Is Throttle Cleaning Necessary?
2 Answers
Throttle cleaning is necessary. Below are the precautions for throttle cleaning: 1. Avoid dropping or colliding the throttle body: During the cleaning process, ensure the throttle body does not fall to the ground or suffer any impact. 2. Do not suddenly release the throttle lever: Before installing the cable system, when opening the throttle lever at any position, avoid suddenly releasing it. Such operation may damage the throttle body or cause low idle risks. 3. Recalibration required: For some electronically controlled engines, after replacing or cleaning the throttle body, recalibration between the throttle body and the electronic control unit is necessary. This allows the electronic control unit to recognize the basic characteristic parameters of the throttle, enabling the control unit to automatically adjust the throttle's operation during future running processes for synchronized performance.
Over the years of driving, I've cleaned the throttle body several times and found it quite necessary. Normally on the road, carbon buildup in the throttle body can cause unstable idling, severe engine shaking, and poor acceleration. I remember last time after driving about 30,000 kilometers, the car started shaking at idle, and fuel consumption kept rising. Later at the repair shop, the mechanic opened it up and found it full of black carbon deposits. After spraying with special cleaner, it was fixed. Post-cleaning, the car immediately became much quieter, and the power returned to like-new condition. I recommend checking every 20,000 to 30,000 kilometers, especially if you often drive in congested urban areas where carbon buildup is more likely. Don't wait until the problem gets serious—it'll cost more in fuel and damage your car. Now I keep cleaning tools myself and occasionally do DIY maintenance to keep the throttle body clean, making driving more worry-free. Overall, cleaning costs are low, just tens to a hundred yuan, much more cost-effective than fixing major issues.
