Fitting an exhaust gas recirculation EGR blanking plate to a Freelander 2/LR2

How to fit an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) blanking plate to a 2009 Land Rover Freelander 2.
Note that this may cause the engine warning light to come on on later models (~2012 on) which have pressure sensors on the EGR valve. For these vehicles, a plate with a small hole in the centre is required.

[@BeavisPits]

Just took it for its first MOT with the blanking plate fitted. It passed no problem, and the inspector commented that the emissions were really low!

[@JamesPond-cd3tp]

Beavis Pits any fault codes sensors come up after doing this? I have an S Max 2.2 tdci same engine pretty much wondering if to do this to prevent the carbon build up. Thought you have to delete EGR monitoring out of ECU ?

[@royman8889]

I fitted a blanking plate to my 2010 FL2 which kinda worked for a day, then I suffered intermittent power loss and very poor acceleration... Removed it and everything worked ok again! I also read about moisture collecting on one side of the blanking plate. For what it's worth, I've put the car back as it was

[@innovruptly1769]

I found moisture in the pipe after blanking. Drilled an 8mm hold in the plate. Granted the egr is no longer 100% blanked but hopefully less exhaust gasses will pass into the engine. I had an egr cooler failure on the 2008 LR2, I replaced this observing the updated design which removed the large gas chamber. I did not reconnect the coolant hoses, instead electing to bypass the egr. The temperature differential is nominal, I am therefore not that concerned that the change in exhaust gas temperature will have much impact. Now that the egr is blanked less of the heated gases will reach the engine. The other location to blank the egr would be at the exhaust manifold, but this is trickier to access.

[@markwood4281]

Did this today from watching your video thank you *****

[@peterrose8787]

Cutts to the chase ,easy to understand. . Thanks mate regards pete

[@JayKay-ht8rg]

Very useful. Thankyou.How are you getting on with it now? Still got it on? Have you noticed an improvements in the driveability of the car? ie Acceleration etc..?? I think my Evoque 2014 has the same 2.2L Engine. I'm thinking about doing the same thing..

[@rickykent4543]

Did this today on 2008 fl2, it took under 10 minutes and it's like driving a different car.

[@JayKay-ht8rg]

Can you PLEASE do one showing how to remove the EGR Valve, on an Evoque/F.Lander 2.2L engine. Or at least where it is and how to remove it. It’s quite a common fault. Would be ever so helpful. Cheers!

[@HaggisMuncher-69-420]

I've been looking for this video all over YT and found nothing.

[@boycott7352]

i did this yesterday on a 2007 fl2. i can confirm no codes read on an icarsoft 900, more power in lower rpm, 8L/100km economy and no more exhaust gases gumming up my intake. as for moisture collecting at the back of the plate, the plate is on the intake not the vacuum hose as one person said and the vehicle is operating as if the egr valve is closed which would not affect the cooling system as they stated. the gases have been blocked not the coolant. no need to bypass the cooling at all if you ask me.

[@BeavisPits]

Glad to hear it worked well for you too. EGR cools the combustion to reduce harmful emmisions like nitrogen oxide. Maybe that is what they meant?

[@HaggisMuncher-69-420]

I'm getting a P0299 error with restricted engine performance mode. Asked a local mechanic to run a quick scan and fault clear and P0299 came up. Will do an in depth scan when I get home but he seems to think it's an EGR issue - would blanking it help or make it worse?

[@ianbrown4242]

Can confirm a blanking plate fitted to a 2014 SD4 WITHOUT a DPF throws up no errors, and works without a hole in the plate.

[@BeavisPits]

Good to know! I would have thought a 2014 would have come with a DPF…or did you remove yours? 😉

[@ianbrown4242]

@@BeavisPits Apparently no FL2 sold in Australia were fitted with DPF's! So, no, mine never came with one, which is lucky. Definitely feels like an improvement with the EGR blanking. Thanks for the video taking me through it - was invaluable.

[@steveairarmskirk]

hey there. I have a customer that has a egr problem. cold start isn't great then smokes but clears and drives fine. he has been told it's the egr valve. it's a 2007 model with the same engine as this. would there be any adverse effects you can think of. is it worth trying the blanking plate idea before taking the engine bay apart to remove the egr valve at the rear of the engine

[@BeavisPits]

Could be EGR, or maybe throttle body or faulty injector. Check the diagnostics codes. If you join the FL2 facebook group then there are lots of experts who should be able to advise you.

[@steveairarmskirk]

Amazing thank you very much

[@duncanpalmer3689]

Straigh forward vid, thank you. My daughter has a 58 plate 2.2 Freelander. It went into limp mode and came up with fuel filter/egr fault. She got home but next day wouldn't start. AA diagnostics said egr problem though apparently fuel filter is over 30k old! So will change filter. Question is if I also fit blanking plate, is it young enough to need one with a hole and will it throw a code so need egr 'delete'? Am hoping that doing those 2 jobs will get it started without it having to be plugged in!

[@BeavisPits]

58 plate can be fully blanked, no hole needed. Fuel filter should be done every 50k miles, although sooner won’t hurt. Try a battery disconnect for 1min as that helps reset everything. Also check crank sensor. That can get wet and cause engine to lurch or stop completely. Happened to me and I did a video on it. Easy to renew.

[@duncanpalmer3689]

Many thanks for quick response. Travelling up to Gloucestershire to fix tomorrow.

[@patrickcox292]

I notice in another video that you have an SD4 model , presumably you have changed to one from a TD4, (I noticed the air intake had the trumpets as mine does and they changed to straight pipe inlet) as I believe that only one plate is needed on early models , but maybe the change to SD4 was 2009, if that's the case did you have to do an egr delete.I believe this is necessary on the later engines as well as another plate for the other end of pipe. Incedently ordered a plate but would like to make sure I didn't need two.

[@BeavisPits]

Mine is TD4 not SD4. One plate needed. Later facelift models can detect the blank and throw an error. Not sure how they do this, possibly a differential pressure sensor across the egr valve, not sure, but these cars need a small hole in the plate to bleed a bit of gas through to reduce the pressure.

[@williamelliott-yk6kz]

Hello looks easy this even I should be able to do it.just wondering what happens to the carbon build up in the egr valve when you block it off.

[@BeavisPits]

It just builds up, but shouldn’t cause an issue. I looked inside my EGR pipe recently, after years being blocked off, and it was sooty but not full of soot.

[@richardroscoe8310]

MO POWA BABY!

[@scrumpytaylor424]

Hi Beavis I have a 2012 SD4 Freelander 2 and have problems with a sticking valve and came across your video. So have installed the plate, I assume that is ok on this model? Thanks Mark

[@BeavisPits]

Yes, should be fine. I have heard that 2013 onwards have a sensor so may need the plate with the small hole in the middle.

[@scrumpytaylor424]

Beavis Pits seems to have improved sluggishness plus have cleaned MAF sensor, however fuel economy worse ie 27-29 mpg, any thoughts??

[@philjackson9301]

Can you do this to a 2010 Freelander 2 hse td4, as people are talking that if it's fitted with a dpf you can not do it,,,, I'm confused now

[@BeavisPits]

You can but you should fit the plate with a small hole in it else it can through an error on later cars

[@PIXYBASHER]

Ive just got one for my FL2 2009. Ive not fitted yet but will do shortly. What did you mpg do after a few runs, did it go up or down.?

[@BeavisPits]

After a longer run my mpg settled back down to pretty much what it was before fitting it. The lower rev range does seem smoother though. Try it. Some people see a difference, some don’t.

[@PIXYBASHER]

Mines been on a about a week now. I have to admit that its NOT as smooth and the mpg is about the same if not slightly worse. I'll bare with it for a while longer though.

[@royman8889]

@@PIXYBASHER I fitted a blanking plate to my 2010 FL2 which kinda worked for a day, then I suffered intermittent power loss and very poor acceleration... Removed it and everything worked ok again! I also read about moisture collecting on one side of the blanking plate. For what it's worth, I've put the car back as it was.

[@lwardieairsoft6780]

@@royman8889 Does yours have a DPF? I get the impression that the blanking plate only really benefits those without the dreaded DPF

[@mikeybullock6601]

Thanks for the video! Thinking of doing this on my 59 plate td4.e im 99% sure it does not have a dpf fitted so will i get away with the error codes etc? Thanks

[@BeavisPits]

59 won’t have DPF. UK FL2s got DPF as standard from around 2011 when the facelift bumper was introduced. Check your VIN to be sure, if the 8th character is a C or an E then you have a DPF. My 09 doesn’t have DPF.

[@mikeybullock6601]

@@BeavisPits its a B so does this mean no dpf? I have 136k miles do you think its worth me putting the plate on? Thanks

[@BeavisPits]

B is no DPF, still worth fitting the plate

[@mikeybullock6601]

@@BeavisPits awesome thanks

[@leaopedropereira6103]

hello, i have an evoque 2015 2.2 how to disable egr so there is no error on the panel?

[@BeavisPits]

I’m not sure how to do an “EGR delete”...this would probably require specialist diagnostics equipment. On later models of FL2 and Evoque the blanking plate needs a small hole in it as there is a differential pressure sensor on the EGR valve.

[@mpompeia]

Hey! Could you send the link to the EGR blanking kit you used? Cheers

[@BeavisPits]

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111585376243

[@thestrickymoore]

Did you get any fault codes or check engine light?

[@BeavisPits]

None at all, although I have heard that the later 2013-on FL2s can throw a warning. Also, the blanking plate may need to be removed to get through the MoT emissions check.

[@carlpearce2252]

Fitted one on my SD4 LR2 , I had no acceleration from standing start, so on junctions it was dangerous, but then you would get a kick up the arse and fly off?

[@BeavisPits]

That sounds like either a sensor/wiring has been knocked or there is an air leak. What year is your car? Later models (2012on) have a EGR pressure sensor and can throw a fault if blanked (needs a plate with a small hole in).

[@carlpearce2252]

@@BeavisPits Its a 2012, if so what size hole would you recommend.

[@BeavisPits]

@@carlpearce2252 See this item. The seller says to fit the one with the hole from late 2010 on (facelift grille). You could just drill a hole in yours. 5mm should do it. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111585366725

[@leesmith3138]

i had a lack in acceleration then it would "just take off". turned out to be an old fuel filter, new quality branded one fitted, no more probs!!!

[@gabrielleattwater9941]

P245a fault and engine light on so am thinking of doing this , fitting blank plate . Will this knock engine light off please 🙏 Runs fine n lights been on a while . Much appreciated 😊

[@BeavisPits]

I’m not sure a blanking plate will fix this fault code. P245A is a faulty EGR cooler bypass control circuit open. The recirculated exhaust gas is fed through a water cooler before being fed into the throttle body. This helps to cool the exhaust gas which works better to reduce harmful emissions (nitrous oxides and ozone). This fault would normally be thrown by the cooler bypass valve rather than the main EGR valve. Stopping the gas from flowing probably won’t stop the bypass valve from failing as it is controlling water flow not gas. You will need to remove the EGR cooler and repair or replace.

[@gabrielleattwater9941]

@@BeavisPits thank you very much for replying. I will look into it further , the bypass cooler valve . Is that a difficult fix ? Fault reads , P245A. Exhaust Gas Recirculation Cooler- Bypass Control Circuit .

[@BeavisPits]

What car is yours? Replacing the EGR unit on a Freelander 2 is quite a difficult job. I’ve not tried it myself, but I have seen others do it on the freelander 2 Facebook groups and it looked like a bit of a nightmare! It is down the back of the engine, so very difficult to get to.

[@christiankhambatta3281]

Alright mate I have recently fitted the same blank as you. I have seen to have a slight hiss under boost. Just wondered if you have experienced this

[@MrAladinnu]

that means you are losing boost somewhere around the plate...not all plates are closing the air 100%

[@BEDsmieszek]

Hi I have 2.2 Freelander 2007. I have error 'Reduced engine performance' and sometimes its hard to start the engine. It can be the EGR problem? I dobnt have DPF.

[@ChrisKlein0]

I had that and it was fixed after a fuel filter change. Is that what fixed yours?

[@oldtoolsrescue9705]

@@ChrisKlein0 it was cranckshaft position sensor

[@rob2rjp]

Hi. I've got a 2010 FL2. Was told ages ago that a random ticking noise under the bonnet was a faulty egr valve which was blocked by a "mechanic" with a blanking plate and some random wire disconnected.. Ran fine for 6 months then suddenly threw up the EML with EGR error code. I then started to research and found matey unplugged a plug on the throttlebody as the motor cogs were stripped. (which caused the ticking) Yesterday I replaced the TB.. Started it up and still got EGR error code that had worked fine when blocked off for the last 6 months? Took off the blanking plate and it now won't start at all with the EGR pipe connected. But doesn't show any errors? Any clues anyone?

[@BeavisPits]

Not a good idea to unplug anything. Sounds like your EGR is stuck open if it won’t start unblanked. I’d blank it off but you may need a plate with a small hole in it to stop the error throwing.

[@rob2rjp]

@@BeavisPits thanks for the reply. I've cleaned the EGR and blocked it off again.. All is good with the world. May look at getting the EGR mapped out altogether with an economy map. Cheers for your videos. Really helped with the Throttlebody and EGR issues. 👍

[@autocartachnology1338]

haw tu ingin fit pum opining

[@richie1654]

Thanks for the Video can you help me pleaase , how do I know exactly if I need the plate with the hole in , cheers

[@BeavisPits]

As a rough guide, facelift models will throw an error. Look at your grille style to check if it is the later slimmer type. You could always buy one without a hole and then drill it if needed.

[@richie1654]

Thank you for such a speedy response, much appreciated@@BeavisPits

[@nick47777]

Do I need a blanking plate with a hole in it or just the blank face for my LR freelander 2 GS 2014 ?

[@BeavisPits]

With a hole in for 2014, as it will detect the pressure difference and throw an error. Earlier models didn’t have the sensor.

[@nick47777]

@@BeavisPits got at P0405 error and it won’t go away but I don’t think the blanking plate will help with getting rid of it

[@BeavisPits]

@@nick47777 P0405 is an EGR pressure sensor error. This will get thrown on later models if the plate doesn’t have a hole it in. If it still occurs then could be a faulty EGR valve or it may be blocked up with soot.

[@nick47777]

@@BeavisPits thank you

[@nick47777]

@@BeavisPits keeps flashing on and off. it’s so annoying going from full power to limp home then back to full power, thinking it could be the sensor

[@happyjive2235]

Thinking of doing this on my 64 plate SD4 Metropolis. Is it the same procedure? Thanks

[@BeavisPits]

Yes, although you’ll need a plate with a small hole it it else your check engine light will come on. Later models detect the EGR is blanked somehow.

[@happyjive2235]

Thats fantastic. What size hole ? A few millimetres or something like 10 millimetres ?

[@BeavisPits]

@@happyjive2235 best to buy a plate with a hole, like this one… www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111585366725?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Rqfw51QjRCW&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=3rl5rwijqno&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[@daveboston8538]

Have you still got your egr delete plate fitted, ???????

[@BeavisPits]

Yes, still going strong

[@ChrisKlein0]

@@BeavisPits what were the long term differences you noticed? Mpg difference etc?

[@gerceci1]

whats your fuel consumption, in liters please :)

[@BeavisPits]

~35mpg which is ~8L/100km

[@deonvermeulen1347]

Imagine the MPG with the parking brake off... ;)

[@innovruptly1769]

Urban driving I average about 9l/100km diesel (vehicle ecu calc), a trip from CPT to GEORGE averages 7.5-8.0 l/100km. Best I've achieved was a trip from George to Oudtshoorn which reported 6.9l/100km. The engine is the DW12 duratorq 2.2 I do a regular oil change, still run it with the egr cooler bypass (haven't pressure tested yet), no blanking plate, no catalyst. Since landy altered the design of the egr cooler and with a decat it is reasonable to assume that the ecu could do with a retune. This model of the LR2 has the gen3 haldex which restricts the possibilities when tuning for more power, the limit is 500Nm. The gen 4 haldex mated to a later gearbox can deliver 1500Nm. It is my understanding that the sink provided by the cooler is approx. 20-30C, thus gases of 300C are cooled to 270C or there abouts.

[@daguisande]

Where is the wastegate in freelander 2 td4?

[@BeavisPits]

There is no wastegate on the FL2. The boost is control by variable angle vanes inside the compressor. These are rotated by the motorised actuator arm and is controlled electronically. I am considering doing a project where I take control of the actuator arm in order to raise the boost and increase performance.

[@mikeylove1688]

after installation how do you mitigate the engine management lights

[@BeavisPits]

This only affects later models which have a differential pressure sensor built into the EGR valve. These vehicles need a plate with a small hole in it.

[@takudzwamatangira2250]

Any changes 7years later?

[@BeavisPits]

No, still runs great

[@phillipward4862]

Hi beavis I've just bought a egr blanking plate for my 2010 td4 auto fr2 then I read fitting these causes the management light to come on and you ever had any issues with warning lights coming on or any other issues blanking the egr thx phill

[@BeavisPits]

I did not see any lights or error messages on my 2009 FL2, so your 2010 should also be fine. I have heard though that some later cars (2013 onwards) have a sensor on the EGR valve and can show a warning if no gas is recirculating. For these vehicles, a blanking plate with a small hole in the middle is available which fools the sensor.

[@phillipward4862]

hi beavis thx for the reply I'll get it fitted this weekend hopefully without any issues cropping up thx phill

[@peterswindlehurst9292]

fitted a blanking plate as you showed on a 2013 freelander then had to have a remap to take of egr light fault after 4 months no problems fuel around town 3 mpg better but not been on long run due covid

[@ellemarta]

Hi nice video hi nave Range Rover evogue 2.2 dynamic diesel 2015 I nave my self a diagnostic tool to check car and I notice is coming Read fault code P0406-77 exhaust gas recirculation sensor A circuit high… is this is the EGR valve and do I need to replace.. thank you

[@BeavisPits]

Did you blank yours? Later FL2 and Evoques will sense if you blank the EGR pipe. You need a blanking plate with a small hole in it to allow a little bit of gas through and equalise the pressure.

[@daguisande]

Link of pursache?

[@BeavisPits]

Search on ebay. There are loads for sale.

[@BeavisPits]

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111585376243

[@daguisande]

@@BeavisPits have you noticed some difference when blocking the egr valve?????

[@BeavisPits]

Yes, smoother at lower revs

[@farshaderf9405]

Could you please pass me seller's details I need to order one too. thanks.

[@BeavisPits]

Look on ebay, lots for sale, try this… www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304403182626?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Shq8gvktRTO&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=3rl5rwijqno&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[@DraGon-cg6ge]

2007?

[@BeavisPits]

2009!

[@DraGon-cg6ge]

@@BeavisPits Hello! help me figure it out! error HDC disabled

[@BeavisPits]

@DraGon-cg6ge could just be low battery, have you read the error codes?

[@DraGon-cg6ge]

@@BeavisPits please tell me how I should read the error code? what should I buy?

[@DraGon-cg6ge]

@@BeavisPits I was driving and it stalled and gave this hdc error

[@mdouras2571]

Too much chat at start. Otherwise ok