I ask because I stripped the nut to the EGR value and can not get it off. I'm going to have to wait till I refresh the engine at 100K to do that. In the meantime, I heard that disconnecting the vacuum line that goes to the value from the intake manifold, is the same as taking it out of the system, ie blank off plate. Is this true? Thanks.

 

If it's a non-computer car, yes it's true. On computer controlled cars technically it's the same as removing it from the system, but not from the computer program which runs an EGR diagnostic, that will turn on the check engine light.
EGR is required for emissions. If the EGR is working properly, or you don't have to pass emissions don't worry about it.
If the inspection isn't due before another 100K disconnect the vacuum hose, and don't worry about it.

 

Ok, let me see if I got this right. Disconnecting is the same as taking it off, but the computer will still run the dia for it. So when I send my CPU to Ion , I'll have him delete the egr, cool, thanks. Rebuild is in another 25K, I have it rebuilt every 100K.

 

You can also disable the EGR by simply blocking off the connection on the intake manifold for the riser pipe from the passenger side exhaust manifold.

While the diagnostic routine is still run if you pull the vacuum source, or block off the riser pipe, the OBD-I diagnostic for EGR is not very sensitive. I'd estimate that 90% of the people who disable the EGR as described above will not get a DTC for EGR.

 

That's what I did, capped the nipple off of the intake and plugged the line to the EGR.