Hi everybody.
I was changing the PCV valve on my 3.0 V6 FFV this afternoon and was trying to find where the hose went after it disappears under the intake manifold. I grabbed a hose that comes off of a...thing on the front of the manifold and the little plastic nipple the hose attaches to broke off. The motor is a remanufactured one, just a couple of years old but this...thing is an original piece so very old and brittle.

It's a thing that is attached with two screws to the front of the intake manifold, with two hoses coming off the bottom. There's some wires plugged into the driver's side of the thing.
There is a number stamped on the front:

> PBT GF30 <

All the searching I've done indicates that's a mass airflow sensor, which I'm pretty certain it's not. This thing isn't in the air intake. I'd guess it's a sensor of some sort, but no idea what kind of sensor it might be. Does anyone know what this thing is?

Here's a link to a picture:

picture of the thing outlined in red

 

That is a DPFE (Differential Pressure Feedback EGR) sensor. Should be easy to find a replacement part.

Some aftermarket listings may also refer to the DPFE sensor as an "EGR position sensor" - not entirely accurate since it is a flow sensor and not a position sensor. Just something to aware of when shopping.

Also check the condition of the specialty hoses connected to it. Replace now if cracked/burned/overly brittle. They are designed for higher temp so ordinary vacuum line should not be substituted in this application.

 

Thanks V8, that made my life a lot easier.

Looks like they're about 83 bucks at Autozone, that was a pricey oops.
I just lightly pushed on that hose when it broke, that plastic housing must be pretty brittle at this point, which probably means it could have gone at any time driving around and I'd have never known. I'd rather it break on me in the driveway than on the road, so a silver lining I guess. I'll check the hoses too. I bet lots of ancillary stuff is getting pretty worn at this point.

Thanks again.
B.