If you are talking about the EGR valve, then take a piece of rubber tubing and plug it onto the EGR valve vacuum port and using your mouth pull a suction on the tube. The valve should actuate (pull in) and if you hold it with your tongue by stopping up the end of the tubing, it should also hold it's vacuum. If it loses it's vacuum or doesn't actuate it is bad.
There is no way to tell exactly how many miles to the gallon will you loose with a bad EGR. It depends on the car.
Diagnostics
the egr valve may be bad call a parts store they should be able to tell you
Start the engine, and spray a little carb cleaner around and on the EGR valve. If the engine changes sound are idles up are down then the valve is bad.
Yes, the EGR valve, or port EGR
hopw do I find the egr valve on a vauxhall signum
Sometimes
Would this cause the car not to start If the EGR VALVE is bad
it could be the egr valve,or the egr solenoid,oregr sensor if equiped,check those items
yes
7.3L does not have EGR Valve.
Check the EGR solenoid or some sort of EGR sensor. Most cars have these nowadays. could be bad wiring, sensor holder or pick up.