The main purpose of the EGR is to dilute the oxygen in the combustion with the exhaust gas. ( less oxygen = cooler burned = less NOx ) . If the engine heats up , or runs too lean the NOx will fromed (about 2500degree F), or unless Greg richens the mixture up to create a cooler burned then the sufficient cats burn the HC and CO. Or you can have three way cats to catalist the NOx. As we all know our Zs have a heat issue I'd be very interested in seeing how we can make our cars run cooler.