I was going to try to get a Thermostat and Temp Sender today but...last night I took off the EGR Pipe and found that one of the Gaskets were blown. Tried to get a new Gasket today but nobody carries them, I'm still trying to find the right one online.

Is MD149764 the right gasket for the EGR Pipe?

I know nothing about working on cars, does it sound like the blown gasket would be the reason for the high idle?

Reason I ask is because I've got so many different answers from people at the part stores that I'm completely confused. I was going to cut the gasket out of regular gasket material (I know it will burn up and won't work for long) and put the EGR Pipe back on just to see if it help with the idle...lol...anyway...thanks for all the help! When I find the gaskets I need I'll let yall know if it fixes my problem.

1st,,I'll partially retract my reference to the EGR pipe I posted early in this thread. This is most likely not your problem as described.
on EGR pipe gasket, I use one for a ford/mazda I matched up.
I'm out of town and don't have the part number tonight, but will post it later.
You really need to do 1st things and cheapest things 1st,,, and listen to folks on here. Parts stores are there to "sell" parts and don't have the time , interest and "sometimes" the knowledge of our older and very special vehicles. Change your thermostat and get an ohm meter and check your engine temp sensor/sendor as per the FSM.

The OEM EGR gaskets are metal and dont "blow out." Maybe someone replaced yours with paper at some point. It needs to be sealed none the less. I agree that its probably not your problem, but I would go ahead and fix it and move on to the thermostat and the temp sender.

My 89 had a hole in the EGR pipe when I got it. It wouldnt pass smog but idled fine.

Well I got the EGR Pipe Gaskets...went to Napa and had them go pull the whole box of gaskets and looked at each one till we found a match. I dont know what car its for, but the Napa Number I got for the Gaskets is 2-2580...for anyone going through what I just went through. They fit perfectly and yes they are metal and so was the last one's that blew out. When I say metal, its kinda like a mesh of metal with some other kinda material mixed in with it.

That said the gaskets did not fix my idle. I'm going to get a thermostat today and check out the sending, thanks!

By the way, are you guys talking about the EGR Temp Sensor?

gasket that will work for egr pipe:
FelPro 70149 (Ford/Mazda 4 cyl)

No, not the EGR temp. sensor,,,again it's the 2 pronged brass water sensor that sticks horizontally out the front of the intake manifold.

I just check the EGR Temp Sensor per FSM and everything was within spec. The sensor had alot of black build up on it, I cleaned it. Next step is the thermostat...if that doesnt work, what else you guys think it could be? I read somewhere about cleaning the EGR Valve, or the EGR Valve leaking....what do you guys think?

I think you need to stop jumping all over the place and do things that have been suggested already,,,I mean why replace a whole engine when it just needs a spark plug?

Is the Sensor also called the "engine coolant temperature sensor "? Is it right by the Thermostat? I think I might have found it but not sure.

lol...I hear you dave...I'm working on it...this is the first vehicle I've ever worked on, I appreciate your help!