a tuning standpoint, but solutions exist.
EngineGo's Duramax EGR delete kits cover LML, LMM, LBZ, and LLY applications, with full hardware packages that include block-off plates, coolant reroute, and all necessary gaskets.
Quality Matters: What to Look For
Not all EGR delete kits are equal. Here's how to separate the good from the junk:
CNC-machined plates vs. stamped. Stamped steel block-off plates are thin, flex under heat cycles, and don't seal reliably. CNC-machined billet aluminum or stainless steel plates are precision-faced to mate flush with the head or manifold surface. That's the only way to get a leak-free seal that holds up long-term. It's worth the extra cost.
Matched tune vs. generic. A kit-specific tune built around your exact delete configuration will always outperform a generic tune. A matched tune accounts for your hardware changes, prevents error codes, and optimizes fueling and timing for the delete. Generic tunes are better than no tune, but they're a compromise.
EGR Delete Alone vs. Full Delete (EGR + DPF + DEF)
One of the most common questions: should you just do the EGR, or go full delete?
- EGR delete only : This option removes the recirculation system, which costs roughly $100–$250 in hardware plus the cost of a tune. It's the most targeted fix: clean up the intake, eliminate the cooler failure risk, and stop there. This makes sense if your DPF is in good shape or if you're looking to stage your build over time.
- Full delete (EGR + DPF + DEF) : This removes the entire downstream emissions stack, including the DPF, SCR, DEF system, and EGR together. The cost is higher, but the performance gains are larger, maintenance requirements drop significantly, and you're eliminating every failure point in the emissions chain in one go.
For trucks that are going to be tuned anyway, especially for serious towing or off-road use, the all-in-one diesel delete kit approach is usually the better long-term value. EngineGo bundles EGR hardware, straight exhaust pipes, and a tuner in a single kit designed so everything works together.
For a complete breakdown of the pros, cons, and tradeoffs of each approach, the EngineGo blog post on EGR delete pros and cons covers it in depth.
FAQs
Do I need a tune after an EGR delete?
Yes, always. Running a delete without a tune will trigger check engine lights and may cause limp mode. The tune disables EGR commands in the ECM and recalibrates the engine for the hardware change.
Will an EGR delete void my warranty?
Yes, on any emissions-related components. If your truck is still under a factory powertrain warranty, be aware that emissions modifications can affect warranty coverage under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
Can I do an EGR delete without removing the DPF?
Yes. An EGR delete and a DPF delete are separate modifications. You can do the EGR alone, as many owners do, before deciding whether to go further.
How long does installation take?
On a Powerstroke or Cummins, a shop familiar with the platform can typically complete the hardware installation in 2–4 hours. Duramax installs vary by generation. Add tune flash time on top of that.
What's the difference between an EGR valve delete and an EGR cooler delete?
The EGR valve controls exhaust gas flow into the intake. The EGR cooler cools that gas before it enters. A full EGR delete addresses both. Some budget kits only block the valve — that's not a complete solution.
