BAD EGR Valve!!! BAD!!! Well. Not really the EGR Valves fault. What happened is that the EGR Valve Modulator uses some of the exhaust gas "pressure" to operate properly. Well. This "vacuum" hose isn't meant for "pressure" and "heat". So it melted and burned up. Here's what I'm talking about.

Marked in red would be what I'm talking about. I decided to leave the hose off since I haven't been having any trouble. But then again. It didn't like going up the mountain in 90 degree heat either. Talk about PING, loss of power, and nearly overheating. I dug through my toolbox for one of my old hoses and stuck it on there. I also fueled it up with 93 octane and haven't had any problems since. So far, no more hoses have burned up.

Ok, let's talk about ping. My engine sounded like somebody dumped a sack of marbles in my cylinders. It was so loud, you can hear it echo off the concrete barriers as I drove by them. My engine has a pretty high compression ratio. The compression tests I took averaged about 190 PSI. I'm sure it's higher now after it all had time to break in. When the engine was rebuilt, the head had been decked as far as it would go. I'm also thinking those idiots at Ulhmann Toyota used an aftermarket headgasket because it was slightly thicker. I even compared. So my new headgasket, with much STRONGER firing rings, is slightly thinner. Enough to raise my compression ratio up some. No big deal, really. Replacing that hose reduced my ping. But I still get a light ping every now and then. Running the high octane gas helps too. But here are 2 possibilities that could be causing it in the first place. First of all, my O2 sensor is going. My check engine light came on one day. I waited 'til I got home and ran the on-board diagnostics system. It told me my O2 sensor is bad. So I have to replace that. Also. The exhaust is the same exhaust for the last 205,000 miles. I bet that catalytic convertor is getting clogged by now. So, I am hoping to replace my O2 sensor as soon as possible and get my exhaust redone.

I definently have plans for my exhaust. I thought about getting rid of the catalytic convertor and installing a new exhaust system myself. But I would end up clamping it all in since I don't own a welder. So, I would have to have it professionally installed if I want it welded. Most places won't install a custom exhaust unless they get to install a catalytic convertor. So, I'm gonna go ahead and buy a new catalytic convertor. I also already know what muffler I want. I want a Cherry Bomb. That's right! A Cherry Bomb!! Hell, they're only $20! Besides. The only thing I have now that's muffling my exhaust is my catalytic convertor I have now. I cut my old muffler off because it was so rusted out. My exhaust isn't really that loud. I have passed several cops, both state and county, and neither one of them have attempted to pull my over. I have heard glass packs on 4 cylinders before and love the sound. No, I'm not talking about those coffee can pieces of shit you see on those Hondas. I bet if you fart in a coffee can itself, it would probably sound just like a Honda with those kind of mufflers. So, right now, I'm looking forward to getting the money to buy my new catalytic convertor and Cherry Bomb and have the local garage weld them all in for me with new exhaust pipe.

I would also like to comment that I am very proud of myself for doing this MAJOR repair. I had a very fun time doing it. I hope to expect another 200,000 miles or more out of it. I'm SO glad to have my own wheels again.