Internal combustion engine having exhaust gas recirculation system

An internal combustion engine comprising an exhaust system for passing exhaust gas from combustion chamber means, an intake system leading to said combustion chamber means to provide a supply of intake gas thereto, an exhaust gas recirculation system having exhaust gas recirculation passage means for returning certain amount of exhaust gas to said intake system, recirculation valve means provided in said recirculation passage means, said recirculation valve means including valve member means of which position can be changed to vary the amount of exhaust gas which is to be returned to the intake system, engine load sensing means for detecting engine load and producing an engine load signal, engine speed sensing means for detecting engine speed and producing an engine speed signal, valve member position sensing means for detecting the position of the valve member means in the recirculation valve means, memory means storing memories of desired positions of the valve member means under various combinations of values of the engine load and the engine speed, control means for controlling the recirculation valve means in accordance with the load and engine speed signals so that the actual position of the valve member means conforms with the desired position under the detected engine load and speed, means for closing said recirculation passage means, said control means including means for actuating said closing means when the actual position of the valve member means does not conform with the desired position within a predetermined time.