Thermally responsive regulator valve assembly

A thermally responsive regulator valve assembly and exhaust gas recirculation system for an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and an exhaust system is provided. The exhaust gas recirculation system includes an exhaust gas recirculation passage selectively interconnecting the exhaust system and the intake manifold. An exhaust gas recirculation valve is disposed in fluid communication with the exhaust gas recirculation passage and operates to selectively and variably communicate recirculated exhaust gas to the intake manifold. A thermally responsive regulator valve assembly is disposed at least partially within the exhaust gas recirculation passage and the intake manifold. The thermally responsive valve assembly is sufficiently configured to variably restrict flow of the recirculated exhaust gas from the exhaust gas recirculation passage to the intake manifold when the flow of inlet air within the intake manifold is sufficiently low and/or the temperature of the inlet air is sufficiently high.