2003 EGR question.

[biggman100]

Ok, so I replaced the bottom end on my 03 outback with one from an 01 Forester. However, the new bottom end doesn't have EGR, and my car does, so, my question has to do with something I read on here regarding the older cars and that issue. I read several times you can plumb the EGR tube into the IAC hose, and not have to drill the head, but, will that also work on the '00-'04 cars as well? For now the EGR port on the intake is plugged (I used the 03 intake), with the drain plug from the old oil pan. The reason I am hoping this will work is because the car is due for inspection in April, and, I really don't want to have to pull the engine out a third time, just to drill and thread that hole (I know I would never get the head drilled and tapped for the tube right with the engine in the car), since that engine is only temporary. I'm currently, slowly as funds allow, having the original bottom end rebuilt, and will hopefully have it back in the car by mid summer. Also, is the EGR tube thread M20x1.25 or M20x1.5? I found brass fittings that are threaded on one side and barbed on the other in both thread sizes.

Edited Thursday at 08:12 AM by biggman100

[wtdash]

I've not done this on the Phase 2  - '99+ engines - but if you can find a hose that is not directly carrying oil vapor it should work, in theory. If you use the PCV or breather tubes, my guess is you'll get (blue - oil) smoke out the exhaust like I did on my '96 when I did the workaround you're referring to (and I wrote up 🙂  ). But that may not matter for inspection - they don't care if it smokes, as long as there are no codes, correct? 

 

Found this other workaround:

lmdew

• Posted October 25, 2016

This is what I did.  Ran fine, no codes.

 

Quote

I would 'think' you could put a hole in the intake - after the air filter - put in one of those plastic hose barbs w/a rubber grommet sized to fit the hole, and run a line to the EGR hard line that normally goes to the head

 

 

Edited Thursday at 07:23 PM by wtdash

[biggman100]

1 hour ago, wtdash said:

I've not done this on the Phase 2  - '99+ engines - but if you can find a hose that is not directly carrying oil vapor it should work, in theory. If you use the PCV or breather tubes, my guess is you'll get (blue - oil) smoke out the exhaust like I did on my '96 when I did the workaround you're referring to (and I wrote up 🙂  ). But that may not matter for inspection - they don't care if it smokes, as long as there are no codes, correct? 

 

Found this other workaround:

lmdew

• Posted October 25, 2016

This is what I did.  Ran fine, no codes.

 

 

 

My intake has the threaded opening for the EGR tube, but the head doesn't. Right now, the EGR tube hole in the intake is plugged with an extra oil drain plug.

[wtdash]

Quote

My intake has the threaded opening for the EGR tube, but the head doesn't. Right now, the EGR tube hole in the intake is plugged with an extra oil drain plug.

 Please review the posts that you stated you read, " I read several times you can plumb the EGR tube into the IAC hose".  It's basically: Run the EGR hard line/pipe into the IAC's hose or the Intake. And plug the HEAD's EGR port. 

 

Edit: Bottom end? I'm not sure what that is - except on traditional 4 cylinders the head is above the block /bottom end. On this forum it's usually 'short block' and 'long block'. Long block includes the cylinder heads; the short block does not. If you only replaced the Short block and re-used your heads, then the EGR port is still there as it's in the heads - not the block. But my guess is you meant Long block which includes the heads.

Edited Thursday at 10:59 PM by wtdash

[moosens]

About three years ago or so I had a 2000 Legacy donor and used that engine in our 2003. 
 

Take a minute and check the archives. It’s not a big deal. Good luck. 

[88SubGL]

Do you have emissions inspection’s where you live and if so, does it include a visual inspection? My thought is, take it and get it inspected, because it’s old enough that the kid doing the inspection is not going to know what to look for on a car that old anyway. What’s the worst they can do, fail the inspection and then you can worry about it.