I blocked mine a year ago... no leaks so far.
all you are doing is preventing exhaust/soot from entering back in to the intake side of the engine.
even with a "Delete" kit, unless you replace the up-pipe from the exhaust manifold to the turbo, you are still just blocking the same thing - so hard to say that the delete creates any less possibility for exhaust leak? but i've not installed one of those EGR delete kits so i don't know what all is included or involved. just my 2 cents...
Might consider having this thread moved to a more appropriate section... has nothing to do with the ZF-6 transmission...
:thumb: