The Correct Method for Cleaning the Throttle Body
2 Answers
The correct method for cleaning the throttle body is as follows: 1. If there is a plastic heat shield cover on the engine, remove it. 2. Remove the air ducts around the throttle body and note their positions. 3. The side of the throttle body near the combustion chamber is usually dirtier, with black carbon deposits, which is the main area to clean. 4. Cleaning the throttle body mainly involves removing carbon deposits. Special cleaning solutions or carburetor cleaners can be used. These cleaners can be harmful to humans, so wear gloves and a mask during cleaning. 5. Spray the cleaner onto the areas with heavy carbon deposits on the throttle body, wait for 5-10 minutes, and use a brush to significantly speed up the cleaning process. Once the carbon deposits dissolve, wipe off the cleaner with a towel. 6. Reinstall the cleaned throttle body in its original position and reattach all air ducts.
The method of cleaning the throttle body is crucial. From my experience, you should first ensure the engine is cool. Prepare a bottle of throttle body cleaner, a clean cloth, a screwdriver, and gloves. Disconnect the battery negative terminal to avoid short circuits, then carefully remove the throttle body connecting pipe. Spray the cleaner onto the throttle blades, avoiding sensors or electronic components, and let the foam dissolve the carbon deposits. Gently wipe without using hard tools. After reassembly, start the engine—the idle may be unstable for a few minutes as the ECU relearns. Finally, take a short drive to test the results; typically, the throttle response becomes smoother and idle stabilizes. It's recommended to perform this every 20,000 km to prevent carbon buildup, improving fuel efficiency and performance.
