How often should the throttle body and fuel injectors of a car engine be cleaned?
2 Answers
It is recommended to clean the throttle body and fuel injectors of a car engine every 20,000 to 40,000 kilometers. However, cleaning the throttle body too frequently is not beneficial. Over-cleaning can gradually remove the special coating inside the throttle body cavity. Without this coating, the cavity is more prone to oil buildup, which can accelerate the aging of the throttle body or increase its load. On the other hand, if the throttle body is not cleaned for a long time, the accumulated carbon deposits and impurities can affect the accuracy of the throttle opening. This may also allow air containing impurities to enter the combustion chamber, disrupting the normal operation of the engine. The most noticeable symptoms include unstable idling, a sudden feeling of fuel cutback during normal driving, significantly reduced power, increased fuel consumption, and in some cases, even difficulty starting the engine.
I've been driving the same car for several years, mainly for city commuting with frequent traffic jams, which tends to cause carbon buildup in the fuel injectors and throttle body. I remember last time when the car had unstable idling and shaky acceleration, the inspection revealed they were dirty. Since then, cleaning them every 15,000 kilometers or so has solved the issue. Cleaning the fuel injectors ensures more uniform fuel spray, preventing fuel waste; cleaning the throttle body guarantees smooth air intake and improves power performance. Now my car's fuel consumption is stable, and it runs much smoother. Driving habits make a big difference—if you often drive on highways, you might extend the cleaning interval to 20,000 kilometers. But if you frequently use low-quality fuel or experience many cold starts, you should address it sooner. It's best to have a professional shop check during maintenance to avoid minor issues turning into major repairs.
